Frans est né à Zevenbergen, Pays-Bas, le 22 août 1929. Il a reçu sa formation missionnaire à Sterksel, St- Charles près de Boxtel, ‘s-Heerenberg, à Thibar en Tunisie, où il a fait son serment missionnaire le 26 juin 1956, et à Carthage. Il a été ordonné à ‘s-Heerenberg, le 22 avril 1957.

Frans était un homme enthousiaste par nature, et il avait le don de rendre les autres enthousiastes ; cela pouvait conduire à précipiter les choses. Il avait un solide jugement, il était très pratique et parfois très direct ! Il avait une forte volonté, il était persévérant, prenait beaucoup d’initiatives, davantage concerné par les grandes lignes et moins par la finition. Il avait un chaud optimisme et une spontanéité enjouée, toujours prêt à rendre service. Son oncle était notre confrère, Christian Balemans (Canut). Son frère Martinus est devenu Missionnaire d’Afrique au Ghana et son frère Chris, prêtre diocésain en Allemagne.

Le 20 août 1957, Frans est parti pour le Burkina Faso, dans l’archidiocèse de Ouagadougou à la paroisse de Saba pour apprendre la culture et la langue. Il s’est trouvé là-bas avec un confrère français et un prêtre burkinabè. En janvier 1960, il est allé à la paroisse de Kologh-Naba, qui couvrait une partie de Ouagadougou et une grande zone de brousse. Il était l’aumônier de quelques mouvements. En novembre 1960, il est allé à la paroisse de Gilongou, où il se préoccupa des “évolués” qui étaient moins zélés dans leur foi.

Concernant ses multiples déplacements, il écrivit : “Changer n’est pas un plaisir, mais je crois que cela a l’avantage, au début de la vie d’un missionnaire, de l’enrichir de multiples expériences.” En novembre 1961, il s’en est allé à la paroisse de Kaya, qui est devenue plus tard le centre d’un nouveau diocèse.

En mai 1962, il est parti en congé en Hollande et il est nommé à la promotion vocationnelle à Boxtel. Le secrétaire provincial nota l’année suivante : “Il se déplace beaucoup mais il aime être à la maison. Il a une pauvre mémoire des personnes et des lieux.” Au long des années, il s’apercevait que l’enthousiasme pour la mission diminuait en Hollande. Selon lui, la manière de faire la l’animation missionnaire ne correspondait plus aux besoins du moment. N’en voyant pas de meilleure, il a demandé à retourner en Afrique.

En novembre 1967, il est retourné au Burkina Faso pour un travail pastoral à Kaya, devenue la ville du siège épiscopal. L’année suivante, il y eut une effrayante sécheresse, une pauvre récolte et une famine. Sa paroisse fut la plus durement touchée. Une connaissance de Frans envoya huit mille lettres dans toute la Hollande. En 1969, Frans commença à écrire lui-même. Depuis ce temps-là, beaucoup l’ont aidé généreusement. Tout en restant dans le travail pastoral, il fut très engagé dans l’œuvre de développement.

Avec cette aide, quarante mille personnes furent ainsi rescapées, sans considération de leur foi. Cette action fut l’impulsion qui fit démarrer la première union paysanne du Burkina Faso, appelée ADRK.
En juin 1970, Frans fut nommé curé de Boulsa où il se rendit pour le travail pastoral et de développement.

Avec une aide financière, il a pu commencer des méthodes agricoles performantes et acheter des motoculteurs et des ânes attelés. Le rendement par acre augmenta. L’avancée du désert du Sahara fut contrecarrée. Il a fait forer 58 puits afin que des milliers de personnes puissent avoir une eau plus abondante et de meilleure qualité. Il soutenait un projet pour cultiver le riz ; il fit rénover une maternité et construire un centre de formation pour filles. Pour tout cela, il a été fait Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite du Burkina Faso en 1975. Six autres décorations nationales et internationales s’y sont ajoutées par la suite.

Il a introduit une nouvelle méthode de catéchisme ; il utilisa la retraite mensuelle des catéchistes dans ce but. Il suivait les mouvements de jeunesse et d’Action catholique. Il commença un conseil paroissial élu par tous les paroissiens et il restait en contact avec tous par des visites à domicile. Son Supérieur régional écrivit en mars 1979 : “Il réussit dans les deux : l’évangélisation et le développement humain, car l’activité pastorale n’est pas négligée.”

De mai 1977 à octobre 1982, il a été économe diocésain de Kaya, en étant en même temps le responsable de la pastorale de secteur et des projets de développement. Il remplit ces fonctions à la satisfaction de chacun. En octobre 1982, il devint le curé de Barsalogho. Là aussi, il est resté engagé dans des projets de développement pour tout le diocèse. Il écrivit en 1986 : “Présenter la mentalité du Christ : bonté, solidarité, respect pour le pauvre et le faible, procurer une raison de vivre, tout cela, je le considère comme ma principale tâche missionnaire.”

En décembre 1987, il se déplaça à Tema Bokin. Il commençait à se fatiguer plus rapidement et sut qu’il devait ralentir. De septembre 1998 à 2000, il était à Kaya pour la pastorale et le travail de développement. Il y remplaça l’Économe diocésain pendant sept mois.

En janvier 2001, il partit dans un autre diocèse, Koudougou, et devint le secrétaire exécutif de JPIC des Missionnaires d’Afrique au Burkina Faso. Dans le Lien des Pères Blancs de septembre 2004, il lança un appel à “ceux qui n’ont pas peur et qui ne veulent pas rester assis sur la barrière !” Il a écrit une colonne hebdomadaire dans “Le Pays”, le plus grand quotidien du pays ; il s’en tenait aux faits, mais pas toujours diplomatiquement… Sa mission était la conscientisation, l’égalité des droits et la justice. À 75 ans, il écrivit en Hollande : “Je me sens chez moi au Burkina Faso : ici, je suis quelqu’un, ici, les gens me connaissent et je les connais ; ici, je sens que j’en fais partie”?. Et en janvier 2006 : “On dit : ‘Il donna sa vie pour les missions’. Non-sens : J’ai eu une vie magnifique ici.” Il aima vivre et travailler avec “les gens les plus amicaux que l’on peut souhaiter.”

En février 2007, il retourna en Hollande pour de bon et alla à Heythuysen en juillet. Il devint le représentant de la communauté dans la commission JPIC du Secteur. Comme il aimait visiter les membres de la famille et les amis, il était souvent à l’extérieur. Chaque jour, il passait trois heures en prière et une heure à marcher. Une fois par semaine, il lisait à haute voix pour un confrère aveugle et mal entendant. Une fois par mois, il visitait des personnes seules. Il écrivit des articles et il conservait des centaines de contacts par lettres ou e-mail.

