By Jerome Francis
Kolkata: Belgian Jesuit Father Albert Huart, who was vice-principal of St. Xavier’s College (now University), Calcutta, for a quarter century died in Belgium September 5. He was 93.
He was also the rector of the same college.
“Father Huart died during the night. In the evening he had a fatal fall in his room of the La Colombière residence, and was immediately taken to the hospital where he died a few hours later,” said Jesuit Father Etienne from Belgium.
“Though (by his own account) he felt weaker day after day Father Huart kept to his regular routine of meals and Eucharist with the community. His fall was probably due to a cardiac failure. May he rest in peace,” Father Etienne said.
Father Huart had spent 75 years in the Society of Jesus, also called the Jesuits. He was St Xavier’s vice-Principal for about 25 years. He was also rector of Dhyan Ashram (formation house and retreat house), Calcutta and he was Socius to the provincial for about 12 years.
“He was very much sought after for spiritual direction, retreats, and talks. A man always cheerful and fully alive, deeply spiritual and very active ready to offer his services till his death. May the Lord give him eternal rest. A loyal and faithful servant of the Lord,” Father Etienne said.
Father Huart translated a book on the Jesuits’ Bengal-mission history. He also translated a book on the history of Bengal – Chotanagpur mission into English in 2017.
“Father Huart was a well-known face in Calcutta and among the students,” Jesuit Father Irudya Jothi, director of the Jesuit-run Udayani Social Action Forum in West Bengal, told Matters India.