May 12th 1926 - November 9th 2007

You had what you desired

your departure in silence after breakfast,

discreet and unexpected.

You kept a low profile

In the company of those you respected

yet close to many others you had not permitted

to see your passing.

You departed silently,

without warning, without fuss, just as you would have wished...

the frightful hours lengthened for you

and the pleasant ones cut short:

the meal with Sandra, the company of Sergio and Alejandro,

the oncologist’s assurance and assistance,

the nurses’ humanity and kindness, Matilde’s desserts,

Virginia’s photos, Gonzago’s chocolates...

you did not interrupt your sleep, not even for the Archbishop in that final siesta.

You have had what you desired...

the ciborium, nightly solitude, bloodless days, distribution of former goods so much of your life,

and full knowledge that you would be soon leaving.

I believe you never imagined a thousand faces of concern

and the disarray your absence caused.

And you have entered into eternal repose,

spending your last night in the chapel of your dear College,

in the company of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Perhaps...

but you have had what you desired

God has given you his presence which you so much desired,

Forty four nights of agony, like Jesus in the desert,

like Saint Michael in Betharram,

like Etchecopar in Rome,

or Sister Mariam in Palestine.

Rest in peace, religious teacher of Betharram.

Gustavo Angalora,SCJ

Farewell, Father Miner!

Soul of Christ sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me.  Blood of Christ inebriate me..... forever and ever. Amen.  So Fr Domingo Miner prayed and prayed, in a weak voice, scarcely audible during the last days of his pilgrimage on earth.  Thus he delivered himself to Christ whose mysteries of death and resurrection he had celebrated so often.  On the morning of November 9 at 10 o'clock he went to the house of his Father. Being extremely reticent about his pain and feelings, he consciously remained silent about the cancer which affected him for many years due to his diabetes.

Biography

Fr Miner was the youngest of eight children born the 12th of May 1926 into a profoundly Christian family.  Like his eldest brother who entered the Claretians, he heard the call to the priesthood but to Betharram.  His mother Fausta was in the habit of saying proudly: "I have given one of my sons to the Sacred Heart, Domingo, a Betharramite, and another to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Joaquin, a Claretian.  His only sister became a nun in the congregation of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

20th of February 1937, Domingo entered the apostolic school at Barracas, the minor seminary.  He did his studies in philosophy and theology at Villa Betharram, Adrouge, where he was ordained priest on the 20th of November 1949.  He had an affection for the apostolic school at Barracas where he was a teacher of Spanish, Latin, Greek and history, then became prefect of discipline. The 20th February 1957, 20 years after he had entered the congregation, he was appointed Bursar to the College of San Jose de la Plata.  First he taught Spanish, later religious instruction and became prefect of discipline.  In 1984 he was appointed headmaster, a post which obliged him to give up teaching in 1990; a responsibility he carried on to the end.

He was a faithful priest, who celebrated Mass with great devotion and he engaged the congregation with his preaching.  He was a good religious, having had a classic formation; he loved the congregation with all his heart.  He accepted to be provincial administrator in difficult times when works were being changed.  Only God knew what he suffered in this complicated situation.  It seems certain that these hidden sufferings took their toll.

Pastoral work was not his strong point, which he recognized, and always sought help and freely accepted the collaboration of others.  He was a man of solid conviction, being demanding of others but moreso of himself. He distinguished himself by his love for the truth, integrity, and had an ability for work and organisation, order and discipline. He read widely and he sought what was useful for that particular time, especially in regard to teaching and whatever could be useful to him.  He loved to share his discoveries with confreres and teaching colleagues, his pupils and friends.  Being keen on sports, he played several, especially football which he played each week even when he was over 70.  He cultivated the art of friendship: how many have treasured his affection, profited by his advice, his loyalty, his care and his sensitivity, his kindness and his humour!

Competent in the class room, respected in the playground as a prefect of discipline,  Fr Domingo gave himself entirely to Catholic education.  A stickler for detail for pupils, teachers, parents and in general everybody in his care.  He was implacable, but he would never taxed people beyond their measure.  On the contrary his firm and the level attitude gave him uncontestable authority, esteem and respect.  His vision as a teacher and his methods of discipline both original and effective, avoiding severe reprimands and traditional punishments brought him outstanding respect from pupils and old boys.  "We try to correct without having recourse to sanctions," he said one day. Monsignor Plaza, Archbishop of La Plata, often said that Fr Miner whom he much admired said he could, "Direct to the College with his little finger".

Farewell

Until the end of last July, he was present each morning to welcome pupils and teachers, but after that he began to gradually withdraw to his community, to his room, his crucifix, his altar... he died on the ninth of November 2007 after 40 days in hospital at the clinic of Mater Dei in la Plata, surrounded with the care and affection of Fr Gustavo Angarola, his former pupil, who first told him of his vocation to the religious life of Betharram.  Through Fr Miner, this generation of priests of Betharram, who were born educators, consecrated body and soul to our colleges, came about.

You are a priest forever

The altar of his dear College of San Jose, the same place where Fr Miner had celebrated the sacred mysteries for half a century became the place of his Requiem.  The gathering of religious, diocesan priests, administrators, teachers and pupils, families and friends filled this chapel, once again, in prayer, silence, and devotion as they celebrated the mystery of the risen Lord, conqueror of sin, evil and death.  The mystery of the life of Fr Domingo Miner, passed from this life to eternity, the mystery of a life that made the heart to beat in each of us.

The final procession to the hymn of our Lady of Betharram made its way with salutations, handshakes, kisses, tears of former pupils showed people’s respect for the mortal remains of a father, a master, a friend, a priest of the Sacred Heart of Betharram.  You are a priest forever... the mediator between God and man.

Paco Daleoso,SCJ