Le Frère Josef Vorderbrüggen est né le 18 août 1929 à Varensell près de Gütersloh, diocèse de Paderborn. Ses parents sont connus pour être de fervents chrétiens. Il jouit d’une heureuse jeunesse avec ses quatre frères et deux sœurs. De 1946 à 1949, il apprend le métier de sellier et tapissier et obtient son certificat d’apprentissage. En avril 1951, il entre au postulat de Langenfeld et il reçoit le nom d’Ignatius. À la fin du noviciat à Marienthal en 1953, il prononce son premier serment. Après deux ans au centre de formation des Frères à Marienthal, il devient cuisinier. Le Frère Ehret, économe, qui lui enseigne aussi le français, est très satisfait de ses compétences. Même le Supérieur général de l’époque, le Père Volker, le félicite en janvier 1957, écrivant : “Dans le service de Dieu et la formation des plus jeunes confrères, tu as réalisé beaucoup, spécialement dans le travail stressant de la cuisine. Que le Seigneur bénisse ton engagement, ici à Marienthal et, plus tard, en Afrique.”

En 1958, Josef reçoit avec joie sa nomination au diocèse de Baudouinville, au Congo-Belge. Avant de partir pour l’Afrique, il se spécialise en cordonnerie et améliore son français. Il embarque finalement, en 1959, de Bruxelles. Il prononce son serment définitif à Baudouinville, Moba, le 26 septembre 1959. Il dirige l’école de commerce et commence le tannage des peaux de bovidés dans le but de fabriquer des souliers, ceintures, ballons de football et cartables. Cependant, les produits chimiques de tannage lui causent des rhumatismes ; il est obligé de subir la transplantation des deux hanches. Il doit abandonner ce travail et, en 1993, devient l’économe de la maison régionale à Bukavu. Josef aide beaucoup de réfugiés venus du Rwanda ; ils demandent encore de ses nouvelles. Dans une lettre en 1999, il décrit les difficultés endurées pendant les violences dans l’est du Congo. Il conclut en disant : “Pour le reste, je vais bien, je suis heureux d’être ici et de pouvoir aider.”

À cause de ce problème de hanches, Josef doit être nommé en Province d’Allemagne à la fin de la même année, d’abord à Hörstel, puis, en 2001, à Trèves. Il a besoin de beaucoup de médicaments, mais cela ne l’empêche pas de relever ses manches et de rendre de multiples services. À Trèves, il reçoit un grand nombre de visiteurs. Il aime jardiner, sans oublier l’atelier où il est heureux de faire des réparations. Malgré sa difficulté à marcher (il utilise toujours des béquilles), il gagne la bataille des mauvaises herbes du jardin et taille les arbres. Il travaille souvent tard dans la nuit pour faire des confitures ou des jus de fruits. Il possède trois “rollers” qui lui permettent d’aller n’importe où dans la grande maison et le jardin. Il utilise une chaise roulante électrique pour ses déplacements en ville. Son ange gardien l’accompagne certainement quand il roule à toute allure dans les rues étroites de Trèves.

Le Frère Josef utilise tous ses talents dans un esprit missionnaire. Son zèle est fondé sur sa conviction qu’il a été appelé pour servir. Tout au long de sa vie, il a souffert d’une pauvre santé, en particulier de rhumatismes et de problèmes avec sa colonne vertébrale et les hanches. Il subit de nombreuses opérations chirurgicales, des traitements médicaux prolongés et devient de plus en plus invalide. Il accepte difficilement de réduire ses activités.

Cependant, sa faible santé et sa surdité progressive forcent Josef à ne plus recevoir de visiteurs dans notre maison de Trèves. Le cœur et les reins lui causent de plus en plus de troubles et les confrères l’assistent comme ils le peuvent. Il passe plusieurs séjours à l’hôpital. Dans la nuit du 23 novembre 2011, sa condition empire. Ses dernières paroles en présence de ses confrères sont : “Je veux aller à la maison”. Peu après, il est arrivé dans la demeure éternelle.

Josef Averesch et Otto Walter

Père Lucien Loret

1926 - - 2011

Lucien est né à Termonde (Flandre orientale) le 21 février 1926. Il a passé sa jeunesse dans une famille simple : son père travaillait aux PTT (Poste-Téléphone-Télégraphe) avant de s’établir à son compte comme horloger. Lucien a fait ses études secondaires (“les humanités classiques”) au collège de la Sainte Vierge dans sa ville natale. En septembre 1947, il entra chez les Pères Blancs à Boechout. Il fit son noviciat à Varsenare et sa théologie à Heverlee, où il prononça son Serment missionnaire le 11 juillet 1953, et fut ordonné prêtre le 18 avril 1954.

Sa première nomination n’était pas une destination en Afrique, mais l’économat au noviciat de Varsenare. Une nomination significative, comme il apparaîtra plus tard. Plusieurs parmi nous ont profité de son énergie et de son dévouement. Mais, sous sa conduite, on a aussi beaucoup transpiré dans le jardin potager où, tôt le matin, les poireaux et d’autres légumes étaient préparés pour la vente à la criée à Bruges. Lucien fut aussi co-fondateur de la Chiro (mouvement de jeunes) à la paroisse de Varsenare.

Premier départ pour l’Afrique le 20 décembre 1958, direction Congo belge (à cette époque). Lucien devient vicaire à Kabalo dans le Vicariat apostolique de Baudouinville (actuellement Kirungu). Là aussi, on découvrira rapidement ses talents pour l’économat. En septembre 1960, Lucien est nommé économe au grand séminaire de Baudouinville. Deux ans plus tard, à la fermeture du grand séminaire, en septembre 1962, il devient économe et professeur au petit séminaire, toujours à Baudouinville. En même temps, il est cérémoniaire de l’évêque.

Après son congé en 1965, Lucien retourne à Kabalo, comme vicaire et économe. Il donne également des cours au cycle d’orientation. En septembre 1969, il est nommé supérieur à Mpala, une paroisse plutôt difficile, avec peu de pratique chrétienne et sans grand engagement des laïcs.

Début 1971, Lucien doit aller se reposer à Katana (près de Bukavu). Il souffre d’une sérieuse dépression nerveuse. Fin janvier, il revient en Belgique. Grâce à un ami de jeunesse, le docteur De Wilde, neuropsychiatre, qui avait été pendant quelques mois élève à Boechout, une année après Lucien, il parvient à se rétablir parfaitement, mais le médecin déconseille tout retour en Afrique.

Fin juin 1972, Lucien se charge de l’économat à Varsenare. Le 30 janvier 1978, il est nommé dans notre maison d’accueil de la rue de Linthout à Bruxelles. Il y restera 30 ans, jusqu’au début du mois de novembre 2008. Pendant 17 années, il cumulera les fonctions de supérieur et d’économe. Entre-temps, il accomplit également deux mandats comme membre du conseil provincial. À partir de mai 1995, il se contente de l’économat.

Lucien a été au cours de toute sa vie un économe fort apprécié. Homme de relations, très délicat et attentif aux besoins de ses confrères et des visiteurs, très bien vu également par le personnel: il les aimait et ils le lui rendaient bien. Il les respectait et il appréciait leurs initiatives. Toujours de bonne humeur, toujours souriant, causeur agréable, il avait l’art de raconter des histoires. Il attachait une importance particulière à la liturgie.

