Kevin est né le 3 mai 1930 à Manchester, Angleterre. Ses parents étaient Irlandais et il était le plus jeune d’une famille de trois enfants. Son frère ainé était prêtre dans le diocèse de Salford et sa sœur était enseignante. Kevin était très près de sa sœur, de son mari et de sa famille, et il demeurait avec eux durant ses congés. Kevin n’a jamais oublié ses racines irlandaises et il visitait ses cousins à Cork chaque fois qu’il venait en congé.

Il est entré chez les Pères Blancs à l’âge de 16 ans après ses études secondaires au collège St. Bede à Manchester. Il a étudié la philosophie en Ecosse et fait son noviciat de 1948 à 1949 à ‘s-Heerenberg, Pays Bas. Ensuite il y a fait la théologie de 1949 à 1952 avant de retourner à Monteviot, près de Galashiels en Écosse pour sa dernière année de théologie. Il a fait son Serment missionnaire le 25 juillet 1952 à ‘s-Heerenberg et a été ordonné le 11 juin 1953 à Monteviot. Comme il avait seulement 23 ans, il devait avoir une dispense pour l’ordination.

Ensuite il a été nommé à Rome pour des études de Philosophie à l’université Grégorienne et a terminé sa Licence en 1955. Il a enseigné à notre séminaire de Blacklion de 1955 à 1966. Il était très dynamique et bon professeur apprécié de ses étudiants, bien qu’il lui ait été difficile d’entrer en relation avec eux au début, mais il a surmonté cela rapidement. Il aimait bien partager avec eux et appreciait une discussion animée. La Société l’a nommé en Ethiopie en 1966. C’était en réponse à une demande de Abune Hailemariam Kashay de l’Eparchie d’Adigrat au Supérieur Général P. Leo Volker pour aider à la formation du clergé local pour la petite population catholique d’Adigrat. Il a fait une année à Rome au collège Ethiopien.

Les Pères José Bandres, Nicolas Gildas et lui même ont été les premiers Pères Blancs à venir dans l’Eparchie d’Adigrat. Il a commencé à enseigner à Adigrat le 1er septembre 1967, et cela a couvert toute sa vie missionnaire, excepté six années comme Provincial en Irlande de 1994 à 2000. Il était présent durant le règne de l’Empereur Haile Selassie, le régime brutal Derg, et durant la Révolution du Front Démocratique Révolutionnaire du Peuple Ethiopien.

Kevin avait aussi un autre engagement comme travailleur d’une ONG pour aider le diocèse à s’occuper du très grand nombre de réfugiés qui venaient au diocèse en recherche d’aide durant les périodes de violence et de famine. Plusieurs lettres ont été écrites à des organismes d’aide humanitaire Irlandais et au gouvernement Irlandais. Il y a eu une réponse très positive spécialement quand il est intervenu à la télévision et à la radio demandant de l’aide pour la famine de 1984. Bien que la famine de 1984 ait été sérieuse, Kevin croyait que les effets de la famine de 1989 étaient pires parce que le gouvernement utilisait la nourriture comme arme. Il a été très critique de certains gouvernements étrangers et d’ONG parce qu’il croyait qu’ils auraient dû faire davantage pour que la nourriture arrive aux gens affamés dans les régions des rebelles. Eventuellement la nourriture est arrivée et la situation s’est améliorée quand le EPRDF a pris le pouvoir. Même si le gouvernement se présentait comme Marxiste, il travaillait avec l’Eglise pour améliorer la situation des gens.

En plus des ses tâches d’enseignant, Kevin est devenu écrivain et historien. Son œuvre la plus renommée est une histoire complète du Vicariat de Abyssinia, “The Ebullient Phoenix,” et “Meaza,” un roman historique de la révolution éthiopienne. Dans notre bibliothèque à Rome, il y a un répertoire de 23 livres et articles à son nom. Il a beaucoup insisté sur la grande importance de maintenir des liens fraternels avec l’Eglise Orthodoxe Ethiopienne et avec la communauté musulmane qui est minoritaire.

Kevin a vécu des moments difficiles en Ethiopie, car la plupart du temps, il y avait une grande insécurité. Plusieurs fois il a dû remettre à plus tard son congé en famille, et il n’était jamais sûr de pouvoir retourner, car cela signifiait un long voyage durant la nuit en convoi de la frontière du Soudan jusqu’à Adigrat. Il supportait tout cela avec un esprit de fidélité et d’engagement à sa mission. Cela est très révélateur que non seulement il ait survécu, mais qu‘il ait pu s’épanouir tout en restant en contact régulier avec des personnes dans un état de famine, spécialement les enfants.

Les dernières années, il a eu des ennuis de santé. Il est retourné en Ethiopie juste avant que les supérieurs lui demandent de rester en Irlande. Il est mort où il a désiré, dans le pays qu’il aimait, l’Ethiopie. Le 3 janvier 2015, il est tombé malade et on l’a transporté à l’hôpital de Mekelle, où il est décédé juste avant minuit. Son corps a été conduit à Adigrat. La messe de funérailles a eu lieu à la cathédrale du Saint Sauveur à Adigrat. Il a été enterré au cimetière Catholique de l’Eparchie le 5 janvier 2015.

Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin a écrit au Supérieur délégué Irlandais, “Tous ses frères et sœurs missionnaires l’ont accompagné durant les quelques jours de sa maladie et à ses funérailles. Il y avait aussi beaucoup d’autres personnes représentant les autorités civiles et gouvernementales et les ONG. Parmi celles-ci il y avait le Chargé d’Affaires de l’ambassade d’Irlande et le Secrétaire Général du Secrétariat Catholique Ethiopien, le Président de la Société d’Entraide de Tigray, et les responsables de l’Eglise Orthodoxe Ethiopienne et de la communauté Musulmane. Mais, en plus, la population chrétienne d’Adigrat et d’ailleurs. Catholiques et Orthodoxes sont venus aux funérailles du Père Kevin.

Cela n’est pas une surprise que tant de personnes aient participé à ces derniers rites. Durant plus de quarante ans, toute la personne du Père Kevin, son cœur, son esprit, son énergie, tous ses talents ont été au service de l’Église Catholique d’Adigrat et de l’Ethiopie. En résumé, il a donné toute sa vie pour nous. Il aimait tellement la population de ce pays en vivant avec eux les temps difficiles de la famine aussi bien que les moments de paix et de joie. Son amour pour Dieu et le peuple de Dieu lui ont permis d’être disponible pour une grande variété de services que lui ont demandé les évêques d’Adigrat et d’Ethiopie. Il connaissait très bien l’histoire de l’Ethiopie, sa langue et sa population”.

Un mois après sa mort, le 6 février 2015, une messe en sa mémoire a été célébrée à la chapelle des Pères Blancs à Dublin. Il y avait un bon nombre de membres de la famille de Kevin de Manchester et une bonne représentation d’Araglin du comté de Cork. L’ambassadeur d‘Ethiopie en Irlande et un représentant de l’Eglise Orthodoxe et quelques représentants des ONG travaillant en Ethiopie étaient aussi présents. Il y avait évidemment plusieurs amis et voisins qui sont venus rendre hommage à ce confrère profondément engagé “qui est resté fidèle à sa vocation religieuse et une personne d’une foi profonde“ (Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin, Eparche d’Adigrat).

Ian Buckmaster

Père Pierre-Alfred Leclerc

1931 - - 2015

Pierre-Alfred naît le 20 août 1931 à Laprairie, dans le diocèse de St-Jean, Canada. Il est le cinquième d’une famille de six enfants. Durant ses études classiques au collège Bourget de Rigaud, il se fait remarquer par ses talents de chanteur et d’acteur, ce qui l’amène à jouer un peu partout dans la province de Québec et celles des maritimes, avec la troupe de théâtre du collège. Il est aussi un adepte de sport, ski, natation et tennis. D’un tempérament joyeux, il est très apprécié par ses confrères.