Il voulait approfondir sa vie spirituelle et pensa le réaliser en devenant moine. Il essaya en 2010 et il fut chaudement reçu pendant quelques mois dans la communauté de l’Abbaye cistercienne à Tilburg. Quand il devint clair que ce n’était pas sa voie, il essaya de devenir aumônier d’un home pour personnes âgées ; ensuite, il essaya encore dans une autre abbaye ; finalement, il décida de vivre une vie plus contemplative dans son appartement à Heythuysen. Début 2012, il devint sérieusement malade et déclina rapidement ; cela devint une longue maladie prolongée. Il décéda paisiblement le 6 décembre 2012 dans son appartement.

Les funérailles eurent lieu en l’église paroissiale de Heythuysen le 12 décembre, présidée par ses frères Chris et Martien, notre Supérieur délégué Jan Mol, et l’évêque de Kaya. Le frère aîné et Martien parlèrent tous deux de leur frère défunt. Jan Mol releva combien Frans s’était consacré toute sa vie à la justice ; c’était visible dans tous ses engagements, particulièrement dans la défense de ceux qui étaient faussement accusés de sorcellerie. L’évêque exprima sa gratitude au nom de tout le diocèse pour tout ce que Frans avait signifié comme prêtre et, avec l’aide des bienfaiteurs, tout ce qu’il avait fait pour le développement. Ensuite, nous avons enterré Frans dans notre cimetière de St. Charles.

Marien van den Eijnden

Père Jacques Avisse

1924 - - 2012

Le Père Avisse est né au Havre en France le 21 septembre 1924. Après son noviciat à Maison-Carrée en 1946, il poursuit ses études à Thibar. Il prononce son serment missionnaire le 29 juin 1949 et il est ordonné prêtre à Carthage, le 1er février 1950. Sa première nomination est pour Nouna au Burkina Faso (Haute Volta à l’époque). Il sert à Nouna, Toma, Zaba et Dédougou. En 1952, il est même directeur de l’enseignement à Dédougou. Il suit la grande retraite à la Villa Cavalletti en 1961, puis il est nommé à San (au Mali). À nouveau, il est directeur de l’enseignement puis devient Procureur du nouveau diocèse.

En 1979, on le trouve à Bamako où il participe à la construction du grand séminaire Saint-Augustin à Samaya. En 1985, il est nommé à Paris pour aider à la comptabilité de la Maison provinciale. Il est ensuite nommé à Bry-sur-Marne où il assure de nouveau l’économat. Il fera le même travail dans notre maison de Tassy. Enfin, en 1994, il peut prendre une retraite bien méritée et il est envoyé à Pau-Billère. C’est là que le Seigneur l’appelle à le rejoindre le 28 septembre 2012. Jacques Avisse a pratiquement consacré toute sa vie à l’enseignement et aux travaux d’économat et de gestion. Il y a donné toutes ses forces.

Témoignage du Père Jos Verdeyen de l’école des catéchistes de Dobwo dans le diocèse de San (Mali) :
J’ai rencontré le Père Avisse le jour de mon arrivée à San, le 17 janvier 1966. Il était alors économe et directeur diocésain de l’enseignement depuis la création du diocèse de San. Ce jour-là, Mgr Perrot me nomme à Mandiakuy et le Père Avisse me dit qu’il me conduira, le lendemain. En partant assez tôt le matin, le Père me dit qu’il doit d’abord passer par Mopti pour y rapporter du matériel ayant servi pour le sacre de Monseigneur Perrot (9 janvier 1964). À midi, nous étieons à Mopti et, dans l’après-midi, nous reprenions la route pour arriver à Mandiakuy dans la soirée, assez tard ; tout le monde dormait déjà. Sans réveiller personne, le Père trouve une porte ouverte et un lit pour que j’y passe la nuit. Lui, il continue sa route pour rentrer à San (mission accomplie).

Voilà ma première rencontre avec le Père Avisse. J’ai gardé de lui l’image d’un homme disponible, libre pour rendre service aux confrères et au diocèse. Dans la voiture, sur la route pour Mopti, il me confiait en allumant une cigarette : “Il y a différentes manières d’être missionnaire. Ma mission est derrière le volant de ma voiture, pour aller là où on m’envoie, là où on m’appelle.” Comme économe, il venait d’installer une pompe d’essence à Téné, sur la route de Mopti et, quelques années plus tard, il en installera une autre à San, afin de rendre service aux voyageurs et comme source de revenus pour l’économat du diocèse.

Il était au service du diocèse. Je me souviens qu’à la fin de chaque mois, il passait dans les postes de mission avec le salaire des enseignants et des autres employés de la paroisse. Si on avait des commissions à San, à Nouna, ou même à Bobo, il les notait et on était sûr d’obtenir ce que l’on avait demandé. Un jour, je lui dis que la pompe d’essence de ma voiture (une Volkswagen) ne fonctionnait plus. À Bamako, il n’avait rien trouvé. Alors, un matin, il est parti pour Bobo et là, sur “la casse”, il trouva ce qu’il cherchait pour moi. Le jour même, il arriva à Mandiakuy pour me dépanner.

Il était vraiment un “missionnaire derrière le volant”, au service des confrères, qui ne comptait ni les kilomètres, ni l’heure. Un jour, je devais aller à Bamako pour une rencontre des Pères Blancs (au temps du Père Antoine Paulin). Nous avons quitté San à 2 heures du matin pour arriver à Bamako vers 8 heures. Nous sommes arrivés à temps, lui pour faire ses courses d’économe, et moi pour la rencontre des Pères Blancs. À 18 heures, il avait fini ses commissions en ville, et moi j’avais la route pour rentrer à San ; nous sommes arrivés un peu après minuit.

Voilà sa manière d’être apôtre dans le diocèse de San. Grâce à lui, le diocèse a pu contribuer à construire des écoles, le séminaire à Togo, l’école à Fio, Wane’wi et Mwane’wi, compléter les classes à Tuba et à Bénéna, sans oublier la construction de la cathédrale à San, les postes de mission à Tuba, Tominian et Sokura.

Il a connu, comme économe, une frontière entre le Mali et le Burkina, le franc malien et le franc CFA, nécessaires pour l’achat du matériel de construction venant de la Haute Volta à l’époque. Il se rendait régulièrement à Nouna et à Bobo-Dioulasso pour faire ses achats.

Le Père Avisse était un Père procureur pour le bien du diocèse et des confrères.
Je ne peux pas dire avoir vu le Père Avisse à des rencontres diocésaines, ni aux journées pastorales (en septembre généralement). Je ne suis pas sûr non plus que les paroissiens de San le rencontraient souvent.
Il était économe procureur ; il avait un petit magasin de produits de première nécessité ; c’est aussi lui qui cherchait à Bamako les bouteilles de gaz pour les différents postes du diocèse, ou qui revenait de la ville avec des futs de 200 litres de pétrole ou d’essence.