Le chœur de la chapelle était toujours orné de belles fleurs. Il avait enregistré des centaines de chants pour les services liturgiques du cycle triennal de la liturgie. Il veillait jalousement à la qualité de la cuisine et savait organiser des fêtes magnifiques pour ses confrères. Nous lui devons cette bonne tradition que toutes nos communautés de Bruxelles sont toujours les bienvenues à la rue de Linthout pour le repas de midi, chaque week-end, ainsi que pour les grandes fêtes de l’année liturgique, comme le Jeudi Saint, la fête du sacerdoce, et le 8 décembre, fête de Marie et de notre Société. Jamais il n’a renvoyé un mendiant les mains vides. Ceux qui ne connaissaient pas son nom demandaient ‘le père à la petite barbiche’. Il entretenait aussi de bonnes relations avec les voisins. C’était un homme admirable et un excellent confrère. Toute sa vie, Lucien a été au service des autres. C’était un grand bonhomme.

Le 1er novembre 2008, Lucien, sérieusement malade, déménage à Varsenare et s’installe dans la maison de repos et de soins “Avondrust”. Grâce aux bons soins, il se rétablit très bien.

Fin octobre 2011, il ne se sentait pas bien. On commença une série d’examens. Le dimanche 13 novembre, il tomba dans un état comateux et fut transporté à l’hôpital Saint Jean à Bruges. Il y est décédé dans l’après-midi du 14 novembre.

La liturgie d’adieu concélébrée eut lieu le samedi 19 novembre 2011, à Varsenare, suivie de l’inhumation dans notre cimetière, dont les débuts remontent au temps où Lucien y était économe.

Jef Vleugels

Père Simon Roy

1924 - - 2011

Le Père Simon Roy est né le 22 mars 1924 à St-Odilon, dans l’archidiocèse de Québec. Il a 3 frères et 2 sœurs. Il fait ses études primaires au couvent de St-Odilon. À la fin du primaire, il doit interrompre ses études. Plus tard, il commence ses humanités ainsi que ses 2 années de philosophie au séminaire du Sacré-Cœur à St-Victor-de-Beauce. Déjà pendant ses études secondaires, il s’intéresse aux Pères Blancs et leur demande des renseignements et des livres sur la mission. À la fin de sa philosophie, il est fixé et dit à sa famille qu’il veut entrer chez les Missionnaires d’Afrique, et non chez les prêtres diocésains comme pensait sa famille. Son père lui répond : “Je suis un peu déçu de te voir partir loin car je comptais sur toi. Cependant, continue d’aller où le bon Dieu voudra t’avoir, je paierai tes études jusqu’au dernier cent, et le bon Dieu prendra soin de nous autres”.

Son directeur spirituel du séminaire le présente ainsi aux Pères Blancs : “Simon est un type d’une piété vraiment solide, intelligent, et surtout un apôtre parmi les élèves. C’est un vrai type de chef, et il possède la qualité de se faire accepter partout. Il ne veut que la gloire de Dieu. Il a déjà un de ses frères qui est Père Rédemptoriste depuis une dizaine d’année, et l’une de ses sœurs est chez les Sœurs missionnaires de l’Immaculée Conception. Il est président des élèves ici au séminaire.”

En août 1952, Simon commence son noviciat chez les Pères Blancs à St-Martin. L’année suivante, il est au scolasticat d’Eastview, près d’Ottawa, pour ses 4 années de théologie. C’est là qu’il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 16 juin 1956, et qu’il est ordonné prêtre le 1er février 1957, dans la chapelle du scolasticat, par Mgr Lemieux, archevêque d’Ottawa. Ces 4 années se passent bien pour lui. Il est apprécié des autres scolastiques et des professeurs. Il a une bonne intelligence et un bon jugement. Il est plus pratique que spéculatif. Il est extrêmement nerveux et bouge tout le temps. Avec sa grande sensibilité, il est porté vers les pauvres et vit un idéal de pauvreté hors du commun. On lui reproche sa tenue extérieure qui laisse à désirer. On estime qu’il fera un bon missionnaire s’il sait se maîtriser. Il demande à être nommé en Rhodésie du Nord, actuellement la Zambie, où sa sœur religieuse ira travailler.

Après ses études à Eastview, il va en vacances dans sa famille. Puis, c’est un stage de 4 mois en Grande-Bretagne. En décembre 1957, il arrive en Zambie où il est nommé dans le diocèse actuel de Chipata. Toute sa vie missionnaire en Afrique va se passer dans le territoire de Chipata. Il va d’abord à Chikungu pour apprendre la langue qu’il assimile bien après 3 mois. Ensuite, il va quelques mois comme vicaire à Naviruli. En septembre 1959, il est vicaire à Chassa pendant 5 années après lesquelles il part en congé pour la première fois.

Ces premières années de mission, selon son Régional, se déroulent assez bien. Il est un homme de grand zèle et d’un grand amour pour les Africains. Il est souvent incapable de contrôler sa nervosité. Il souffre du genre de vie de certains de ses confrères, car lui vit très pauvrement. Il est le plus souvent en succursale où il se trouve heureux avec les gens. Il ne sort qu’en bicyclette pour aller en tournée, et se nourrit de peu. Il ne prend jamais de vacances. Ce genre de vie fatigue les confrères et l’épuise rapidement. Il a besoin de repos, et on l’oblige à partir en congé.

Après quelques mois en famille, il fait sa grande retraite à Rome. Il a grandement apprécié cette retraite, et estime que c’est un nouveau départ pour lui. Il arrive dans son diocèse au début de 1965. Il est d’abord vicaire à Nyimba et Minga. Puis, en 1966, pendant 12 ans, il est curé successivement à Chassa, Kanyanga, Chikingu. De 1978 à 1982, il est vicaire puis curé à Kokwe.

En tous ces endroits, il continue de faire la pastorale à sa façon. Il est près des gens, les visite souvent. Il reçoit beaucoup d’aide de sa paroisse de St-Odilon pour développer et construire. Il s’implique beaucoup dans le mouvement de la Légion de Marie. Mais en communauté, ça ne va pas toujours bien avec ses confrères. Il n’y a pas de coupable, mais il souffre de ses confrères et ceux-ci supportent difficilement sa façon d’être et de faire. Sa nervosité n’arrange pas les choses. C’est un problème de fonctionnement entre les personnes que le Père régional essaie de résoudre.

En 1982, il est en congé. Après un bon repos, il accepte d’aller à Nyimba pour être vicaire pendant plus de 2 ans, puis curé pendant 12 ans. Ces nombreuses années dans cette paroisse se sont bien passées. Il est arrivé à mieux fonctionner avec ses confrères en communauté, chacun respectant la façon de faire de l’autre. Comme supérieur, il a fait beaucoup de bien, en développant et en évangélisant ce coin encore peu touché par l’Église.

En 1999, il demande à rentrer définitivement au Canada. Ses forces ont diminué, sa santé est de plus en plus fragile, et il pense que c’est le temps de laisser la place aux autres.

Voici le témoignage qu’il donne sur sa vie missionnaire en Afrique : “Mes déplacements d’un poste à l’autre m’ont donné la chance d’apprendre trois dialectes. Lorsque j’arrivais dans une nouvelle mission, j’étais impressionné par l’accueil chaleureux des gens, leur hospitalité, leur facilité de communication et leur confiance. Pour moi, la vie missionnaire pourrait se résumer dans cette phrase : Aimer les Africains d’un amour tellement vrai et sincère qu’à travers cet amour ils puissent découvrir Dieu, la source même de l’amour… Si on me donnait le choix de recommencer ma vie, je referais la même chose avec joie.”

