Pater Gabriel Haider OFM (1872–1951):"30 years as a missionary in Bolivia, working primarily among indigenous peoples, particularly the Yuracaré, and in Cochabamba."

Photo FR father Gabriel Haider. Held in: Archive of the Tyrolean Franciscan Province in Hall in Tyrol.

Pater Gabriel Haider, born Josef Haider, was a Franciscan friar from Hall in Tyrol whose life was an extraordinary journey from the Alps to the deep jungles of South America. His work was characterized by unshakable faith, dedication to the poorest, and a love for his Tyrolean homeland.

Childhood and Vocation

Josef Haider was born on June 2, 1872, in Hall in Tyrol. His parents, Josef and Maria Haider, presumably belonged to the artisan class (his father is mentioned as a spear-smith and mechanic). The close connection to his family, especially his sister Mena, who remained in Hall all her life, was a constant throughout his life. He felt a calling to religious life early on and entered the Franciscan Order at the age of 17.
On September 26, 1889, he received the religious habit in Pupping, Upper Austria, and took the name Gabriel. After his novitiate, he made his temporary profession in 1890 at the Franciscan monastery in Schwaz and his solemn profession in 1893 in Salzburg. He was ordained a priest on June 4, 1895, in Brixen.

Three Decades in the Service of the Bolivian Mission

After initial pastoral work in various monasteries in South Tyrol (Schwaz, Kaltern, Bozen), the most defining chapter of his life began in 1899: his assignment as a missionary priest to Bolivia.
For a full 30 years, he worked under often arduous conditions:

• Missionary to the Yuracaré Indians: He worked in the tropical lowlands of Bolivia, particularly in the Chimoré region, serving the indigenous Yuracaré people. This required immense adaptability to the climate and culture.
• Printer and Preacher: In Tarata, he managed the order's printing press, a crucial tool for spreading the faith and information.
• Education and Pastoral Care: He spent many years in the city of Cochabamba. Particularly noteworthy is his 15-year service as a catechist at the "Liceo de Señoritas", a teachers' training college in Santa Cruz, where he influenced an entire generation of young women.

Despite homesickness and persistent health problems, he remained true to his mission. An anecdote illustrates his devotion: in 1919 he intended to return home but failed due to a lack of travel funds. When he finally received the official permission (obedience) to return home in 1924, he tore up the letter – out of loyalty to his flock in Bolivia.

Return to his Homeland and Later Years

In 1929, following the dissolution of the mission college in Tarata and due to his failing health, Pater Gabriel finally returned to Tyrol for good. He suffered from lung disease and needed the alpine air. Until 1935, he lived as a sick brother ("valet") in the Hall monastery.
Despite his health, he continued to take on duties, such as serving as a confessor for the Franciscan sisters in Maria Schmolln (1940) or in the monasteries of St. Anton and Niederau (1941).
His faith also brought him trouble in his homeland: from November 4 to 8, 1940, he was imprisoned by the Nazi regime in the district court prison in Hall – a silent testament to his steadfast resistance against National Socialist ideology.

Legacy

Pater Gabriel Haider died on December 27, 1951, in his birthplace of Hall, where he is also buried. His life was an impressive reflection of the Franciscan ideals: poverty, humility, and unconditional service to one's neighbor. He connected the world of Hall in Tyrol with the most remote corners of Bolivia and remained until the end a courageous, humble, and pious servant of God.
Requiescat in pace.