Voilà quelques souvenirs que je garde d’un Père dévoué pour le bien matériel de la mission. Cela, il y a bientôt 50 ans, quand les voitures de ses confrères étaient une 2 CV. À Togo où j’ai vécu trois ans (1967-1969), il n’y avait même pas de voiture, ni à la paroisse ni au séminaire.
Un grand merci au Père Avisse pour son dévouement et les services rendus, le temps que je l’ai connu dans le diocèse.

Le Père Jacques Avisse nous a quittés le 28 septembre 2012 à l’hôpital de Pau (France), à l’âge de 88 ans, dont 63 ans de vie missionnaire au Burkina Faso, au Mali et en France.
Qu’il repose maintenant en paix.

Jos Verdeyen

Père Fridolin Zimmermann

1946 - - 2012

Frido, comme on l’appelait, est né le 7 juillet 1946 à Vilters, dans le canton de Saint-Gall en Suisse. Ses parents ayant déménagé à Sargans, c’est là qu’il reçut le sacrement de confirmation en 1958. Après son école primaire, il étudia au collège St-Michel à Fribourg de 1965 à 1967. Un an après, il entra au noviciat des Missionnaires d’Afrique à Gap, puis il alla à Strasbourg pour ses études de théologie. Il a fait son serment missionnaire le 28 octobre 1972 et il a été ordonné prêtre dans sa paroisse de Sargans le 3 mai 1973.

La même année, il partit pour la Tunisie s’initier à la mission en milieu musulman. En 1977, après une période de repos en Suisse, il alla à Rome suivre les cours de l’Institut Pontifical d’Études Arabes et Islamiques (PISAI).

Deux ans plus tard, il s’inscrivit à l’Université des Sciences humaines de Strasbourg où il étudia la patrologie syriaque comme matière principale. Son travail de fin d’études porta sur la doctrine d’Aphrahat, le plus ancien Père de l’Église d’expression syriaque. Plus tard, il découvrira en ce dernier un intermédiaire entre les Pères grecs et le Coran.

Le 20 janvier 1984, il retourna en Tunisie, d’abord pour y travailler à l’IBLA (Institut des Belles-lettres Arabes) pendant quatre ans. Dans ces mêmes années, il exerça un ministère sacerdotal à la paroisse St-Félix de Sousse où il fit preuve d’une grande créativité. On lui doit notamment la fondation de la JCAT (Jeunesse Chrétienne Afri­caine en Tunisie) destinée aux jeunes d’Afrique subsaharienne venus en Tunisie pour leurs études universitaires. Fondé à Tunis en 1986, le mouvement essaima à Sousse, Sfax, Gabès et en d’autres villes. Il a permis à des jeunes Africaines et Africains chrétiens de se rencontrer, de s’entraider, de vivre leur foi et de s’ouvrir à la population locale. Ce mouvement existe encore aujourd’hui, et il est plus vivant que jamais. Il a contribué pour sa part à donner un nouveau visage à la communauté chrétienne de ce pays. En 1994, Frido fit un voyage au Cameroun où il contracta une malaria cérébrale qui l’obligea à prendre un congé médical en Suisse, et dont il ne se remit que très lentement.

En 1995, il fut nommé curé de Sousse. Les années que Frido passa en Tunisie lui donnèrent l’occasion de déployer ses nombreux talents, tant au point de vue intellectuel que pastoral. Il n’a jamais cessé d’approfondir ses connaissances de l’arabe et de l’islam. À la bibliothèque de l’IBLA, dont il fut un temps directeur, il a été précieux pour tous les membres de l’équipe avec qui il a travaillé étroitement et avec acharnement. Ses notes sur les comparaisons entre la Bible et la tradition juive, et celles sur le Coran et la tradition musulmane sont encore consultées aujourd’hui par les chercheurs de l’IBLA. Il poussa aussi très loin l’étude des Évangiles de l’enfance. Il trouva encore le temps d’animer des groupes bibliques pour les communautés chrétiennes dans les lieux où il fut successivement nommé. Sa capacité à nouer des relations humaines lui attira de nombreuses amitiés.

C’est avec regret que Frido quitta la Tunisie en 2000 pour une tâche d’animation missionnaire en Suisse. Peu après son arrivée, il sentit la nécessité de constituer un groupe de réflexion et d’action pour les Africains chrétiens présents en Suisse. Il voulait “qu’ils deviennent une réalité avec laquelle l’Église en Suisse peut et doit compter”. Il a commencé à les rassembler pour des moments de partage de leurs problèmes et pour des moments de prière commune. En 2003, il a lancé le bulletin VoCAS (Volontaires Chrétiens Africains en Suisse) envoyé pour la première fois à 400 adresses, et presque autant de copies ont été distribuées de main à main. Mais Frido ne s’est pas limité à l’écriture. Il a voulu rendre les Africains sensibles à leur histoire chrétienne en allant avec eux à St-Maurice unir le souvenir des martyrs de l’Ouganda à celui de Saint Maurice et de ses compagnons, eux aussi Africains. Il organisa dans ce même lieu un pèlerinage aux saints d’Afrique célébré chaque année le premier dimanche de juin. Autour de ce pèlerinage, s’est greffée la création d’une dizaine de chorales africaines dans l’ensemble de la Suisse. “L’activi­té liturgique, disait Frido, est parmi les plus belles choses que les chrétiens d’Afrique peuvent offrir à nos Églises.”

Les dernières années de la vie de Frido ont été à l’opposé de la créativité que nous lui connaissions auparavant. Dès 2008, il cessa toute activité, ne se rendant même plus à son bureau pour suivre ses dossiers ou répondre à ses correspondants. À part le repas de midi, on le voyait de moins en moins en communauté. Il se rendait encore un soir par semaine aux réunions de la Société d’étudiants suisses dont il était membre depuis ses études secondaires. Son addiction à l’alcool eut de plus en plus d’impact sur sa santé et sur ses facultés. Les efforts de plusieurs confrères pour l’encourager à consulter un médecin ont été vains ; il se disait toujours en bonne santé, accusant parfois les autres d’être malades.

Le 8 décembre 2012, alors que la communauté et les Sœurs de Notre Dame d’Afrique célébraient ensemble la fête de l’Immaculée Conception, Frido ne se montra pas durant toute la journée. Dans la soirée, on le découvrit inanimé dans sa chambre. Le médecin de garde appelé sur place ne put que constater le décès. Les funérailles ont été célébrées à la chapelle de l’Africanum le 14 décembre en présence de sa famille, de ses confrères, des responsables d’organismes missionnaires et d’une forte délégation de la section fribourgeoise de la Société des Étudiants Suisses.

Toute la vie de Frido fut marquée par le désir de se mettre au service des Africains. Ses problèmes de santé ne lui ont pas permis de conduire jusqu’au bout l’ensemble de ses projets. Plusieurs messages reçus à l’occasion de son décès ont témoigné du rayonnement qu’il a exercé auprès de ses nombreux amis, en Tunisie et en Suisse.

