Joop (diminutif familier de Joseph) est né à Venlo, Belgique, le 18 septembre 1920. Il est l’oncle maternel de notre confrère Maarten Boemarts du Mali. Il reçoit sa formation missionnaire à St. Charles Boxtel tout proche, et à ‘s-Heerenberg où il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 22 mai 1947, et est ordonné prêtre le 11 avril 1948.

Joop est très actif, avec un jugement sain et prudent. Il est un homme de principe, ayant le coup l’œil pour le détail. Il peut être hypersensible et quelque peu pessimiste.

En avril 1949, il part en Guinée, dans le diocèse de N’zérékoré, pour exercer son apostolat à Gouecké où il dut apprendre à la fois le français, la langue locale et la coutume Guerzé. Il était aussi responsable du dispensaire où il prenait soin des malades avec un grand dévouement, très apprécié par la population, principalement musulmane. Le climat et la nourriture étaient un problème pour lui ; il n’était pas facile d’avoir un bon jardin potager car le sol était plutôt pauvre. L’évêque s’était assuré que tous les presbytères aient un réfrigérateur.

Joop rassemblait des souvenirs pour le musée du Provincialat en Hollande, et il a conservé des serpents dans l’alcool.

En septembre 1957, Joop est transféré à Yomou et, en mars 1958, il revient à la paroisse de Gouecké comme vicaire. Les mouvements de jeunesse catholique ne sont pas interdits, mais on demande qu’ils rejoignent ceux de l’État ; sans adhésion, il n’y a aucune possibilité de développement. Finalement, on impose un travail obligatoire même le dimanche matin.

Joop revient à Yomou en mars 1960, mais en juin 1961, épuisé, il doit aller à Beyla, un endroit plus tranquille. Cette paroisse avait une population principalement musulmane avec seulement 200 catholiques ; les rapports étaient bons et la jeunesse musulmane venait tous les jours jouer au centre paroissial. En avril 1963, il rejoignit la ville de l’évêque, N’zérékoré, où il s’entendait bien avec le curé guinéen de la paroisse.

Le 1er mai 1967, la radio annonça l’expulsion de tous les missionnaires occidentaux, stipulant qu’ils devaient avoir quitté le pays avant le 1er juin. Ils furent traités correctement par les autorités ; la population prit congé d’eux les larmes aux yeux. Les agents pastoraux locaux et les prêtres missionnaires africains, frères, sœurs d’autres pays, même d’Afrique de l’Est, prirent la relève du travail pastoral. Joop alla en Hollande. Il a dit plus tard, au sujet de cette expérience traumatisante : “Quelque chose a été cassé en moi, et ce n’est pas encore guéri”. Il profita de son séjour en Hollande pour aider dans plusieurs paroisses ou pour suivre des cours.

En juin 1969, il partit pour le Mali, à Bamako. Il lui fallait apprendre une nouvelle langue et s’initier à une nouvelle culture pour le travail pastoral. Un an plus tard, il tomba malade et il dut rentrer en Hollande. Il ne repartira pas. En janvier 1973, il fut nommé prêtre auxiliaire de la paroisse de Maasniel, dans le diocèse de Roermond et, en novembre 1975, de la paroisse de Mère Anne à Heerlen. Pour mieux faire connaissance, les trois prêtres de cette dernière paroisse étaient partis pour une randonnée de trois jours. Joop se demanda alors si la pastorale dans une communauté moins mondaine ne lui conviendrait pas davantage. À son départ, en août 1983, il écrivit : “L’expérience me montre que l’amour authentique est la racine de l’inspiration durable de tout ce qui doit suivre, le défi de la vie”. Le bulletin paroissial l’a ainsi caractérisé : “Sa manière de travailler a clairement montré sa conviction qu’une saine communauté paroissiale ne peut exister qu’à travers la coresponsabilité de tous. Reconnaître mutuellement la responsabilité de chacun crée la solidarité.”

De septembre 1983 jusqu’à mai 1986, il fut vicaire à la paroisse de la Trinité à Heerlen ; il décrivait son travail comme “donner du sens à la vie, à l’extérieur de la sacristie aussi !” Depuis lors, il resta disponible, mais sans lien avec une paroisse particulière, faisant des remplacements dans des paroisses et des hôpitaux, et donnant un coup de main dans des mouvements du Tiers ou du Quart Monde. Il souffrait de voir que la prospérité de quelques-uns était devenue plus importante que le bien-être du grand nombre. Il était convaincu que nous, Missionnaires d’Afrique, pourrions apporter à la société hollandaise, d’une façon ou d’une autre, une contribution internationale. En 1993, Joop a été élu par ses confrères responsable de la région sud de la province des Missionnaires d’Afrique.

Après Vatican II, une polarisation croissante est survenue en Hollande, et aussi dans le diocèse de Roermond. Joop voulait être critique en prenant note de ce qui était positif dans l’Église et la société. À partir de 1974, il rencontrait régulièrement onze prêtres du diocèse de Roermond qui voulaient vivre et travailler dans la même ligne. Fin 1979, ils lancèrent le magazine “En Toch.” (Et encore) dont Joop fut l’administrateur jusqu’en 1997. Au cours des années, une dame et un pasteur protestant rejoignirent le comité de rédaction, ce qui donna une touche plus laïque et œcuménique au magazine.

En mars 1997, comme sa vue commençait à baisser, il s’installa à St. Charles à Heythuysen. Il aimait sortir à la recherche d’inspiration nouvelle. Il participait régulièrement aux célébrations liturgiques d’un mouvement appelé “Jeune Église” à Roermond, et donnait un coup de main dans un ‘centre de crise’.

Début 2007, il pouvait à peine voir ou entendre. Malgré cet isolement, il est toujours resté le Joop amical et souriant. En mai 2009, il dut être admis dans la maison de retraite St Elisabeth à Haelen, et il alla plus tard dans une maison semblable à Heythuysen plus proche des confrères. il est mort paisiblement le dimanche de Pâques, 24 avril 2011, alors que la télé dans sa chambre donnait la bénédiction papale Urbi et Orbi.

