Société des Missions Africaines –Province des Etats-Unis

né le 20 décembre 1934 à Rumford dans le diocèse de Portland, USA serment perpétuel le 26 mai 1966 prêtre le 28 mai 1966 décédé le 5 septembre 1991

1966-1973 missionnaire au Liberia, Cape Palmas 1973-1974 Chicago, USA 1974-1979 missionnaire au Liberia, Cape Palmas 1979-1984 USA, animation vocationnelle 1984-1989 missionnaire au Liberia, Cape Palmas 1989-1991 Tenafly, supérieur décédé à Tenafly, USA, le 5 septembre 1991 à l'âge de 56 ans

Laurier Haines was born in Rumford, Maine, USA, in the diocese of Portland, on December 20, 1934.
He died at the Provincialate House, Tenafly, NJ, USA, on September 5, 1991.

One of a family of three boys and two girls born to Earle and Octavie (Savoie) Haines, Laurier (Larry) Haines lived first at 1233 Norman St., Rumford and then, after his father’s early death, at 108 Carlson Drive, Milford, Connecticut. He attended Grade School at ‘Bisbee’, Rumford, and at ‘Elias Howe’ and ‘Bryant’, both in Bridgeport. He received his second level education at Maplewood Junior High, South Central High and the University School, all in Bridgeport (1950-1954). After school Larry joined the Air Force, serving for three years (he worked in Radar maintenance), during which he was posted in America, Iceland and Brazil. In September 1957, deciding to become a missionary priest, Larry entered Queen of Apostles Seminary, Dedham, MA, where he studied philosophy (1957-1961). He made his Novitiate at Ave Maria Seminary, Doylestown PA., and received his theological formation at the Catholic University in Washington DC (1962-1966). Larry was received as a member of the Society on June 3, 1962. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Nicholas Grimley, SMA, in the chapel at Tenafly, on May 28, 1966 and celebrated his first Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Milford.

After ordination Larry was assigned to the American Province’s mission in Cape Palmas, Liberia, arriving there in September 1966. Bishop Grimley, Vicar Apostolic of the jurisdiction, appointed him to the pro-cathedral parish. Here he was inducted into the missionary life and, in addition to his pastoral duties, learned about the culture and life of the people. After some months he was re-assigned as pastor to the town of Pleebo. Larry did two tours of duty in the Vicariate, spending much of his second tour as pastor in the towns of Greenville and Grand Cess. In 1973, while home on leave, Larry’s superiors appointed him to work in Promotion and Recruitment at the SMA House in Chicago Il. However, within a year he was back beginning a third tour in Cape Palmas where Bishop Dalieh appointed him Director of the Minor Seminary. After two further tours, in 1979, Larry again received a home appointment, assigned as Vocations Director for the Province, based first in Dedham and later in Chicago. Four years later he took sabbatical leave, joining the ‘Focus on Leadership’ course at Holy Name Center, Mission Training Service, and Spokane, Washington. He successfully completed this two-semester course, receiving a diploma from the Religious Studies Department of Gonzaga University - the parent institution - on May 28, 1984.

During 1983, while doing his studies, his superiors approached him with the proposition of joining a new team to work in the diocese of Shinyanga, Tanzania. Larry was immediately enthusiastic and was scheduled to go to Tanzania with another confrere to examine the situation. However just as arrangements were in hand he was found to require a cancer operation and had to return to Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck. Larry hoped he could still join the proposed venture, but his superiors felt that his medical condition required him to remain in the United States where he could be regularly monitored. After his operation he returned to be pastor of Grand Cess (84-85) and then Pleebo (85-89) missions. He was to occupy this post until 1989 when he was appointed Superior of the Provincial House at Tenafly in August 1989.

Ably assisted by Frank Gilfether and Jim Sullivan, Larry proved a caring and efficient superior, respected and praised by the elderly men in the house, the staff and administration and by the many visitors who passed through Tenafly. A particularly happy occasion was the celebration of his Silver Jubilee of priesthood by the community on 6 April 1991.

Larry’s death came suddenly. He was found dead in his room on the morning of September 5, 1991. A post-mortem revealed that he had sustained a major heart-attack during the previous night or early morning, dying some three hours later. Larry had had his medical problems over the years but the manner of his death was altogether unexpected. It is true that a medical examination in 1973 revealed certain cardio-vascular abnormalities, but at the time the Doctor declared no disease to be present. It was true too that a high level of hypertension had been recognized although he appeared to be responding to treatment. The shock of his sudden going was felt throughout the Society and especially in his beloved Cape Palmas where he had spent the best part of his missionary career. Bishop Boniface Dalieh of the diocese wrote to the Provincial on hearing the news that the ‘adults and teenagers were seen openly weeping in the streets of Pleebo, Greenville and Grand Cess when the news broke. They were saying in Grebo “popo wlee O’ and in Kru “nade O’. (A traditional mourner’s cry, calling out for one’s mother) Larry was predeceased by his mother – a most devout woman – who died August 10, 1985.

When Larry applied to join the SMA his old school principal in Bridgeport wrote to the SMA to express his joy and to praise his former pupil. ‘When Larry and his two brothers were in Grade school their father died and they took on adult responsibilities. They had heavy paper routes, mornings and nights and rose at 2 a.m. Sundays for the New York papers… They seemed to welcome responsibilities and sought out ways to serve.’
He is buried in the SMA community plot at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Tenafly NJ, USA.