Durant ses études secondaires, Pierre veut devenir médecin. Mais, à la fin de sa deuxième année de philosophie, au cours d’une retraite de quatre jours, il décide de devenir prêtre et missionnaire. Son directeur spirituel lui fait remarquer que cinq ans de scoutisme l’ont formé pour faire de lui un missionnaire. Ces paroles de son directeur lui procurent une joie extraordinaire. Il se rend tout de suite à la chapelle pour prier : “Tu m’as saisi, Seigneur, tu m’as choisi !”. Depuis ce moment, Pierre n’a jamais douté de sa vocation. Et comme il connaît un Père Blanc qui a étudié lui aussi au même collège Bourget et qui travaille au Malawi, il décide alors d’entrer chez les Missionnaires d’Afrique.

Le 13 août 1951, Pierre entre au noviciat des Pères Blancs à Saint-Martin de Laval. Le maître des novices constate sa volonté énergique, sa générosité dans les travaux manuels ainsi que sa piété faite de convictions profondes. À la fin août 1952, en compagnie de deux confrères, il s’embarque à Québec pour se rendre au scolasticat de ‘s-Heerenberg, aux Pays-Bas, pour les trois premières années de théologie. Là, il fait preuve d’une bonne intelligence et d’efforts constants qui lui permettent d’obtenir des résultats satisfaisants dans ses études. Il continue de donner le meilleur de lui-même pour la communauté, s’adaptant facilement à toutes les situations.

Ses formateurs notent que son humilité et sa piété feront de lui un très bon missionnaire dans le travail apostolique. Il prononce son serment missionnaire le 22 juillet 1955. Pour la dernière année de théologie, Pierre se rend à Monteviot House, en Écosse, où il reçoit la prêtrise, le 24 mai 1956, des mains du cardinal Gray.

Après quelques mois de congé dans sa famille au Canada, le Père Leclerc retourne en Écosse pour se préparer à l’enseignement. Après trois ans d’études à l’université St. Andrews, il obtient un diplôme en sciences et en mathématiques. En septembre 1959, il peut enfin partir pour l’Afrique, au Malawi.
Il est d’abord nommé professeur de sciences au petit séminaire de Kasina, dans le diocèse de Dedza.

Le Père Leclerc reconnaît qu’au début, il ne connaît pas ses élèves, ni leur langue, ni leur culture. D’où son incapacité à communiquer vraiment avec eux. Ce qui le fait souffrir. Alors il n’hésite pas à s’évader souvent hors des murs du séminaire pour se familiariser avec la langue chichewa, tout en rendant des services à la paroisse de Kasina, puis à celle de Mua. Une fois la langue locale apprise, il se rend, les week-ends, dans les succursales de ces paroisses pour visiter les gens des villages environnants. Il s’assoit avec les gens, et assiste à leurs palabres.

À l’occasion, il transporte dans sa voiture des malades à l’hôpital et s’occupe des personnes âgées qui sont parfois delaissées. Il témoigne ainsi de la bonté de Dieu par son attitude plus que par ses paroles. Le Père Leclerc reconnaît qu’en tant que missionnaire, sa première démarche n’est pas d’enseigner aux Africains mais de se faire évangéliser par eux car ces derniers possèdent de très grandes valeurs humaines et spirituelles.

Après un congé au Canada en 1967, Pierre revient au Malawi et, cette fois-ci, il est nommé au petit séminaire de Mtendere pour de nouveau y enseigner les sciences. Mais l’idéal du missionnaire reprend toujours le dessus et bientôt, des centaines de catéchumènes des villages avoisinants viennent au séminaire pour y recevoir les cours de catéchèse. En octobre 1974, néophytes et catéchumènes remplissent la chapelle du séminaire. Même les classes et la bibliothèque sont envahies! Le bruit dérange vite les séminaristes et les professeurs du séminaire. Et Pierre va continuer son ministère auprès des catéchumènes au village de Khomani, dans une petite église faite de paille en attendant une nouvelle église.

En juin 1981, Pierre revient au Canada. Trois mois plus tard, il est nommé aux États-Unis, dans notre communauté Pères Blancs de Plainfield, au New Jersey. Il y reste trois ans pour l’animation missionnaire. Il visite les écoles, donne des retraites aux jeunes, et prêche dans les paroisses du diocèse. C’est pour lui une période d’adaptation difficile après 22 ans en Afrique. En décembre 1984, il repart enfin au Malawi où il est nommé aumônier de la jeunesse du diocèse de Dedza. Deux ans plus tard, il retourne au séminaire de Mtendere. On le retrouve ensuite vicaire à Nsipe, Mua et Chezi.

En 1998, après 40 ans de vie missionnaire au Malawi, Pierre revient définitivement au Canada. Il est nommé à Toronto où, avec deux confrères, il s’occupe de l’animation vocationnelle, de la rédaction de lettres adressées à nos bienfaiteurs et amis, et il visite certaines écoles. Dans les établissements scolaires visités, il a laissé un témoignage impressionnant auprès des personnes rencontrées.

Au mois d’octobre 2002, Pierre ressent les premiers symptômes de la maladie qui l’affaiblit. Il demande à aller à Montréal, dans notre maison provinciale, où il pourra se reposer tout en rendant quelques services. En 2008, il va résider dans notre communauté de Sherbrooke. Il y restera cinq ans et devra ensuite aller vivre au CHSLD Saint-Joseph pour recevoir des soins plus appropriés. C’est là qu’il décède le 27 avril 2015. La messe des funérailles a lieu à la chapelle des Missionnaires d’Afrique de Sherbrooke, le 2 mai, suivie de l’inhumation au cimetière Saint-Antoine.

Pierre écrivait dans sa méditation du souvenir : “Dieu m’a appelé à aller porter son Nom en Afrique. Je n’ai jamais perdu de vue cet appel. J’ai aimé l’Afrique et les Africains. Je leur ai donné beaucoup. Mais j’ai reçu d’eux davantage : les Africains m’ont enseigné le respect de Dieu et de la personne, le respect de la vie, l’hospitalité et la relation interpersonnelle”.

Michel Carbonneau

Père Jean-Marie Blanchard

1923 - - 2015

Jean-Marie est né le 9 juin 1923 à Saint-Germain-de-Grantham, dans le diocèse de Nicolet, Canada. Il est l’aîné d’une famille de trois enfants. Après avoir fréquenté l’école paroissiale de Saint-Germain, Jean-Marie fait ses études classiques au collège Jean-de-Brébeuf de Montréal de 1936 à 1944. À la fin de son cours classique, sentant en lui la voix de Dieu qui l’appelle vers la mission en Afrique, il demande à être accepté au postulat des Pères Blancs à Everell, près de Québec, où il se distingue par son imagination brillante et son sens de l’organisation. Il est très apprécié de ses confrères pour son tempérament joyeux. Il entre au noviciat Saint-Martin de Laval le 22 août 1945 et le 13 août 1946 au scolasticat d’Eastview, ON.

Au scolasticat, Jean-Marie est très à l’aise avec ses confrères. Il est toujours joyeux, aimable et serviable avec tous. On devine déjà qu’il saura mettre de la bonne humeur dans les communautés où il vivra. Attaché à sa vocation, il s’applique à sa formation sacerdotale et apostolique. Il a un goût particulier pour la musique et ses qualités de photographe ne passent pas inaperçues. Il prononce son serment missionnaire le 26 juin 1949 et est ordonné prêtre, à Ottawa, le 2 février 1950.

À l’occasion de la fête de départ des jeunes Pères du scolasticat, un de ses formateurs souligne que Jean-Marie a les qualités d’un poète : “C’est un cœur de Musset sous une écorce d’Hercule”, dit-il.

En septembre 1950, Jean-Marie s’embarque pour Londres, en Angleterre où il obtient, à l’Université de Londres, un certificat en sciences de l’éducation. Ces études d’une année lui permettront de se familiariser avec le système scolaire britannique. L’année suivante, en août 1951, il part pour la Tanzanie. Il est d’abord nommé professeur à l’Ecole Normale de Bukumbi, diocèse de Mwanza. En 1952, il devient Secrétaire d’Éducation, dans le diocèse de Kigoma, avec résidence à Kabanga, Kakonko et Kigoma.

Trois ans plus tard, il enseigne à l’Ecole Normale de Kajunguti, dans le diocèse de Bukoba. Après un congé au Canada en 1959, il fait la grande retraite de 30 jours suivie d’une session à Mours, en France. De retour en Tanzanie, il reprend le poste de Secrétaire d’Éducation pour le diocèse de Rulenge de 1960 à 1963. Puis il sera professeur dans diverses Ecoles Normales, à Bukoba, Mwanza et Tabora.

