Jacques est né à Dijon, France, le 25 octobre 1923. Il est le 8e de 9 enfants. Son père est inspecteur des eaux et forêts en Bourgogne. Une méningite en sa jeunesse lui laissera quelques séquelles, mais il peut cependant faire ses études au petit séminaire. Un traitement de l’insomnie et certaines allergies engendrent aussi chez lui une certaine fragilité nerveuse et de pénibles crises d’asthme. Un de ses frères, de neuf ans son aîné, Maurice (décédé le 16 février 1998, à Tassy) est Père Blanc au pays Dagari, dans le futur diocèse de Diebougou. Jacques désire le suivre. Aussi entre-t-il au postulat d’Antilly en octobre 1941.

Mais, à peine a-t-il commencé le noviciat à Maison-Carrée, en octobre 1942, sous le nom de Frère Dominique-Marie, qu’il doit l’interrompre, début 1943. Envoyé aux chantiers de jeunesse à Blida, en Algérie, il est bientôt mobilisé au 62e régiment d’artillerie. En décembre de la même année, il arrive en Italie, près de Naples, participe à la bataille de Monte Cassino puis, en août 1944, au débarquement en Provence et à la campagne finale jusqu’en Allemagne.

Démobilisé en mai 1945, il retrouve le noviciat en septembre, mais à Tournus, en France, puis en 1946-1947, à Bonnelles où il fait son 1er serment missionnaire le 6 octobre 1947.

Nommé à Paris, au 31, rue Friant, en 1949-1950, il s’occupe surtout des travaux d’entretien de la maison - notamment la peinture- et en 1951, il est envoyé à Bonnelles pour la même mission : il y prononce son Serment perpétuel le 6 septembre 1953. Le 23 décembre 1957, on le retrouve rue Friant pour des travaux puis, le 1er octobre 1959, de nouveau à Bonnelles. Opéré de la prostate en 1966, il s’en remet bien mais reste de santé délicate. On lui reproche sa lenteur à exécuter certains travaux : il en est conscient et s’efforce toujours de lutter contre cette faiblesse.

C’est à Mours qu’il fera son plus long séjour, de 1974 à 1998, avec une courte interruption de trois mois à Notre-Dame d’Afri­que en 1986, toujours pour des travaux d’entretien et de peinture, mais que ses crises d’asthme l’obligent à interrompre. En 1993, il est aussi renversé par une moto et une fracture ouverte de la jambe entraîne une hospitalisation prolongée.

Le 2 juin 1993, il arrive à Tassy, nommé encore une fois pour les travaux d’entretien et c’est là que le Seigneur est venu l’appeler à la vie en plénitude, en un moment privilégié, au cours de l’Eucharistie, juste après l’homélie du célébrant. Et quel jour ! Le 25 décembre 2010, jour de Noël, l’aube du salut pour ce confrère dévoué, humble et généreux.

Dans une lettre émouvante, remerciant le provincial qui l’avait félicité pour ses 60 ans de serment, Jacques dit combien il aurait aimé aller en mission. Mais il ne l’a pas pu, faute de formation. Il espère pourtant que le temps passé à Paris, rue Friant, à Bonnelles, à Mours et à Tassy a été fructueux et missionnaire. Il a toujours voulu suivre les règles qui lui avaient été données d’une vie simple à réaliser selon l’Évangile. “Tout ne fut pas parfait, disait-il, mais les retraites, les invitations à la conversion, la vie fraternelle m’ont aidé à surmonter les obstacles. L’Eucharistie, les sacrements, la prière nous conduisent et nous aident à faire avancer le règne de Dieu. Même à Tassy, je peux être missionnaire et tendre à cette charité parfaite à laquelle nous parviendrons dans l’autre monde”.

Une veillée avant les obsèques fut un bel hommage rendu à cet homme simple et généreux. Plusieurs confrères ont souligné telle ou telle facette de sa personnalité. “Il est parti sans prévenir, en pleine messe, dans une chapelle calme de silence et de prière. Sa compagnie était bien agréable. Il avait le don de faire rire, mais s’intéressait aussi aux nouvelles du monde et de l’Église. Sa piété ne trompait pas, il prolongeait seul l’action de grâce dans un profond recueillement et récitait chaque jour son chapelet.” - “Vous ne savez pas quel jour va venir votre Maître”, commentait un autre (Mt 24, 42). Son neveu devait venir le chercher le lendemain pour passer avec lui et sa sœur les fêtes du Nouvel An. Le Seigneur les a devancés pour le prendre près de lui. Ainsi se termine une vie toute entière consacrée au service de Dieu, de l’Église et de la Société.”

“Il ne passa que quelques mois à Notre-Dame d’Afrique, mais dans ses lettres à un séminariste de Ouagadougou et à un paysan de Dano où son frère avait travaillé, il disait son souci de voir les gens connaître le Christ, ses prières dans ce but, sa souffrance quand la sécheresse engendrait la faim. Il y allait alors de son aide financière, avec ses petits moyens”. - “Fidélité à l’intimité divine dans le partage d’Évangile, constatait un autre. Récollections, retraites, causeries du P. Perrier ou d’autres, questions posées sur les sujets religieux, désir de connaître les autres religions : il était habité par la grâce”. - “ Souci de perfection, nettoyant, grattant, calfeutrant les fissures, enduisant portes et fenêtres de produits protecteurs : un travail bien fait, durable dont, avec raison, il était fier. Il avait le même souci des choses de Dieu. Comme il faut plusieurs couches pour une bonne peinture, il se remettait toujours à la tâche pour collaborer à la grâce”.

“Il bouillonnait devant l’injustice, la dignité de l’homme bafouée, se rappelait-on encore. La situation des enfants, des femmes dans le monde le préoccupait. Là aussi, il y allait de son obole, si minime fût-elle, pour soutenir les souffrants. Il avait un sens aigu de la justice”. - “Il cherchait toujours la dernière place, parlait peu de la guerre, de ses deux débarquements, près de Naples et en Provence, de l’enfer de Cassino. Il était présent, joyeux de participer aux fêtes, aux animations, dévoué, sans mettre en avant ce qu’il faisait pour le confort des autres”.