Simon arrive au Canada en mai 1999. Il a déjà tout prévu pour son avenir. Il a demandé de vivre hors communauté à St-Odilon, sa paroisse natale, qui l’a toujours aidé et soutenu dans son apostolat en Afrique. Il demeure dans un foyer pour personnes âgées, à côté de l’église. Il aide le prêtre responsable de la paroisse pour des messes au foyer et à la paroisse, et pour l’accompagnement des malades.

En 2006, il a des problèmes sérieux de santé. Il fait de moins en moins de ministère. L’année suivante, il accepte l’invitation qu’on lui a faite de rejoindre la communauté des Missionnaires d’Afrique à Québec. En septembre 2010, il insiste pour retourner dans son milieu de St-Odilon. Par la suite, les problèmes s’aggravent et on doit le placer dans un centre approprié. Il est décédé le 19 septembre 2011 au Centre d’hébergement et de soins de longue durée de St-Georges de Beauce. Les funérailles ont été célébrées le 23 septembre dans l’église de St-Odilon. L’abbé Poirier a présidé la messe et fait l’homélie. Les cendres ont été déposées au cimetière paroissial, dans le lot de sa famille.

L’évêque du diocèse de Chipata, Mgr George Cosmas Lungu, a présenté ses condoléances au Père provincial du Canada. Il a rappelé que les gens se souviennent encore de ce grand missionnaire qui les a tant aimés, et qui a fait de grands sacrifices pour les servir. Il prie pour que le bon Dieu lui accorde le repos et la paix du bon serviteur.

Lauréat Belley

Père Roland Tremblay

1917 - - 2011

Le Père Roland Tremblay nous parle ainsi de lui et de sa famille : “Je suis né le 7 mars 1917 à Sherbrooke, dans la province de Québec. Je suis le dernier d’une famille de 6 enfants, 3 garçons et 3 filles. Un garçon et une fille sont morts très jeunes. En tant que dernier de la famille, j’ai été gâté à bien des points de vue. Mes parents étaient âgés lors de leur mariage. J’ai été impressionné par leur piété, et aussi par le fait que leur amour grandissait avec les années. Nous disions le chapelet régulièrement en famille. Mon frère Henri est devenu prêtre diocésain. Je le considère comme un homme bon, d’une très grande charité.”

Avant ses études secondaires, pour son instruction primaire, il étudie chez les Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes et chez les Sœurs de Jésus-Marie. Il va ensuite au séminaire St-Charles de Sherbrooke pour les humanités et les 2 années de philosophie. Il dit devoir sa vocation missionnaire au Père Bissonnette qui, avec sa voix retentissante, donnait des conférences dans les collèges en parlant de l’Afrique et des besoins des missions. Il garde aussi un bon souvenir des visites du futur Mgr Lanctôt, M.Afr.

En septembre 1935, Roland commence le postulat chez les Pères Blancs à Éverell, près de Québec. C’est là aussi qu’il fait sa première année de théologie. L’année suivante, il est au noviciat de Maison-Carrée en Algérie. C’est un gros changement pour lui, car il est dans un autre pays et dans une communauté internationale. Selon ses formateurs, cela se passe bien. Il est considéré comme un bon novice, assez bien doué, avec un bon caractère, s’adaptant facilement aux divers tempéraments. Il a bien travaillé à sa sanctification.

Pour sa deuxième année de théologie, il va à notre scolasticat de Thibar, en Tunisie. Et comme on ouvre un nouveau scolasticat au Canada, à Eastview, près d’Ottawa, c’est là qu’il va faire sa troisième et sa quatrième année de théologie de 1938 à 1940. On découvre qu’il a une intelligence au-dessus de la moyenne. Comme il aime beaucoup les études, on pense qu’il pourrait réussir dans des études supérieures pour devenir professeur. Il est très surnaturel, et son caractère sérieux s’affirme de plus en plus et promet pour l’avenir.

Il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 9 juin 1939. Il est ordonné prêtre le 23 juin 1940 dans la chapelle des Sœurs Grises de la Croix à Ottawa par Mgr Alexandre Vachon, archevêque d’Ottawa. Il n’avait que 23 ans, ce qui nécessita une petite dispense de Rome.

Comme on pressent qu’il a les qualités d’un juriste, on lui demande de faire des études en droit canonique en vue d’un doctorat. Il va le faire à l’Université Laval de Québec, de 1940 à 1943, sans doute à cause des difficultés de voyager vers l’Europe pendant la guerre. En 1944, alors qu’il est professeur à Eastview, il obtient son doctorat pour sa thèse : “Le pouvoir de dispenser des empêchements de mariage en pays de mission.”

De 1943 à 1947, le Père Tremblay est professeur au scolasticat d’Eastview. En 1947, il obtient enfin sa nomination pour le Ghana actuel. Il fait un stage de quelques mois en Angleterre, et, en janvier 1948, après un long voyage en bateau et en camion, il arrive à Bolgatanga dans le Vicariat apostolique de Navrongo, qui deviendra, en 1950, le diocèse de Tamale. Il va demeurer 2 ans dans cette paroisse pour apprendre la langue et s’engager dans le ministère qu’il a bien aimé. Il s’est bien dévoué aussi pour les écoles du poste.

Au début de 1950, il est nommé au grand séminaire de Wiagha, qui est transféré à Tamale à la fin de 1953. Il commence alors sa longue carrière de professeur dans ce grand séminaire. En plus de son enseignement, il est parfois économe, s’occupe du jardin, etc., et, surtout, il est Recteur pendant 7 ans. Pendant tout ce temps, il a toujours été responsable d’une succursale qu’il desservait tous les dimanches. En 1959, il publie un petit livre : “The Privilege of the Faith”, qui a été bien accueilli dans nos scolasticats. Les évêques et les prêtres de paroisse le consulteront souvent pour les cas de droit canonique.

À la fin de son séjour au Ghana, il pouvait écrire : “Malgré tout, le bon Dieu a été bon pour moi. J’ai été rarement malade et j’ai toujours été très heureux dans ma vie de Père Blanc. Mes confrères ont toujours été d’une grande charité à mon égard malgré mes nombreux défauts. Ce qui m’a impressionné durant mon séjour ici, c’est l’hospitalité et l’amabilité des Ghanéens à l’égard des Pères Blancs et à mon égard. De plus, j’ai admiré le respect et la charité que les Ghanéens manifestent envers les anciens.”

Durant ses dernières années en Afrique, il a connu des petits problèmes de santé, surtout avec ses yeux. Il devait revenir en congé plus souvent, et diminuait son travail. Il a voulu tenir jusqu’en 1990 pour pouvoir célébrer son 50e anniversaire de sacerdoce, et ses 40 ans de présence au grand séminaire de Tamale. C’est à cet endroit qu’a eu lieu une grande fête avec des anciens du séminaire, des évêques et des prêtres.

Après cette célébration, il arrive au Canada le 14 juillet 1990. Il dit que c’est un retour définitif au pays. Mais après quelques mois, il veut retourner au Ghana pour encore un an, alors qu’au grand séminaire, on ne l’attend plus. Après plusieurs correspondances pour s’expliquer, il décide enfin de demeurer au Canada. Il demande au Provincial de vivre quelque temps hors communauté, en habitant avec sa sœur âgée et son frère prêtre pour les aider. Cela va durer plusieurs années. Il reste rattaché à la communauté de Lennoxville qu’il visite souvent.