Parlant du travail du Père Blanchard dans le domaine de l’enseignement, ses supérieurs notent tous qu’il est très compétent et qu’il se donne tout entier à ses responsabilités. Il ne reçoit que des éloges de la part des enseignants qui l’ont connu. Au mois de mars 1970, Jean-Marie démissionne de son poste de professeur à Tabora et demande de rentrer au Canada pour un temps de recyclage. Ce retour au Québec, après 19 ans en Afrique, sera pour lui définitif pour des raisons familiales. Le 6 mars 1970, Jean-Marie est nommé à la Province canadienne, avec résidence à la rue St-Hubert, à Montréal. Commence alors pour lui une nouvelle étape de sa vie, entièrement marquée par son engagement dans les médias (l’audio-visuel et la presse écrite).

Le 9 février 1972, Jean-Marie est nommé par le Conseil provincial responsable d’un service de l’audio-visuel pour la Province canadienne des Pères Blancs. Il doit créer ce nouveau service, ce qui demandera, entre autres, de faire un inventaire des moyens audio-visuels que possède déjà la Province, et d’acquérir les nouveaux outils nécessaires en vue de l’animation missionnaire. Jean-Marie se met alors à réfléchir sur des pistes possibles pour la réalisation de films et de photos sur les diverses facettes de nos activités missionnaires en Afrique : catéchèse, développement, formation, enseignement, ministère pastoral, etc.

Au mois d’octobre de la même année, Jean-Marie se rend à Rulenge, Tanzanie, pour prendre des photos de scènes africaines. Il faut en effet renouveler la photothèque du département audio-visuel. Ces photos, en plus de servir à l’animation missionnaire, sont utilisées pour illustrer les articles de notre magazine Mission auquel collabore Jean-Marie.

En septembre 1980, pour des raisons familiales, le Père Blanchard demande à être dégagé de la responsabilité du Service audio-visuel. Il aidera son successeur à l’occasion. Ce dernier accepte, à partir de 1981, de s’occuper, avec la collaboration bénévole de plusieurs femmes laïques, de la promotion du magazine Mission. Il devient aussi le rédacteur de publications internes à notre Province Pères Blancs, telles que Africana/ Africanada et Le Lien/The Link.

En juin 2003, Jean-Marie reconnaît qu’il se sent de plus en plus fatigué. Les médecins ont diagnostiqué un début de cancer. Depuis plusieurs années, il se rend à l’hôpital pour un suivi en oncologie, dermatologie et cardiologie. Il demande à résider dans notre communauté de Sherbrooke où il pourra mieux se reposer et continuer, dans la mesure du possible, de rendre quelques services aux confrères en perte d’autonomie.

En juin 2014, le Père Blanchard est hospitalisé pour une embolie pulmonaire. Peu a.près, son état s’améliore. Mais il ne peut plus revenir dans notre communauté de Sherbrooke, car il a besoin d’un encadrement médical spécialisé. Il est admis au CHSLD St-Vincent de Sherbrooke.

Le 1er mai 2015, Jean-Marie décède à ce Pavillon St-Vincent de Sherbrooke, à l’âge de 91 ans. La messe des funérailles a lieu à la chapelle des Missionnaires d’Afrique de Sherbrooke, suivie de l’incinération. L’urne funéraire a été mise en terre à une date ultérieure, dans le lot de la famille Blanchard à Saint-Germain-de-Grantham.

Le P. Marcel Boivin a prononcé l’homélie des funérailles : “Jean-Marie était un communicateur né. Pas étonnant qu’en Tanzanie il ait œuvré dans les Écoles normales et qu’on ait fait appel à lui pour être inspecteur des écoles de toute une région… Plus tard, il se révèle un maître en audio-visuel et contribue à faire connaître le continent africain… Jean-Marie avait reçu du Seigneur des talents de grande valeur. Aujourd’hui, il lui remet les fruits que ces talents ont produits.

Michel Carbonneau

Alain naquit le 11 août 1932 à Guidel, dans le Morbihan (diocèse de Vannes), France, mais tout près du Sud-Finistère, dans une famille chrétienne de fermiers aisés : son frère François devint franciscain, un autre fut prêtre-ouvrier et l’une de ses trois sœurs, Anna, se fit Petite Sœur de l’Assomption.

Après ses baccalauréats, la philosophie à Kerlois et l’année spirituelle à Maison-Carrée à partir du 26 septembre 1952, il étudia la théologie à Thibar et Carthage où il fit le serment missionnaire le 17 juin 1958. Il fut ordonné prêtre à Guidel, le 2 février 1959. Alain avait hérité du caractère nerveux et anxieux de son père et il connut, durant ses premières années d’études, des phases de dépression. Le service militaire lui permit de s’affirmer et, au scolasticat, on soulignait sa très grande bonne volonté, bien qu’elle fût instable, changeante, indécise parfois, sa piété, sa générosité sans limites, son profond souci apostolique. Aussi fut-il admis aux ordres et nommé en Haute-Volta où il arriva le 1er septembre 1959.

Après avoir assuré, dans la ville de Bobo-Dioulasso, l’intérim du Père Jean Courtinade, il fut nommé à Nasso le 1er juin 1960, ‘pour boucher des trous’, lui dit Mgr Dupont. Pour sa plus grande joie, le 1er janvier 1963, il passa au diocèse de Diebougou, à Gaoua, au pays Lobi-Birifor, proche du Ghana, où il resta jusqu’à la grande retraite à la Villa Cavalleti en septembre 1969. Gaoua était un gros centre, nanti de succursales éparses sur des dizaines de kilomètres.

Son curé lui confia les Birifors qui ne comptaient que quelques chrétiens et catéchumènes et dont personne n’avait appris la langue. Il lui demanda “d’aller vers les gens”. Il pratiqua donc, auprès des villageois, un apostolat de la présence, du contact, pour préparer l’avenir. “Il s’est mis avec beaucoup d’ardeur à l’étude de la langue. Mal desservi au point de vue de l’oreille, il arriva cependant à un résultat fort appréciable. Très énergique pour faire ses tournées, dans des conditions pourtant difficiles, il avait une grande facilité de contact avec les gens.”

Après huit ans à Gaoua, on le retrouve vicaire à Niego le 1er février 1970 : c’était une fondation récente où de petites communautés chrétiennes commençaient à grandir, avec de bons catéchistes et... une nouvelle langue à apprendre. Mais, crises de paludisme, nourriture trop frugale, déplacements sur des pistes difficiles, tout cela provoqua une fatigue sérieuse qui exigea son rapatriement, dès décembre 1971. Mais en 1972, il obtint l’aval du médecin pour retrouver sa mission jusqu’au 1er avril 1975, date où il rentra en France pour un recyclage.

En août, il écrivait à Mgr Somé, son évêque, : “Petit à petit, je commence à comprendre que je dois me laisser ‘vivre’ et conduire par les personnes et les événements qui me permettent d’entendre Dieu et de découvrir sa volonté. Où serais-je demain ? Qu’est-ce que je ferai ? Peu importe. Au fond, je suis prêt ou, du moins, je veux être prêt et disponible à ce qu’Il voudra de moi... Je sais que, dans la pratique, je vais encore me casser le nez... mais je sais par expérience qu’il y a toujours moyen de repartir”.

Il s’inséra alors à Canappeville, près de Louviers, dans un prieuré des Petits Frères des campagnes, un centre de formation sociale dont le déroulement lui plut beaucoup. Mais il ne devait plus revoir les Wilés, car le Régional du Rwanda lui proposa ce pays, au climat plus tempéré : il y restera 22 ans. Le 10 avril 1978, il était à Mushishiro, diocèse de Kabgayi, d’où il passa, le 1er septembre suivant, à Bungwe, diocèse de Ruhengeri.