Jacques aurait été gêné de tous ces éloges. Pourtant, ceux qui l’ont bien connu savent que telle question naïve partait d’une réflexion profonde, d’un amour vrai de l’Afrique. Sa piété, certes, était parfois tendue et, timide, il avait besoin d’être encouragé et éclairé avec patience, mais il assura toujours un travail régulier, à son rythme.

Dans l’homélie des obsèques, le 30 décembre, dans la chapelle de la maison de Tassy, on rappela que la veille de sa mort, vigile de Noël à 11h 30, assurant la lecture, il avait proclamé le verset de l’Alléluia : “Viens, Soleil levant, splendeur de justice et lumière éternelle ! Illumine ceux qui habitent les ténèbres et l’ombre de la mort”. Moins de 24 heures plus tard, le Seigneur lui dira : “Viens, Jacques, entre dans la vie éternelle !”

On a choisi de lire cette phrase : “La grâce de Dieu nous enseigne à renoncer aux convoitises de ce monde pour vivre dans le temps présent avec réserve, justice et piété, en attendant la bienheureuse espérance et la manifestation de la gloire de Dieu” (Tite 2, 11-14). Réserve, justice, piété, des vertus que Jacques, “zélé pour le bien”, chercha à vivre de son mieux.

Armand Duval

 

Frère Daniel van den Boomen

1925 - - 2010

Frère Boomen est né à Geldrop, aux Pays-Bas, le 19 avril 1925. Baptisé Daniel, on l’appelait “Daan”. Il reçoit sa formation missionnaire à Saint-Charles, près de Boxtel et à ‘s-Heerenberg où il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 6 août 1953. Il poursuit sa formation à Marienthal. Il était très heureux de sa formation et écrivait en juillet 1954 : “Dans tous les domaines, nous avons eu de splendides possibilités de nous former pour notre future tâche comme missionnaires.”

En août 1955, il se rend à Saint-Charles, près de Boxtel, pour prendre en charge la cuisine. En juillet 1958, il se rend à notre petit séminaire à Sterksel pour devenir un membre du groupe de construction. En septembre 1959, il peut partir pour le Malawi.

Daan avait un jugement solide et pratique, avec un sens du devoir et de la responsabilité. Il était ouvert, bien qu’il pouvait donner l’impression d’être réservé. Il était joyeux et toujours prêt à rendre service ; tous ont apprécié sa compagnie. Il était enclin à s’inquiéter. Son service militaire en Allemagne, à Java et à Sumatra (Indonésie) où, comme sous-officier, il a généralement été en première ligne, a fait de lui une personnalité résolue et autonome. Quand son commandant de peloton tombe dans la bataille, Daan prend sa place et devient lieutenant. Il en a gardé des cauchemars, et n’a jamais voulu parler de cet épisode difficile de sa vie. Il a reçu une décoration militaire en 1951.

Durant ses 20 premières années au Malawi, il s’occupe principalement de la construction, la profession qu’il préfère. Il mène parfois deux chantiers en même temps. En 1961, son supérieur régional écrit qu’il a de bonnes relations avec la population locale qui l’aime en retour, et qu’il est intéressé dans son travail.
Il construit les maisons du personnel à Katete et à Nkhamenya, une section d’un petit séminaire à Rumphi, une école secondaire à Karonga, une autre école secondaire à Mzuzu et l’extension d’un hôpital.

En même temps, il est l’économe de la communauté, prenant bien soin de ses confrères. Son évêque le considère comme un “excellent missionnaire”, et son supérieur régional comme un “travailleur zélé et constant, prenant goût à son travail, très ordonné et bon économe. Il a de très bonnes relations avec ses travailleurs et prend aussi soin de leur bien-être spirituel.” Quelqu’un qui l’a connu à l’époque dit que même 300 ouvriers ne lui posaient pas problème et qu’il était toujours à l’heure. Daan envisage ses constructions en fonction de ceux qui devront les utiliser. En décembre 1970, il écrit : “Je construis une école pour que quelques 200 enfants aient un endroit pour aller apprendre. J’ai plaisir à y penser de cette manière.”

A Mzambazi, Daan construit un hôpital, une cuisine pour le séminaire de Rumphi et des dispensaires dans les villages de la paroisse. De septembre 1972 à mai 1974, il est l’économe de l’école normale à Katete. Puis il se met à construire à nouveau : un hôpital à Kaseye, un dispensaire à Chirumba, un presbytère à Karonga.

En raison de douleurs dans le dos, il doit renoncer à la construction. En janvier 1980, il se familiarise avec le travail dans le garage diocésain et en devient responsable en mars. Il écrit : “Nous avons deux bons mécaniciens qui m’étonnent par les merveilles qu’ils accomplissent.” Le garage entretient 75 voitures, 30 motos et un certain nombre de groupes électrogènes. Daan est en outre l’économe communautaire.

Comme passe-temps, il commence un jardin potager, qui est devenu un grand atout pour la cuisine. À la fin de la même année, il écrit : “C’est une satisfaction de voir que tout se passe sans heurts et que nous sommes en mesure d’aider tant de personnes.” En 1984, son supérieur régional écrit : “Daan est énergique et ingénieux dans ce qu’il fait et dans les moyens d’améliorer son service”. Il commence, par exemple, à passer dans les paroisses pour réparer sur place toutes sortes de moteurs et entretenir des pompes à eau.