Jean-Marie Gabioud

PROFILES

Bishop Patrick Kalilombe

1933 - - 2012

Bishop Patrick Kalilombe was born on 28th August 1933 at Mua Catholic Mission, Dedza Diocese, Malawi. He was the 9th child in a family of 11 children, 6 girls and 5 boys. His father was employed as a skilled carpenter to provide furniture for the mission and at the same time trained young apprentices at the Parish carpentry workshop.

Patrick grew among the confreres and among the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (MSOLA) who gave him the name of Patrick, although his parents chose Augustine as he was born on the feast of the African saint.

When he was eleven, Patrick went to Kasina Minor Seminary, Dedza Diocese, where he finished his primary and secondary education always finishing at the top of the class (1944-49).

After Kasina, Patrick went to study Philosophy and Theology at Kachebere Major Seminary in Mchinji, Malawi from 1949 to 1954. It was here that Patrick fell in love with Scriptural studies.

In May 1954, while still in Kachebere, Patrick made a radical decision to follow a missionary orientation and join the Missionaries of Africa. He left Malawi for the novitiate in Maison-Carrée, Algeria (1954-1955). He was the first Malawian to join the Society. He studied Theology (1955-1957) at Thibar, Tunisia. He took the Missionary Oath on 26th June 1957. He was ordained priest on the 3rd February 1958 in Carthage. After his ordination Patrick was sent to study theology and scripture at the Gregorian University in Rome (1958-1962).

In 1962, Patrick returned to Malawi as curate at Bembeke Parish, the Cathedral of the Vicariate, now the Diocese, of Dedza. In October 1964, he became the first Malawian lecturer at Kachebere Major Semi­nary and, in March 1968, he became the first Malawian Rector. There he showed his talent as he introduced the students to biblical studies and the study of local culture.

On 27th August 1972, Patrick was consecrated Bishop of Lilongwe Diocese, (now Archdiocese). He was the first Malawian to be appointed Bishop of the Diocese.

Patrick set to work straight away and wrote his “Manifesto” entitled ‘The Church in Lilongwe: today and tomorrow’. In this, he proposed the revolutionary idea of a “self-ministering”, “self-propagating”, and “self-reliant” Church in line with Vatican II. All the Catholics of the Diocese were consulted and over a period of four years, pastoral guidelines were agreed. They were entitled Mpingo Ndife Tonse (We are all the Church). Patrick called upon all the laity to be actively involved in the whole life and mission of the Church.

The main thrust of building and sustaining the Church was by creating Small Christian Communities (SCC, Miphakati or Malimana). His programme would be adopted a few years later by the AMECEA Countries.
Unfortunately, the concept of the SCC was misconstrued by the Government of the time and disagreements began to emerge with politicians. By teaching people how to have a voice in the Church and an awareness of their rights, they were also given a political voice.

Leading Catholics were considered to be disobedient to the Malawi Congress Party Policies and the Life President, Kamuzu Banda. Consequently, many leaders of the SCC were intimidated and some were arrested. The Bishop’s House was raided several times but no incriminating evidence found.
Things came to a head in March 1976 when Patrick was interrogated by members of Parliament for six hours. Later, the other Bishops were asked to do something about the Bishop of Lilongwe or else the Government itself would act. Patrick was consequently asked to leave Malawi immediately.
On 27th April 1976, Patrick left Malawi for Kenya and then Ghana. In July the same year, he came back to Malawi to visit his sick mother in Mua. The Government detained him (house arrest) from 16th to 18th of July. He then went to Rome until the end of 1976.

The White Fathers in Rome first arranged a programme of spiritual and biblical renewal for him in Jerusalem, and then a sabbatical to work on a PhD at the University of California in Berkeley. He returned to Jerusalem in 1979 to set up an Ecumenical Centre for African students and pilgrims. He received an invitation to spend the year 1980-81 as William Paton Fellow in Selly Oak College, Birmingham, England.

Patrick played a full part in the ecumenical, multi-racial college life of Kingsmead, attending prayers in the chapel each morning, and occasionally leading them. College meetings and social evenings were often enlivened by his story-telling, and earned him the nickname “the Mike Yarwood of Malawi” for his facility with accents and imitations. His classes in Third World Theology and Primal World Views in the Mission Department were very popular. It was in Methodist and other non-conformist churches that Patrick preached most often that year, showing himself to be a real ecumenist.

Patrick’s arrival made a great impact on other Africans in the colleges. He was a real father to them, counsellor, friend and no doubt confidant.

At the end of 1981, Patrick returned to Berkeley to complete the PhD. In 1982, he was invited to return to the newly-created post of Third World Theology lecturer in the Mission Depart­ment. Initially he lived with the White Fathers in Sutton Coldfield but travelling in the car that Sr. Mary Hall had obtained for him in rush hour was too much and so he moved to Bourneville. He had to pass a British driving test and this may have been harder for him than his PhD, but eventually he passed.

Patrick held the post of Lecturer in Third World Theology from 1982 to 1987. He was able to speak French and German and Italian to the many students who had come to Selly Oak to improve their English before embarking on mission overseas.

In 1985, he was Acting Co-Director of the Centre for Black and White Christian Partnership (CBWCP). He was also lecturer in Mission and Christian Doctri­ne for the Centre’s Certificate in Theology course. He resigned from the Third World Theology post in order to become the full-time Executive Director of the Centre in 1987.

In June 1996, the Centre organised a Valedictory concert in the Anglican cathedral as a farewell for Patrick. Tributes were paid to Patrick the teacher, the ecumenist, the bishop, the bridge-builder and the patriot, which included a tribute by the Malawian High Commissioner, His Excellency Jack Muwamba. On 27th August 1997, he celebrated his Silver Jubilee as Bishop in a cultural way at Mua Parish. He described it as “a consolation” that this could be held while he was in Malawi.

Patrick said in 1998: “Looking back over these years, I have come to believe that my ministry at Selly Oak represents what, in God’s plan, must have been the most significant missionary activity of my life. It is as if all my experiences before 1980 were a preparation for my life and work as a Missionary, an ecumenist and a Third World Theologian”.

Patrick moved to Oxford. However, he did not stay there long, as his brother Peter was terminally ill. He returned to Malawi. He had made several private visits during the 1980s and 1990s. By 1998, the political climate was more conducive for him to return home to stay. His academic life continued and he lectured in the Religious Studies Department at Chancellor Col­lege, the University of Malawi in Zomba from 1998 to 2008.

After leaving the University, he continued to cooperate with several students and academics in their studies. He also collaborated with the Bible Society of Malawi (2008-2012) and wrote several commentaries on Old and New Testament Books in local languages. With the Society, Patrick returned to his roots because in 1976 he had translated into mo­dern Chichewa the Gospel of St Mark. His death found him writing a Commentary on the Gospels in Chichewa. Up until a few years ago, he was also involved in the life of Zomba Diocese. He gave spiritual talks, retreats and conducted Bible seminars in Malawi and abroad.
Patrick had suffered from diabetes for many years but it had improved over the last year or so. However, on Thursday 20th September 2012 he was admitted to Zomba Central Hospital and was found to have a bowel obstruction. The medical staff carried out a successful emergency operation the same afternoon and his health seemed to improve in the hospital’s ICU.