L’adaptation à cette mission si différente, de langue difficile, lui coûta ; après quelques semaines, il fit une forte dépression, dont il sortit grâce à une foi extraordinaire : jamais il ne renonça à de longs moments de prière, de lecture de la Bible. Grâce aussi à la patience et à l’écoute de ses confrères. En communauté, s’il était parfois un confrère épuisant, il était aussi admirable pour qui connaissait son héritage psychologique et était témoin de la profondeur de sa foi, surtout lors de partages spirituels. De plus, les gens l’aimaient bien et il fit à Bungwe un beau travail auprès des moniteurs, des étudiants en vacances, des jeunes de la JAC.

Comme il souhaitait continuer au Rwanda, après la session-retraite de juin 1982 à Jérusalem, il fut nommé, le 1er octobre, à Mwezi, diocèse de Cyangugu. Suivit, le 10 mai 1986, une année sabbatique très profitable dans une communauté de l’Arche à Nueil-sur-Layon. Le 12 juin 1987, il retrouvait Mwezi, toujours comme vicaire.

Le 2 janvier 1994, il fut transféré à Nyabitimbo, où le surprit le génocide qui le fit beaucoup souffrir et provoqua son retour en France le 14 juin suivant. Après un séjour d’un mois à Jérusalem et une révision médicale qui urgeait, de retour le 25 janvier 1995, il fut nommé à Nyagahanga, diocèse de Byumba, chargé de la reprise de l’enseignement primaire et secondaire. Travail difficile dans le contexte du pays, Aussi revint-il en France pour un congé médical, dès 1997.

Le 3 mai 2000, il fit la session des plus de 60 ans, puis, après une opération du cœur en juillet, la session MDA à Jérusalem en septembre. Le 1er janvier 2001, malgré une deuxième opération du cœur, il insista pour retourner au Rwanda, mais ce fut pour 6 mois seulement. Il rentra épuisé et fut nommé à la résidence de Billère où le Seigneur l’a rappelé à Lui le 2 avril 2015.

Là, dans le calme, faisant un retour sur son passé, il remarquait : “C’est dans le concret de la vie et du travail missionnaire que la présence de Dieu m’est apparue comme un soutien, une force, certes discrète, mais efficace, si bien qu’un cri sortit un jour de mon être : ‘Seigneur, je suis sûr de ton amour’ (Ps 12, 6) : le trésor des trésors, c'est bien l'amour que Dieu nous porte. Ce cri de foi, de confiance ne m’a plus jamais quitté. Il m’a permis de tenir bon, de rester fidèle à mon idéal missionnaire.”

Le Provincial du Rwanda disait de lui, en 2001 déjà : “J’ai vécu une expérience de joie dans l’accompagnement d’Alain ; c’est un être attachant, fragile, qui a besoin d’être écouté longuement, mais qui aime qu’on lui dise les choses telles qu’elles sont. Sa grande foi lui permet de traverser bien des souffrances”. Ses obsèques furent célébrées dans la chapelle de Billère.

PROFILES

Father Simon Côté

1913 - - 2015

Simon was born on the 24th June 1913 at Martinville in the Diocese of Sherbrooke, Québec Province, Canada. For his secondary schooling, he attended the Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo in Sherbrooke from September 1929 to June 1936. He was not a brilliant student but his good judgement, reliable, open, gentle character, and exemplary piety set him apart. He applied for admission to the White Fathers Postulancy at Everell in 1936. His superiors were unanimous in noting his joyful character and his openness towards all in the community. Simon showed great attachment to his missionary vocation by his generosity and readiness to be of service in any circumstance. On the 20th September 1937, he entered the novitiate of St. Martin, near Montreal.

Simon began his theological studies at the scholasticate of Eastview, Ontario on the 15th August 1938.His professors considered that he was of average intelligence but was able to get the required standard by hard work. He was of sound judgement from the doctrinal point of view and was pious and zealous. It was agreed that he would make a good missionary because he was humble, obedient and pleasant in community. He took his Missionary Oath on the 22nd June 1940 and ordination to the priesthood followed on the 7th June 1941.

Fr Côté left for Africa in 1941. His appointment was for Bukoba in Tanganyika (Tanzania). He left Montreal in December 1941 to go to New York to embark on the ship taking him to Africa. It meant crossing the Atlantic Ocean on seas patrolled by the submarines of Hitler aiming to sink Allied shipping. The young missionary arrived in South Africa in March 1942 after “a journey of two days short of three months in the middle of the World War.” From there he set out northwards for Tanganyika. He was to serve there for 43 years until March 1985.

Simon’s first appointment was to Bukoba. During his time there, he moved several times within the diocese. He was bursar of Bunena, near Bukoba for 10 years. He returned to Canada for his first home leave after which he did the Long Retreat in Mours, France in February 1954. Later in 1954, he returned to Bukoba and became curate in Ngote. A car accident immobilised him and he had to convalesce in Mwanza hospital for two months. Once he had recovered, Simon worked as a curate in several parishes of the Diocese; Ngote, Rubya Ithawa, Kashozi, Rutabo, Nshamba, Kagondo, and Rukindo. One could say that he was always available and thanks to this attitude, he was open to respond to the numerous demands of his bishop. He served briefly as superior in Kashozi in 1969 before longer terms as Parish Priest in Kagondo (1974), Rukindo (1981), and Nshamba (1982) and finally Rukindo (1983).

Fr. Simon Côté lived as a missionary in Tanzania for 43 years. The Regional Superiors noted his great zeal. Many times a week, he visited the people in their villages and houses. He was very generous with his money and spent it for his missionary work. For all material questions concerning missionary activities, he needed advice from trusted confreres. When he returned definitively to Canada, he did some part time parish ministry in the Montreal Archdiocese while also staffing the reception desk at our house in rue St-Hubert. Later on in 1997, he would do the same work at the then Provincial house on Blvd. de l’Acadie.

Fr. Côté celebrated 50 years of priesthood on the 7th June 1991. During the course of the celebration, a confrere who knew him well said of him, “For all who have known you, Simon, you are the smiling and jovial missionary who sows happiness everywhere you go. As it was said of Jesus that he went about doing good, one can sum up your life in the same words... You put into the reality of everyday life the parable of the Good Shepherd. There was always somebody at your door asking for, in one form or another, a packet of your happiness.”

On Sunday 29th September 1996 in the Basilica of Notre-Dame, Montreal, Fr. Simon was invested into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. This investiture meant that he committed himself officially to support the works of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem to help our fellow poor Christians in the Holy Land

In June 1997, the Provincial of Canada appointed Simon to the community on Blvd de l’Acadie so that he could give a hand at the reception desk. He also did some ministry in the Parish of St.Gaétan. The Provincial also said, “With your characteristic smile, you will enrich the whole community by your presence and your services.”

Simon celebrated 60 years of missionary priesthood on the 7th June 2001. In a letter of congratulations, the Assistant Provincial wrote to thank him for his long and faithful service at the service of the Church of Tanzania. He continued, “Many thanks also, in the name of all Tanzanians who met Christ through your apostolate...You also had the gift of captivating your entourage by your good humour, your spirit of service and your own capacity to marvel at the little surprises of life. Your presence in the community is beneficial to everyone.”

Fr. Simon retired to our community in Sherbrooke in November 2009. He continued to take an interest in the mission of the Missionaries of Africa by his daily prayers. On the 24th June 2013, he became the first Canadian White Father to reach 100 years of age.

Two years later, on the 10th July 2015, Fr. Simon Côté died in the Hôtel-Dieu Hospital of Sherbrooke at the age of 102 years of which 75 years of missionary life in Tanzania and Canada. The funeral Mass took place in the presence of the body at the Chapel of the Missionaries of Africa in Sherbrooke. Fr. Côté was buried afterwards in the Missionaries of Africa plot in the cemetery of St.Antoine, Lennoxville

Michel Carbonneau

Father Gabriel de Lorimier

1925 - - 2015

Gabriel was born on the 25th March 1925 at Westmount in the Archdiocese of Montreal, Canada. He received his primary education at St-Leon de Westmount School. He attended Jean-de-Brébeuf College, Montreal for his secondary schooling. He entered the postulancy of the White Fathers on the 6th September 1944. He distinguished himself by his brilliant imagination, intelligence, spirit of initiative and sense of organisation. At the end of two years of Philosophy, he applied to become a missionary in Africa. As he wrote himself, “In 1944, the war was ending. Without a future in aviation on leaving Brébeuf College, I decided to go as far away as possible, to Africa with the White Fathers. My first challenge was to fit into the group while still keeping my independence. I learnt.”

