Sjef est né à Tilburg, aux Pays-Bas, le 11 mars 1929. Il reçoit sa formation missionnaire à Sterksel, ‘s-Heerenberg, où il prononce son serment missionnaire le 24 juillet 1956, et à Monteviot. Il est ordonné dans la paroisse de Galashiels, en Écosse, le 16 mai 1957.

Sjef a un bon jugement et il réagit rapidement. Il aime le travail intellectuel, lit et écrit beaucoup. Il a le don d’expliquer les choses dans un langage simple et un esprit créatif. Il porte attention aux autres, prêt à rendre service et à engager une conversation. Il sait ce qu’il veut et il le cherche. Son frère Paul est notre confrère et il a un autre frère Franciscain.

En automne 1957, il commence des études de philosophie à l’Université Grégorienne de Rome. Il prépare une thèse sur Teilhard de Chardin mais, en mai 1959, les autorités lui font savoir qu’elle est “inopportune”. En juin 1960, il part enseigner dans notre philosophat à Esch près de Boxtel et ensuite à Tilburg. Dans le même temps, il suit un cours de journalisme, commence à publier, et donne des interviews à la radio et à la télévision. En 1966, il est élu au Conseil provincial et va au Chapitre général de 1967 en tant que délégué des Pays-Bas.

Le 2 avril 1970, il accepte une nomination au Département d’études philosophiques et religieuses à l’Université de Nairobi ; il donne aussi des cours au grand séminaire St-Thomas d’Aquin qui attend 104 nouveaux séminaristes pour l’année suivante. En 1971, Sjef devient membre de la Commission nationale de l’éducation religieuse. Il donne des interviews à la radio, dirige des retraites et présente, en moyenne, trois causeries par semaine dans diverses organisations. Il commente : “Je suis assez occupé mais j’ai encore du temps pour mes hobbies.”

Au milieu de l’année 1971, Sjef devient le suppléant du responsable du département. Son lieu de travail et de résidence s’agrandissent : fin 1972, il dispose de 13 chambres et bureaux ! En mars 1973, les prêtres de l’Opus Dei quittent l’aumônerie de l’Université et Sjef est nommé pour diriger l’équipe pastorale d’une communauté catholique de 780 étudiants ainsi que de 1 800 employés. Il s’y engage de tout cœur. Ses homélies sont très appréciées, au point qu’en septembre, ils doivent acheter et ajouter 200 chaises. Beaucoup d’étudiants viennent pour discuter. Avec un membre kenyan du staff, il lance le premier journal de philosophie de l’Afrique de l’Est “Practice and Thought”.

Le 23 mai 1974, Sjef est nommé Professeur et Chef du département. Il écrit en juillet 1975 : “Le travail à l’université et comme aumônier est étonnamment intéressant.” La liturgie dominicale est presque entièrement organisée par les étudiants. Elle est régulièrement retransmise à la radio. Une célébration est animée par la chorale et l’orchestre des enfants de la rue de notre confrère Arnold Grol décédé en 1979. Elle est retransmise par Radio Kenya et enregistrée par Télévision Canada.

Sjef travaillait d’habitude à plusieurs choses à la fois. En 1977, il soupire : “Parfois, je regrette que l’on n’ait qu’une vie !” Cette année-là, il s’engage auprès de réfugiés de l’Ouganda, de l’Éthiopie, de l’Afrique du Sud et du Mozambique. Ensemble avec des étudiants de l’Université, il aide à loger douze jeunes gens. Il dit : “J’espère que c’est une application concrète de tous les sermons faits à la chapelle.” Il donne aussi des conférences à l’extérieur : à des Directeurs d’écoles secondaires, dans des Clubs de philosophie, de théologie, dans une rencontre de Méthodistes, au Conseil national des Églises, dans un atelier pour des équipes travaillant dans des prisons, à quinze jeunes prêtres, etc.

En juillet 1980, un Kenyan devient Directeur du Département. Sjef donne encore trois cours par semaine et devient aumônier à temps complet. Ses étudiants d’alors sont maintenant ses collègues.