En mai 1990, Daan retourne pour de bon aux Pays-Bas et devient l’économe de notre communauté de Breda. Là, il a suffisamment de temps pour la prière et la méditation, ce qu’il désirait depuis longtemps. Il est très attaché à notre Société et à son avenir. Il remarque que beaucoup de confrères y pensent, mais d’une façon plutôt pessimiste. Ce qui le captive vraiment, c’est qu’un “missionnaire doit être un contemplatif dans l’action.” Pour lui, cela veut dire que “toute activité doit être fondée sur notre rencontre personnelle avec le Christ.”

En décembre 1993, il se rend à notre communauté de Tilburg pour en devenir l’économe. Il est toujours prêt à rendre un service, et il est aussi très accueillant pour les confrères venant d’Afrique en congé.
En février 2000, il part se reposer à Heythuysen. Sa vue diminue et il a déjà cessé de conduire. Jusqu’en 2006, il fait les achats dans le village pour de nombreux confrères. Il note ses réflexions spirituelles et aimerait en parler, mais il a le sentiment qu’il ne sera pas vraiment compris. Comme sa vue continue à diminuer, il va rejoindre une organisation pour les malvoyants, qui lui prête un instrument pour lire. Quand il ne peut plus utiliser ou regarder la télévision, il a du mal à s’occuper. Il commence à se retirer de plus en plus et connaît des périodes de dépression. Comme il souffre parfois d’insomnie, on peut parfois le trouver dans la chapelle à 5 heures du matin en train de prier.

Au cours de 2010, ses jambes commencent à lui causer problème et à entraver sa marche, ce qui l’isole encore plus. Comme il ne peut plus voir, un confrère vient l’aider à mettre de l’ordre dans ses réflexions spirituelles écrites. Il s’est avéré qu’il en avait des piles.

Daan est mort paisiblement dans son appartement le 28 décembre 2010.
Le 3 janvier 2011, nous avons célébré ses funérailles en présence de ses proches et l’avons enterré dans notre cimetière à Heythuysen.

Le Délégué, Jan Mol, a présidé la cérémonie. Il a souligné combien Daan était attiré par la contemplation, consacrant beaucoup de temps à la prière, et comment il avait mis par écrit ses réflexions spirituelles.
Un de ses textes préférés était le dialogue entre Nicodème et Jésus en Jn 3, 1-21, : “À moins de naître à nouveau, on ne peut pas voir le Royaume de Dieu.”

Marien van den Eijnden

PROFILES

Father Gérard Vérein

1925 - - 2011

Gérard was born on the 21st January 1925, in a working class neighbourhood of Tourcoing, in the diocese of Lille, France. Baptized in St. Joseph’s parish in his home town on the 24th of the same month, he received Confir­mation there 10 years later on the 11th June 1935. He was a ‘ch’timi’, an unmistakable local of northern France. The family had five children, although the fourth died of meningitis at 9 months. Two boys and two girls survived. Gérard was the second in the family. ‘The town’, he wrote, ‘resembled a forest of factory chimneys, spewing black smoke one worse than the other. Even the tiles took on the grimy stain.

It was there I lived my childhood with all that being brought up in a working class family entails, while a very serious and prolonged social crisis raged.’ As for the parish priest and Dean, he was full of praise for the family, especially Papa, a long-time member of the Saint Christopher Sodality and since his marriage a volunteer gymnastics instructor, a collector of parish dues and a faithful member of the Study Circle of the Parish Union. ‘I was lucky’, wrote Gérard, ‘to have had parents with a solid faith, which in spite of problems, nurtured my own Christian faith by their example and tenacity. My father was a factory weaver with an irregular wage estimated on the variable production and quality of the thread being worked, with several strike days and unemployment in the 1930s and the 1939-1945 war.’

After his primary schooling in a school run by the Marianists, Gérard entered the diocesan junior seminary of Haubourdin in October 1938. It was, however, with a heavy heart, as that same month his dear Mum passed away after a long illness. Although feeling drawn to the mission in Africa, he did his first year of philosophy at the Major Seminary of Cambrai from 1944 till 1945, while waiting for the reopening of Kerlois. He looked after a group of ‘Cœurs Vaillants’ during the holidays. At that time, this was a movement from which sprang many vocations.

From Brittany, he went to the novitiate at Maison Carrée, from 1946 till 1947. After two years of theology at Carthage, he was sent to Thibar, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 27th June 1950. He returned to Carthage for his last year of studies and received the priesthood on the 24th March 1951. At the scholasticate, he was seen to be cheerful, serious-minded, a good handyman especially in electrics, pleasant company, eager to serve and put himself out in spite of a deprived childhood.

Appointed to the mission in Upper Volta in June 1951 for the Vicariate Apostolic of Ouagadou­gou, he first went to Bishop’s Waltham, England, on the 28th September 1951. He was being counted on to teach English at Pabré Junior Seminary. Three months later, he was ready to get down to work for a long stint of 6 years ‘out of a sense of duty’, he wrote, for although he was ready to be of service, he was not very much at ease, in particular with the older pupils.

On the 16th August 1957, looking forward to doing a bit of parish ministry before going on home leave, he was happily appointed to Boulsa in order to learn Mooré, and on the following 7th April to Kologh Naaba. On the 4th April 1959, he was at Saponé before becoming interim Superior at Kaya during the home leave of the parish priest, from the 10th October 1960. However, less than a year later, he was recalled to Pabré Junior Seminary.

On the 20th March 1963, he returned to France with an already unstable health. He had recurrent treatment-resistant amoebiasis, major fatigue and varicose veins requiring prolonged treatment. He learned of his appointment to the French Province as Bursar at Bonnelles Junior Seminary in its last year, while replacing the parish priest at Le Touquet. He would then become Superior of the small community that remained on the property. Promoted to chaplain of the college that later occupied the buildings, he did not feel at ease in this environment, which was too bourgeois for him. After doing the Long Retreat in January 1966, he was given the Bursar’s office at Vals Scholastic­ate on the 10th September 1966, with responsibility for one of the student teams and the parish sector near the seminary.