Gabriel entered the novitiate of St-Martin, near Montreal on the 22nd August 1945 and he began his theological studies in Eastview, Ontario on the 13th August 1946. Gifted intellectually, he was not afraid of hard work and to look for the reason for everything that was asked of him. He was open with his fellow students and respectful to his superiors while retaining his own way of doing and thinking. He was very attached to his missionary vocation and, in the opinion of some, he had all that it took to be a zealous and generous missionary. On the 26th June 1949, Gabriel took his Missionary Oath and he was ordained priest on the 2nd February 1950.

After a three months session in England, Gabriel arrived in the country that would be his home for more than 50 years, Tanganyika (Tanzania). While he was still learning Swahili, he worked in many parishes, Karema, Kala, Ulimi and others. He wrote, “appointed to the shores of Lake Tanganyika, I lived the last phase of the traditional mission. I was happy and I worked without asking myself too many questions. There were no roads in the parish. We travelled by small boat after getting off the wood-fired train.” Gabriel returned to Canada in 1958 for his home leave. He then worked for four years in missionary promotion work. It was a time of preaching in many parishes and meetings with secondary school students. He considered this to a “period of renewal and getting himself back into shape.”

Gabriel returned to Tanzania in 1962 and he was appointed curate, then Parish Priest at Mpanda. He wrote to the Provincial of Canada, “I return to Tanzania and find myself in an independent country. I am Parish Priest in a town now, and I have to adapt to the political world without being partisan. I have to be on all the committees without taking charge, criticising, or resigning. It is like walking a tightrope.” In 1969,

Fr. Gabriel became Director of Secondary Schools in Kipalapala. “Events require me to create a new pastoral strategy at national level. It means looking for vocations for the diocesan clergy in State Secondary Schools and not in the traditional seminaries.” He returned to Canada in 1973 to undertake another stint in missionary promotion, which was interrupted briefly for a number of months of missionary promotion in Australia. Gabriel remained in constant contact with young Canadians until 1977 telling them about the African missions. “Recalled to Canada, I was asked to speak of my faith in Christ and in the mission to a new generation of young people. In fact, I was the human conduit for some vocations that, one day, will come and bury my old bones in Africa. In 1978 I will return to East Africa and tell the young people there that they should be missionaries! That is something new.”

Fr. de Lorimier returned to Tabora in 1978. He was asked to take charge of the Student Centre of Makokola. When he got there, the director of the Centre had already left, as had the Parish Priest. Gabriel had to take charge of everything single-handily. The Centre belonged to the Archdiocese of Tabora and was a meeting place and recreation centre for students. There were more than 5,000 students living in the town coming from the four corners of Tanzania. What was the missionaries’ role in all that? Gabriel tells us: “In addition to the job of administrating the Centre, I look after prayer groups as well as Christian Associations. Teaching also takes up a lot of my time.”

Gabriel was close to all young people and he observed that the young people in Canada were very much like the young people of Tanzania, “The young people have the same feelings, they have the same problems, in fact it is the same thing but in a totally different social context.”

A confrere who knew Gabriel very well tells how Gabriel excelled in two ministries where he gave the best of himself. The first was his ministry to young people. Thousands of students benefitted from his generosity and wisdom. The second was his ministry of healing. Gabriel gave himself, body and soul, in trying to assuage the ravages of Aids and the care of its victims and especially in supporting the thousands of orphans who found themselves suddenly facing a future without any prospects. He exercised this apostolate right up to the end of his life.

In 1995, Gabriel returned to Canada for some home leave. He took time out to follow a renewal course at Pierrefonds. He needed it, for as he said himself: “On my holidays, listening to the media, sharing with my family and friends, I felt bewildered culturally, politically and religiously in my own country. For some time now, I wanted to assess the situation before returning to Africa. The fraternal welcome that I received from all the participants was already a significant Church event. In Africa, it’s great, to get a letter from the Bishop telling you that you are a missionary in his diocese. It is quite different to feel at home with a group of parish priests committed to pastoral work in the local Church and to feel that we are all part of the same family.”

Fr. de Lorimier returned to Canada definitively on the 14th May 2004. He stayed in the then Provincial House on the Blvd. de l’Acadie. In September 2009, he was appointed to our community in Sherbrooke in order to receive appropriate care due to his state of health. On the 22nd July 2015, he was brought to the University Hospital of Sherbrooke as his health had deteriorated and the doctors considered he was dying.

He died there on the 28th July 2015 at the age of 90. The funeral Mass took place in the Chapel of the Missionaries of Africa, Sherbrooke, in the presence of his mortal remains. Cremation followed and the urn, containing his ashes, was buried in the Missionaries of Africa plot in the cemetery of St-Antoine in Lennoxville.

In his homily at the funeral Mass, Fr. Marcel Boivin described Fr. Gabriel as someone who was consumed by the Good News, a missionary who was always ready to console the unfortunate. He said, “Gabriel, you reflected God’s love by how you showed your concern for all the children of God. Welcome to the banquet that the Father offers you today on the occasion of your arrival in His House.”

Michel Carbonneau

Father Zef Kuppens

1933 - - 2015

Joseph (we called him Zef) was born the 6th July 1933 in Grathem (Limburg), Netherlands. He trained to be a Missionary of Africa by following the usual course of Formation at the time for Dutch confreres in St. Charles near Boxtel, Thibar and Carthage (Tunisia). He took the Missionary Oath on the 26th June 1959. He was ordained in Tilburg on the 2nd February 1960.He was a cousin of our confreres Sjef (+ 2014) and Jos Kuppens. The name of all three comes from one of their ancestors called Joseph. Zef had a brother who became a Crosier Father and another brother became a diocesan priest.

Zef had a sound judgment, was straightforward, a quiet and methodical worker. He knew what he wanted and did what he could to achieve it. He was kind by nature, ever ready to render a service. He did not like to be in the limelight and he was easy to get along with.

In October 1960, he left for Mali. He started learning the principal language and culture, Bambara, in Faladyè, where he also got his first introduction to pastoral work. There was also a Formation Centre for catechists in the Parish. Its Director was a Malian diocesan priest. In March 1961, he moved to the Prefecture (later Diocese) of Kayes. He was appointed to the parish of Guené-Goré. He started learning the local language and culture, Malinkè, which was closely related to Bambara. It took him time to get used to the rather hot climate. The parish was in existence for only 10 years. There were 60 Catholics and about the same number preparing to receive the sacraments. For the country at that time, it was still a lot! He was living and working there with a French and Belgian confrere, and four Malian Sisters. They had a small school with three classrooms. A WF Brother was building a centre 65 km further on which was to become a new parish. Besides pastoral work, Zef also looked after the material matters of their community and he had a good vegetable garden. The population in that hot climate were not very enterprising. They had only one word for ‘to want’ and ‘to like.’ They could only baptise a few catechumens because the elders of the people were not very keen on their sons and daughters contracting monogamous marriages, which meant that many young people had to give up receiving instruction. In 1964, they began to meet Catechists and Teachers every fortnight in one of their homes. It meant that they could discuss all sort of matters.

Zef became Parish Priest of Sagabari in August 1966. In January 1976, he was appointed PP of Kakoulou. His Regional Superior wrote in January 1972, “Zef works without any tam-tam, but he is very thorough. He is an appreciated member in the community.” Another Regional Superior added in June 1979, “He has a very good contact with the parishioners.” In 1980, a girl of the parish pronounced her vows as a Religious Sister. Zef’s care extended also to areas of health, education, and agriculture especially irrigation projects. He became Diocesan Coordinator of Development Cooperation in November 1979. It involved digging wells, extending a hospital, and setting up an agricultural cooperative with irrigation and similar projects.

Zef returned to Sagabari as Parish Priest in August 1987. At around that time he also became a member of the Regional Council of the Missionaries of Africa in Mali. In August 1994, he became Parish Priest of Kita. In the early 60’s a French priest had started a Marian pilgrimage-centre in the Parish, which developed into the national pilgrimage shrine for Mali. Every year in November, thousands of pilgrims would come and stay for several days. They had to be provided with shelter and food. Zef organised that for years. In July 1997, he followed a computer course for beginners in the capital Bamako, a perfect example of globalisation!

