Date of death: 7/2/2017
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1965
Fr. HARRY LESLIE PETERSON BUCKLER (homily given at funeral in Chile) Coming together in the Church called “National Gratitude”, which reminds us of the original presence of the Salesians in Chile, and under the mantel of Mary Help of Christians, we have come together to pray for the eternal rest of FR. Harry Peterson. His departure was a surprise and has sadden us. As a community of faith we desire give thanks to God for the gift which He gave us in this brother, and we wish to pray for him in his Passing in a attitude of faith. The experience of death presents us the mystery of our existence in its deepest roots. In the death of a brother, a part of our history departs with him. To every human being, the death of a beloved one is an opportunity to stop in our journey and to let ourselves be touched by the experience of our finitude. It is an experience which raises questions about ourselves. It is as though an chasm opens up at our feet. This chasm invites us to look at our own interior. An abyss which is like a mirror: it makes us look at ourselves and question the meaning of our passing through history, of the meaning of our life y of our death. It is an experience of being exposed to the weather. Some may experience this like an emptiness. We are called to assume this as people of faith and consider it as an opportunity, in order to make room for the Lord, the architect and constructor of our permanent city, and for His Spirit, who makes all things new. The Word of God which has been proclaimed helps us to go deep into this opportunity. We received life as a gift, a grace, and, in this gesture, full of mystery, we are invited to discover the gratuity, the self-giving, the openness to the other, as a key to life in its fullness. Thus it was that Abraham obeyed the calling and left behind his securities to go forth to the land which he was to receive in inheritance. Detachment, the attitude of a pilgrim, going out, as Pope Francis would say, travelling light, like one who is always on the road. Jesus proclaimed this in the Beatitudes where he showed the way of simplicity, of mercy, of justice and of peace, in order to discover the way of the Kingdom which continues to grow and to give us joy therein. This openness and self-giving resounds in the life of Fr. Harry. He is remembered for his good disposition, his clear mindedness and sincere restlessness to search the Will of God; he was received into the Salesian novitiate the September 7, 1949. He made his first profession September 8, 1950, in New Jersey. His initial formation was completed in our house of studies, La Crocetta, in Turin, Italy between 1957 and 1961, He obtained the certificate (license) in Sacred Scripture. “To do the Will of God is my desire.” was the motto that he chose for his priesthood. He was ordained February 11, 1961, being 31 years old. After a time of priestly ministry in his country, in December, 1967, he offered the Superior General, Fr. Louis Ricceri to go as a missionary to Latin America. Fr. Harry remembered the answer arrived Jan. 31, 1968, and in August of that year, he was destined to Manaus, Brasil; later that was changed to Bahia Blanca, Argentine, which was later changed to Patagonia. Since his trappist brother, Fr George was already in Chile, it was decided that Fr. Harry should come to our Province. In January, 1970 he came definitively to our country. A different culture, new faces, new language, different from that which he had learned in his home town, Loretto, Kentucky, where he was born December 23, 1930: willingness as a pilgrim, as a disciple! What is it that can move a man to make this steps? He was moved by a generous faith in God as Merciful Father, by a desire to announce the Gospel, as witness of the lifestyle of Don Bosco. The experience of faith which began in the simplicity of his family, was the moving factor of his life. A family of country people, a family of daily prayer, a numerous family with 12 brothers and sisters. Three brothers became priests. From the experience of gratuitous love received and of gratuitous love given to others, he was rooted in the author of the gift, the God of life. He who is rooted in the Lord bears fruit. This is the prophetic novelty of the Beatitudes, lived out by one who is conscious of being in the hands of God. During his 47 years in Chile, Fr. Harry was priest, pastor, evangelist by radio, writer of bulletins and pamphlets for Evangelization. As a sportsman, he ran marathons like other young people; he was a good swimmer in the ocean; a infatigable trotter. Also, he was a healer of souls, and sensitive to the reality of the world and of the Church. I remember that in 1975 I met him in the Parish of Mary Help of Christians in Punta Arenas. His simplicity, his ready smile, his sincere gaze, with no deceit, his firm hand shake, greeting you, looking in your eyes, his words which spoke of God as a good Father who loves us and the Holy Spirit who encourages us: all this remained printed in the person who listened to him. His apostolic passion was known in the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in Punta Arenas, in this Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in the Alameda, Santiago, in Puerto Natales, St. Francis de Sales in Porvenir. Also in the Sanctuary of Mary Help of Christians in Concepci≤n, and in Talca, in the Parish of St. Dominic Savio en San Ramon, and in Iquique. Richard W. ôDickö Mischler, 79, of Evansville, passed away Monday, November 05, 2018. Dick was born January 14, 1939 in Washington, IN to the late Richard E. and Thelma (Wathen) Mischler. He worked for Prudential Insurance for over 30 years and served his country in the United States Army. Dick was a member of Resurrection Catholic Church, West Side Nut Club, Twin Towers, the Howell MenÆs Club and American Legion Funkhouser Post #8. Dick was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and a former member of the USI Varsity Club. Surviving Dick are his wife of 58 years, Joella (Kidwell) Mischler; a daughter, Lisa (Keith) Grossman of Evansville; three sons, Kevin (LeeAnne) Mischler of Knoxville, TN, Joe (Becky) Mischler of Lexington, KY and Jeff (Elaine) Mischler of Evansville; one sister, Jane LaVasseur and a brother, Mike (Erma) Mischler, both of Washington, IN. Also surviving Dick are his grandchildren, Kyle Grossman, Reid Grossman, Richard Mischler, Mary McGrady, Jenny Highsmith, Lauren Mischler, Brian Mischler, Zachary Mischler and Jacob Mischler and six great grandchildren.