Bill Turnbull, the Delegate Superior, visited Patrick on the 21st and the 22nd and he was his usual joking self, showing good signs of recovery from such a big operation. Seeing that Patrick was pulling through, Bill returned to Lilongwe. On the Sunday evening Patrick’s health deteriorated and the following day the doctors thought doing another operation. However, he was so weak that the operation could not take place.

In the evening of the 24th September Patrick breathed his last. Due to the distances involved, there were no M.Afr by his side but his lifelong friend, Bishop Allan Chamgwere, was there with several local priests and sisters from Zomba Diocese.

Patrick said good-bye to his friends in Zomba with a Mass; the main celebrant was Bishop Msusa, at Zomba Cathedral on the 25th September, which was followed by an overnight vigil in the Cathedral. The next morning, Bishop Chamgwere presided over an emotional farewell Mass before the body travelled to Mua Parish. On arrival at Mua, another Mass was celebrated followed by an overnight choir vigil. The next morning, the funeral cortège set off for Lilongwe where there was a Mass and prayers at the Poor Clares Convent. Then the body was taken to Likuni and a Mass was celebrated followed by the final vigil.

On the 28th September 2012, Patrick’s RequiemMass began before many thousands of people, all the Malawian Bishops (except for Archbishop Remi Ste-Marie, who was abroad), and a high-level representation from the Government. After the Mass, Patrick was laid to rest beside other confreres and his fellow bishops of Lilongwe, Bishop Mathurin Guilleme and Bishop Oscar Julien in Likuni graveyard.
May he rest in peace!

William Turnbull

Faher Georges-Albert Mondor

1920 - - 2012

Fr. Georges-Albert Mondor was born on the 24th June 1920 in the Diocese of Joliette, Canada. He came from a close knit Christian family where he received a good education. For his primary education he went to Académie St-Viateur de Lanoraie. He attended Joliette Seminary for his secondary schooling which included two years of Philosophy. In his final year, he was President of the JEC (Young Christian Students), Vice-President of his Class and first academically. He was a relentless worker and success put a smile on his face.

At 20 years of age, Georges entered the Society of the Missionaries of Africa. He began in September 1940 in the postulancy at Everell, near Quebec and also did one year of Theology. The following year, he did his novitiate in St. Martin. He did his final three years of Theology at the Scholasticate of Eastview near Ottawa. He took his Missionary Oath there on the 2nd June 1944 followed by ordination at the same place on the 26th May 1945.

Georges was very gifted intellectually and studies were no problem for him. In fact, he liked to study and expressed a wish to be a Professor some day. He had a strong and straightforward will, an equable and balanced character. Those in charge of his formation felt that he would do great missionary work, however it would be good if he could be put in contact with the practical end of Apostolic Life.

It was no surprise that Georges was sent to the University of Laval in Quebec to study Philosophy. He got his Licentiate with honours after two years of hard work. After a short holiday, he left for Africa in September 1947. He was appointed to Nyasaland (now Malawi) to the Apostolic Vicariate of Likuni which would later become the Apostolic Vicariate of Lilongwe.

In October 1947, Georges arrived at the Parish of Guilleme to learn the language and get initiated into pastoral work. He settled in very quickly and gave great services in the running of the Parish. The following year he was appointed Parish Priest of Ludzi. The Regional remarked on his great spirit, his piety and his zeal and that he had worked very hard at the language. He was well liked by the confreres and by the people for his dedication and mild manner.

By September 1949, Georges was teaching Philosophy in the Major Seminary of Kachebere. He was also a Spiritual Director to the students. Two years later his Superiors asked him to return to Canada to teach at the Eastview Scholasticate. In August 1953, he was appointed Novice Master at St. Martin, near Montreal.

In 1957, at the age of 37, Georges was elected Assistant General even though he was not present at the Chapter which was taking place in Rome. He stayed in Rome for 10 years from 1957 to 1967. As a member of the General Council, he was part of the decision making team, he visited the confreres, and kept up contact with the African Bishops. Above all he was in Rome at the time of the Second Vatican Council. He followed closely and took part in all the new studies in the Theological, Pastoral and Liturgical fields that were aiming to renew the Church. At the 1967 Chapter, which was aiming to renew our Society, he was an enthusiastic participant.

At the beginning of 1968, Fr. Mondor returned to Canada. Even though he was resting, he did some Missionary Promotion Work. In February 1969, the Canadian Bishops Conference appointed him as the Director of Missionary Promotion, part of the Pontifical Society of the Propagation of the Faith, an organisation which financially supports the mission territories of the whole world. He lived in Quebec because the office of the French Sector was there.

In 1977, Fr. Mondor was appointed the National Secretary of the Pontifical Work of St. Peter the Apostle for the French speaking Dioceses of Canada. This organisation financially helps, via Rome, the Seminaries and Formation Houses of Religious Congregations throughout the world. As the offices were in Montreal, he moved to rue St Hubert. He carried out this task with a great deal of competence and commitment. His initial appointment was for three years but it was renewed on many occasions because he was considered indispensible.

At the age of 79 in June 1999, Georges’ contract with St. Peter Apostle came to an end and he retired. He stayed in our house in St. Hubert and got involved in promotion and occasional ministry. It was in this year that he received the Papal Honour of « Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice » for his 30 years work for the Pontifical Missionary Societies. As he got older, he had increasing health problems. Our house could not give him the care that he needed and, in February 2011, he was happy to go to the Capuchin Fathers Nursing Home in East Montreal. The Brothers and the personnel were able to give him the necessary health care and he never got tired of thanking them. In October 2012, he got worse and he was taken to hospital. He died there peacefully on the 27th October 2012. In his final days, confreres and members of his family took it in turns to be at his bedside. He was peaceful and ready to meet the Good God, his friend Jesus and his parents.

The funeral was celebrated on the 3rd November 2012 in the Chapel of the Capuchin Fathers in Montreal. He was buried in the family plot in the cemetery of Lanoraie. Fr. Julien Cormier, Provincial, presided at the Mass and gave the homily in which he said: “the readings that we have just heard spoke to us of love. Why were these texts chosen? Every time one met Fr. Mondor, he told us of his trust in the love of Jesus. In the last months of his life, he liked to talk about this love. He said: ‘I am ready to leave for heaven to meet my friend, Jesus, my intimate friend’. The love of God, of Jesus motivated Fr. Mondor to be a man of action, a great missionary. He gave his long life for others, right up to the end and in love.”

Lauréat Belley

Brother Anton Geiss

1932 - - 2012

Anton Geiss was born on the 10th June 1932 in Neumais in the Bavarian Forest. His father was the Supervisor for the Roads Department of the local commune. He died in 1940 just one year after the beginning of the Second World War and left the education of the six children to the mother.
Anton followed the usual eight years of primary school education in Regen followed by three years of vocational training finishing with a Diploma in Masonry.

