Fr Peter Hillen, Rest in Peace

Pallottine Father Peter Hillen, who served in South Africa from 1999-2007, died on July 18 at the age of 68 in Nigeria.

Fr Hillen spent almost all of his priestly ministry in Africa.

Throughout his time on the continent, he trained Pallottine postulants and worked with funding agencies on Germany and Austria to secure finances for projects.

Having entered the Pallottine order in his native Germany in 1974, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1979.

From 1985-99 he served in Cameroon before coming to South Africa in 1999 for eight years.

During that time he served St Vincent’s parish in Pietermaritzburg, alongside his Pallottine confrere Fr Vincent Kupiso, who preceded him in death. He also was the superior of his order’s community for a time.

In 2007 he was transferred to Nigeria, where he stayed for the rest of life. Based in the southern region, he built up a Pallottine parish and initiated projects, including a water factory and numerous wells.