On the morning of the third Sunday of Advent, "Gaudete", Father Xavier Geiser, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, USA., passed away in Jerusalem at St. Savior's Monastery in Jerusalem at 88 years of age. He succumbed to cancer, which he battled the last few years of his life.
In June 1944, Father Xavier participated in the Battle of Normandy, then in 1950, he entered the Franciscan Order, and joined the Custody of the Holy Land Commissariat in Washington.
He studied philosophy at Duns Scotus College in Cincinnati, and subsequently, theology at Holy Name College in Washington. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1955.
Since 1963, he served in many activities of Custody of the Holy Land, including that of an English teacher in Amman, Nicosia, Nazareth and Ein Karem. He held many pastoral services as pastor, chaplain and catechist in Cyprus, Rhodes and Galilee.
He was a discrete of the Custody from 1968 to 1971. In 1970, he was appointed master of clerics at the Seminary of St. Saviour in Jerusalem. The following year he began his service as pastor in Nicosia in Cyprus, where he was also appointed patriarchal vicar of the Apostolic Delegate and representative of Palestine on the same Island. He remained on the island until 1983, returning a second time in 1986, for another three years. He went a third time, from 1992 to 1995, to Larnaca, as superior, priest and journalist. From 1983 to 1984, he was guardian and commissary in Washington.
From 1989 to 1992, he served as pastor in Rhodes and interim chaplain for the Island of Kos. "Before I was a Franciscan," he said in an interview shortly before his death, "I thought it better not to lead a life without ideals, disengaged, mediocre. After 88 years, I can say that I have fully realized this, having chosen to serve in the armed peace of St. Francis of Assisi."
In June 1944, Father Xavier participated in the Battle of Normandy, then in 1950, he entered the Franciscan Order, and joined the Custody of the Holy Land Commissariat in Washington.
He studied philosophy at Duns Scotus College in Cincinnati, and subsequently, theology at Holy Name College in Washington. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1955.
Since 1963, he served in many activities of Custody of the Holy Land, including that of an English teacher in Amman, Nicosia, Nazareth and Ein Karem. He held many pastoral services as pastor, chaplain and catechist in Cyprus, Rhodes and Galilee.
He was a discrete of the Custody from 1968 to 1971. In 1970, he was appointed master of clerics at the Seminary of St. Saviour in Jerusalem. The following year he began his service as pastor in Nicosia in Cyprus, where he was also appointed patriarchal vicar of the Apostolic Delegate and representative of Palestine on the same Island. He remained on the island until 1983, returning a second time in 1986, for another three years. He went a third time, from 1992 to 1995, to Larnaca, as superior, priest and journalist. From 1983 to 1984, he was guardian and commissary in Washington.
From 1989 to 1992, he served as pastor in Rhodes and interim chaplain for the Island of Kos. "Before I was a Franciscan," he said in an interview shortly before his death, "I thought it better not to lead a life without ideals, disengaged, mediocre. After 88 years, I can say that I have fully realized this, having chosen to serve in the armed peace of St. Francis of Assisi."
On the morning of the third Sunday of Advent, "Gaudete", Father Xavier Geiser, a native of Hamilton, Ohio, USA., passed away in Jerusalem at St. Savior's Monastery in Jerusalem at 88 years of age. He succumbed to cancer, which he battled the last few years of his life.
In June 1944, Father Xavier participated in the Battle of Normandy, then in 1950, he entered the Franciscan Order, and joined the Custody of the Holy Land Commissariat in Washington.
He studied philosophy at Duns Scotus College in Cincinnati, and subsequently, theology at Holy Name College in Washington. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1955.
Since 1963, he served in many activities of Custody of the Holy Land, including that of an English teacher in Amman, Nicosia, Nazareth and Ein Karem. He held many pastoral services as pastor, chaplain and catechist in Cyprus, Rhodes and Galilee.
He was a discrete of the Custody from 1968 to 1971. In 1970, he was appointed master of clerics at the Seminary of St. Saviour in Jerusalem. The following year he began his service as pastor in Nicosia in Cyprus, where he was also appointed patriarchal vicar of the Apostolic Delegate and representative of Palestine on the same Island. He remained on the island until 1983, returning a second time in 1986, for another three years. He went a third time, from 1992 to 1995, to Larnaca, as superior, priest and journalist. From 1983 to 1984, he was guardian and commissary in Washington.
From 1989 to 1992, he served as pastor in Rhodes and interim chaplain for the Island of Kos. "Before I was a Franciscan," he said in an interview shortly before his death, "I thought it better not to lead a life without ideals, disengaged, mediocre. After 88 years, I can say that I have fully realized this, having chosen to serve in the armed peace of St. Francis of Assisi."
In June 1944, Father Xavier participated in the Battle of Normandy, then in 1950, he entered the Franciscan Order, and joined the Custody of the Holy Land Commissariat in Washington.
He studied philosophy at Duns Scotus College in Cincinnati, and subsequently, theology at Holy Name College in Washington. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1955.
Since 1963, he served in many activities of Custody of the Holy Land, including that of an English teacher in Amman, Nicosia, Nazareth and Ein Karem. He held many pastoral services as pastor, chaplain and catechist in Cyprus, Rhodes and Galilee.
He was a discrete of the Custody from 1968 to 1971. In 1970, he was appointed master of clerics at the Seminary of St. Saviour in Jerusalem. The following year he began his service as pastor in Nicosia in Cyprus, where he was also appointed patriarchal vicar of the Apostolic Delegate and representative of Palestine on the same Island. He remained on the island until 1983, returning a second time in 1986, for another three years. He went a third time, from 1992 to 1995, to Larnaca, as superior, priest and journalist. From 1983 to 1984, he was guardian and commissary in Washington.
From 1989 to 1992, he served as pastor in Rhodes and interim chaplain for the Island of Kos. "Before I was a Franciscan," he said in an interview shortly before his death, "I thought it better not to lead a life without ideals, disengaged, mediocre. After 88 years, I can say that I have fully realized this, having chosen to serve in the armed peace of St. Francis of Assisi."
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