A priest, who felt that Anton had a vocation to the Religious Life, sent him to the Missionaries of Africa who were accepting late vocations in Zaitskofen. He finished six years of secondary education in Grosskrotzenburg. In 1953, he went to the postulancy and novitiate for the Brothers in Langenfeld. He took his first Oath on the 15th August 1955. This was followed by three years of training in Mours, consisting of community and prayer life, learning French and an introduction to various trades: plumbing, electricity mechanics, cooking and carpentry.

At that time, the General Council recognised there was a great need for a printing works in Central Africa. Some of the big machines in Maison-Carrée, Algiers, were dismantled and sent to Africa. Now it was a question of finding printers! Anton did a quick course in printing. On the 30th August 1961, he took his Perpetual Oath at Trier and two months later he left for Burundi. He was appointed to the community of Lavigerie Press directed by Fr. Gerard van der Ven. In 1974, Anton himself became Director of the Press and Superior of the Community. In 1975, his confreres in the Region elected him as Regional Councillor. He was to remain as the representative of the confreres in the Region, the Dele­gation, and the Sector of Burundi.

Anton’s secret for life was based on the following: listen to what God wishes with all your heart and do it very simply in trust and joyfulness, “Because He who calls you, will be with you, and give you the strength, the peace and joy! Intimacy with the Lord in a joyful obedience! It is up to us to draw daily from his Strength”.

For 43 years, despite the conflicts after independence and during all the wars in Burundi, Anton was able to continue working and give employment for the service of the Church. Great sources for renewal for him, and he spoke of them often, was the Long Retreat in Villa Cavaletti in 1975, the Session/Retreat in Jerusalem in 1984 and a session with the Disciples of Christ, again in Jerusalem, in 1997. When he was hospitalised in Munich for a bypass operation, his Parish was able to arrange for the Eucharist Presence to be placed in his hospital room. This was a great source of consolation and peace for him.

Anton arrived in Bujumbura with a Diploma in Masonry and Book Binding. He gradually learnt all the complex workings of a big printing establishment. He was able to gain the trust and confidence of the financial backers so that he could modernise the plant as they had started with the old machinery from Maison-Caree. It is impossible to calculate the services rendered to the Apostolate in the Great Lakes region by Anton. He always had in mind that the aim of the enterprise was to help the apostolate. His management style was strict and he was proud to present a positive financial account to the Burundian Bishops’ Conference, who had become the owners of the Press in the course of the years.

No matter how deep the crisis was in Burundi, Anton always managed to get the necessary import licences essential for the functioning of the Press. He supported the employees so that their families could move forwards in life. All these achievements were rewarded with the granting of the pontifical medal “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” by the Holy See.

Anton left the PAR (WF compound in Bujumbura), after many years of residence, in order to help with the formation team for Burundian candidates who were living in rented accommodation unable to go to Ruzizi because of the conflict in East Congo. However, he went to the Press every day. So, he played a part in the formation of young candidates with whom he felt very much at ease and they felt the same for him. He was always ready to open the canteen of the Press to facilitate the many meetings of Missionary Promotion groups. He was always anxious to highlight the Brother’s vocation in the Society and he took part in many meetings in Rome organised for this purpose.

During all the years of conflict in Burundi, it was very important that the confreres were given a warm welcome in the Regional House in the PAR compound. Anton took this task very seriously. One day he was shot at by bandits but happily his eye was not affected. On one occasion, when confreres were being “given permission to leave Burundi definitively”, Anton found himself as the only White Father in residence accompanied only by the Sisters of Bene Mariya who had become owners and managers of the PAR.

They gave him great comfort and support. Anton always had great relations with them and it was certainly not due to luck that they were visiting him when he died.

Anton was a warm hearted person. One of his superiors wrote: “he is first-rate for the confreres, he is calm and he has never said a bad word about anyone”.

At the beginning of 2012, Anton began to feel continually tired. The community proposed that he go on a holiday and some confreres even suggested that he return home definitively. But he would not hear of it. He did dream of a good holiday in the Tyrol with his sister and her husband and to return to Burundi afterwards. A flight was booked for the 8th July 2012 but on the 5th July he felt a very sharp pain near his heart. The confreres brought him to a heart specialist who diagnosed a heart attack. The following day, a confrere brought him Holy Commu­nion and he seemed to be in good form laughing and entertaining his visitors. On the evening of the 7th July, he suffered another heart attack and his final words were: “O my God, it is the end! God calls me!” All the confreres were gathered in prayer around him. The Sisters prepared the body which was brought to the hospital’s morgue.

On the 11th July we buried him in the Cathedral cemetery besides the tombs of the other confreres he had lived with. The Cathedral was filled to overflowing and the words of thanks went on forever. The Lord called Anton home at the age of 80 years of age of which 56 as a missionary in Germany, France and Burundi (51 years). In the depths of his heart, Anton was a Brother of Jesus and brother to us all. He incarnated his vocation as a missionary brother very much as Lavigerie would have wished it. Lavigerie had once said that there was more merit in supporting a newspaper than to found a Parish.

Benno Baumeister

Father Frans Balemans

1929 - - 2012

Frans was born in Zevenbergen, The Netherlands, on the 22nd of August 1929. In view of becoming a missionary he received his formation in Sterksel, St. Charles near Boxtel and ‘s-Heerenberg, The Netherlands, and Thibar in Tunisia, where he took the oath on the 26th of June 1956. He was ordained in ‘s-Heerenberg on the 22nd of April 1957.

Frans was enthusiastic by inclination, and he had the gift of making others enthusiastic; this could lead him into rushing things. He had a sound judgement, was very practical and straight forward. He was quite blunt sometimes! He had a strong will, was persistent with lots of initiatives, and was more concerned with the general outline of a project rather than finishing it off. He was spontaneous and cheerful and always ready to render a service. His uncle was our confrere Christian Balemans (Canut), who died in 1979. His brother Martien is a White Father in Ghana and his brother Chris is a diocesan priest in Germany.

On the 20th of August 1957, Frans left for Burkina Faso, to the parish of Saba in the Archdiocese of Ouagadougou. There he learnt the culture, the language, and was introduced to pastoral work. He was there with a French confrere and a Burkinabe priest. In January 1960, he moved to the parish Kologh-Naba, which covered a part of Ouagadougou and a large area of “bush”. He was the chaplain of some movements. He moved to the parish of Gilongou in November 1960, where he concerned himself with the ‘evolués’ (educated), as these were less zealous in living out their faith.

Frans wrote concerning his frequent moves: “Moving is no pleasure, but I do believe it has its advantages in the beginning of one’s missionary life, as it enriches one’s experience”. In November 1961, he moved to Kaya parish, which later became the centre of a new diocese.