En octobre 1997, les circonstances l’amènent à prendre résidence à notre maison de Lennoxville. Il s’implique dans la vie de la communauté et il rend service selon ses moyens. En 2007 il tombe et se fracture le bassin. Il est hospitalisé pour une opération. Sa réhabilitation s’annonce longue et difficile. Par la suite, il n’habitera plus en communauté. En septembre 2007, il est placé au Foyer “le Gîte du Bel Âge”, mieux adapté à son degré d’autonomie. Avec le temps, sa condition ne s’améliore pas. Il fait souvent des séjours à l’hôpital : il souffre de troubles respiratoires et a de l’eau dans les poumons. En avril 2011, il est placé dans un Centre de soins de longue durée, le CHLSD St-Vincent-de-Paul de Sherbrooke. Il y est décédé le 26 décembre 2011.

Les funérailles ont été célébrées le 29 décembre à la chapelle des Missionnaires d’Afrique de Lennoxville, suivies de l’inhumation au cimetière St-Antoine du même endroit, dans la partie réservée aux Pères Blancs.

Le Père Richard Baawobr, notre Supérieur général, présidait la messe des funérailles, lui qui avait été accompagné par Roland alors qu’il était étudiant au grand séminaire de Tamale en vue de devenir Père Blanc.

Le Père Richard Dandenault a prononcé l’homélie des funérailles. En voici quelques extraits : “Si on aborde le côté relationnel de Roland, on aura vite remarqué que son état d’humeur traduisait rapidement sa personnalité : la rectitude, la rectitude de cœur et la rectitude de conscience, était comme inscrite sur son visage… Il reflétait, comme dans toutes occasions de rencontre, derrière son sourire, la simplicité, la facilité d’accès, l’accueil non conditionné… Cher Roland, entre dans la joie de ton Maître au grand banquet d’amour de l’éternité qui t’attend dans la Maison du Père.”

Lauréat Belley

PROFILES

Father Jean-Marie Beaulieu

1923 - - 2012

Father Jean-Marie Beaulieu was born on the 12th May 1923 at Loretteville, Canada. He received a good family and Christian education with his four brothers and two sisters. He did his primary schooling at Loretteville. For his secondary school studies, he attended Quebec Seminary. He also did his two years of philosophy there while following courses at the faculty of philosophy at the University of Laval, Quebec, which enabled to qualify as a bachelor in philosophy.

In March 1945, he wrote to the Provincial of the White Fathers. ‘I am a pupil finishing at Quebec Seminary. I was intending to go to the major seminary, but I sense a missionary calling. With the agreement of my Spiritual Director, after due prayer and reflection, I wish to apply to enter the White Fathers.’
In August 1945, he became a postulant at the Missionaries of Africa at Éverell, near Quebec. The following year, he did his novitiate at St-Martin, near Montreal. There, he took his Missionary Oath on the 27th June 1950 and was ordained a priest on the 28th January 1951.

These years in formation enabled his discovery as an exceptionally gifted prospect. He gave good results in any kind of work, intellectual as well as practical. However, it was noted that he seemed too reserved, slightly artificial. This probably came from his shyness that led him to lack straightforwardness. When he was in charge of works, he had a tendency to be severe towards others who did not follow him. It was thought he would make a good educator.

After his scholasticate, Jean-Marie was appointed to Franklin, in the USA, to teach philosophy to White Father aspirants of the American Province. After two years, in 1953, he was appointed to Rome to study theology. In 1956, he obtained his doctorate. This Roman period was a little more difficult. He had to work hard to succeed. He experienced some minor health problems.

In 1957, he left for Ghana, where he was appointed to the Diocese of Tamale. He firstly did a year in Walewale parish to familiarise himself with the language and parish work. He was asked to leave this parish to go to St. Martin’s Major Seminary, Tamale. There, he taught especially philosophy and Latin for seven years, while taking regular home leaves. At the end of this, he had malaria and stomach problems. His courses were shortened. Difficulties arose with others. He consulted doctors at the hospital who put him through many tests. He was diagnosed with hypertension and as for other illnesses was simply affected by the climatic conditions of the region. As a result, it was thought he would do better elsewhere.
Physically and psychologically affected, he was asked by his Superiors to return to Canada to be treated and to change direction. In early 1966, he arrived home and immediately checked in to Loretteville Hospital where he underwent other tests and was prescribed medication.

After dialogue, it was decided that the best for him would be to go to Zambia. In early 1967, Father Beaulieu arrived at Kasama. After the language centre, he was a curate at Kasama, while teaching catechetics, mathematics and French in a secondary school for girls. This lasted several years.
In 1978, he did the Jerusalem Session and Retreat. Back in Zambia, he spent a year at Kapatu parish. From 1980 till 1985, while chaplain to a secondary school, he gave courses in theology and Bible at the novitiate of the Zambian Sisters of the Child Jesus. During this same time, he was also a member of the Zambian tribunal for marriage cases.

Throughout these years, his health proved no better than before. He gradually reduced his commitments and had to take more frequent home leaves. In these conditions, in June 1985, he decided to return to Canada for good.

After some rest, he was asked to become the Bursar of our house at the Rue St-Hubert. He was a translator at the 1986 Chapter. In 1991, he settled at the Provincial House in Montreal to deal with cases of laicisation, in addition to other services, including ongoing formation. He continued to live with his health problems and was often perturbed.

In 1995, he was appointed to our rest home at Lennoxville. He was of service in the community and agreed to be chaplain to the Poor Clares locally. In 2000, he took part in the over-70s Session in Rome. In 2004, he decided to retire completely.

In January 2012, he was hospitalised. He was diagnosed with lung cancer and there were secondary symptoms. He refused any type of treatment and asked to remain in our house. He was prescribed adapted medication to ensure a degree of comfort. Other complications soon set in. In the night of the 3rd March 2012, he was taken into the emergency ward of the hospital where he passed away a few hours later.

A prayer vigil and special Mass took place, with the body present, in our house at Lennoxville. Father Denis-Paul Hamelin was the main celebrant at this Mass and gave the homily. Here are some extracts: ‘Some days before he knew he was affected terminally, I accompanied Jean-Marie to hospital. When I was about to leave him, he asked me to bless him. I felt a great peace and abandonment in him that could only be explained by the rich interior life that dwelt in him. Today, we celebrate his entire life; his great devotion to his students, especially the seminarians he accompanied and for the priests and laypeople he helped to keep updated; above all his spiritual help to Sisters, in Zambia as well as here.’

The Funeral Mass, led by Father Jean-Paul Laflamme, with Fr. Beaulieu’s ashes present, took place in the church at Loretteville on the 17th March, followed by burial in the family plot of the cemetery in the same town.

Lauréat Belley

Broher Ernest Albert

1934 - - 2011

Brother Ernest Albert was born on the 17th August 1934 in St-Pierre-aux-Liens parish, Cara­quet, in Bathurst Diocese, New Brunswick in the east of Canada. He was one of a fishing family of 12 children, four girls and eight boys. One of his brothers is a secular priest and one of his sisters is a nun. He spent his childhood in a very religious atmosphere. He studied at Caraquet School until 6th Form. He then went to work. From 1948 till 1954, he devoted himself to fishing, farming, working on the railway, and as a lumberjack, etc.