Zef moved to Nioro du Sahel parish in September 2008. It is larger than the whole of the Netherlands, at the border with Mauritania. The parishioners were virtually100 % Muslim. There were about 210 Catholics living in four centres. All of them came from outside the area. They were civil servants, traders and seasonal labourers. Zef’s predecessors had started to form witnessing communities through their dedication to a society where justice, fidelity and respect for each one’s individuality were essential. Nowadays we call it Encounter and Dialogue. Zef wrote in March 2009, “Where people are relating to one another in such a manner, there God is present... It is mutual enrichment...I am happy to be right here.” It is perfectly in line with one of the priorities of our Society.

In this way, Christians gained the confidence of the local people. Whenever a treasurer was needed for an organisation or a club, a Catholic member would be asked as they were supposed to be less corrupt. It was the same thing when it came to supervising elections.

Besides pastoral activities among the Catholics, the three priests of the parish were involved in many community projects such as computer lessons, library, grinding mill, tree nursery, the planting and selling of vegetable seeds, a weekly radio programme, and evening classes. In 2010, a maternity clinic was built. Zef commented, “It gives me a lot of satisfaction to see how many young people come after a day of hard work to learn reading, writing, arithmetic and French.” There were few Baptisms but they did experience that the ‘Kingdom of God’, that one family of brothers and sisters, was growing among them.

After many years in this hot climate, Zef started to return to the Netherlands during the hot season every year. In March 2014, he returned home for good. After holidays with his relatives, he took up residence in Heythuysen. He became one of the five contact persons for the more than 40 confreres in the residence. Gradually his health diminished and he died peacefully in his flat on the 29th August 2015. Zef’s whole life was lived out in accordance with the words of Jesus in Matthew’s Gospel; The Kingdom of heaven is like a leaven... (Mt. 13, 33).

Together with his relatives and friends, we buried him in St. Charles near Boxtel on the 4th September 2015.

Marien van den Eijnden

Father Kevin O’Mahoney

1930 - - 2015

Kevin was born on the 3rd May 1930 in Manchester, England. His parents were Irish and he was the youngest in a family of three children. His elder brother, Denis, was a priest in the Diocese of Salford and his sister, Catherine, was a teacher. Kevin was very close to her and her husband and family and stayed with them when he came on home leave. Kevin never forgot his Irish roots and he visited his cousins in Cork every time he was home. He joined the White Fathers at the age of 16 after secondary school studies at St. Bede’s College in Manchester.

His studied Philosophy in Scotland and from 1948 to 1949 he did his Novitiate in ‘s-Heerenberg, Netherlands. He continued his theological studies there from 1949 to 1952 before returning to Monteviot near Galashiels, Scotland for his final year of Theology. He took his Missionary Oath on the 25th July 1952 in ‘s-Heerenberg and he was ordained on the 11th June 1953 in Monteviot. As he was only 23 years old, he needed a dispensation to be ordained. He was immediately sent to Rome to study Philosophy at the Gregorian University and he graduated with a Licentiate in 1955. He taught in the Society’s seminary in Blacklion from 1955 to 1966. He was bubbly type of individual who taught well and was appreciated by the students although he admitted in the beginning that it was difficult to socialise with them. He got over it soon enough. He was easy to meet socially and enjoyed a good argument.

The Society appointed him to Ethiopia in 1966. This was in response to a request from Abune Hailemariam Kashay of the Eparchy of Adigrat to the Superior General Fr. Leo Volker to help in the formation of the local clergy for the tiny Catholic population of Adigrat. He spent a year in Rome studying in the Ethiopian College. He along with Frs. José Bandres and Nicolas Gildas were the first White Fathers to arrive in the Eparchy of Adigrat. He took up his teaching post in Adigrat on the 1st September 1967. Apart from 6 years as Provincial in Ireland, from 1994 to 2000, this was his life work. He lived through the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie, the brutal Derg regime and the revolution of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. Kevin also had to double up as an NGO worker in helping the Diocese cope with the enormous number of refugees who came to the Diocese looking for help during the periods of violence and famine. There were many letters to Irish Aid organisations and to the Irish Government and there was a big response when he was featured on some TV and radio programmes appealing for help during the drought of 1984. While 1984 was serious, Kevin believed that the effects of the 1989 famine were worse as the Government was using food as a weapon. He was initially very critical of outside Governments and some NGOs whom he felt could have done more to make sure that food got to the starving people in the rebel held areas. Eventually food did get through and things got easier when the EPRDF swept to power. While the new Government was Marxist in outlook, it did work with the Church to improve the lot of the people.
In addition to his teaching duties, Kevin became a writer and historian. His most notable work was a massive history of the Vicariate of Abyssinia, “The Ebullient Phoenix,” and “Meaza,” a historical novel of the Ethiopian Revolution. In our library in Rome, he is listed as the author of 23 books and articles. He placed great importance in maintaining friendly contacts with the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and with the Muslim community, itself a minority group.

Kevin lived through difficult times in Ethiopia. For much of the time, there was great insecurity. He had to postpone his home leaves a number of times. He was never very sure about getting back in again as it involved a long journey during the night travelling in convoy from the Sudanese border to Adigrat. He endured all these in a spirit of loyalty and fidelity to his mission. It says much that he survived and even blossomed there despite the very painful task of dealing with starving people and especially children. His health began to fail in the last few years and he just made it back to Ethiopia before the pursuing pack of superiors grounded him. He died where he wished in his beloved Ethiopia. On the 3rd January 2015, he became ill and was brought to Mekelle for treatment but died just before midnight. His body was brought back to Adigrat. His funeral Mass in the Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, Adigrat was presided over by Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin, Eparch of Adigrat. He was buried in Catholic Eparchial cemetery on the 5th January 2015.

Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin wrote to the Irish Delegate Superior, “All of his missionary brothers and sisters were with him both for the short few days of his final sickness and his funeral. There were many others there too, representing both civil and Government bodies, religious and NGOs. Among them was the Chargé d’Affaires of the Irish Embassy, as well as the Secretary General of the Ethiopian Catholic Secretariat, the President of the Relief Society of Tigray and leaders of both the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and of the Muslim community. But, above all, the faithful Christian people of Adigrat and beyond, both Catholic and Orthodox came to Fr. Kevin’s funeral. It is no surprise that so many people came for his last rites. For more than forty years, Fr. Kevin’s heart, soul, gifts, and energy were at the service of the people and the Catholic Church in Adigrat and Ethiopia. Simply put, he gave his entire life to us. He loved the people of this country so much that he lived with them in difficult times of famine and war as well as times of peace and joy. His love for God and God’s people made him available for various services requested of him by the Bishops of Adigrat and Ethiopia. He was well versed in the history of Ethiopia, its language and its people.”

A month after he died, on the 6th February 2015, a memorial Mass was held in the Chapel of the White Fathers in Dublin. Members from Kevin’s family from Manchester came and there was a sizeable contingent from Araglin in Co. Cork. The Ethiopian Ambassador to Ireland and a representative of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and representatives of some NGOs working in Ethiopia were also present. Needless to say, there were many neighbours and friends who came to honour a loyal and lively confrere “who remained faithful to his religious calling and was indeed a person of faith” (Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin).
Abune Tesfaselassie Medhin, Eparch of Adigrat

Ian Buckmaster

 

Father Pierre-Alfred Leclerc

1931 - - 2015

Pierre-Alfred was born on the 20th August 1931 at Laprairie in the Diocese of St.Jean, Québec Province, Canada. He was the fifth child in a family of six children. During his secondary school years at the Bourget de Rigaud College in Rigaud, Québec, Pierre became well known as a singer and an actor. He toured with the College’s Theatre group in Québec and in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. He was also very good at skiing, swimming and tennis. He had a happy disposition and his confreres appreciated him very much.

When he was at school, Pierre dreamed of becoming a doctor. However, at the end of his second year of philosophy, he decided to become a priest and a missionary during a four-day retreat. His Spiritual Director, who knew he wished to give himself fully to others, remarked that five years in the scouts had been a factor in his decision to become a missionary. These words filled him with such joy that he went immediately went to the chapel to pray, “You have seized me Lord, and you have chosen me.” From that time, Pierre never doubted his vocation. He knew a White Father who was a past-pupil of Bourget College and who was working in Malawi, so he decided to apply to the Missionaries of Africa where he discovered a new family that he grew to love.