Frans went for home leave in The Netherlands in 1962, and was appointed for Promotion work in Boxtel. The Provincial Secretary noted a year later: “He is on the move a lot, but loves being at home. He has a poor memory for persons and places”. In the course of the years, he became aware that enthusiasm for “mission” was waning in The Netherlands. He thought the method of promotion work no longer met the needs of the times. He asked to be allowed to return to Africa.

In November 1967, he returned to Burkina Faso, to pastoral work in the town of Kaya. The following year, there was a fearful drought, a very poor harvest, and famine. His parish suffered very badly. An acquaintance of Frans sent 8.000 letters to people throughout The Netherlands. In 1969, Frans started writing himself. As a result, many people helped him generously. While remaining in pastoral work, he got drawn into development work too. With that help, 40.000 people in the Diocese were kept alive. This action was the impetus to start the first Farmers Union in Burkina Faso, called ADRK.
In June 1970, he moved to Boulsa as parish priest, for pastoral and development work. With further financial assistance, courses on effective farming methods were started, and draught donkeys were bought.

The yield per acre increased. The Sahara desert was being pushed back. They dug 58 wells so that thousands had more and better drinking water. He had a project for cultivating rice; he had a maternity clinic renovated and a training centre for girls built. For all that, he was made a Knight in the Order of Merit of Burkina Faso in 1975. This was followed by six other national and international decorations.
He introduced a new way of teaching Catechesis; especially during the monthly retreat of the Catechists. He was looking after youth movements and Catholic Action groups. He had started a parish council elected by all parishioners, and kept in touch with all through home visiting. His Regional Superior wrote in March 1979: “He is succeeding well with both evangelisation and human development, and pastoral work is not neglected”.

From May 1977 to October 1982, he was the Treasurer General of Kaya Diocese, while at the same time he was responsible for the pastorate of a sector and for the Diocesan Development Project. He fulfilled those functions to everyone’s satisfaction. In October 1982, he became the Parish Priest of Barsalogho while remaining involved in the Development Project for the whole diocese. He wrote in 1986: “Presenting the mentality of Christ: goodness, solidarity, respect for the poor and weak, providing the meaning for life, all that, I still consider my main missionary task”.

He moved to Tema Bokin in December 1987. He was getting tired more quickly and knew that he ought to slow down. From September 1998 to December 2000, he was in Kaya for pastoral and development work. He then replaced the Treasurer General of the Diocese for 7 months.

In January 2001, he moved to yet another diocese, that of Koudougou. He was the Executive Secretary for JPIC for the White Fathers in Burkina Faso. In the White Fathers link of September 2004, he appealed to “those who are not afraid, and who do not want to remain sitting on the fence”! He wrote a weekly column in “Le Pays”, the largest daily newspaper of the country. He kept to the facts, but not always diplomatically! His mission was conscientisation, equal rights and justice. He was then 75 and wrote home to The Nether­lands: “I feel at home in Burkina Faso: here, I am someone, here the people know me and I know them; here I feel that I belong”. And in January 2006: “It is said: ‘He gave his life for the missions’. Nonsense: I have had a splendid time here”. He enjoyed living and working with “the friendliest people one could wish for”.

In February 2007, he returned to The Netherlands for good and went to live in Heythuysen in July. He became the representative of the community in the Sector Commis­sion for JPIC. He was often out as he enjoyed visiting relatives and friends. Every day, he spent 3 hours in prayer and 1 hour for walking. Once a week, he read out loud to a blind and deaf confrere. Once a month, he visited lonely people. He wrote articles, and kept up some hundreds of relationships by letter or e-mail.

He wanted to deepen his spiritual life and thought of becoming a monk. In 2010, he entered the Cistercian Abbey in Tilburg where he was warmly received by the community. After a few months, it became clear that this way of life was not for him so he went to a Home for the Elderly as a resident pastor. Subsequently he had another spell in a monastery before deciding to return to his flat in Heythuysen to follow a more contemplative life. At the beginning of 2012, he became seriously ill and rapidly declined; it proved to be a long drawn-out illness. He died peacefully in his flat on the 6th of December 2012.

The funeral was in the parish church of Heythuysen on the 12th December, presided by his brothers Chris and Martien, our Delegate Superior Jan Mol and the bishop of Kaya. The elder brother and Martien both spoke about their brother. Jan Mol, in the homily, emphasised how Frans had a lifelong devotion to Justice; this was shown in all his undertakings, particularly in his defence of those falsely accused of witchcraft. The bishop expressed his gratitude in the name of the whole diocese of Kaya and for all that Frans had meant to them as a priest and, together with the benefactors, what he had done for development. We then buried him in our cemetery at St. Charles.

“I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert”, Is: 43, 19.

Marien van den Eijnden

 

Father Jacques Avisse

1924 - - 2012

Fr. Avisse was born in Le Havre, France, on the 21st September 1921. He did his novitiate in Maison-Carrée in 1946 and his theological studies in Thibar. He took the Missionary Oath on the 29th June 1949 in Thibar and was ordained priest at Carthage on the 1st February 1950. His first appointment was to Nouna in Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta). He was to serve in Nouna, Toma, Zaba, and in Dedougou where he also served as Director of Education. He did the long Retreat in Villa Cavalletti in 1961. He was then appointed to San in Mali where he was, again, made Director of Education followed by an appointment as the bursar of the new Diocese.

In 1979, we find him in Bamako where he took part in the building of the Senior Seminary of St. Augustine at Samaya. He was appointed to Paris in 1985 to help with the accounts at the Provincial House. He was then appointed to Bry-sur-Marne where he again took on the job of bursar. He was to do the same work in Tassy. He was able to take a well merited retirement in 1994 and took up residence in Pau-Billere. It was there that the Lord called him home on the 28th September 2012. Jacques Avisse spent practically all his life teaching or working as a bursar or in administration. He gave himself totally to these works.
Fr. Jos Verdeyen, working in the Catechists’ School in Dobwo in San Diocese, gave this testimony concerning Fr. Jacques:

I met Fr. Avisse the day I arrived in San on the 17th January 1966. He was bursar and Director of Education in the Diocese. On the same day, Bishop Perrot appointed me to Mandiakuy and Fr. Avisse told me that he would drive me there the following day. We left very early in the morning and Father told me that he wanted to pass by Mopti in order to pick up some stuff that had been used for the ordination of Bishop Perrot (9th January 1964). At midday we were in Mopti and in the afternoon we were on the road again and arrived at Mandiakuy very late at night. Everybody was in bed. Without waking anybody, Father found an unlocked door and a room with a bed which is where I spent the night. He himself took the road to San, mission accomplished!

That was my first meeting with Fr. Avisse. I have always kept an image of him as a man who was always available to be of service to the confreres and to the Diocese. As he told me on the road to Mopti while lighting a cigarette: ‘There are different ways of being a missionary. My mission is behind the wheel of a car going where I am sent or called’. As bursar, he installed a petrol pump at Tene on the road to Mopti and some years later another at San so as to help travellers and have a source of income for the bursar’s office of the Diocese.