However, he did not feel very content in these jobs. He was looking for some other meaning in life. He made contact with the White Fathers, for Africa interested him. After some meetings with Missionaries of Africa, he was accepted for the Postulancy on the 30th July 1955 at our house at Pont-de-Québec. By the 30th January 1956, he was at the novitiate at St-Martin de Laval. There, he took the name of Brother Egide. He had the common sense of someone who had already had to take decisions, was resourceful and could get through a lot of work. He was adept for major external work, as he was good with his hands and creative. He tended to do too much, to take on a lot without regard for the people around him. As he had a lively temperament, in some cases, his orders could sound abrupt and his remarks somewhat scathing. Nevertheless, he was considered a good prospect and he was recommended for his First Oath, which he took on the 25th January 1958.

Afterwards, he began his training at the Brothers’ Development Centre at Lennoxville, which at that time was known as the Brothers’ Scholasticate. He was to spend over two years for this training in practice, in theory and in religion. There, he took his second and third Missionary Oath. One of those in charge of his training assessed him thus, ‘He applies himself well to the jobs he receives. He is very resourceful in mechanics, but he would need to be careful not to tire himself out by going too fast and to avoid breakdown. He is strong-willed and determined. Given that he is also pious underneath it all, he will certainly be disposed to correct his shortcomings. If he is well directed and supported, we can expect a lot from him.’

In the course of 1960, he spent several months at the Montreal Procure to followed courses at the Professional Building Training Centre. In December the same year, he arrived in Uganda. He was appointed to Rubaga Diocese. On the 25th January 1961, he took his 3-year Missionary Oath. He then followed the language course at Bukalagi. In July 1961, he became Bursar of the junior seminary at Kisubi for four years. In early 1965, he was appointed Bursar at the major seminary at Katigongo. He was to dedicate himself there for over seven years. He took his Perpetual Oath here on the 22nd January 1964.

He was greatly devoted to his duty as Bursar. This brought on fatigue and other health problems. His nervous disposition and difficulties with others accentuated his problems. He was examined at Rubaga Hospital and was diagnosed with stomach ulcers requiring an operation. The doctors preferred this to be done in Canada. In April 1973, he returned to Canada for sick leave.

After treatment and convalescence, at his own request, Brother Ernest was at the service of the Canadian Province for the maintenance and upkeep of our houses. He moved between Lennoxville, the Provincial House, the Scholas­ticate and the Ottawa Procure. However, he was to work at Lennoxville in particular for almost nine years. There, as usual, he became fully involved in work, but it was not without problems.

In 1985, a major enquiry was begun concerning the vocation of the Brother in the Society. He was asked to participate and was fully involved in it with his customary frankness and anti-authority spirit.
In early 1987, he left Lennoxville on account of various conflicts. He then asked to take a sabbatical year at the Montreal Foyer de Charité. He was offered the Jerusalem Session or a return to Africa, but while he did not oppose it, he asked for time. In all, he was to spend three years at the Foyer de Charité. Moreover, this was a happy experience, as he was very much appreciated and rendered them enormous service.

At that point, his health had improved. In 1990, he accepted an appointment in Uganda. His main post was Kasese, for various major works in the surrounding area. He arrived there in March 1991. He was to spend 6 years at this spot. After the over-60s Session in Rome in 1997, he returned to Uganda to work for two years at Nakapiripirit.

In early 1999, he was again fatigued and very ill. He then took the decision to return to Canada for good. He firstly went to Belgium for tests at the Antwerp Institute of Tropical Medicine. He then returned to Canada and the Moncton Procure to continue treatment. In May the same year, he had to be hospitalised. X-rays revealed that both lungs were affected. There was further treatment. He recovered only slowly, but he was finally able to resume his activities.

In 2002, he asked to live outside community with his priest brother who had retired, ill, and needed individual attention. They lived in the family home. During this time, problems arose with his family whereby all the members suffered. This was often caused by Ernest’s domineering attitude.

After some years, his brother priest was placed in a home that responded better to his needs. Ernest then had nothing left to do. However, he continued in residence in spite of the other members of the family. The Provincial tried several times to bring him back into one of our communities, but he always postponed it. He therefore lived alone in the former family home at Caraquet. This was to last several years. He became involved in his locality for justice issues and help to those in need.

In 2011, signs of reconciliation appeared in his family. Ernest was more tolerant and looked for more fraternal bonds. Unfortu­nately, on the 15th November 2011, Brother Albert died in a road accident when a lorry he failed to see knocked him down while he was crossing the street. They could not revive him. The Funeral Mass took place on the 24th November in St-Pierre-aux-Liens church at Caraquet. The body was then taken for burial to the family plot in the parish cemetery.

Three White Fathers were delegated to attend the funeral at Caraquet, 700 kms distant. All the family and friends appreciated their attending. An enormous congregation and a dozen concelebrants took part, including Bishop Vienneau of Bathurst. Brother André Savard and Father Jean-Guy Labrecque bore testimony to Ernest. Father Jacques Bédard was the main celebrant at the Mass and the parish priest gave the homily. He illustrated how Ernest was impassioned for his works, a good man, but above all unique in his missionary action.

One confrere who knew him in Africa described his personality thus, ‘In Uganda, he was known by his family name of Brother Albert. He was seen as a physically strong man and always ready to serve. He was very organised in his work and in his ideas. He was not keen to accept other people’s ideas. He showed no fear when faced with the challenges of his work or during the periods of stress which we experienced in this country. He was seen as a generous man, a competent builder and always ready to be of service.’

Lauréat Belley

Father Youville Labonté

1925 - - 2011

Youville was born in Lewiston, Maine, USA, into a family of four boys and one girl, on the 4th August 1925. He was named after Sister Marguerite d’Youville, founder of the Sisters of Charity (Grey Nuns), who was canonised by Pope John Paul II in December, 1990. Already at the tender age of 8 or 9, he expressed the hope of becoming a missionary priest.

He began his education in Lewiston and then attended four years of high school and two years of college in Biddeford, Maine. He came to know about the Missionaries of Africa from a magazine advertisement. Eventually, he began a two-year course in Philosophy at the Missionaries of Africa house located at Alexandria Bay, New York, on the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands). His year of novitiate was at St. Martin, Laval, Quebec. His theological studies were done at Eastview, Ontario.

Father Labonté was ordained a priest at Eastview on January 27, 1952. He had taken his missionary Oath on the 23rd June 1951. He celebrated his first High Mass in February, 1952, at St. Louis’ Church, his hometown parish in Auburn, Maine.

Except for home leaves to the United States and a retreat in Rome, the next nineteen years were spent in Northern Rhodesia, in the dioceses of Kasama and Ndola. He began with a six-year stint in Mulobola. He then worked as Superior both at Kapatu and Chalabesa. Finally, he served at Mufulira, from where he departed for his return to the United States.

Arriving back to his home country, Youville wasted no time in establishing residence in his home state of Maine. He lived out of community, though he found opportunities and occasions to frequent our communities. His mother lived to be over 100 years of age, which obliged him to be offering her much personal care.

He immediately offered his services to the Diocese of Port­land, Maine, in 1971, serving the Church in Westbrook and Auburn, assisting the respective pastors. Besides the pastoral commitment in parish activities, he is known to have helped in ministering at nursing homes. People who knew him then describe him as a patient and kind priest. While remaining in the same parish, he established a residence in the upper storey of a closed convent school in 1985.