Nous l’avons enterré dans notre cimetière de Heythuysen le 28 avril 2011, en présence de ses neveux et nièces avec leurs enfants, et de ses amis. Le Père Jan Mol, Supérieur délégué, a présidé la cérémonie. À la fin de l’Eucharistie, plusieurs personnes ont parlé : une nièce qui avait fait beaucoup pour lui a rappelé des souvenirs ; un neveu plus âgé et un autre plus jeune ont décrit comment leur oncle les avait inspirés et avait montré de la compréhension pour leur situation ; un représentant de “Jeune Église” dit comment Joop les avait inspirés, profitant de l’occasion pour expliquer le but du mouvement ; enfin, un représentant du diocèse parla au nom de l’évêque.

L’inspiration qui a animé Joop dans son action était comme celle qui avait inspiré Abraham et Sara : “Notre Dieu est un Dieu d’amour et de confiance, qui nous accompagne toujours sur notre route.”

Marien van den Eijnden

Père Jaak Seynaeve

1920 - - 2011

Jaak est né le 18 février 1920 à Hulste, un village pas loin de Courtrai en Flandre occidentale, Belgique. Les deux premières années des humanités gréco-latines, il les suivit à Furnes, les quatre dernières, au collège St-Amand à Courtrai, où il était très actif dans la J.E.C. (Jeunesse Estudiantine Catholique).

Pendant les vacances scolaires, Jaak organisait, dans les rues de son village natal, des courses cyclistes pour la jeunesse. Les vainqueurs recevaient des vies de saints ou des images pieuses.

En septembre 1937, il entra, à l’âge de dix-sept ans, à Boechout. Après son noviciat à Varsenare, il fit ses études de théologie au scolasticat de Heverlee de 1940 à 1944. Il y dirige la chorale. Il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 25 avril 1943 et est ordonné prêtre à Heverlee, le 10 avril 1944, par Mgr Carton de Wiart. Du mois d’octobre 1944 jusqu’en juillet 1948, Jaak fait des études à la Faculté de théologie de l’Université de Louvain, où il obtient glorieusement son titre de docteur en juin 1949. En 1948, il avait déjà obtenu un diplôme à Oxford.

En juin 1948, Jaak est nommé professeur au scolasticat de Heverlee. Entre-temps, il continue à élaborer sa formation théologique : en 1953, il est promu ‘maître’ en théologie, avec comme sujet de thèse ‘Newman’s doctrine on Holy Scripture’. Il défend cette œuvre de 550 pages en quatre langues. Elle a été éditée par Basil Blackwell à Oxford et est encore un ouvrage de référence au sujet de Newman.

Le 9 août 1955, Jaak part au Rwanda où il est nommé professeur de dogme au grand séminaire de Nyakibanda. Après une année, la Société lui demande de visiter tous les grands séminaires de la région où les Pères Blancs sont impliqués. Il est ensuite nommé à la Maison généralice à Rome comme superviseur des études théologiques dans notre Société. Tâche qu’il accomplit de juin 1957 à février 1958. À ce moment, il participe activement à la fondation de l’Université à Kinshasa (Lovanium-Kimwenza). Il y joue un rôle important dans le développement de la faculté de théologie. Il va aussi collaborer à la création des facultés de philosophie et de théologie de Kinshasa-Limete. De 1960 à 1974, il est directeur des étudiants prêtres de l’université. Il a donné des cours à pas moins de 1 300 prêtres, dont 26 sont devenus évêques.

Plusieurs étudiants viennent chez lui pour l’accompagnement spirituel. À travers ses cours et ses publications d’articles, il se révèle de plus en plus spécialiste de l’évangile de Jean. Sa culture livresque et sa mémoire sont phénoménales. Son activité pastorale ne se limite pas à l’université. Il collabore à la formation des ‘bakambi’ (catéchistes). Dans ses conférences et ses récollections, il sait s’adapter merveilleusement à leur niveau. Il est engagé dans la paroisse Sainte-Christine, dirigée par un ‘mukambi’. Il est une figure bien connue sur le campus et dans les environs.

À l’occasion de la visite officielle de M. Leo Tindemans, ministre belge des relations internationales, une réception est organisée, le 24 juillet 1983, à la résidence de l’ambassadeur de Belgique, pour tous les missionnaires travaillant ou de passage dans la capitale. Au nom du roi Baudouin, le ministre décerne la distinction d’Officier de l’Ordre de Léopold à quatre professeurs de la Faculté catholique de Kinshasa, dont Jaak, qui travaillent à cette faculté depuis sa fondation en 1957. Dans son mot de remerciement, le Père Seynaeve souligne la double signification de la cérémonie. “D’une part, dit-il, ces distinctions, au-delà des bénéficiaires, honorent tout le corps missionnaire, plus particulièrement ceux qui, à l’intérieur du pays, se dévouent corps et âme à l’apostolat. D’autre part, ces distinctions honorifiques aident à comprendre toute l’importance que revêt la Faculté de théologie catholique de Kinshasa pour le christianisme au Zaïre et dans toute l’Afrique centrale.”

En 1985, Jaak est fait ‘émérite’ car il a atteint l’âge de 65 ans. Ses adieux sont une grande fête de fraternité, où il a invité des ministres, mais aussi les veilleurs de nuit et des gens pauvres. “Pour la première fois depuis 28 ans, écrit-il, mon nom figure sur la liste des nominations. Normalement, avec la grâce de Dieu, je commence, début janvier 1986, au Missionary Institute London, M.I.L. Mon éméritat ici ne devient donc pas synonyme d’inactivité et de chômage...” Il continuera à donner ses cours jusqu’à la fin de l’année scolaire 1990.

