Dear Brothers, Sisters, and Friends in Christ,

Today, we gather with hearts united in solemn reverence, profound gratitude, and Christian hope to celebrate the life and legacy of our beloved Brother, Augustine Kubdaar, FIC, whom the Lord has called from our midst after a lifetime of faithful, generous, and selfless service. Though we mourn his passing, we give thanks to God for the gift of his life a life poured out in loving service to the Church, the Congregation, and all those entrusted to his care.

Brother Augustine was a man who walked closely with God. His life bore quiet but powerful witness to the Gospel, expressed not merely in words but in consistent actions marked by humility, compassion, and fidelity. As Provincial Superior of the Ghana FIC Province and later as Superior General of our Congregation, he exercised leadership not as authority imposed, but as service rendered. He led as Christ led by listening, accompanying, encouraging, and empowering others.

In 2006, during the Chapter of the Ghana Province, Brother Augustine was elected Provincial Superior, a responsibility he embraced with remarkable humility and deep trust in God. From the very beginning, his leadership revealed the heart of a true servant. He placed the holistic formation of every brother, spiritual, physical, emotional, and psychological at the centre of his mission. He worked tirelessly to ensure that each brother grew deeply rooted in the charism and values of our Founders, confident in identity and generous in mission.

As Provincial Superior, he guided the province through both challenging and fruitful seasons with wisdom and calm resolve. He was a builder of fraternity, a promoter of forgiveness and reconciliation, and a tireless advocate of authentic community life. He continually encouraged deeper prayer, meaningful community living, and committed apostolic engagement. With gentle insistence, he urged brothers to make themselves available to the wider Church through diocesan and parish ministries, reminding us that our vocation finds fulfilment in service to God’s people.

What distinguished Brother Augustine most was his genuine humanity. Despite the weight of leadership, he remained approachable, warm, and deeply attentive to others. He had an open heart that welcomed every brother, especially those struggling or discouraged. His capacity to listen without judgment and to accompany with patience transformed lives and strengthened the bonds of fraternity. In him, authority was never distant; it was always relational.

He served the Ghana Province faithfully from 2006 to 2012, and is remembered with gratitude and appreciation by his brothers. The trust placed in him was reaffirmed in 2018, when he was elected Superior General of the Congregation. Once again, he answered the call with generosity and courage, offering himself wholly for the good of the entire FIC family. As Superior General, he inspired brothers across cultures and continents to embrace our Constitutions with renewed conviction and to walk faithfully in the footsteps of our Founders.

When he was called to serve a second term as Superior General (2024–2030), he responded with the same spirit of faith-filled courage. He led the global Congregation with vision, openness, and pastoral sensitivity. He possessed a rare gift for attentive listening, respecting diversity while fostering unity of purpose and love. His leadership reflected the very heart of our charism: to serve, to educate, to bring hope, and to witness to Christ’s love in all circumstances.

Brother Augustine was, in every sense, an FIC Brother not merely in title, but in authentic spirit and daily practice. He led with a brother’s heart, never seeking privilege or recognition, but always affirming the dignity and worth of each person. Many of us are deeply grateful for the privilege of journeying with him as a formation classmate, confrere, and friend. His humility, simplicity, and profound respect for humanity left an indelible mark on us all.

His deep prayer life was the hidden source of his strength. He began each day with gratitude and ended each night interceding for those entrusted to him. Prayer shaped his decisions, sustained him in trials, and grounded his leadership. He often reminded us, “We are but instruments of God’s peace; let us serve with humility and joy.” Even in moments of difficulty or uncertainty, he remained gentle in spirit and steadfast in trust in Divine Providence.

Today, as we commend his soul into the loving embrace of our Heavenly Father, we do so with hearts filled with both sorrow and immense gratitude; sorrow at our loss, and gratitude for the enduring legacy he has left within our Congregation and beyond. His life remains a guiding light for all who seek to follow Christ in religious life with integrity, joy, and self-giving love.

May the Lord whom he served so faithfully welcome him into eternal rest and may perpetual light shine upon him. As we mourn, may we also find consolation in the promise of the Resurrection and renewed strength to continue the mission he cherished so deeply.

As we bid him farewell, we echo the words of Saint Paul:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
(2 Timothy 4:7)

Rest in peace, dear Brother Augustine.
Your life, your leadership, and your love will continue to inspire and guide us.

In faith and fraternity,

FIC, Ghana Province