Perth, West Australia, Australia
DEATH OF BR. PATRICK CAMILLE MOHEN
3/02/31 – 12/5/10
Pat has been to Death’s Door so many times that his emphatic plea in recent times, while in “Good health,” has been, “Next time please let me go.” So his sudden departure from this life late on the night of the 12th May was accompanied by mixed sentiments of sadness and a little joy that his wish had been granted. “He wants to go but we want him to stay. He does so much good work here for so many patients and staff. We’ll really miss him when he goes,” was voiced by a number of Catherine McAuley Nursing and Caring Staff who were on duty during Pat’s last hours. Pat’s life was filled with excessive physical pain for most of his 79 ½ years yet it never stopped him from performing physical assignments that would have challenged the fittest of men. In the 1960’s he built a stone wall 70 metres long, from local colourful rocks which was admired by the locals for its artistic beauty and meticulous craftsmanship. At one end of the wall he dug a well 30 feet deep in sand, to tap into pristine fresh and sweet water which for forty years kept all the school’s grounds and lawns green and blooming. It was a mistake for any soft hearted sympathetic person to volunteer help for Pat as he shuffled along with two walking sticks and twisted, contorted legs that were riddled with tropical ulcers. Pat was master of his own destiny. Despite all his infirmities the help he gave to others far, far outweighed the help he permitted himself to receive. In a convoluted way his life was an inversion of the paralytic lying by the Sheep Pool in Jerusalem. Most people who touched him walked away more freely for having experienced his gentle gift for a better way of life. He was imbued with a determination for Social Justice and his “wheelchair” (Gopher) was often seen in the gathering of demonstrators campaigning for a Justice Cause.
He was a good, close teacher well in control of the large classes he taught before moving to PNG, “He’s the best Primary School Teacher I’ve seen this year,” said Monsignor Burke, the Inspector of Catholic Schools. Yet despite the Monsignor’s accolade Pat never forgave himself for being too strict in his younger days.
We join with Pat’s family, Sr Maureen, Mrs Alice Ann Huggett, Mrs Mary Fiegert and younger brother Peter by praying in thanksgiving for the life of Patrick Mohen.
So now Pat is gone and admirers at Catherine McAuley, The Centre for Social Justice in East Victoria Park, Broome, PNG and students in many schools will gratefully remember him for his generousity, his dry humour and his unique spirituality.
After a life of untold suffering may he now rest in peace.