Pierre entered the novitiate of the White Fathers at Saint-Martin de Laval on the 13th August 1951. The Novice Master noted his strong will, his generosity in doing manual work, and a deep piety founded on deep convictions. At the end of August 1952, he boarded, with two other confreres, the transatlantic liner the Homeric at Québec to go to the scholasticate at ‘s-Heerenberg in the Netherlands for the first three years of Theology. He was intelligent and made constant efforts to get good results in his studies. He gave the best of himself to the community, adapting easily to all situations. The Staff noted that his humility and piety would make him a very good missionary in apostolic work. They did not hesitate to recommend him for the Missionary Oath, which he took on the 22nd July 1955. He went to Monteviot, Scotland for his final year of study and Cardinal Grey, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, ordained him priest on the 24th May 1956.

After some months of holidays with his family in Canada, Fr. Leclerc returned to Scotland for further studies. He studied Science and Mathematics at the University of St. Andrews and obtained his B.A in 1959. In September of that year he was finally able to leave for Africa.

Pierre was appointed to teach science at the Junior Seminary of Kasina in the Diocese of Dedza, Malawi. He quickly recognised that he did not really know his students or their backgrounds, neither their language nor culture. He felt he could not really communicate with them. This caused him some suffering and so he did not hesitate to jump the wall of the seminary to go out and learn Chichewa. Once he had a grasp of the language, he served in the Parishes of Kasina and Mua at the weekends by visiting the outstations and going to see the people of the local villages. He walked, sat with the people, and assisted in their palavers. From time to time, he brought sick people to hospital and looked after old people who were often left to fend for themselves. He gave witness to the goodness of God more by his actions than by his words. He was aware that the first step was not to preach to the Africans but to allow himself to be evangelised by them because they were already in possession of great human and spiritual values.

Pierre went on home leave to Canada in 1967 and returned to Malawi. He was appointed to the Junior Seminary of Mtendere to teach science. However, his idea of the ideal missionary soon took over and soon hundreds of catechumens from the surrounding villages were coming to the seminary to receive instruction. In October 1974, beginners and catechumens filled the chapel of the seminary, even taking over the classrooms and the library! The noise seriously upset the staff and students and Pierre had to find another place in order to continue instructing his catechumens. He found a place in the village of Khomani in a small church made of straw. They met there while awaiting the construction of a new church.

Pierre returned to Canada in 1981 for a well-earned rest. Three months later, he was appointed to our house in Plainfield, New Jersey, USA for missionary promotion work. He stayed there for three years visiting schools, giving retreats to young people and preaching in the parishes of the diocese. He found it difficult to adapt after 22 years in Africa. Finally, in December 1984, he was able to leave for Malawi once again, where he took on the position of chaplain to the young people of the Diocese of Dedza. Two years later, he returned to the Junior Seminary of Mtendere. He served as curate in Nsipe, Mua and Chezi.

Pierre returned definitively to Canada in 1998 after 40 years of missionary experience in Malawi. He was appointed to Toronto where, with two confreres, he undertook missionary vocation work, writing letters to our benefactors and friends and, on request visiting certain schools. In the schools that he visited, Fr. Leclerc left a vivid impression on the people he met. The Educational Councillor for religious instruction in the Catholic Schools of South-West Ontario wrote in December 2001, “I want to draw attention to the remarkable work of Fr. Leclerc. The young people and the personnel of the different schools he visited appreciated very much his presentation, his presence, and his life testimony. He is a remarkable witness to the dynamism of our Faith. Fr. Leclerc conveys a dimension of an exceptional Life, a dimension that the world and young people so much need.”

In October 2002, Pierre felt the first symptoms of the illness that was to strike him down. He asked to go to our Provincial House in Montreal where he could still carry out some services. In 2008, as his illness progressed, he expressed the desire to go to our community in Sherbrooke. He stayed there for five years before going to live in the Saint-Joseph Nursing Home where he could receive appropriate care and attention. He died there on the 27th April 2015. The Funeral Mass took place in the chapel of the Missionaries of Africa in Sherbrooke on the 2nd May followed by burial in the Missionaries of Africa plot in the cemetery of Saint-Antoine.

I would like to finish this profile by quoting what Pierre wrote in his spiritual diary and which expresses the depth of his missionary life: “God called me to go and bring His Name to Africa. I never lost sight of this call of God. I have never let my desire to follow Christ in Africa grow cold. I loved Africa and the Africans. My presence among them helped many to look after themselves, to pray and to love Christ. I gave them the best of myself. Now, I know that I received from them a lot more. The African taught me respect for God and people, respect for life, hospitality, and interpersonal relationships.”

Michel Carbonneau

 

Father Jean-Marie Blanchard

1923 - - 2015

Jean-Marie was born on the 9th June 1923 at Saint-Germain-de-Grantham in the Diocese of Nicolet, Quebéc Province, Canada. He was the eldest in a family of three children. He attended the local parish school in Saint-Germain before going for his secondary schooling in the College of Saint Jean-de-Brébeuf, Montreal from 1936 to 1944. At the end of his studies, he felt the voice of God calling him to the missions in Africa. He asked to be admitted to the postulancy of the White Fathers in Evrell, near Quebéc.

There he made his mark by his brilliant imagination and his organisational sense. His confreres greatly appreciated his joyful temperament. He gave himself fully to his training and showed that he had all the qualities necessary to be a good missionary. He entered the novitiate of Saint-Martin de Laval, near Montreal on the 22nd August 1945. A year later, on the 13th August 1946, he began his theological studies in Eastview near Ottawa.

Jean-Marie got on well with the confreres at the Scholasticate. He was always in good humour, friendly and obliging. One already guessed that he would be a harbinger of good humour in any community receiving him. He was attached to his vocation and took his priestly and apostolic training seriously. He had a taste for music and showed real talent as a photographer. He took his Missionary Oath on the 26th June 1949 and he was ordained priest in Ottawa on the 2nd February 1950.
At the farewell party for the young fathers leaving for the missions, one of the staff remarked that Jean-Marie had the qualities of a poet, “There is the heart of a de Musset (French poet) under the appearance of a Hercules,” he said. “He loves nature. Very often, he walks alone in the woods listening to the birds or the soft movement of the leaves.”

Jean-Marie left for London, England in September 1950. He followed a one-year course in the Science of Education at the University of London. This year of study gave him the opportunity of familiarising himself with the British education system and to understand many aspects touching the education sector. The following year, in August 1951, he left for Tanganyika (now Tanzania). His first appointment was to the Teachers Training College at Bukumbi in the Diocese of Mwanza. He was appopinted Education Secretary of the Diocese of Kigoma in 1952 residing at Kabanga, Kakonko and Kigoma. Three years later, he was teaching at the Teachers Training College of Kajunguti in the Diocese of Bukoba. He went on home leave to Canada in 1959. He did the Long Retreat followed by a session in Mours, France. He returned to Tanzania and took up the post of Education Secretary of the Diocese of Rulenge from 1960 to 1963. Then there followed a series of teaching posts in Bukoba, Mwanza and Tabora.

When talking about Fr. Blanchard’s competence as a teacher, his superiors noted his ability and that he took his responsibilities seriously. The teachers, who knew him, were full of praise for him. In March 1970, Jean-Marie resigned as a teacher in Tabora and asked to return to Canada for some recycling. In fact, this return to Québec after 19 years in Africa proved to be definitive because of family reasons. On the 6th March 1970, Jean-Marie was appointed to the Canadian Province and took up residence in our community of St-Hubert, in Montreal. So began a new stage in his life, which would be marked entirely by his commitment to working in the media (audio-visual and the written press).

The Provincial Council of Canada, on the 9th February 1972, appointed him to take responsibility for the audio-visual service of the Canadian Province of the White Fathers. He had to set up a new service, which meant taking an inventory of all the audio-visual resources that the Province had already, and to acquire the new equipment necessary for missionary promotion work. Jean-Marie had to consider all the possible options for making films and producing photos on the different facets of our missionary activities in Africa such as catechesis, development, training, teaching, and pastoral ministry.