Three years later, in November 1969, he was content to return to his Ouagadougou Diocese. One after the other, he was curate at Manga on the 1st January 1970, then on the 1st July at Kombissiri, where he became Superior on the 1st July 1974. He was to spend seven years here embellishing the church with a beautiful altar he made himself. After discreetly celebrating his 25 years of priesthood, he became curate at Sâaba, in October 1977. He then became its Superior for a long time, from September 1978 till the 5th January 1989, when, after an interim six-month period at Angers, he did the Long Retreat at Jerusalem. During his appointment as Superior at Sâaba, the Regional Superior appreciated his sensitivity towards his elderly predecessor, Father Métayer, who was preparing himself to return to Europe for good with a heavy heart.

His successive home leaves from then on were devoted to many medical tests – hypertension and diabetes dogged him. However, he always managed to squeeze a green light from the doctors to return to what had become in 1983 Burkina Faso. When Sâaba was handed on to the local clergy, he went to Toécé. This time, he was allowed to return on condition he receives daily treatments and to agree to be repatriated if required. This became necessary on the 24th February 1993, due to a very deep wound in his foot as a consequence of diabetes and an increasingly debilitating hearing impairment.

From May, he was authorised to return to the mission, but from then on, rural areas were excluded. He was therefore to reside at the Regional House, looking after the secretariat, while serving an outstation on Sundays and the Pastoral Training Centre for Sisters (CFPR). He spent nine years in this way, with diabetes stabilised and a cataract operation to restore his sight.

However, after 2000, he was frequently to question himself about returning to Europe for good, to the great regret of all at Ouagadougou, where he had discreetly rendered very good service, in the opinion of the Regional. Nevertheless, he had to be operated for the prostate and a hernia and his hypertension continued. The time had come to lay down his load in some haven of peace. At the end of October 2002, he opted for the retirement community at Billère, where the Lord came to call him to himself on the 7th January 2011, two weeks short of his 86th birthday. He died as he had lived, discreetly and in silence.
During the funeral service in the chapel at Billère, Gérard’s fine daily example was emphasised. It was a testimony of joy, of unsung service, attentiveness to confreres, regular prayer, and his devotion to Theresa of Lisieux. He was a man of faith, like her, and could make his own the phrase written on the Saint’s picture in his breviary: ‘I am not dying; I am entering into life.’

Bernard, his nephew, recalled that last spring, when the celebrant blessed the pilgrims departing from Puy-en-Velay to Santiago de Compostela, he asked them to take a priest with them in spirit, in their luggage. He quite naturally had his uncle in mind. ‘However, this year, Gérard,’ he said, ‘when I shall take the road again, I will be accompanied by the large White Father family, for we have found in it a genuine family, at this point of contemplation and communion gathered around you.’

Armand Duval

 

Father Pierre Faillie

1928 - - 2010

Pierre was born on the 11th August 1928 at Merckeg­hem in the Diocese of Lille, France. He was baptised four days later in the presence of his maternal grandmother and his father and the parish priest, since his godfather, a fervent militant communist, remained on the road! Pierre received Confirmation on the 15th July 1940 at Bollezeele. He was studying at the public village school when one day he saw a cousin of his father, Father Roger Duseigne, giving the Sacraments to his own sick mother; he then thought, ‘I am going to be like him.’

However, when he wanted to enter the Junior Seminary at Hazebrouck, the parish priest vetoed it because of the ideas of some members of the family. Nevertheless, his parents, were regular churchgoers and prayed with the family. His papa would later become sacristan of the parish. The third boy, Jacques, was also to enter the Society of White Fathers and worked as a Brother in Rwanda. Happily, Pierre’s mother, who had always dreamt of having a son a priest, had recourse to Cardinal Liénart, who lifted the parish priest’s ban.

In the Junior Seminary, Pierre was a casualty of certain favour­itisms and showed himself up as a badly behaved pupil, until an excellent Superior brought his rebellious nature to heel. A retreat at the Abbey of Wisques confirmed him in his desire to become a White Father and he entered Kerlois in 1948 for his two years of philosophy. These were painful years, as out of ten who entered, only two remained. Some Fathers help­ed him to overcome his depression. Then he went to the novitiate at Maison-Carrée from 1950-1951. He did his military service in Tunisia as a nurse-veterinarian, then as secretary to the Regional Chaplain. He moved on to Thibar where he studied theology from 1952 till 1955 and took his Missionary Oath on the 27th June 1955.

He spent the last year at Carthage, where he received the priesthood on the 1st April 1956. During his years of study, he was an enthusiastic master of ceremonies, a good catechist at Téboursouk, and much appreciated by those in charge of his Formation, even if they found him sometimes authoritarian. He knew what he wanted and had a ‘strong personality.’

He would have like the Rwanda mission, but he was sent to the IBLA, at the Manouba, on the 1st October 1956 till the end of 1958, intended for Mali and Sikasso Diocese, which was heavily islamised. For Arabic, ‘He began from scratch,’ noted Father Py, ‘but gradually he grasped it.’ As a bilingual Flemish speaker, it perhaps helped, and he left on the 10th September 1959, equipped with all these attainments.

After the Bambara course at the CELA Language Centre Faladyé, where there were no teachers and he received scant assistance, he moved on to Sikasso on the 1st August the same year. He worked as chaplain to the Teacher Training Course of the De La Salle Brothers. On the 7th April 1962, he became procurator; he made contact in particular with the world of Islam. On the 15th January 1964, he was appointed to Koutiala, and dedicated himself to teaching literacy. Then, on the 30th November 1965, he arrived at Mandyakui in the Diocese of San. Appointed Director of Education, he drove over the whole diocese, visiting schools and working on catechesis.