He was really at the service of the Diocese. I remember that at the end of every month, he passed through every mission with the salaries of the teachers and other employees of the Diocese. If one needed something in San, Nouna or even Bobo, he would note it down and one was sure to get what one needed. One day, I told him that the petrol pump of my car was broken (a Volkswagen). He did not find anything in Bamako, then one morning he left for Bobo and there in a scrap yard he found the required spare part. The same day, he came to Mandiakuy and fixed it for me.

He was a driving missionary at the service of the confreres, without counting the kilometres or the hours. One day, I had to go to Bamako for a White Fathers’ meeting (at the time of Fr. Antoine Paulin). We left San at 2.00 in the morning and arrived in Bamako at 8.00. We arrived in time, me for my meeting and he for shopping. At 18.00, he had finished his shopping and I was ready to return to San. We arrived a little after midnight.

This was his way of being an apostle in the Diocese of San. Thanks to him, the Diocese was able to help in building schools, the seminary in Togo, schools in Fio, Wane’wi and Mwane’wi, to complete classrooms in Tuba and Benena without forgetting the building of the Cathedral of San and the missions at Tuba, Tominian and Sokura. He overcame the problem of different currencies as Mali had its own currency, the Malian franc, whereas Upper Volta used the CFA which was necessary to buy building material for construction work. He went regularly to Nouna and Bobo-Dioulasso for shopping trips.

Fr. Avisse was a real procurer for the good of the Diocese and the confreres. I cannot say that I often saw him at Diocesan meetings or pastoral workshops (in September generally). Neither can I say that the parishioners of San met him very often.

He was an old fashioned bursar/procurer; he had a small shop where he sold essential items. He went to Bamako to buy bottled gas and 200 litre barrels of kerosene and petrol for the mission posts.
These are some memories of a Father devoted to the material well being of the mission. Nearly 50 years ago the only car any of the confreres had was the humble 2CV. In Togo, where I spent three years (1967-1969), neither the parish nor the seminary had a car.

So a big thank you to Father for his dedication and for all the services he gave during the time I knew him in the Diocese.

Fr. Jacques Avisse died on the 28th September in hospital in Pau at the age of 88 years of which 63 were spent in the service of the mission in Burkina Faso, Mali and France.
May he rest in peace.

Jos Verdeyenl

 

Father Fridolin Zimmermann

1946 - - 2012

Frido, as he was called, was born on the 7th July 1946 at Vilters in the Canton of Saint-Gall in Switzerland. His parents moved to Sargans and it was there that he received the Sacrament of Confirmation in 1958. After primary school, he studied at the Collège St-Michel in Fribourg from 1965 to 1967. A year later he joined the Missionaries of Africa in Gap, France. He did his Theological studies in the University of Strasbourg, France. He took the Missionary Oath on the 28th October 1972 and he was ordained priest in his parish of Sargans on the 3rd May 1973.

Later that year, he left for Tunisia to learn about the mission in the Muslim milieu. In 1977, after some rest in Switzerland, he went for studies at the Pontifical Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies (PISAI) in Rome. Two years later, he enrolled in the University of Strasbourg where he studied, as his principal subject, the writings of the early Syrian Fathers. His thesis was on Aphrahat, one of the earliest Syriac-Christian writers of the 4th century. Later on, he discovered in Aphrahat’s writings a link between the Greek Fathers of the Church and the Koran.

Frido returned to Tunisia in January 1984, first of all to work in IBLA (Institut des Belles-lettres Arabes). He spent four years there and at the same time, exercised his priestly ministry in the Parish of St-Félix de Sousse where he showed himself to be very creative. Notably, he founded JCAT (Young Christian Africans in Tunisia) which was aimed at students from sub-Saharan Africa studying at Universities in Tunisia. The movement was founded in 1986 and spread to Sousse, Sfax, Gabès and other cities. It gave young Africans the opportunity to meet, to support each other, to practice their faith and come in contact with the local people. This movement is still in existence today and livelier than ever. It has also played its part in giving the Christian Community a new visage. Frido went to Cameroon in 1994 where he contracted cerebral malaria. He had to return to Switzerland to recuperate but it took a long time for him to recover from that kind of malaria.

In 1995, Frido was appointed Parish Priest of Sousse. In the years that he spent in Tunisia, he used his considerable talents in a number of ways. He continued to study in depth Arabic and Islam. He was, for a time, the Director of the Library of IBLA where he worked closely and constantly with the members of the team. His notes on the comparisons between the Bible and Jewish Tradition and between the Koran and Muslim tradition are still consulted by the researchers of IBLA today. He also studied, in great depth, the Infancy narratives. He still found time to lead Bible groups in the Christian communities in the places where he was appointed. He had a great talent for establishing human relationships which resulted in many friendships.

Frido reluctantly left Tunisia in 2000 for Switzerland to work in Missionary Promotion. Soon after his arrival, he thought it necessary to set up a study group looking at the situation of Afri­can Christians in Switzerland. He wanted them to “become a reality with which the Swiss Church could and ought to reckon with”. He began by getting them to come together to share their problems and for moments of prayer. In 2003, the newsletter VoCAS (African Christian Volunteers in Switzerland) was launched. It was sent to 400 addresses and as many were delivered by hand. However, Frido did not confine himself to writing. He wanted to make the Africans aware of their Christian history by going with them to St. Maurice and unite the memory of the Uganda Martyrs with that of St. Maurice and his companions who were also Africans.

He organised a pilgrimage for the African Saints on the first Sunday in June each year to St. Maurice. In the framework of this pilgrimage, there was the creation of dozens of African choirs coming from all parts of Switzerland because as he said: “One of the nicest things that the African Christians can offer to our Churches is in Liturgical activities”.

The last years of Frido’s life seemed to be in direct contrast to the creativity that we had known beforehand. From 2008 onwards, he stopped work not even going to his office to study the files or reply to his letters. Except for lunch, he was rarely seen in community. He did go, once a week, to meetings of the Swiss Student Society of which he was a member since his secondary student days. His addiction to alcohol began to have more and more of an effect on his health and on his faculties. Many confreres urged him to see a doctor but it was in vain. He always replied that he was in good health and sometimes told them that they were the ones that were sick.

On the 8th December, the community and the Sisters of our Lady of Africa celebrated the feast together, but Frido was not seen for the entire day. In the evening, he was found unconscious in his room. The duty doctor could only confirm his death. The funeral was celebrated in the Chapel of the Africanum on the 14th December in the presence of his family, his confreres, Superiors of Missionary Organisations in Switzerland and a big delegation from the Fribourg Section of Swiss Students.

The life of Frido was marked by a deep desire to be of service to Africans. His health problems prevented him from achieving his goals. Many messages received on the occasion of his death testified to the influence he exercised on his many friends in Tunisia and Switzerland.

Jean-Marie Gabioud