More than a month and a half had passed when Pastor Augustin in the Tyrolean Stubai Valley was hit by a debris flow in his car during devastating storms and swept away by the flooding. To this day there is no trace of the pastor – despite numerous house searches. On Friday, many people from the Stubai communities, music bands, gunmen, representatives of the blue light organizations and numerous delegations from traditional associations said goodbye to “their” pastor Augustin Kouanvih with a thanksgiving service in Neustift.
Along with Bishop Hermann Glettler, Vicar General Roland Buemberger, Dean Augustin Ortner and Pastoral Chamber Curator Deacon Leo Hinterlechner, many fellow priests also paid their last respects to the victim. A cousin of Pastor Augustin from Belgium took part in the service on behalf of the family. A group from his previous workplace in the Stanzertal also traveled to the funeral service.
Only debris from car found
The priest, from Togo, has been missing since the severe storms in the Stubai Valley on the night of July 22 to 23. A mudslide had towed the 60-year-old’s car on that unfortunate night as he was on his way home from a volunteer party in Neustift. Only debris could be recovered from the vehicle. Despite an intensive search, the pastor has not yet been found.
Bishop Glettler recalled personal encounters: “Pastor Augustin won the hearts of many people with his cheerful disposition. Contact with people who are far away from the church was also important to him. He valued people and easily remembered their names – especially those of children and young people. Every now and then I had to smile when he thanked everyone after a service in long lists. It came from his heart, maybe from his culture of origin.”
Short biography of Pastor Augustin
Pastor Augustin Kouanvih was ordained in December 1990 and sent in 1998 from his home diocese of Aneho in southern Togo to study canon law in Innsbruck. After completing his dissertation on the topic “Women’s Rights and Dignity in Southern Togolese Society and Church”, he remained in the Diocese of Innsbruck as a minister. After a short time as parish administrator in Rum and Neu-Rum, he became pastor in the pastoral room “Oberes Stanzertal” in the autumn of 2008. In the autumn of 2019 he came to the Stubai Valley.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