He was to have the same duties at the diocese of San from the 1st January 1967, while giving courses at Togo, at the inter-diocesan (San-Mopti) junior seminary. He would become its superior on the 30th June 1970. However, on the 1st September 1971, he was granted a sabbatical year at ‘Lumen Vitæ’ for a licentiate in catechesis and pastoral studies with a specialisation for ‘adolescents’. Analysing these 14 years, in three successive dioceses, he wrote, ‘... I have a single regret: not to have loved enough and caused a certain amount of pain.’ Concerning his time spent at ‘Lumen Vitae’, he was to note, ‘Very fulfilling hours spent at a difficult juncture.’

On the 1st January 1974, on his return, in the Diocese of Bakamo, he was curate at the cathedral, chaplain to secondary schools and on the national level to the Étudiants Croyants. He remained in the capital until his return to the French Province on the 24th June 1981, after having done his Jerusalem Retreat Session from the 6th July 1980. His Regional Superior acknowledged, ‘He is shouldering his return with the best of attitudes.’

In his notes at that time, we can find a bitter-sweet remark ‘the Express has published the 50 most appreciated professions and mine is not among them; the poor people! For me, it is the best! Moreover, I continue to do so.’ With hindsight, he was to be somewhat cynical about the quotation on his ordination card: ‘Lord may my brothers see you in me.’ ‘It is not very visible,’ he would say, during his Silver Jubilee. However, he was to continue to recite this prayer throughout his 17 appointments, because, as he wrote to his friends, ‘It has always to be begun again; pray for me.’

In January 1982, at the request of the Bishop of Nancy, he succeeded Father Jean-Pierre Ledoux for Missionary Promotion in the diocese, in the Saint-Fiacre priests’ team where he lived community life. He also became Regional Delegate for the OPM (Propaga­tion of the Faith) and went al over the Eastern region, in the dioceses of Nancy, Saint-Dié and Verdun. In addition, he was a member of the National Missionary Council and worked with the ‘Peuples du Monde’ magazine.

On his departure, he was warmly thanked by the Bisop of Nancy for his zeal. He was then appointed Director of the White Father magazine, ‘Voix d’Afri­que’, firstly edited from Stras­bourg, then on the 15th February 1989 from Paris at the Rue de Romainville, in the 19th arrond­issemen. Here, he became superior on the 15th September 1990 and was elected Provincial Councillor on the 26th November the same year.

He became increasingly involved in the press. He was correspondent for Africa on ‘Peuples de Monde’ and for ANB/BIA Brussels; a member of the reading committee of ‘Vivant Univers’, collaborating with ‘Aid to the Churches in Africa’. He was on the Justice and Peace Committee, and appealed a lot for ‘Aid to the Church in Distress.’ The Father Provincial of the day said of him, ‘He is a good communicator, an enthusiast for the world of the press, and gifted for fine writing.’

Indeed, in articles preserved, he was very open on the problems of Africa and Justice and Peace. The circular letters he sent for the New Year were well-composed, stamped with his humour and personality. From August till September 1992, he had to go to Rwanda to settle the estate of (his) Brother Jacques who died unexpectedly. This came as a further painful shock after the accidental death of his other brother, Michel.

When, on the 27th April 1993, ‘Voix d’Afrique’ changed its location, method and Director, he bitterly resented this, but ended up bearing his disappointment ‘in prayer and forgiveness’, he wrote. In 1994, he was appointed Superior of the Maisons-Alfort. By contract with the Bishop of Créteil, on the 10th October 1995; he became a curate at the parish of N-D du Sacré-Cœur, with a Rwandan diocesan priest as parish priest, creating many friendly relations.

However, illness obliged him to retire to the retirement community of Bry-sur-Marne; on the 13th December 2005. He lived there for five difficult years as the terrible illness of Alzheimer’s soon led him to total dependence, with fits of violent temper.

He died on the 30th December 2010, leaving the memory of a Missionary not always easy to follow, but open to the world and to its human and spiritual riches. He was ready for all sorts of input, both written and spoken. He was sensitive to all the distress of his sisters and brothers in the world. His funeral took place on the 4th January 2011 in the parish church of Bry-sur-Marne. Aware of the weaknesses inherent in every human being, he would have taken to heart for himself the phrase of his holy patron, chosen for the Gospel: ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you’, (John 21:17).

Armand Duval

Father Albert Bongaerts

1931 - - 2010

Albert was born on the 30th April 1931, the youngest among seven brothers and sisters. He was the most liked brother of our very close-knit and faith-filled family, where conviction carried the day over tradition and ritual. Right from his birth at Bree, Belgium, Albert was prominent. He focused the attention of his parents, in particular our Mum, who was an excellent educator, and of his godmother, our older sister. With a rather quiet and reserved nature, Albert rarely showed his feelings deep down. Later, he was to reveal himself by the book titles of his small library and by the sparse notes uncovered in his papers. Growing up in this committed Christian family, he did not allow himself to be spoiled and defended his autonomy, asserting it by belonging to the Scout Movement.

As a real live wire, Albert attracted his pals to this movement, where the leaders straightaway appointed him in charge at the age of 8. Some years later, he was chosen as patrol leader. The Scouting ideal and his Christian family upbringing enabled him to leave primary school at the age of 10 to join the large student community at Saint Michel College. His older brothers had gone before him there or were along with him. He completed his grammar school curriculum without much success, as Albert was no ‘swot’ to remain in his room with his books. He needed outside activities, Scout meetings and sports. He especially excel­led at football in college and later in our Missionary Formation Houses. In Africa, he arranged friendly matches with seminarians and other adults. It was evangelisation by and with football!

As a hyperactive adolescent, he experienced problems in submitting to school rules, which at that time were often petty. His school marks suffered as a result. Arri­ving in the penultimate year at the age of 17, he opted as early as that for a future in Africa. This pros­pect alleviated the college yoke he felt. When the time for a final choice came, he chose to direct himself towards the Third World. Our parents initially opposed it. ‘You already have two brothers in the Missionary Society.’ However, Albert in reply showed them his muscular arms and legs. ‘Don’t you see I am made for Africa? They need my energies, whereas here in this country, there is a surplus of priests they stick into schools for teaching. God is calling me to Africa.’