Le 1er mars 1984, Sjef part à Washington et devient le directeur du Réseau Afrique Foi et Justice (AFJN) dont la Société est cofondatrice. C’est un service organisé par toutes les congrégations missionnaires qui ont, à cette époque, plus de dix mille missionnaires vivant et travaillant en Afrique. En ce temps-là, quelqu’un le dépeint : “Je crois que vous avez la capacité de saisir comment l’Afrique se développe. Vous en avez la sensibilité et une appréciation positive de la pensée et des ambitions des Africains. Et vous avez aussi la finesse pour obtenir l’attention nécessaire.” Sjef donne aussi des conférences et des cours à la Faculté de l’Union de Théologie à Washington. Mais son rêve, c’est de mettre en œuvre dans une paroisse des Pays-Bas ce qu’il a appris comme aumônier au Kenya.

En 1988, il ne renouvelle pas son contrat avec AFJN, mais il continue d’enseigner la missiologie à la Faculté de l’Union de Théologie à Washington. Comme c’est à temps partiel, il peut donner des conférences et des cours ailleurs aux États-Unis, ainsi qu’en Afrique, Europe, Asie et en Australie. Il continue de publier. En février 2004, il écrit : “Comme retraité, je mène une vie assez intéressante.”
En novembre 2004, il est en Australie. Il y retourne, en tant que personne-ressource, de début mai jusqu’à fin juin 2008. Ensemble avec trente collaborateurs, ils préparent la visite du pape dans le pays et la Journée Mondiale de la Jeunesse. Trente mille jeunes sont attendus de l’étranger.

Ses hobbies consistaient à rencontrer les personnes, à lire et à préparer des conférences. Philosophe, il continuait à chercher la vérité pour lui-même et pour la communiquer à d’autres.

Le 1er décembre 2010, il quitte Washington et se retire à Dongen aux Pays-Bas. En août 2012, il va à St-Charles, Heythuysen. Le plus grand changement dans son style de vie fut, sans aucun doute, d’accepter son âge et de ne plus pouvoir être actif. À Dongen comme à Heythuysen, il fut heureux et reconnaissant de la vie communautaire et des soins reçus.

Sjef est décédé le 7 mars 2013, quelques jours après une délicate opération. Ensemble avec les membres de sa famille et les confrères, nous avons vécu les funérailles à St. Charles, Heythuysen, et nous l’avons enterré dans notre cimetière le 13 mars 2013.

Marien van den Eijnden

Voir aussi

Père Edmond Thiry

1925 - - 2013

Edmond est né le 25 avril 1925, à Saint-Servais, Belgique, dans une famille nombreuse, chrétienne et pratiquante. Son père avait une petite entreprise de matériaux de construction. Après l’école primaire chez les Frères Maristes à Saint-Servais, Edmond fit ses études secondaires au collège des Pères jésuites, Notre-Dame de la Paix, à Namur. En septembre 1942, il entra à Thy-le-Château, fit le noviciat à Varsenare et la théologie à Heverlee, où il prononça son serment missionnaire le 28 mars 1948. Il y fut ordonné prêtre le 18 avril 1949. En 1951, il obtint une régence à l’École normale moyenne Saint-Thomas à Bruxelles. Ses formateurs décrivent Edmond comme une personne simple, ouverte et franche. Toujours de bonne humeur et prêt à rendre service, il est plein de vie et d’activité ; il est un peu genre broussard et pas toujours bien ordonné. Il a une imagination féconde ; il est bon dessinateur, “un caricaturiste né”.

Nommé au Lac Albert (Ituri), il s’envole de Bruxelles avec Sobelair, le 24 septembre 1951. Il est immédiatement nommé directeur de l’École normale de Vieux-Kilo. Il occupera ce poste pendant 24 ans, donnant lui-même jusqu’à 30 heures de cours par semaine et surveillant les stages de ses élèves jusqu’au plus petit village de brousse. Il développe progressivement son école à tout point de vue, en extension et en qualité, jusqu’à ce qu’elle devienne l’Institut pédagogique de Kilo. Le fait de ne pas avoir travaillé en paroisse ne l’a pas empêché de bien apprendre le kiswahili. En 1956, le Régional note en passant : “Il s’intéresse à l’ethnologie”.