It was in this period of his life that Youville initiated a new chapter in his life history. He became a genealogist. No one seems to know what inspired him to move in that direction, but the results show that he became really engrossed in his new interest.

His publications are not the subjects which we look for in our Society. Therefore, it is worth listing them here completely: Family trees: He wrote 82 books entitled ‘From France to Canada to the USA.’ Each book contains the family trees of about 200 French families. The Library of Congress has bought a copy of each book. They contain 10,000 names of different families. 17 books on marriages in 29 Maine parishes. One book on the Clément-Labonté family, including 6,000 births, 2,500 marriages and 500 Acts of Notaries. One book on the Forgues family, including 162 families from 1663. One book on necrologies, a 2-volume work containing 650 pages each.

His books may be found in the Library of Congress as well as in genealogical societies in Madison, Wisconsin, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Fresno, California, Manchester, New Hampshire, Utah Family History Society, and the New York Public Library. On quite a number of occasions, he was consulted about genealogical affairs. He became recognised for his research work. In spite of his success in this field of work, however, he maintained a simple lifestyle, keeping a close and frequent contact with his confreres.

He found time to work in the parish and look after his mother, and at the same time to immerse himself in genealogical research for a period of over 30 years. In the beginning, he obtained his information directly from tombstones in local cemeteries. Later, he consulted Church baptismal and marriage record books. Then finally, much information was coming from obituaries in local newspapers.

Youville decided to begin his retirement in 2007, marking his departure from Maine. His genealogical research continued, but by 2009, he began to observe small mistakes in his notations, which led him to discontinue his work as a genealogist. He was afraid of publishing mistakes.

He spent his retirement years at Lavigerie House in St. Petersburg, Florida. After so many years of living and working alone, adjusting to community living was not really burdensome to him. He later told someone that the only real hardship which he suffered was a hearing problem. So much was being said in his presence, and most of it he could not hear. A hereditary deafness had been creeping up on him over the years and was now at a numbing level.

Moreover, it came to the notice of community members that his balance was poor. A visit to a specialist later revealed that his inner ear was completely dysfunctional, leaving him subject to falls at any time and place. He always dreaded the thought of becoming dependent on a wheelchair, a walker, or even a walking stick. Then, in July, 2010, he fell against a table in his room and fractured one of his hips. From that time until his death, 17 months later, it was a gradual but steady road downhill. Surgery was a success, but the healing process in an 85-year-old body held back his recovery. He spent those months in a nursing home, needing constant personal care. He was given a private room, very near the chapel, where Mass was being offered daily, at which he was able to concelebrate.

The confreres visited him almost daily. He always welcomed the visiting confreres. Sometimes, he would beg the confreres to prolong their visits. Although he was obliged to use a walker or even a wheelchair, he still insisted on trying to move about on his own unsteady feet. The result was a number of falls.

In spite of his many physical handicaps, including the loss of hearing and balance, he managed to endear himself to the staff of the nursing home. Nonetheless, he always longed to return to his community where he could be more easily understood.However, he made the most of his limited circumstances. He passed away quietly on the morning of the 8th November 2011. After the Funeral Mass on the 11th November, he was laid to rest at St. Petersburg, Florida.

He had become a man of dedicated work and prayer. Whatever he laboured at, he pushed himself with full vigour. Prayer strengthened him in the frustration of not being able to communicate. He suffered in silence, but his prayer always egged him on to cope.

Joseph E. Hebert

Bro ther Josef Vorderbrüggen

1929 - - 2011

Josef Vorderbrüggen was born on the 18th August 1929 at Varensell near Gütersloh, (Diocese of Pader­born). His parents were known as fervent Christians. He enjoyed a happy youth together with his four brothers and two sisters. From 1946 to 1949, he learnt the trade of saddler and upholsterer and received a certificate of apprenticeship. In April 1951, he went to Langenfeld for the Postulate, were he received the name Ignatius.

In 1953, at the end of the novitiate at Marienthal, he took his First Oath. After two years in the Brothers Training Centre at Marienthal he became a cook. Fr. Ehret, the Bursar, who also taught him French, was very pleased with his skills. Even the then Superior General, Fr. Volker, praised Josef when in January 1957, he wrote, ‘In the service of God and in the initiation of younger confreres you have mastered a lot of work, especially by doing the stressful labour in the kitchen. May God bless your commitment - now in Marienthal - and later in Africa.’

In 1958, Josef was happy to be appointed to the Diocese of Baudouinville, Belgian-Congo. However, before leaving for Africa, he specialised as a shoemaker and also improved his French. Finally, in 1959, he boarded the plane at Brussels, destination Africa. In Baudouinville [Moba], he also took his Final Oath on the 26th September 1959. He took charge of the Trade School and began with the tanning of cowhides with the aim of manufacturing shoes, belts, footballs and satchels. The tanning chemicals, however, later on became the cause of his rheumatism; he was also forced to have two hip replacements. It was for this reason that he had to give up his trade, and in 1993 he became the Bursar of the Regional House in Bukavu. There, he also assisted a lot the refugees from Rwanda. They still inquire about him. In a 1999 letter, Josef described the difficulties during the warlike situation in the east of DR Congo, although he concluded, ‘For the rest, I am fine and I am glad to be here and able to help.’

However, due to renewed problems with his hips, he had to be appointed to the German Province at the end of the same year, first to Hörstel, and then Trier in 2001. He needed a lot of medical treatment, but it did not prevent him form rolling up his sleeves and doing various services. In Trier, he received a large number of visitors, and also very much enjoyed gardening, not forgetting the workshop, where he enjoyed repairing things. Despite his handicap in walking - he always had to use crutches - he won the battle with garden weeds and he pruned the trees. He often worked until late into the night to transform the harvest into fruit juice and jam. He was the owner of three rolling walkers to get around everywhere in the large house and garden. For his visits into town, he used an electric wheelchair. His guardian angel must have been at his side, when he drove at high speed in the narrow streets of Trier.

Br. Josef used all his talents in a missionary spirit. His zeal was based on his faith that he was called to serve. Throughout his life, he suffered poor health, especially rheumatism and problems with his spine and hip. He had to undergo operations and prolonged medical treatment and he became more and more disabled. The servant that he was found it difficult to accept that he should reduce his activities.
Nevertheless, his feeble health and progressive deafness forced him to give up receiving visitors in our house at Trier.

Gradually, his heart and kidneys caused him more and more trouble and the confreres assisted him as much as they were able. He had to stay several times in hospital. In the night of the 23rd November 2011, his condition worsened. His last words in the presence of his confreres were, ‘I want to go home.’ Shortly after that, he arrived at his eternal dwelling place.

Josef Averesch and Otto Walter

 

Father Lucien Loret

1926 - - 2011

Lucien was born at Termonde (east Flanders) on the 21st February 1926. He spent his youth in a modest family: his father worked at the Post Office before going into business for himself as a watchmaker. Lucien had done his secondary schooling in the Classics at the Holy Virgin College of his home town. In September 1947, he entered the White Fathers at Boechout. He did his novitiate at Varsenare and his theology at Heverlee, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 11th July 1953. He was ordained a priest on the 18th April 1954.

His first appointment was not to a destination in Africa, but to the Bursar’s Office at the Varsenare novitiate. This was a significant appointment, as it will appear later. Several of us benefited from the strength of his work and devotion. However, under his leadership, we also sweated in his kitchen garden, where in the early morning the leeks and other vegetables were prepared for sale at the Bruges Market. Lucien was also co-founder of the Chiro youth movement in the parish of Varsenare.