Once he reached the last year of college, he spent his Christmas holiday of 1948-1949 at Varsena­re, where I was doing my Spiritual Year. This residential stay convinced him. ‘I want to live my ideal at the service of Christ with them.’ At the end of 1949, he began his philosophy cycle followed by novitiate. His beginnings in theology were marred by a terrible ordeal. Our dear Mum, who had always sustained him spiritually, passed away. Matured by suffering and his many outside commitments, his future opened up for him in taking his Missionary Oath in 1955 and in receiving priestly ordination in 1956.

At the end of that year, he was already flying out to the Vicariate of Baudouinville, where the junior seminary of Lusaka was waiting for him. He quickly mastered Kiswahili thanks to the direct method: contact with the people, who, on their side, introduced him to the surroundings. His bishop found him mature enough for the apostolate among the people, in the old mission of Sola, a bastion of the missionaries for almost a century. However, in 1962, a very troubled period of tribal strife and political maturation began in Katanga. Confreres were expelled from the country.

Albert returned to Belgium and was appointed to Antwerp for a four-year term of Missionary Promotion. This was a time for talks in schools, evenings in parishes and with interest groups. It was also the beginning of family teams with monthly contact at home: Mass, prayers, discussion. Albert formed deep and enduring friendships there that lasted a lifetime. Madame Dora Lapiere, ana­esthetist and GP for our confreres at Heusy, was one of them. At the funeral, she gave this tribute: ‘We had the privilege of having as our spiritual counsellor a priest who prayed, who radiated the presence of Christ, friendly and attentive. His love for Africa and his sense of duty was boundless. How much he hoped to return there!’

Dora went on, ‘Thank you, Lord, for so many shared prayers, for his unfailing friendship; he had become a member of our family and we of his, sharing our mutual joys and sorrows. We thank you for the kindness of the Mission­aries of Africa family through which we found so many friends, here and in Africa. Thank you for Albert’s patience and bravery in his trials and illness, for the smile never left his lips knowing that he was borne up by you. Thank you, Lord, for Albert, who taught us so much in bringing us close to you.’ I have to mention the experience of the Bible Circles he founded in collaboration with Fr. Van Ormelingen. Since then, these circles have multiplied in the majority of parishes.

In 1966, he was able to return to Africa and was appointed parish priest of the major parish of St. Albert at Kalemie on Lake Tanganyika. He also had to serve the Cathedral of Christ the King from there. What a lot of trips made on this immense Lake where parishioners looked forward to his apostolic visit and the sacraments! One Msola Sister wrote after Albert’s death, ‘I knew Albert very well from 1980 till 1999, in several places in the east of Congo. He was the main support and spiritual counsellor of the Msola. Given his practical knowledge of spirituality, he knew how to spark enthusiasm in us, inspiring us by his favourite authors: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross and modern authors such as Jesuit Van Breemen, and Benedictine Grün and others.

The main subject of his talks was the Father’s boundless mercy, reflected in personal friendship with Jesus. He helped them to meet Christ in the Gospels and in the Epistles of Saint Paul. He also made use of the spirituality of icons and the message of African art. His motto was ‘God and beauty are hand in glove.’ Wherever he went, his first contact was a plummet into the prayer of the heart, relying on the Teresa of Avila method for whom, ‘prayer was to pave the way in friendship with Jesus.’

This long period of direct apostolate was interrupted by some periods of residence in Europe, especially in 1983. He had some heart problems resolved by a series of bypasses requiring several months of convalescence. How­ever, the call of Africa won out and this hasty return undermined his physical resistance. Several responsibilities were waiting for him: the parish at Kalemie and then at Kaseke, not forgetting the Catechetical Centre. He also acquitted himself well in several mandates as Regional Councillor.

This brought him in 1989 to Bukavu as Regional Treasurer. This new service came to an end with a sabbatical year crowned by the Transition to the Third Age Session and the MDT Session at Jerusalem. Having thus recharged his batteries, he was able to leave again for Christ the King, Kale­mie, and devote himself to his favourite parish.

A further medical checkup appointed him to Belgium (PE 99/6) in view of founding a new community for older confreres at Munsterbilzen, not far from Genk. He set himself up in his new surroundings with four kindly confreres. They made use of the large and beautiful chapel for their liturgies and reciting the Office. The development was situated in the midst of spacious wooded grounds. On behalf of his confreres, Albert sent the following note concerning the relocation: ‘In this quasi-monastic context, the stressful life outside gives way to contemplation and inner peace. Adaptation to consumer society and its emptiness no longer disturbs us. However, after five months of Europe, my heart was still in Africa.’

Having received a hip replacement in the 1980s, the appliance was wearing out and needed replacing. This was the beginning of his Way of the Cross. The medical faculty had to make four operations, without effect. Treat­ment lasted over two years. Following on these unsuccessful operations, Albert became disabled, immobilised, not knowing how to stand without losing his balance. A confrere neighbour helped him to get around the community. He appreciated visits and assistance.

At the beginning, he still hoped to give conferences, especially to the Little Sisters of the Poor of Genk. In their eyes, he would always remain their spiritual counselor and contact was maintained by letter. For them, he was the priest they needed, as he was deeply inhabited by the Divine Presence and radiated it in his talks to them. John of the Cross had taught him, ‘In order to pass on the flame to others, I must be on fire myself.’ In this way, Albert had acquired the charism of spiritual contact, but he could no longer manage to move around. In his solitude, he sought to come closer to God as friend.

Daily, the morning concluded with the Eucharist. From 10.30, Albert stopped any other occupation to prepare himself, and to meet with Christ. His days passed by in front of the large window of his bedroom. Contemplating the horizon, he prayed to see the Invisible, lost in a silent dialogue. Time was no longer measurable; someone was there. He pondered words of Scripture that he knew by heart, listening to the Spirit who suggested them to him. He became lost in reverie; he transformed them into intercession for Africa, the Church and his family, the confreres, the world in distress and the needy. For entertainment, he watched sports on television, in line with his sporting past.

