On 27^th March 2008, Marcel Farine, founder of Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse and one of the founders of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations, passed away, at the age of 84.

From left to right: Abbé Pierre, Marcel Farine, Raoul Follereau,
Photo © ILEP

 

Marcel Farine cared deeply for his fellow humans and dedicated his life to the most destitute people in the world, whilst working for the Union postale universale in Switzerland and supporting a wife and eight children. He wrote and spoke of creating a new society in which every individual would “... enjoy true freedom and full responsibility…” through their active participation in, and promotion of, a society that is respectful of the universe and is protective of life and in which special care is taken of the poor and marginalised. “Serve first he who suffers the most” was his motto.

In 1956 Marcel Farine established les Amis d’Emmaüs in Berne. Three years later he founded Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse, which is still active today in supporting those affected by leprosy and other diseases such as Buruli ulcer.

Marcel Farine was convinced of the snowball effect of helping the least fortunate as he believed they in turn would be able to help others poorer and more vulnerable than themselves. Mr René Stäheli, Director of Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse, reported that during his last visit to their office last year, Marcel Farine had said: “I consider workshops for the handicapped such as those at Hubli a perfect example of how we have been able to put our ideals into action. Persons with disabilities due to leprosy are able to produce objects there, which are sold. The takings enable us to assist those in the hospital who are affected by leprosy”.

Together with Pierre Van den Wijngaert, Hermann Kober and André Récipon, Marcel Farine played an instrumental role in the founding of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations, ILEP, in 1966. Marcel Farine was responsible for much of the text of the original Constitution of ILEP and was elected its first President for the term 1966-1967. He was re-elected to a second term for a further mandate between the years 1973 and 1974.

Among the friends and collaborators of Marcel Farine were many who espoused charitable and humanitarian ideals:

• Abbé Pierre, founder of the Emmaüs Movement
• Raoul Follereau, founder of World Leprosy Day
• Père Joseph Wresinski, founder of the International Movement ATD Fourth World
• Captain Leonard Cheshire, founder of Cheshire Foundation Homes for the Sick and Disabled (today Leonard Cheshire Disability and Leonard Cheshire Disability International)
• Professor Natesa Jagadisan, founder of the Kasturba Kushta Nivaran Nilayam and Secretary of the Hind Kusht Nivaran Sangh

Books written by Marcel Farine:

• Le signe de contradiction
• Un monde meilleur est possible
• Le paradis perdu d’Eugen Drewermann
• Les rendez-vous de l’espoir

Website of the late Marcel Farine (in French): http://www.marcelfarine.ch/

 

Obituary in French drafted by staff at Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse: http://www.lepra.ch/lepra/e/documents/NecrologieMarcelFarine_001.pdf

Obituary in German drafted by staff at Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse: http://www.lepra.ch/lepra/e/documents/nachruf_mfarine.pdf

Website of Aide aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse: http://www.lepra.ch/lepra/e/index.html

 

 

MAIN EVENTS IN MARCEL FARINE'S LIFE 

1924 
Born in Moutier, Switzerland, on 25^th February

1942
Diploma in Administration from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce, Lausanne

1949
Married Thérèse Berger (8 children)

1949-1979
Career with the Union postale universelle (UPU) in Berne. Head of a section for technical co-operation at representative at the United Nations and its specialised agencies (FAO, WHO, UNESCO, ITU, etc)

1956-1964
Creation and presidency of Amis d’Emmaüs in Berne following visits to 800 families and marginalised persons

1958-1990 
Creation and presidency of Emmaüs (Emmaüs-Switzerland) groups in Berne

1959-1989 
Creation and presidency of the Emmaüs and Aide Aux Lépreux Emmaüs-Suisse Construction Co-operative, Berne

1966-1973 
Creation (at the request of Raoul Follereau) of the International Federation of Anti-Leprosy Associations (ILEP) with other international partners; First President of ILEP, 1966-1967; President of ILEP, 1973-1974

1969-1979 
Creation (at the request of Abbé Pierre) and presidency of Emmaüs International at Alfortville, Paris

Visit to and evaluation of hundreds of collaborative technical projects around the world, many created on his own initiative

Meetings and/or collaboration with numerous persons working with the United Nations and its specialised bodies, with presidents and ministers of state, with popes and prophets such as Pope Paul VI and Jean Paul II, Abbé Pierre, Raoul Follereau, Captain Cheshire, etc

Drafting of articles, brochures and books on Emmaüs, leprosy, technical co-operation and various religious themes

Participation in numerous conferences on behalf of international organisations, social works, commercial organisations, universities, schools, etc

2008 
Died 27^th March, Berne, Switzerland

 

 

Categories: Members