En 1949 déjà, Jaak fait une première visite à Bâton-Rouge USA, sur invitation du docteur John Melton, membre de la Première Église presbytérienne, avec qui il a une relation amicale depuis l’année précédente à Oxford. Quelque 40 ans plus tard, après une visite de reconnaissance, en août 1990, à la Louisiana State University à Bâton-Rouge, Jaak part, au mois de juillet 1991, aux USA comme lecteur à la dite université.

Il y développera une activité énorme, non seulement comme lecteur, mais également comme cofondateur du Religious Studies Program qui veut promouvoir l’œcuménisme sur base scientifique. En même temps, il est actif dans plusieurs paroisses. Voici quelques titres d’une série de conférences publiques qu’il a données au cours de sa dernière année à Bâton- Rouge : ‘L’évangile de Jean, est-ce un évangile dissident?’ ‘Comment est né l’évangile de Jean ?’ ‘La prière dans l’évangile de Jean’. Ses nombreux amis américains, qui venaient lui rendre visite les dernières années en Belgique, témoignent de l’influence profonde qu’il a laissée.

En janvier 2007, Jaak vient rejoindre la communauté du ‘château’ de Varsenare. Il reste un confrère toujours de bonne humeur, sociable et très agréable, érudit et cependant très discret, bien au fait de tout ce qui se passe, tant du sport que de la politique. Son départ arrive brusquement après une maladie brève et sans douleur. Le 30 mars 2011, il doit être hospitalisé à l’hôpital Saint-Jean à Bruges, pour des problèmes cardiaques et un œdème des poumons. Il meurt doucement dans la matinée du dimanche 17 avril 2011.

La liturgie des funérailles a été concélébrée dans notre chapelle de Varsenare le 25 avril, le jour du 68e anniversaire de son Serment missionnaire.

Jef Vleugels

Père Adrian Smith

1930 - - 2011

Adrian est né le 4 avril 1930 à Lytham St. Annes dans le Lancashire, Grande-Bretagne. Il étudie au collège d’Ampleforth, dirigé par les Bénédictins, dans le Nord de l’Angleterre. Il rejoint la Société des Missionnaires d’Afrique en 1948 et commence une formation de sept ans jusqu’à son ordination qui a lieu en Écosse le 26 mai 1955. Il avait prononcé son Serment missionnaire l’année précédente, le 21 juillet 1954. Son temps de formation révèle une personne douée dans l’art de la communication, sachant présenter son sujet de manière bien élaborée et avec style. Adrian est aussi doté d’une présence imposante, sans être dominatrice.

Après son ordination, Adrian est nommé dans l’équipe d’animation des Missionnaires d’Afrique en Grande-Bretagne et y reste jusqu’en 1962. Cette période lui donne l’occasion d’exercer avec succès ses qualités d’animateur. Il étudie pendant un an la catéchèse à l’Institut international de l’éducation religieuse à Bruxelles (Lumen Vitae). Il est un étudiant brillant. C’est à cette période qu’il commence une recherche personnelle sur le sens de sa vocation missionnaire.

Il est nommé en Zambie en 1963. Il suit l’itinéraire des jeunes missionnaires prêtres dans leurs premières années d’activité pastorale en Afrique, en zone rurale. Puis, il devient secrétaire de la conférence épiscopale de Zambie pour les affaires ecclésiastiques en 1965. Il est nommé la même année au comité national de la Société biblique de Zambie. Tout au long de son service, Adrian réalise d’innombrables programmes religieux pour la radio et la télévision zambiennes. Encore plus important que cela, pendant dix années, il approfondit un thème sur lequel il reviendra souvent : la lecture des signes des temps. En 1975, Adrian devient directeur du Service Afrique de l’apostolat biblique de la fédération catholique pour les vingt-deux pays africains d’expression anglaise.

Peut-être que la décision la plus significative qu’il ait prise dans cette période est de démissionner pour permettre à un Africain de lui succéder.

À son retour en Europe, Adrian obtient un diplôme universitaire au collège irlandais d’œcuménisme à Dublin. Il rejoint à la même période le mouvement pour un Monde Meilleur. Dès 1978, il est important de noter que la mission d’Adrian est de s’assurer qu’une véritable étude biblique est au cœur de sa recherche d’une “communauté messianique”, et non seulement un moyen d’intégrer davantage l’Écriture dans les structures présentes de l’Église. Comme il le dit lui-même, “les structures de l’Église doivent découler de la réponse culturelle des peuples à la Bonne Nouvelle. C’est un défi et un risque pour les pasteurs dans l’Afrique d’aujourd’hui.”

Voilà plus de trente ans, Adrian écrivait : “Comme animateurs de communautés chrétiennes, nous, les pasteurs, devons avoir une expérience personnelle et une réponse à l’appel biblique de la communauté du Royaume. Cette expérience nous rendra capables de centrer l’évangélisation sur le but qui lui est propre, la complète humanisation du monde et l’unification de tous les peuples.” Tout au long de cette période, Adrian reste un membre actif du comité AEFJN, le réseau Foi et Justice composé d’hommes et de femmes engagés pour l’Afrique, dans la totalité de ses croyances et traditions.

Au long de cette période, il devient un animateur recherché pour ses retraites de “méditations transcendantales chrétiennes” et de “Davantage la Vie”. Il s’engage avec le groupe CANA et avec “Horizons Nouveaux”. Il conseille beaucoup d’évêques en Grande-Bretagne au sujet des programmes de renouveau et dans l’animation d’assemblées diocésaines. Son talent original d’animateur ne l’a jamais abandonné. Il avait programmé une retraite en août 2011. Un de ses thèmes de retraite a été très apprécié au long de ses quinze dernières années : une “retraite non-religieuse guidée pour des personnes non-religieuses”. Cela montre la capacité de dialogue d’Adrian avec l’Église établie et, aussi, avec des personnes craignant de trop nombreuses contraintes ecclésiastiques.