From October 2010, he was hospitalised for some minor treatment. However, the following day, his health condition rapidly worsened. A generalised septicaemia spread to all his vital organs, making him lose consciousness, bringing him to intensive care. In the evening of Monday the 11th October, a visiting confrere found him quite lucid and offered him the Sacraments of the Sick. It was a very intimate moment, and some family members were able to attend. Albert felt content. He then gave a sigh and fell back into a coma. This was to be the final evening. The following morning, at about 15 minutes after midnight, he passed away.

The funeral service and farewell was postponed until the 20th October, and then the body was transferred to the Society’s cemetery at Varsenare in the afternoon. The confreres of the house there had prepared a moving and prayerful reception.

Thank you, Lord, for Albert’s life and for his entry into the mysterious hereafter, so real to you, made out of love and intercession. Thank you, Albert, for all you have been and done for us and for the people of Africa. Remain with us in the presence of the Risen One.

Jules Bongaerts

Brother Jacques Rouast

1923 - - 2010

Jacques was born on the 25th October 1923 at Dijon, France, the eighth of nine children. His father was a Forestry Commission Inspector in Burgun­dy. Meningitis in his youth left Jacques with some after-effects, though he was able to do his studies in the junior seminary. Treatment for insomnia and certain allergies also made him very sensitive and he had distressing asthma attacks. One of his brothers, Maurice, nine years older (+ 16.02.1998, at Tassy), was a White Father in Dagari country in the future diocese of Diebougou. Jacques wanted to follow him and he too entered the postulancy at Antilly in October 1941.

However, hardly had he begun his novitiate at Maison Carrée in October 1942, taking the name of Brother Dominique-Marie, than he had to interrupt it in early 1943. Sent to the youth work details at Blida, Algeria, he was soon called up to the 62nd Artillery Regiment. In December of the same year, he arrived in Italy near Naples and took part in the battle for Monte Cassino. Then in August 1944, he landed in Provence and continued the final campaign push into Germany.

Demobbed in May 1945, he resumed his novitiate in September, but at Tournus, France. In 1946 -1947, he was at Bonnelles, where he took his First Missionary Oath on the 6th October 1947.

Appointed to 31 Rue Friant, Paris, in 1949-1950, he especially looked after the maintenance of the house, notably painting. In 1951, he was sent to Bonnelles for the same mission. There, he took his Perpetual Oath on the 6th September 1953. On the 23rd December 1957, he was in the Rue Friant for maintenance work, returning to Bonnelles on the 1st October 1959. He was operated for prostate problems in 1966 and recovered well, except that his health remained fragile. He was criticised for being slow in finishing some jobs: he was aware of it and always tried to do better.

He was to do his longest stay at Mours, from 1974 till 1998, with a short interruption of three months at Notre-Dame d’Afrique in 1986, for maintenance work and painting. However, his asthma attacks obliged him to give this up. In 1993, he was knocked down by a motorbike and he spent a long time in hospital with an open fracture to his leg.

On the 2nd June 2010, he arrived at Tassy, appointed once more for maintenance work. It was there that the Lord called him to fullness of life with him, in a privileged moment during the Eucharist, just after the celebrant’s homily. What a day! The 25th December 2010, Christmas Day, was the dawn of salvation for this dedicated, humble and generous confrere.

In a moving letter thanking the Provincial who had congratulated him for his 60 years of Oath, Jacques said how much he would have liked to have gone on Mission, but he could not, lacking training. He nevertheless hoped that the time spent at Paris, Rue Friant, Bonnelles, Mours and Tassy was productive and missionary, since he always desired to follow the rules that were given to him for a simple life according to the Gospel. ‘Not everything was perfect, he added, but the retreats, invitations to conversion, and fraternal life helped him to overcome the obstacles. ‘The Eucharist, the sacraments, and prayer lead us and help us to further the Kingdom of God. Even at Tassy, I can be a missionary and reach out towards this perfect charity which we will only achieve in the world to come.’

A wake before the funeral ceremonies was a fine tribute to this humble and generous man. Several confreres fondly underlined one or other aspect of his personality. ‘He left without forewarning, in the middle of Mass, in a chapel that was calmly silent in prayer. His company was truly pleasing. He had a gift for laughter, but also took an interest in world and Church affairs. His piety was not faked; he prolonged his thanksgiving alone in a deep contemplation and recited his rosary daily.’ ‘You do not know the day when your master is coming’, said another, (Mt 24: 42). His nephew was due to come the following day to collect him to spend the day with him and his sister for the New Year festivities. The Lord, however, preceded them to take him to himself. Thus ended a life totally consecrated to the service of God the Church and the Society.

‘He was only a few months at Notre-Dame d’Afrique, but in his letters to a seminarian of Ouagadougou and a farmer of Dano, he spoke of his concern to see people get to know Christ. He offered his prayers with this intention, as well as his sufferings when the drought brought famine. He would then send financial assistance, with his few means.’ ‘He was faithful to divine intimacy in Gospel sharing’, observed another. He was inhabited by grace.’ ‘He was concerned for perfection, cleaning, scraping, and filling cracks, coating doors and windows with protective fluids. It was a work well done and enduring, of which he was rightly proud. He had the same concern for the things of God. Just as several coats are needed for proper painting, so he continually disposed himself for the task of collaborating with God’s grace.’

Remarks such as, ‘He would boil with indignation at injustice’, would also be voiced on his behalf. The plight of women and children in the world also preoccupied him. There too, he threw in his donation, however small, to support the suffering. He had a keen sense of justice. ‘He always looked for the last place, spoke little of the War and his two landings near Naples and Provence; the inferno of Cassino. He loved joining in festivities and entertainments; he was dedicated, without boasting about what he did for others’ comfort.’