In October of that same year, Jean-Marie went to his old diocese of Rulenge to take photographs of African scenes deemed essential for his work. It was necessary to update the photographic library in the audio-visual department. Not only did these photos help the work of missionary promotion but they were also used to illustrate the articles in our magazine ‘Mission.’

In September 1980, Fr. Blanchard asked to be relieved of his responsibilities in the audio-visual department for family reasons. Another confrere became Director of this department while Jean-Marie continued to give a helping hand occasionally. In 1981, he accepted to look after, with the help of a number of volunteer laywomen, the promotion of the ‘Mission’ magazine. He also became the editor of the internal publications of the Province such as Africana/Africanada and Le Lien/the Link.

Jean-Marie informed the Province of his deteriorating state of health in June 2003. He admitted that he was feeling worn out. The doctors had diagnosed the beginnings of a cancer. He had already been going to hospital for a number of years for check-ups concerning cancer, skin problems, and heart trouble. He asked to move to our community in Sherbrooke where he could rest and, as far as he was able, to give small services to the confreres who were becoming dependent. He wrote in a letter to the Provincial, “We remain missionaries until death, and we continue our mission, each one according to their possibilities, there where we live.”

Fr. Blanchard was hospitalised in June 2014 because of a blood clot on the lung. A few days later, his condition improved dramatically. However, he was not able to return to the community at Sherbrooke, as he now needed specialised nursing care. He was admitted to CHSLD St-Vincent of Sherbrooke, a long-term care facility for elderly people. Jean-Marie died there on the 1st May 2015 at the age of 91 years.

The funeral Mass took place in the chapel of the Missionaries of Africa in Sherbrooke followed by cremation. The ashes were interred later in the family grave in Saint-Germaine-de-Grantham.

Fr. Marcel Boivin gave the homily at the funeral Mass of Fr. Blanchard and among other things, he said. “Jean-Marie was a born communicator. It is not surprising that over the course of the years he spent in Tanzania, he was called to work in the Teacher Training Colleges of the country, and that he became Inspector of Schools for an entire region. Later on, he became an expert in the audio-visual field and contributed to making the African continent better known. Jean-Marie had received from the Lord many talents of great value. Today, he returns to Him the fruits that these talents have produced.
Jean-Marie, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Lord”

Michel Carbonneau

 

Father Alain Coëffic

1932 - - 2015

 

Alain was born on the 11th August 1932 at Guidel, Diocese of Vannes, France, into a well-off family of farmers. His brother François became a Franciscan, another brother became a worker-priest, and one of his sisters, Anna, entered the Little Sisters of the Assumption.

After getting his Baccalaureate and studying Philosophy in Kerlois, he entered the Spiritual Year at Maison-Carrée in 1952. He studied Theology in Thibar and Carthage and he took his Missionary Oath on the 17th June 1958. He was ordained priest on the 2nd February 1959 in his home town of Guidel. Alain inherited from his father a nervous disposition and he was prone to anxiety. He suffered bouts of depression in the initial years of studies. Military service helped him gain some self-confidence. During the period of his theological studies, one noted his great good will as well as his piety, limitless generosity, his supernatural spirit, and his deep concern for the apostolate. On the other hand, he could be nervous, unpredictable, and sometimes unsure of himself. Nevertheless, he was admitted to orders and appointed to Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) where he arrived on the 1st September 1959.

Alain’s first appointment was in Bobo-Dioulasso as a stand in for Fr. Jean Courtinade (+1998). He was appointed to Nasso in June 1960 “to plug a hole” as Bishop André Dupont (+1999) told him. Then to his great joy, in January 1963, he received an appointment to Gaoua in the Diocese of Diebougou. This was among the Lobi-Birifor people close to the border with Ghana and he was to stay there until he did his Long Retreat in Villa Cavalleti in September 1969. Gaoua was a big centre with many outstations scattered over dozens of kilometres. The Parish Priest entrusted him with the pastoral care of the Birifor people. There were only a few Christians and catechumens and nobody had learnt the language. He asked to live among the people. His practiced “an apostolate of presence” and contact among the villagers in order to prepare the future. His Regional noted, “He worked with great fervour at learning the language. He did very well given that he did not have a great ear for languages. He is very energetic in doing the rounds of the outstations often in difficult conditions. He has a great gift for contact with the people.”

After eight years in Gaoua, Fr. Coëffic became curate in Niego in February 1970. It was a recent foundation where the small Christian community was beginning to grow thanks to good catechists. It also meant learning another language. However, a number of malaria attacks, not enough food, and too many safaris on bad roads seriously tired him out and forced him to return to France in December 1971. Despite this, he got the backing of the doctor to return to his mission in 1972.

He returned to France in April 1975 for some recycling. In August of that year, he wrote to Bishop Jean-Baptiste Somé of Diebougou, “Little by little, I am beginning to understand that I ought to let myself ‘live’ and allow myself to be led by people and events which will allow me to hear God and discover His will. Where will I be tomorrow? What will I do? That is not important in the end. I am ready or at least I wish to be ready and available to do what He wants of me. I know that in fact I am going to fall down flat again but I also know, from experience, that there is always a way to get up again.” So, he joined the Priory of the Petits Frères des Campagnes in their social training centre at Canappeville, near Louviers. The course involved practical work in rural settings. He enjoyed his stay there very much. However, he did not return to the Wilés people of Burkina Faso as the Regional of Rwanda proposed he go there where the climate was more clement. He was to remain there for 22 years. In April 1978, he was in the parish of Mushishiro in the Diocese of Kabgayi and the following September he moved to Bungwe in the Diocese of Ruhengeri.

Alain found adapting to this new and very different mission, with its difficult language, very hard. After a number of weeks, he fell into a deep depression. He only got out of it thanks to his extraordinary faith. He never stopped spending long periods in prayer, and reading the Bible. He was also supported by the tolerance and attention of his patient confreres and in particular André Benoist (+1982) who was particularly kind to him. He could be exhausting in community and yet those who knew of his psychological background admired him as he showed his deep faith especially during moments of spiritual sharing. The people liked him and he did good work in Bungwe with the monitors, students on holidays and the young people of the Jeunesse Agricole Catholique (JAC) movement.

Alain wanted to continue to work in Rwanda and to have prevented him doing so might have had serious psychological repercussions for him. He returned to Mwezi in the Diocese of Cyangugu in October 1982 after doing the Session- Retreat at Jerusalem in June of the same year. In May 1986, he took a sabbatical year in the Arche community at Nueil-sur-Layon, which he found very beneficial. He returned to Mwezi in June 1987 and served there as curate in the parish. In January 1994, he transferred to Nyabitimbo in the same diocese where the events of the genocide of that year overwhelmed him. He suffered a lot and he had to return to France in June. After spending a month in Jerusalem and an urgently needed medical examination, he returned to Rwanda in January 1995. This time he was appointed to Nyagahanga in the Diocese of Byumba tasked with the job of restarting the primary and secondary schools. Given the situation in the country, this was a very demanding task and he had to return to France in 1997 for medical reasons.

In May 2000, Fr. Coëffic did the 60+ session and underwent a heart operation in July. He followed the Missionary Discipleship (now Bethesda) Session in Jerusalem in the autumn. Despite undergoing another heart operation, he insisted on returning to Rwanda in 2001. However, six months later, he was completely exhausted and he returned to France He was appointed to Billère where he died on the 2nd April 2015. In the tranquillity of the Retirement House, he gave this witness: “It was in the concrete reality of life and in missionary work that God’s presence appeared to me as a support, a force, sometimes discrete but always effective. I cried from the bottom of my heart, ‘I trust in your faithfulness. Grant my heart joy in your help’ (Ps 12, 6). The treasure of treasures is the love God has for us. This cry of faith and trust has never left me. It has allowed me to hold fast, to remain faithful to my missionary ideal.” The Regional of Rwanda said of him in 2001: I experienced moments of joy in accompanying Alain. He was an engaging and fragile person, whose great need was that one listened to him patiently and that he liked to be told things clearly. His great faith helped him overcome a lot of suffering in his life.” His funeral was celebrated in the Chapel of Billère.

Armand Duval