Adrian était préoccupé par les tensions dans l’Église comme dans la Société des Missionnaires d’Afrique. Il était très méfiant de toute procédure qui donnait l’impression de marginaliser Jésus-Christ. Il était le prophète d’une Église inclusive recherchant le nouveau. Il écrit dans le Petit Écho de juillet 2011, p. 416 : “Je propose ici qu’il n’y ait qu’une seule solution pour assurer la survie et la santé de l’humanité : c’est l’éveil ou le réveil de la “conscience spirituelle”. La vie et le ministère d’Adrian en étaient une réponse.

Adrian est décédé le 27 mai 2011. Il a vécu 56 ans comme missionnaire en Zambie, en Irlande et en Grande-Bretagne. Qu’il repose en paix.

Patrick Shanahan

 

PROFILES

Brother James Kennedy

1915 - - 2011

In a letter he sent to the British Provincial in 1976, James – or Jimmy, as he was known – wrote words that perfectly sum up his missionary vocation and its implementation. Here are his words:

“For some time now I have been going round the villages, each day in another village, saying the Rosary with the people, trying to get them to pray more. I must admit I am being received everywhere very well.

The people seem to want to pray. I usually sing the Lourdes Hymn with them, three verses between each decade … In this work the Lord is evidently helping me a great deal. Last week, in one of the villages I went to, I had hardly stopped my bike when I was surrounded by young children – about a dozen – and they were all singing the refrain of the Lourdes Hymn. I hope to bring the whole island to the feet of Our Lady.”

Jimmy was born in Plumstead, just to the East of London, in November 1915. He lived his early life during the First World War and in the hard years that followed it. This marked Jimmy for life. His needs were always minimal and the austere lifestyle of the missionaries of those days presented him with no problems.

When Jimmy went to the junior seminary at Bishops Waltham, it was with the intention of studying for the priesthood. However, in consultation with the Superior, he embraced the vocation of the Brother.
Jimmy took his Final Oath at Maison Carrée in 1943 and, in 1947, was appointed to St. Anne’s in Jerusalem where he worked in the seminary for ten years. This was the first of the twenty appointments Jimmy was given between 1943 and 1997. In nearly all the places where he worked – in Jerusalem, Scotland England and Zambia – Jimmy was bursar, cook or gardener. He was conscientious and hard-working, obedient and prayerful. However, like everyone, Jimmy had his limitations. He could be tetchy and stubborn and – at times – disorganised. These defects he readily and humbly acknowledged and he was always the first to patch up a quarrel or a misunderstanding.

As the quotation at the beginning of this obituary makes clear, Jimmy’s value to the Society and to Africa was above all in the field of prayer. He was a deeply spiritual man and towards the end of his life he felt drawn to a close union with the crucified Jesus. This seems to have been a prolonged mystical experience that remained with him for the rest of his life. How authentic was this experience? Jimmy was well aware that it could be a sham and this suggests that it was indeed authentic. His mystical experience revolved around an intense awareness of Jesus suffering on the cross. In one of his many letters to his Spiritual Director, he wrote: “I have long hours awake … I find myself on the cross unexpectedly … to come back to the cross, does the Lord want to help me to make up for the sufferings he still endures? I am unable to explain this suffering I am going through.”

That Jimmy was, throughout his life, a man of deep prayer is testified by all who lived with him. He could be bad-tempered, impatient, and capable of hurtful remarks. He had no illusions about himself: “Yet, after my poor life, Jesus still loves me so much.”

It was with this deep spiritual awareness that Jimmy fulfilled his mission, as bursar, as gardener, or as cook, in a variety of places, in seven communities in the British Province after Jerusalem, and then, over a period of 28 years, in eight communities in Zambia.

In 1994, when he was 79, Jimmy was appointed to the British Province again. Appropri­ately, his last community was in Corfton Road, where he built a grotto to Our Lady and surrounded it with flowers. It was to be his last memorial to the Mother of God.

In 2007, he suffered a serious heart attack and, being in need of constant nursing care, went into St. David’s Nursing Home in Ealing not far from the Corfton Road community. He was visited frequently and there was never any problem about making conversation, provided one was willing to pray the Rosary with him or hear his Confession. The only cloud in the sky, as he began to fail, was that he constantly lost his Rosary and it became a weekly task to see that he was supplied with at least one more!

In November 2010, Jimmy celebrated his 95th birthday. Clearly, the end was approaching. In his last weeks, he could do little but answer the Rosary spasmodically, as he drifted in and out of sleep. Death came quietly on the 7th April.

His funeral Mass was celebrated in the parish church of St. John the Evangelist in Brentford. Jimmy was the first Missionary of Africa to be buried from there, the parish church of the Little Ealing Lane community.
So this faithful, humble, deeply spiritual Brother went home, to be fully united with the crucified but risen Christ whose sufferings – along with those of his Blessed Mother – he had shared throughout his missionary life out of love for God and for Africa.

Chris Wallbank

Brother Joseph Mullen

1930 - - 2011

Brother Joseph (or “Joe” as we all called him) was born on 28th November 1930, in Lanarkshire, Scotland. His primary education was in St. Patrick’s School, Shield­muir, Lanarkshire and his secondary education at Our Lady’s High School, Motherwell. Among the diplomas obtained in this first part of his life were the Higher Nation­al Course, J1 and J2 in Engineer­ing, and the A3 Survey Diploma obtained whilst in the Forces.

For five years, Joe worked as an Apprentice Plasterer in Struc­tural Engineering and later as a fully skilled Engineer, all of which shows we are speaking of a highly skilled person.

On returning from his military service spent mostly in Hong Kong, Joe went back to his old job, but as he admits himself, “I did not settle down very well. I thought there would be a better future in moving into a business area, and this I did, selling and servicing sewing machines”. However, then came a time when he thought more and more about a lifetime option, and he gradually came to seeing his future as being in some form of Religious Life.

Joe entered the White Father Brothers’ Postulancy in 1956 and the same year received the habit of the Society. During his time in the Novitiate, the Novice Master spoke of Joe as having a spiritual life which “takes first place in his life”.

After his time of Formation as a Brother, Joe spent a number of years assessing and training Brothers who entered the Novitiate. He also completed his Engineering studies to Graduate level and worked for two years with an Engineering Consultancy to fulfil Professional Practice conditions.