Jacques would have been embarrassed by all this praise. Nevertheless, those who knew him well were conscious that a naive question came from deep thought and a genuine love for Africa. His piety, admittedly, was sometimes tense and timid; he needed encouragement and to be patiently enlightened. However, he always guaranteed regular work, at his own pace.

In the funeral homily on the 30th December in the chapel of Tassy, the preacher recalled how six days previously, the Christmas Vigil was being celebrated. At 11.30pm on this eve of his death, Jacques was taking the Reading and proclaimed the verse of the Alleluia: ‘O Rising Sun, come, splendour of justice and light eternal! Illumine those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death.’ The next day, the Lord would say, ‘Come, Jacques, enter into life eternal!’ This phrase from Titus was chosen to be read aloud: ‘God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus’ (Titus 2:11-14). Self-restraint, a good and religious life; these are the virtues that Jacques always sought to live out to the utmost.

Armand Duval

 

Brother Daniel van den Boomen

1925 - - 2010

Brother Boomen was born at Geldrop on the 19th of April 1925. Baptised Daniel, he was called “Daan.” In view of becoming a missionary, he received his Formation at St. Charles near Boxtel and in
‘s-Heerenberg, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 6th of August 1953. He continued his Formation at Marienthal. He was quite pleased with it and wrote in July 1954, “In all areas ,we had splendid opportunities to form ourselves for our future task as missionaries.”

In August 1955, he went to St. Charles near Boxtel to take charge of the kitchen. In July 1958, he went to our minor seminary at Sterksel to become a member of the building group. In September 1959, he was able to leave for Malawi.

Daan had a sound and practical judgement, with a sense of duty and responsibility. He was open, although he could give the impression of being reserved; he was cheerful and ever ready to render a service; all enjoyed his company. He was inclined to worry. His military service in Germany, Java and Sumatra (Indonesia), where, as a non-commissioned officer, he usually was in the front line, made him a resolute and self-reliant personality. His platoon commander fell in battle and Daan had to take his place and became a lieutenant. It left him with nightmares, and about this difficult episode in his life he never wished to talk. He received a military decoration for it in 1951.

During the first 20 years in Malawi, he was mostly busy with building, the profession he preferred, sometimes in several projects at the same time. His Regional Superior wrote in 1961 that Daan had good relations with the local population, who in turn liked him, and that he was interested in his work.
Job sites included Katete, Nkhamenya: staff houses; Rumphi: a section of a minor seminary; Karonga: a secondary school; Mzuzu: a secondary school and extending a hospital; at the same time, he was the bursar of the community with great care for his confreres. His bishop thought him an “excellent missionary.” His Regional Superior considered him “A zealous and steady worker, with taste, quite orderly, and a good bursar.

He has quite good relations with his workers, and takes care of their spiritual well-being too.” Some­one who knew him at the time said that even some 300 workers would then be no problem for him, and he was always on time. Daan visualised his constructions in function of those who used them. In December 1970 he wrote, “I am building a school so that some 200 children will have a place to go to school. It gives me pleasure to think about it in that way.”

In Mzambazi, Daan built a hospital, a kitchen for Rumphi Seminary, and dispensaries in the church villages. From September 1972 to May 1974, he was the bursar of the Teacher Training College at Katete. Then he started building again: a hospital at Kaseye, a dispensary in Chirum­ba, a presbytery at Karonga.
Due to back complaints, he had to give up building. In January 1980, he became familiar with the work in the diocesan garage, and was put in charge of it in March. He wrote, “We have a couple of good mechanics, astonishing me by the marvels they attain.” The garage took care of 75 cars, 30 motorbikes and quite a few generators. In addition, he became the community bursar. As a hobby, he started a vegetable garden, which became a great help for the kitchen.

At the end of that year he wrote, “It is satisfying to see that things run smoothly and that we are able to help so many.” His Regional Superior wrote in 1984, “Daan is energetic and resourceful in what he does and in ways to improve his service.” For example, he started passing through the parishes to repair on the spot all sorts of engines and to service the water pumps.

In May 1990, Daan returned for good to Holland, and became the bursar of our Breda community. There, he had plenty of time for prayer and meditation, a long cherished desire. He was committed to our Society and its future. He noticed how many confreres were thinking a lot about it, but thought them to be rather pessimistic. What really touched him was that “a missionary ought to be a contemplative in action.” For him, this meant that “All activity had to be founded on… our own meeting with Christ.”

In December 1993, he went to our Tilburg community to become the bursar. He was ever ready to render a service, and he was also a pleasant host to those on home leave from Africa.

In February 2000, he went to Heythuysen to rest; his eyesight was diminishing and he had already stopped driving. Until 2006, he did the shopping in the village for many confreres. He was writing down spiritual reflections and would have loved to talk about them, but he did not feel he would really be understood.
His sight continued to diminish and he joined an organisation for the visually handicapped that on loan provided him with an instrument to read. When he could not use this any longer or watch TV, he had trouble occupying himself. He started to withdraw more and more, and had periods of depression. As he had bouts of insomnia, he could be found at 5am in the chapel for prayer.

In the course of 2010, his legs started troubling him more and more, hampering his walking; he became more isolated. As he could no longer see, a confrere came to help him to put order into his written spiritual reflections. It turned out that there were stacks of them.
He died peacefully in his apartment on the 28th of December 2010.

On the 3rd of January 2011, together with his relatives, we conducted a service of burial and laid him to rest in our cemetery at Heythuysen. Delegate Jan Mol presided. He emphasised how Daan was drawn to contemplation, spent a lot of time in prayer, and wrote down his spiritual reflections.

One of his favourite texts was the dialogue between Nicodemus and Jesus in John 3:1-21, especially : “Unless one is born anew, he cannot see the Kingdom of God”. Jn. 3:3
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. Jn. 3:6

Marien van den Eijnden