“He who dies is more than cloth woven artistically; He continues to live in God.”
Johannes Harding was born on 20th June 1933 at Paderborn, Germany. He was the eldest son in a family of four children of Johannes and Gertrude Harding. His father worked on the railways, but returned home, 100% handicapped, after serving at the front. Despite all the restrictions caused by this fact, Johannes had a trouble free childhood with his brother and two sisters in a family that had a deep faith. This idyllic existence came to an abrupt end when, in the final year of the war, their house and everything in it was burnt and destroyed during an air raid on Paderborn. Different families and institutions took in the family until, after six months, they managed to put two rooms to rights in the ruins of their house.
Johannes attended primary school in Paderborn from 1939 to 1947. From fourth class onwards, teaching was intermittent because of problems caused by the war. In fact, years five and six were completely cancelled. It was only during the seventh and eighth year that things got back to more or less normal. Johannes finished primary school at Easter 1947.
After primary school, Johannes attended Junior Seminaries run by the White Fathers at Rietberg and Großkrotzenburg where he passed his Baccalaureate. He never allowed himself to be discouraged by any setback. He was open to advice from his teachers and he studied with an astonishing tenacity. Very determined, he concentrated, with all his strength, on his ongoing religious and scientific formation. He was nicknamed “the subtle doctor.” (Reference to Duns Scotus). He even gave up playing the organ for the liturgical celebrations in order to devote himself entirely to the study of languages.
After philosophical studies in Trier, Johannes entered the novitiate in s’Heerenberg, the Netherlands in 1957. He studied Theology in Totteridge, London and he took his Missionary Oath there on the 2nd February 1961. He was ordained priest on the 8th July 1961 at Salzgitter, Germany.
Looking to his future missionary work, Johannes had already asked for an appointment to Tanzania while he was still in the scholasticate. He even listed his preferences for the dioceses of Rulenge, Karema or Mwanza. His main interest was missionary work at grassroots level. In case he was appointed to the Province, he saw himself as a science teacher in Physics or Chemistry. If, by any chance, he were appointed for studies, he would like to study Catechetics.
In the end, his first wish was realised and he was appointed to Tanzania. After the Pastoral course in London, there was no longer any obstacle for his first exit from his country. He first worked in Kome Parish in the Diocese of Mwanza. Very quickly, confreres and people appreciated his apostolic zeal. With his calm and gentle demeanour, he was ready to help everybody. He was a born businessman and organiser, always full of new ideas. He set out to achieve his aims using all the means necessary but, at the same time, open to help and scrutiny. Already during his training, there were some health problems and these surfaced again in Africa. He was appointed to the island of Nansio after two years, in the hope that he could support the climate better. During his home leave in 1968, no organic reason was found at the Tropical Clinic for his ill health except for a bilharzia infection. On his return in late 1968, he changed to the Diocese of Musoma. He served as curate in Kibara Parish before becoming Parish Priest in 1973. He worked tirelessly visiting the villages in his all terrain vehicle. After a well-earned rest in 1982, his Superiors had another surprise for him. He became the pastor of souls in Kalebejo in the Diocese of Geita. He continued to have health problems and he had to return to the German Province in January 1994.
Without the long safaris and the African climate, Johannes recovered quickly and he was able to take on the position of Superior at our house in Dillingen. In 2008, he suffered his first stroke. Despite rehabilitation and physiotherapy, he suffered a second stroke later in the year. These two serious episodes did not leave any physical traces such as paralysis. However, he had to do continual exercises to help his speech and memory. When he began to lose his sense of balance, he had to pass on his responsibilities to his confreres. In November 2011, he joined the house for retired confreres in Trier. He was to pass his final years in a wheel chair because he now suffered from dementia. On the 27th October 2016, he was found unconscious in his room. The Doctor on call diagnosed a serious stroke and he was transferred to hospital. Just as he had lived life, Johannes tranquilly gave his soul into the hands of the Lord on All Saints Day (1st November) 2016.
Frère Günther Zah