Brother Joe went to Nigeria in the late Sixties, at the time of the civil war there. He later wrote: “I did not have any difficulty in seeing that my ‘mission’ was in Development – I could be fully missionary by teaching and training young people so that they, in turn, could take part in the material development of their country”

Joe was able to help in the local Dioceses with plans and advice for the construction of schools, hospitals and churches. He spent some years as Principal of a Technical College in Ile-Ife, in the southern rainforest area of Nigeria, training Building and Commerce students. When it was time to hand over to a Nigerian, he moved on and was then able to make use of his engineering and surveying background, spending several years lecturing and teaching in the Civil Engineering Departments of Polytechnics in Kaduna, northern Nigeria and also in Ibadan. However, when the call came from his Religious Superi­ors to use his professional expertise in other parts of Africa, such as Malawi and Uganda, he was prepared to uproot himself from his beloved Nigeria and go to those countries on the other side of Africa. During this time, he also accepted a three-year appointment as Assistant Provin­cial Treasurer in London, before returning to Malawi.

Eventually, ill-health meant a final return to Europe, and we find Joe as Bursar for a time in Sutton Coldfield, and then living in communities such as Preston, Corfton Road and Little Ealing Lane. Whilst in these communities, Joe maintained as active a life as possible.

He died on the 10th May 2011, and his funeral was held in Ealing Abbey Church on the 19th May 2011. (Joe was an active and faithful member of the parish’s Society of St. Vincent de Paul and of the prayer group in the Abbey parish).

Brother Joe was essentially a teacher. He loved to discover new things, new methods, new techniques, and he shared them with others. He was a great raconteur and his extensive knowledge in a wide variety of fields enabled him to entertain and to interest, to inform and enlighten those with whom he came in contact.

Joe lived his missionary vocation to the full. He wrote: “My time in Africa has shown me that you must be a Missionary Plus! You must have something to give which is really needed in your area of action”. In addition, reflecting on his own vocation, he said: “Over the years, there have been successes and failures, sometimes dangers; there have been difficulties and many joyful times, underpinned by an effort – often flawed – to nourish and preserve the essence of my vocation, which is the gift of self to God”.

Joe’s deep faith kept him strong during the final days of his illness as he lay in hospital in Ealing. His one fear was being obliged to remain in such a frail and fragile state for many weeks or months. Finally, in his own good time, the Lord called Joe to be with Him.

Richard Calcutt

Father Michel Lepage

1931 - - 2011

Michel abruptly left us, his brothers and friends, at two moments: we did not see him again after his departure to Chevilly-Larue, a registered nursing home, a month earlier. From there, he reached the heavenly Jerusalem on the 11th March 2011, the Friday after Ash Wednesday, his Dies Natalis, saving himself a Lenten fast! Now, as St Augustine said of his mother, he sees, he lives, he loves!

We cherish countless facets of his rich personality. He was a man for people, vibrant and warm for his Paris confreres (twelve years), at Bry-sur-Marne (22 years), the Sisters and parishioners who followed him around, the personnel who surrounded him in the final days. Many remember his chattiness and his humour, his mischievous looks and his jokes. He was inquisitive about everything; he liked bridge, tennis, art books and philosophy.

Michel was born on the 9th February 1931, at Meaux. He was baptised and received Confirma­tion there as well as his schooling up to his baccalaureate. His father, a notary, was to pass away in 1971, twenty years before his wife. Of their three sons, the oldest married, the two others became priests, Michel and his brother Guy. They were described as agitated and sensitive; all were to spend time in a sanatorium. Michel was a good pupil, intelligent and friendly, with a slight lisp. When he expressed his desire to apply to the White Fathers, he was advised to remain in his diocese to do philosophy, a year of theology and then his military service (Air Force) before ‘serving the colonies’! He was highly regarded by all, gifted and open, apparently effortlessly; his health, however, remained an enigma.

In 1952, he joined his new family at Maison Carrée Novitiate in Algeria. He did theology in Tunisia; he took his Missionary Oath on the 27th June 1955 at Thibar and was ordained a priest at Carthage on the 1st April 1956. He remained overly sensitive, marked by his mother who worried about his delicate health and nervous fatigue. His professors noted his lively intelligence, his energy which went beyond his strengths, his attachment to his vocation, his pleasant character, careful not to offend and eager to please. His shyness disappeared; he seemed balanced and profound, but he was quickly tired.

He wanted to join the Mission to Islam: Ghardaia or Gao. However, he did not have an ear for languages and followed the Arabic course only with difficulty. His excellent results otherwise were to lead him to training future White Fathers. Appointed to Rome to follow courses at the Gregorian University, he successfully defended his Doctorate in Philosophy with a thesis on Gabriel Marcel. He appreciated the treasures of Rome and the daily outings by bicycle for ministry to Sisters. The courses were a great benefit to him. In summer, he was able to relax at Parella and in the Valais, as well as with his parents at Lourdes.
He was thinking of Africa but needed to go to Kerlois, where he was to do two years of teaching. However, he was orientated towards the training of the Greek-Melkite clergy at St. Anne’s in Jerusalem.

He arrived there in 1961 by boat along with Fr. Ternant. He was well received and took an interest in the pupils who came from neighbouring Arab countries. He gravitated towards Sisters’ communities who sought him out for ministry and retreats. A little before the Six-Day War in June 1967, he was once again sought after for Kerlois. It was a hard blow for him, but he accepted with a great willingness to serve.

After the 1967 Chapter, his life took another direction. He was put in charge of the International Centre at Strasbourg where White Father students were in theological studies. He was to provide this service from 1968 till 1970, following every individual up in their studies and seeking with the Superiors to find the best placements. He then went to work in spiritual formation at Fribourg Spiritual Year (Switzerland) from 1970 till 1973, which offered him the fresh air of the mountains where he did hiking and made many firm friends. After the session at L’Arbresle, in October 1973, he was to follow up the novices at Mours from 1974 till 1975.