His first departure for Africa was on the 20th December 1958 for the Belgian Congo (at that time). Lucien became a curate at Kabalo in the Vicariate Apostolic of Baudouinville (now Kirungu). There also, he was soon discovered for his talents as Bursar. In September 1960, Lucien was appointed Bursar of the major seminary of Baudouinville. Two years later, when the major seminary closed in September 1962, he was made Bursar and professor at the junior seminary, still at Baudouinville. At the same time, he was the Bishop’s Master of Ceremonies. After his home leave in 1965, Lucien returned to Kabalo, as curate and Bursar. He also gave courses to the vocational guidance stream. In September 1969, he was appointed Superior at Mpala, a rather difficult parish with little Christian practice and lay commitment.

In early 1971, Lucien had to take some rest at Katana (near Bukavu). He was suffering from a serious nervous depression. At the end of January, he returned to Belgium. Thanks to a childhood friend, Doctor De Wilde, a neuro-psychiatrist, who had been a pupil for a few months at Boechout a year after Lucien, he managed to make a complete recovery. Nevertheless, the doctor advised him against returning to Africa.

In late June 1972, Lucien was placed in charge of the Bursar’s Office at Varsenare. On the 30th January, 1978, he was appointed to our guesthouse at the Rue de Linthout, Brussels. He was to remain there for 30 years, until the beginning of November 2008. For 17 years, he combined the duties of Superior and Bursar. In the meantime, he also completed two mandates as a member of the Provincial Council. From May 1995, he was happy to do just the Bursar’s Office.

Throughout his life, Lucien was a much appreciated Bursar. As a man for relations, he was very sensitive and attentive to the needs of confreres and visitors. He was also very much appreciated by the staff. He liked them and they responded in kind. He respected them and appreciated their initiatives. Continually good-humoured and always smiling, he was a pleasant conversationalist who had the gift of telling a good story artfully. He attached a particular importance to liturgy. The sanctuary of the chapel was always adorned with beautiful flowers. He had recorded hundreds of songs for liturgical services from the three-year liturgical cycle. He jealously supervised the quality of the cooking and knew how to organise magnificent celebrations for his confreres. We owe to him this fine tradition whereby all our communities in Brussels are always welcome at the Rue de Linthout for the midday meal on weekends as well as for the major feasts of the liturgical year. This includes Holy Thursday, the feast of the priesthood, and the 8th December, the feast day of Our Lady and of our Society. He never sent a beggar away empty-handed. Those who did not know his name asked for the ‘Father with the little beard.’ He also had good relations with our neighbours. He was an admirable man and an excellent confrere. Lucien was at the service of others his whole life long. He was truly a great man.

On the 1st November 2008, Lucien became seriously ill and moved to Varsenare, where he was settled into the rest and treatment home of ‘Avondrust’. Thanks to their careful treatment, he made a very good recovery.

At the end of October 2009, he was not feeling well. A series of tests were begun. On Sunday the 13th November, he fell into a coma and was transported to the Saint John Hospital at Bruges. There, he passed away in the afternoon of the 14th November.

The concelebrated Farewell Liturgy took place on Saturday the 19th November 2011 at Varsenare, followed by burial in our cemetery, whose beginning goes back to the time when Lucien was Bursar.

Jef Vleugels

 

Father Simon Roy

1924 - - 2011

Father Simon Roy was born on the 22nd March 1924 at St-Odilon, in the Archdiocese of Quebec. He had three brothers and two sisters. He did his primary schooling at the convent of St-Odilon. He had to break off his studies at the end of primary school. Later, he began his secondary studies, as well as his two years of philosophy at the Sacred Heart Seminary at St-Victor, Beauce. As early as his secondary school studies, he had an interest in the White Fathers and asked them for information and books about missions.

At the end of his philosophy, he was decided and told his family that he wanted to join the Missionaries of Africa and not the diocesan clergy, as his family had thought. His father replied, ‘I am a bit disappointed to see you leave for so far away, as I was counting on you. Nevertheless, continue to go where the Good Lord wants you to be. I will pay your fees to the last penny and God will look after us left at home.’

His Spiritual Director at the seminary introduced him to the White Fathers thus: ‘Simon is a person with a truly sound piety; he is intelligent and above all an apostle among the pupils. He is a real leader and possesses qualities to be accepted everywhere. He only seeks the glory of God. One of his brothers has been a Redemptorist priest for ten or so years and one of his sisters is in the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. He is head boy of the pupils here at the seminary.’

In August 1952, Simon began his novitiate with the White Fathers at St-Martin. The following year, he went to the Scholasticate at Eastview, near Ottawa, for his four years of theology. He took his Missionary Oath there on the 16th June 1956 and was ordained a priest on the 1st February 1957 in the chapel of the Scholasticate by Archbishop Lemieux of Ottawa. These four years were well spent. He was appreciated by the other scholastics and the professors. He had a good mind and sound judgement, more practical than speculative. He was extremely nervy and always on the move. With his fine sensitivity, he was drawn to the poor and lived an ideal of poverty that was more than ordinary. He was called to order for the state of his clothes that left a lot to be desired. It was reckoned he would make a good missionary if he would pull himself together. He asked to be appointed to Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, where his sister would be called to work.

After his studies at Eastview, he took some home leave in his family. He then followed a four-month course in England. In December 1957, he arrived in Zambia, where he was appointed to the present-day Diocese of Chipata. His entire missionary life in Africa was to be spent in the territory of Chipata. He first went to Chikungu to learn the language that he assimilated after only three months. Then he went for some months as curate to Naviruli. In September 1959, he was a curate at Chassa for five years, at the end of which he left on home leave for the first time.

According to his Regional, these first years in mission turned out quite well. He was a man of great zeal and a great love for Africans. He was often unable to control his nervousness. He suffered from the lifestyle of some of his confreres, because he lived in a very deprived way. He was most often in the outstations where he was content among the people. He only used the bicycle for his trips and ate little. He never took holidays. This lifestyle drained the confreres and he quickly tired. He needed to rest and was obliged to go for home leave.

After some months at home in the family, he did his Long Retreat at Rome. He greatly appreciated this retreat and believed that it was a new start for him. He arrived in his diocese in early 1965. He was firstly curate at Nyimba and Minga, then in 1966, for 12 years, he was parish priest of Chassa, Kanyanga, and Chikingu. He was curate then parish priest of Kokwe from 1978 till 1982.

In all these places, he continued to do pastoral work in his own way. He was close to the people and often visited them. He received a lot of help from his home parish of St-Odilon for development and buildings. He was heavily involved in the Legion of Mary. However, in community with his confreres, not everything went as it should. No one was to blame, but the fact is that he suffered from his confreres and they put up with his way of being and doing only with difficulty. His nervousness did not improve matters either. It was a problem of personality and human relations that the Regional tried to sort out.

In 1982, he went on home leave. After a good rest, he agreed to go to Nyimba as curate, for over two years, then parish priest for 12 years in this same parish. These many years in this parish were well spent. He managed to operate better with his confreres in community. Everyone respected the other’s way of doing. As Superior, he did a lot of good, in development and evangelisation in an area that had been partly pagan.

