Fr. Joseph Claude Siebenaler

Father Joseph Claude Siebenaler was born on October 24, 1945 and was 77 years old. He took his first vows on September 15, 1965 and was ordained priest on July 16, 1972.

He was currently living in Luxembourg (Luxembourg). He belonged to the Province EUF.

Venite ad me, omnes qui laboratis, et onerati estis: et ego reficiam vos. (Mt 11,28)

Rome, September 28, 2023

Dear Brothers,

We have received the sad news of the death of Fr. Claude Siebenaler, a confrere from Luxembourg currently belonging to the Francophone European province, who passed away on September 26, 2023.

Fr. Claude spent much of his life and service in the Congregation in Rome, where he carried out various tasks entrusted to him by the General Government. However, he was already familiar with the city, having studied theology at the Gregorian University from 1968 to 1972. In 1982, after eight years of missionary work in Chile, he returned to Rome, having been called to serve in the General Curia, where he began his work first as Assistant to the Secretary General, and nine months later, in October 1982, he was appointed Secretary General. This ministry of his lasted more than 16 years. On January 1, 1999, Fr. Siebenaler was appointed Procurator General of the Congregation and served in this important position for another 13 years, until January 1, 2012. After completing this position, he worked at the Centro Studi Dehoniani in Rome from 2012-2015, returning permanently to his home province in 2015.

Throughout these years, Fr. Claude became known by many confreres as a wise and humble man, a religious of great faith and dedication in the service entrusted to him. In his diligence, he knew how to use his abilities for the good of our religious family and for all those who sought his help. In fact, as early as 1991, Fr. Siebenaler served for many years as the ecclesiastical advisor to the Embassy of his country, Luxembourg, at the Holy See, for which he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

All this did not prevent Fr. Claude from remaining evangelically simple and close to his confreres and many others, who appreciated his openness and his constant willingness to meet and share his time and vast knowledge. Some of us remember how his deep knowledge of the city of Rome, where he lived for 38 years of his life, was widely known and admired among the confreres.

Claude Siebenaler was a humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord, for whom generosity and fidelity were authentic values lived daily. Grateful to God for Fr. Claude’s life, we wish to accompany him with our prayers.

In agreement with what is stated in our General Directory (DG 69.4), I would like to ask that in every community of our Congregation a Holy Mass be celebrated in his suffrage.

Let us also remember in fraternal prayer our dear confrere, giving thanks for the gift of his life and service.

I enclose another letter written by Fr. Claude himself, which he sent to his community and family at the end of August, when he entered the palliative care home where he later died.

With the entire General Administration, I join in the prayers of the EUF Province, the entire Congregation, his family, and friends for his eternal rest with Our Lord.

In Corde Iesu,

Fr. Carlos Luis Suárez Codorniú SCJ, General Superior

ALEA IACTA!

The die is cast!

Here begins a new period in my life. The news didn’t come to me like a bolt from the blue. For a long time, I’ve been thinking about what’s going to happen sooner or later. Now it’s time to gently prepare myself for life in the waiting room, when the Lord will hold out his hand and say to me: “Let’s cross over to the other side”.

I’m ready, because long ago I placed my life in the hands of the all-loving God. I come empty-handed, but with all my trust in a merciful God.

To those whom I have hurt in my life, I sincerely ask forgiveness from the bottom of my heart. To all those who have done me good in my life – and there are many, many, many of them – I say a heartfelt THANK YOU. May the Lord repay them a hundredfold in His infinite love.

Thank you above all for your prayers. I know you don’t neglect them, and I believe in the power of the “communion of saints”. For me, it’s a source of joy and light, especially in difficult times.

This morning I asked my oncologist if it was worth going back to Clairefontaine. The answer was NO! – An ambulance has been booked to take me on August 28 to the Maison OMEGA in Luxembourg-Hamm, next to the retirement home for the elderly. As hard as it is, as so often in life, the answer could be none other than FIAT!

If there’s any more important news, I’ll keep you posted.

 With cordial and fraternal greetings in the Heart of Jesus.

 Claude