Fr Amin Abboud, a priest of the Prelature of Opus Dei, passed away last Friday at the age of 48. Fr Amin was attending a spiritual retreat conducted by a priest of Opus Dei at Kenthurst Study Centre.
News of Fr Amin’s passing has come as a shock, as he was fit, energetic and optimistic, sparing no effort in his pastoral work. It appears that he suffered a heart attack; but this is yet to be confirmed.
Bishop Javier Echevarría, Prelate of Opus Dei, wrote to his vicar in Australia and New Zealand, Monsignor Victor Martinez, and offered some words of consolation. Here are excerpts from an English translation of his letter:
My dearly beloved Victor, may Jesus watch over my Australian children for me!
I received your note with the news of the death of Amin with deep sorrow. It still seems impossible that Our Lord wanted to take this son of mine; he could have done so much for the Church and the Work. Like you, there comes to my mind the prayer – as with our Father – the filial complaint to the Lord, and immediately I feel the consolation that only He can offer us. The inscrutable Providence of God knows more than we do: fiat, adimpleatur… ! I am quite sure -- in Faith – that this blow will also be a new and effective push forward for the fidelity of us all, and for the growth of the apostolic work in Australia and throughout the whole world.
Like me, I know that, within this sorrow, it is deeply consoling that Amin left us while he was doing his retreat, a means of formation which we should desire and be very thankful for. I imagine that in those days he would have meditated on the Last Things, as we always do. Our Lord will have prepared him in the best possible way for the final leap forward. I am sure that he will receive a great reward and rejoice with God and the Blessed Virgin for all eternity.
In moments like these, surely you will feel the strength of the Communion of Saints and the shelter of our blessed fraternity. Love each other, take good care of each other, and often reflect that all the affection of the Work is with you. I ask you to pass onto his parents and relatives my care and affection. All of us in the Work share in the great pain which they must feel at this moment. I ask the Blessed Virgin to console them with all the tenderness of a Mother.
Our prayers are with Fr Amin’s family: his parents Phillip and Salma, his sisters Mary and Victoria, his brother Barry, his sister-in-law Janet and his five nephews Phillip, Amin, Charbel, Joseph and Paul.
Bishop Anthony Fisher OP, Bishop of Parramatta, celebrated a Requiem Mass for the eternal repose of Fr Amin during his pilgrimage to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day.
Details of Fr Amin's funeral will be posted as soon as they have been confirmed.