During this time, he suffered severe migraine attacks and unexplainable episodes of vertigo. In order to ensure medical supervision and follow-up, he would have to remain in France. This was initially at Paris, in the Rue Friant, where he operated from to provide Ongoing Formation for confreres: recollections in communities, retreats in Zaire and Burundi in 1972, then Burkina and Mali in 1980. He was twice elected Provincial Councillor in 1976 and 1980. In 1979, he was able to return to Jerusalem for the Bible and Retreat Session. In 1989, he had to leave Paris for Bry-sur-Marne. Aged 68, he was the youngest resident. He was appointed Associate Director in 2005.

He needed to rest, but continued his ministry in neighbouring parishes, giving about thirty retreats annually to various Sisters’ Congregations and supported the confreres of the house. He would have liked to leave again for Africa, but his health no longer allowed him. In June 2005, he celebrated his 50 years of Oath.

When he was 80, last February, he said with humour, quoting Psalm 89, ‘I’ve made it, you see, it’s not just for those who are strong!’ His approachable manner, his way of opening his heart endeared him to many. However, this hid a state of health that was deteriorating, making him lose his balance or a sense of reality.

This beginning of Alzheimer’s was to cause his transfer to Chevilly-Larue. An outing in the rain was to bring on a bronchitis, which carried him off on the morning of the 11th March 2011.

His missionary journey was fairly typical. After his classic training in the Maghreb, instead of being directed like the majority towards equatorial Africa, or like the minority who specialised in Islam, he was to receive the mission of Formation Staff Member. Today, this is being exercised by about 40 of our confreres with the responsibility of training young White Fathers, an African majority, who will ensure continuity. His unforeseen years at Jerusalem made of him a witness to the Churches of the Near East he served. For him, this was a rich experience full of memories (and books) of which he spoke incessantly.

He was a profound person, sharing his spiritual experience with each one. After his pupils at Kerlois and St. Anne’s, his students at Strasbourg, his novices at Fribourg and Mours, he enjoyed his ministry in parish Confessions, as a retreat preacher and devoted himself at Paris and Bry to spiritual follow-up for nearly 30 years.

Death often reveals the depth of a personality sometimes hidden (by prudishness?) under a mask; relationships, various commitments, activities, jumble of ideas, joviality... The readings chosen by Michel’s brother Guy and his nephews speak of this fire which dwelt in him:
Love: God is Love and only Love! He is the one who loved us in giving us his Son to save every man and woman. (1 John 4: 1-13)

Mission: over there or here, it is the fruit of the Resurrection. ‘We are,’ wrote Lavigerie, ‘the disciples of a Master who could not be held in a tomb!’ In John 20: 11-18, Jesus, raising Mary Magdalene who took him for the gardener (these great titles of Christ the Gardener, and God the Vinedresser!) say to him, ‘Do not keep me for yourself! Go and tell my brothers that my Father is theirs - that my God is the same!’ Michel was, like her, to proclaim ‘I have seen the Lord and this is what he told me...’

The message of one of his former pupils at St. Anne’s, who became Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem, Archbishop Joseph Zerey, which was read at the end of the Mass, recalled the memory of a priest full of faith, zeal and charity who was loved by all. God wishes that the brothers and nephews of Michel, his many friends, his confreres at Paris and Bry should inherit his courage, his patience and his hope. The Kingdom, exclaimed Jesus, is very near!

Philippe Thiriez

Father Joop Rieter

1920 - - 2011

Joop (the familiar term for Joseph) was born at Venlo on the 18th of September 1920. He is the maternal uncle of our confrere Maarten Bloemarts in Mali. In view of becoming a missionary, he received his formation in St. Charles near Boxtel, and in ‘s-Heerenberg, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 22nd of May 1947, and was ordained on the 11th of April 1948.

Joop was dedicated, with a sound and cautious judgment, a man of principle with an eye for detail. He could be oversensitive and somewhat pessimistic.

In April 1949, he left for Guinea, and the Diocese of N’zérékoré, for pastoral work in Gouecké, where he had to learn both French and the local Guerzé language and culture. He was also put in charge of the dispensary, where he took care of the sick with great devotion much appreciated by the mostly Muslim population. The climate and the food were a problem for him; it was not easy to get a good vegetable garden going, as the soil was rather poor. The Bishop had made sure that each presbytery had a refrigerator.

Joop collected memorabilia for the museum of the Provincialate in Holland, and had preserved some snakes in alcohol.

In September 1957, Joop moved to Yomou, and in March 1958 back to Gouecké, but now as parish priest. The youth movements of the Church were not forbidden, but they were requested to join those of the State; without membership there was no possibility of advancement. In addition, on Sunday mornings of all times, a public work duty was introduced.

In March 1960, Joop returned to Yomou, but in June 1961, he had to go to the more quiet Beyla, due to exhaustion. This parish had a mostly Muslim population with just 200 Catholics; relations were good, and the Muslim youth came daily to play at the parish centre. In April 1963, he moved to the diocesan centre’s town of N’zérékoré, where he got along well with the Guinean parish priest.

On the 1st of May 1967, the expulsion of all Western missionaries was announced over the radio; they would have to have left the country by the 1st June. They were treated correctly by the authorities; the population took leave of them with tears in their eyes. Local church workers and African missionary priests, Brothers, and Sisters from other countries, even from East Africa, took over the pastoral work. Joop went to Holland and said later about this traumatic experience, “Then something broke within me, which never healed again”. He used the time to recover, helping out in some Dutch parishes and following some courses.

In June 1969, he left for Mali, the diocesan centre’s town of Bamako, where he had to learn a new language and culture in view of pastoral work there. However, after a year, he fell ill and had to return to Holland. It proved to be permanent. In January 1973, he was appointed Assistant Priest in the parish of Maasniel, in the Diocese of Roermond, and in November 1975, in the parish of Mother Anne in Heerlen. In order to get to know one another better, the 3 priests of the latter parish went for a walking tour of 3 days. Joop started wondering whether pastoral work in a socially weaker community would not suit him better.