In 1999, he asked to return to Canada for good. His strength had diminished, his health was increasingly precarious and he believed that it was time to leave the place to others.
Here is his testimony about his missionary life in Africa: ‘Moving from one mission to another gave me the opportunity to learn three dialects. Whenever I arrived in a new mission, I was impressed by the warm welcome of the people, their hospitality, their ease of communication and their trust. For me, missionary life could be summed up like this: Love the Africans with a love so true and sincere that through this love they may discover God, the source of love. If I were given the chance of living my life again, I would cheerfully do the same thing.’

Simon arrived in Canada in May 1999. He had already arranged everything for his future. He asked to live outside community at St-Odilon, in his home parish that had always helped and sustained him in his apostolate in Africa. He lived in a centre for old people, beside the church. He helped the priest-in-charge of the parish for Masses at the centre and the parish, and for visiting the sick.

In 2006, he experienced serious health problems. He did less and less ministry. The following year, he accepted an invitation to rejoin the community of the Missionaries of Africa at Quebec. In September 2010, he insisted on returning to his home parish at St-Odilon. Subse­quently, his problems became aggravated and he had to be placed in a proper centre. He died on the 19th September 2011 at the St-Georges Centre for shelter and long-term care at Beauce. The funeral took place on the 23rd September in the church at St-Odilon. Fr Poirier, a priest of the diocese, was the main celebrant at the Mass and gave the homily. Simon’s ashes were placed in the parish cemetery, in the family plot.
Bishop George Cosmas Lungu of Chipata Diocese presented his condolences to the Provincial of AMS.

He recalled that the people still remembered this great missionary who had loved them so much and who had made great sacrifices to serve them. He prayed that the Good Lord would grant him eternal rest and the peace of the good and faithful servant.

Lauréat Belley

 

Farher Roland Tremblay

1917 - - 2011

Father Roland Tremblay tells us of his family. ‘I was born on the 7th March 1917 at Sherbrooke in Quebec Province. I am the last of a family of six children, three boys and three girls. One of the boys and one of the girls died very young. As the last born of the family, I was spoiled from many points of view. My parents were of mature age when they married. I was impressed by their piety and that their love increased with the years. We regularly prayed the rosary at home. My brother Henri became a diocesan priest. I consider him a good man, with very great charity.’

Before his secondary schooling, Roland attended the De La Salle Brothers and the Sisters of Jesus and Mary primary schools. He then went to St. Charles Seminary Sherbrooke for secondary studies and his two years of philosophy. He said he owed his missionary vocation to Father Bissonnette, who, with his resounding voice, gave talks in colleges, speaking about Africa and the needs of the missions. He also kept a fond memory of the visits of the future Bishop Lanctôt, MAfr.

In September 1935, Roland began his postulancy with the White Fathers at Éverell, near Quebec. He also did his first year of theology there. The following year he went to the novitiate at Maison Carrée in Algiers. It was a major change for him, for he was in another country and in an international community. According to those who were in charge of his formation, he was considered a good novice, sufficiently gifted, with good character and able to adapt easily to various temperaments. He had worked well at his sanctification.

For his second year of theology, he went to our Scholasticate at Thibar, Tunisia. Then, since a new Scholasticate was opened at Eastview, Canada, he went there for his third and fourth year of theology, from 1938 till 1940. There, it was discovered he had above average intelligence. As he liked studies a lot, he was considered able to succeed in higher studies, to become a teacher. He was very supernatural and his serious character increasingly asserted itself, a promising feature for the future.

He took his Missionary Oath on the 9th June 1939. He was ordained a priest on the 23rd June 1940 in the chapel of the Grey Sisters of the Cross at Ottawa by Archbishop Alexandre Vachon of Ottawa. Roland was only 23 years old, which required a customary dispensation from Rome.

As it was reckoned he had the qualities of a jurist, he was asked to do studies in Canon Law in view of a doctorate. This he did at the University of Laval at Quebec, from 1940 till 1943, probably due to the problems of travelling to Europe during the Second World War. In 1944, when he was a professor at Eastview, he obtained his doctorate for his thesis entitled, ‘The power of dispensing from marriage impediments in mission countries.’

From 1943 till 1947, Father Tremblay was a professor at Eastview Scholasticate. In 1947, he finally received his appointment for present-day Ghana. After a few months’ course in England, in January 1948, and after a long journey by ship and lorry, he arrived at Bolgatanga. This was in the Vicariate Apostolic of Navrongo, which in 1950 would become the Diocese of Tamale. He was to remain two years in this parish to learn the language and engage in ministry, which he loved. He also devoted himself to the schools of the mission post.

In early 1950, he was appointed to the major seminary of Wiagha, which was transferred to Tamale at the end of 1953. He then began his long career as professor at this Major Seminary. In addition to his lectures, he was sometimes Bursar, looking after the garden, etc, but especially Rector for seven years. For all this time, he remained in charge of an outstation which he served every Sunday. In 1959, he published a little book, ‘The Privilege of the Faith’, which was well received in our Scholasticates. Bishops and priests in the parishes often consulted him for canonical cases.

At the end of his time in Ghana, he could write, ‘In spite of everything, the Good Lord has been good to me. I was rarely ill and I have always been very happy as a White Father. My confreres were always very charitable towards me in spite of my many shortcomings. What impressed me during my time here was the hospitality and friendliness of Ghanaians with regard to White Fathers and to me. In addition, I admired the respect and charity the Ghanaians show towards the aged.’

For his final years in Africa, he had some minor health problems, especially with his sight. He had to return on home leave more often and reduce his workload. He wanted to remain until 1990 to be able to celebrate his 50th anniversary of priesthood and his 40 years of presence in the Major Seminary of Tamale. This is where a huge celebration took place with the former pupils of the Seminary, with the Bishops and the priests.

After this celebration, he arrived in Canada on the 14th July 1990. He said it was a return home to Canada for good. However, after a few months, he decided to return to Ghana for a further year, whereas they were no longer counting on him at the Major Seminary. After much correspondence to explain himself, he finally decided to remain in Canada. He asked the Provincial to live outside community for some time, to live with his aged sister and his brother priest to help them. This was to last several years. He was attached to the Lennoxville community, which he often visited.

In October 1997, circumstances led him to take up residence in our house at Lennoxville. He became involved in community life and rendered service according to his abilities. In 2007, he fell over and this accident fractured his pelvis. He was hospitalised for an operation. His rehabilitation turned out to be long and difficult. Subsequently, he would no longer live in community. In September 2007, he was placed in a Home: the Gîte du Bel Âge, better adapted to his level of personal autonomy. However, with time, his condition did not improve. He was often in hospital for breathing problems and fluid in the lungs. In April 2011, he was placed in the St. Vincent de Paul Centre for long-term treatment at Sherbrooke. He passed away there on the 26th December 2011.

The funeral took place on the 29th December in the chapel of the Missionaries of Africa at Lennoxville, followed by burial in the St-Antoine cemetery at the same place, in the part reserved for White Fathers. Father Richard Baawobr, our Superior General, was the main celebrant at the Funeral Mass. Roland accompanied Richard in view of becoming a White Father when he was a student at Tamale Major Seminary.

Father Richard Dandenault gave the funeral homily. Here are some extracts: ‘If we look at the relationship side of Roland, we will soon note that his temperament promptly transmitted his personality: rectitude. He had rectitude in his heart and in his conscience; it was written on his features. As on all occasions when meeting with him, underneath his smile, he reflected a straightforward approach, ease of access and unconditional welcome. Dear Roland, enter into the joy of your Lord, to the great banquet of eternal love that awaits you in the Father’s house.’

Lauréat Belley