At his departure in August 1983, he wrote, “I have the experience that genuine love is the root of the lasting inspiration of all that is to follow, the challenge of life”. The parish bulletin characterised him thus: “His manner of working clearly showed his conviction that a sound church community can only exist through the co-responsibility of all. Mutually recognising one another’s responsibility creates solidarity”.

From September 1983 until May 1986, he was Assistant Priest in the parish of the Trinity in Heerlen; he described his work as “making life meaningful also outside the sacristy”. From then, on he remained available, not linked to one particular parish, but for supplies in parishes and hospitals, and lending a hand in 3rd and 4th World movements. It pained him when the prosperity of a few became more important than the well-being of all. He was convinced that we, as Missionaries of Africa, could somehow bring an international contribution to society in Holland. In 1993, Joop became responsible for the Southern Region of the WF Province, elected by the confreres.

After the Second Vatican Council a growing polarisation arose in Holland, including in the Diocese of Roermond. Joop wanted to be critical while taking note of what was positive in Church and society. From 1974, he regularly met with 11 priests of the Diocese of Roermond who wanted to live and work at the same line. At the end of 1979, they launched the magazine “En Toch ..” (And Yet) of which Joop was the administrator until 1997. In the course of the years, a lady and a Protestant Pastor joined the editorial board giving it a more lay and ecumenical slant.

In March 1997, as his eyesight started diminishing, he moved to St. Charles Heythuysen. He loved to go out to receive new inspiration. He regularly participated in the liturgical celebrations of a movement called the “Young Church” in Roermond, and lent a hand in a crisis centre.

From the beginning of 2007, he could hardly see or hear any longer. Notwithstanding this isolation, he remained the ever-friendly and smiling Joop. In May 2009, he had to be admitted to the Nursing Home of St. Elisabeth in Haelen, and would later move to a similar home in Heythuysen, closer to the confreres. He passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday the 24th of April 2011, just when, on the TV in his room, the Pope had given the ‘Urbi et Orbi’ Blessing.

Together with his relatives, among whom were nephews and nieces with their children and friends, we buried Joop in our cemetery at Heythuysen on the 28th of April 2011. Delegate Jan Mol presided. At the end of the Eucharist, several people spoke. A niece who had done a lot for him recalled some memories; an older and a younger nephew described how their uncle had inspired them and had shown understanding for their situation; a representative of the “Young Church” on how Joop had inspired them, using the opportunity to explain the aim of the movement. A representative of the Diocese spoke on behalf of the Bishop.

The inspiration that kept Joop on the move, as it had for Abraham and Sara was:
“Our God is a God of love and trust, ever trekking along with us”.

Marien van den Eijnden

 

Father Jaak Seynaeve

1920 - - 2011

Jaak was born on the 18th February 1920 at Hulste, a village near Courtrai in West Flanders, Belgium. He attended the first two years of grammar school at Furnes and the four last years at St. Amand College, Courtrai. There, he was very active in the YCS (Young Christian Students). His family recalls that during the school holidays, Jaak organised cycling races in the streets of his home village for the youth. The winners received a Life of the Saints or holy pictures.

In September 1937, at the age of 17, he entered Boechout. After his novitiate at Varsenare, he did his theological studies at Heverlee Scholasticate from 1940-1944. Amongst other things, he was choirmaster. He took his Missionary Oath on the 25th April 1943 and was ordained a priest at Heverlee on the 19th April 1944 by Bishop Carton de Wiart. From October 1944 till July 1948, Jaak studied at Louvain University Faculty of Theology, where he received his doctorate with flying colours in June 1949. He had already graduated from Oxford in 1948.

In June 1948, Jaak was appointed professor at the Heverlee Scholasticate (Dogma and Holy Scripture). In the meantime, he continued to improve on his theological education. In 1953, he was promoted to ‘Master’ in theology, with his Master’s thesis on ‘Newman’s doctrine on Holy Scripture’. He defended this opus of 550 pages in four languages. It was published by Basil Blackwell at Oxford and is still a basic text on the subject of Newman.

On the 9th August 1955, Jaak left for Rwanda, where he was appointed professor of Dogma at Nyakibanda Major Seminary. After a year, the Society asked him to visit all the major seminaries where White Fathers were involved. After this one-year tour, he was appointed to the Generalate at Rome as supervisor of the theological studies of our Society. He completed this task from June 1957 till February 1958. At that time, he was actively taking part in the foundation of the University of Kinshasa (Lova­nium-Kimwenza). He played an important role in the development of the theology faculty. He also collaborated in the creation of the Kinshasa-Limete Faculties of Philosophy and Theology. From 1960 till 1974, he was Director of all the student priests of the University. Jaak gave courses to no less than 1,300 priests, of whom 26 became Bishops.

Several students came to him for spiritual accompaniment. Through his courses and publication of articles in several periodicals, Jaak showed himself to be a rising specialist in John’s Gospel. His book knowledge and memory were truly phenomenal. His pastoral activity was not limited to the University. He collaborated in training the ‘bakambi’ (catechists) and in his talks and days of recollections he knew how to adapt his material to their level marvellously well. He was involved in the pastoral work of Sainte Christine’s parish, run by a ‘mukambi’.

When the Belgian Foreign Secretary paid an official visit to Zaire (RDCongo), a reception was organised on the 24th July 1983 at the residence of the Belgian Ambassador for all the missionaries working in or visiting the capital. On behalf of King Baudouin, the Minister awarded the distinction of Officer of the Order of Léopold to Jaak and to three other professors at the Catholic Faculty of Kinshasa. All four of whom had lectured at the Faculty since its foundation in 1957. In his words of thanks, Father Seynaeve underlined the dual symbolic meaning of the ceremony. ‘On the one hand’, he said, ‘these distinctions, over and above their beneficiaries, also honour the entire missionary corps, more particularly those who devote themselves body and soul to the apostolate. On the other, these honorific distinctions help in understanding all the importance that the Catholic Faculty of Theology at Kinshasa has for Christianity in Zaire and even for the whole of central Africa.’

In 1985, Jaak was named ‘emeritus’ as he had reached the age of 65. His farewell was a great celebration of fraternity to which he invited ministers, but also the night watchmen and the underprivileged. ‘For the first time in 28 years, he wrote, my name is on the list of appointments. Normally, with the grace of God, I begin in January 1986 at the Missionary Institute London, M.I.L. My emeritus status here therefore does not become a synonym for idleness and unemployment.’ He was to give his courses there until the end of the 1990 academic year.

As early as 1949, Jaak had paid an initial visit to Bâton-Rouge at the invitation of Doctor John Melton, a member of the First Presbyterian Church, with whom he had had friendly relations since the preceding year at Oxford. After an exploratory visit in August 1990, at the Louisiana State University, Bâton-Rouge, Jaak left in July 1991 for the United States as a Teaching Assistant at this University. He was to develop an enormous range of activities not only as a Teaching Assistant at this State University, but also as co-founder of the Religious Studies Program, intended to promote ecumenism on a scientific footing. At the same time, he was active in several parishes. Here are the titles of a series of public talks he gave in the last year at Bâton-Rouge: ‘Is John’s Gospel a dissident Gospel?’ – ‘How did John’s Gospel come about?’ – ‘Prayer in John’s Gospel.’ His many American friends, who came to visit him in recent years in Belgium, testify to the profound influence he left on them.

In January 2007, Jaak came to join our community at the Varsenare ‘château’. There, he was always to remain good-humoured, sociable and a very pleasant confrere. He was erudite but very discreet, aware of what was going on both in sports and politics. His departure came quickly; his illness was brief and painless. On the 30th March 2011, he had to be taken to the Saint John Hospital at Bruges for heart trouble and fluid in the lungs. There, he passed away during the morning of Sunday the 17th April 2011.
The funeral liturgy was concelebrated in our chapel at Varsenare on the 25th April, the exact day of his 68th anniversary of Missionary Oath. May he rest in peace.

Jef Vleugel

 

Father Adrian Smith

1920 - - 2011

Adrian was born at Lytham St. Anne’s in Lancashire on the 4th April 1930 and was educated at Ampleforth College, a school run by the English Benedictines in the north of England. In 1948, he joined the Society of Missionaries of Africa and began his seven-year journey to ordination to the priesthood. This took place in Scotland on the 26th May 1955. Before, he took his Missionary Oath on the 21st July 1954.

His time in formation showed him to be a consummate public speaker who knew how to present his subject in a well-thought out manner. Adrian was blessed with an imposing but not overwhelming presence.
After his ordination, Adrian was appointed to the promotion team of the Missionaries of Africa in Great Britain and remained there until 1962. During this time, he was able to use his skills as a public speaker with great effect. From 1962-1963, Adrian studied Higher Catechetics at the International Institute for Religious Education (Lumen Vitae) in Brussels. He was a student of distinction and it was here he really began his personal research into the real meaning of his missionary vocation.

In 1963, he was appointed to Zambia, and followed the pattern of work of all young missionary priests in their early years of pastoral ministry in Africa, especially in rural areas. In 1965, he became Secretary for Church Affairs of the Zambia Episcopal Conference. The same year he was appointed to the National Committee of the Bible Society of Zambia. During Adrian’s time in office, he produced innumerable religious programmes on Zambia’s radio and television services.

More importantly still, those ten years taught him to read “the signs of the times”, a theme he was often to return to in the future. In 1975, Adrian became Director of the Africa Service (for the then 22 English-speaking countries of Africa) of the World Catholic Federation for the Biblical Apostolate.
Perhaps the most significant decision he was to take at this moment in life was to resign from his post in 1978, so as to allow an African to take over.

On his return to Europe, Adrian did a Masters Degree at the Irish School of Ecumenics in Dublin, and about the same time joined the Movement for a Better World in 1980. It is important to note that from 1978 onwards, Adrian’s mission was to ensure that true Bible study was at the heart of his search for a “Messianic community” and not just a means to insert more Scripture into present Church structures. As he himself said, “Church structures must flow from the cultural response of the people to this ‘Good News’ – both a challenge and a risk for pastoral workers in Africa today.”

More than thirty years ago, Adrian wrote, ‘We pastoral workers, as animators of Christian communities, need to have a personal experience of, and a response to the biblical call to form a Kingdom-community. This experience will enable us to focus evangelisation on its proper goal which is the full humanisation of the world and the unification of all peoples.’ All the while, Adrian remained a strong member of the AEFJN – the Faith and Justice Network for men and women committed to Africa and all its beliefs and customs.

During this period in his life, Adrian became a much sought after leader for Christian Transcendental Meditation and “More to Life” Retreats. He engaged with the CANA Group and with New Horizons. He advised many Bishops in Great Britain on renewal programmes, and in running Diocesan Assemblies for their people. His original skills of presentation never left him. (He was scheduled to have led a retreat in August 2011 for the OTHANA Group).

One intriguing theme for a Retreat stands out over the last fifteen years. A “non-religious Guided Retreat for non-Church people”. This showed Adrian’s skill in ability to dialogue with the established Church and with people worried by too many ecclesiastical rules.

Adrian was deeply concerned by existing tensions in the Church and in the Society of Missionaries of Africa. He was deeply suspicious of any process that seemed to sideline Jesus Christ. He was indeed a prophet of an inclusive Church searching into the “new”. In a last short article written for the Petit Echo, July 2011, p 416, he wrote, ‘I am proposing here that there is only one response to secure our human survival and sanity and that is an awakening, or re-awakening, of what I call ‘spiritual awareness’. Adrian’s life and ministry was a response to this.

Adrian died on the 27th May, 2011 at Nuneaton Great Britain. He spent 56 years as a missionary in Zambia, Ireland and Great Britain.

Patrick Shanahan