En 1963, il publie au Musée de Tervuren un premier article sur les Bahema (“sur l’histoire des tribus de l’Ituri et de leurs migrations qui me passionne depuis longtemps”). Son séjour est interrompu par des congés réguliers en Belgique et un départ forcé lors de la rébellion des Simba (de décembre 1964 à juin 1965).

En septembre 1975, nous trouvons Edmond comme supérieur à Thy-le-Château. Pas pour longtemps car, en août 1976, le voilà nommé Régional de l’Ituri, avec résidence à Nyakasanza dans la cité de Bunia. Il fera deux mandats, participera au Conseil plénier de 1977 et au Chapitre de 1980. Il avait des idées claires et arrêtées sur la mission et sur le rôle des missionnaires ; il insiste sur la nécessité pour les missionnaires d’étudier l’histoire du peuple au sein duquel ils travaillent. Il ne cachait pas ses opinions et réagissait sur des articles, par exemple dans le Petit Écho. Ses confrères l’appréciaient comme responsable attentif et délicat, mais plutôt lent à prendre certaines décisions.

En juillet 1982, Edmond passe quelques mois comme vicaire à Gety, avant de partir en congé et de faire la session retraite à Jérusalem. Fin janvier 1984, il est nommé à la paroisse de Badiya, où il peut s’adonner à ses recherches ethnologiques. Il écrit deux fascicules, ébauches de ses publications ultérieures (“Les Hema Banya-ndama du Bas-Shari” et “Les Hema Bagombe du Shari”).

En janvier 1988, il retourne à Nyakasanza comme professeur à l’Institut de Sciences Religieuses (ISR). Tout son temps libre est consacré à ses recherches scientifiques et à des vérifications sur le terrain. En 1996, le Musée royal d’Afrique Centrale publiera son gros ouvrage : “Une introduction à l’ethnohistoire des Hema du Sud, Haut Zaïre” (321 pages). Il travaillera à l’ISR jusqu’à son retour définitif en Belgique, fin 2004, année de la publication par Tervuren de son étude sur les Hema du Nord, ouvrage moins développé que le premier. Notons encore que son long séjour à l’ISR de Bunia aura, lui aussi, été interrompu par une période de troubles (et d’évacuation) lors de la conquête du pays par l’AFDL de Laurent-Désiré Kabila et des Rwandais.

Fin 2004, Edmond, fatigué et sans doute épuisé par un diabète qui l’accable depuis des années, rentre définitivement en Belgique et s’installe à Namur-La Plante. Il ne désarme pas pour autant. Il lit beaucoup, réagit sur des articles et entretient avec le Provincial une correspondance solide portant sur l’identité missionnaire !

En octobre 2005, il participe à la session des plus de 70 ans à Rome. Il écrit un article “Sur la spécificité missionnaire” et, en vue du Chapitre de 2010, il compose, en janvier 2009, une réflexion intitulée “Ce qu’est le missionnaire”. Son dernier message de réclamation, adressé au rédacteur de Petit Écho, date du 30 mai 2012. Toujours la même verve, la même indignation, le même feu !

En septembre 2012, Edmond fut accueilli à la Maison de Repos et de Soins Sainte-Anne, toute proche de nos confrères de Salzinnes. Depuis longtemps, il voulait mettre par écrit ses idées sur la question linguistique belge, telle qu’il l’avait vécue chez les Missionnaires d’Afrique. Il a pu en achever une partie, complétée par des notes prises par un confrère lorsqu’Edmond était déjà fort malade. Nous avons publié ces réflexions à titre posthume dans Nuntiuncula. Son état de santé ne s’améliorait pas et plusieurs séjours à l’hôpital s’imposèrent. Le dernier transfert aux urgences eut lieu un dimanche et il mourut le lendemain, 20 janvier 2013.

l’Eucharistie d’adieu fut célébrée “chez lui”, le 23 janvier, en l’église Sainte-Croix à Saint-Servais, suivie le lendemain de l’inhumation à notre cimetière de Varsenare.

Jef Vleugels

Père Jean van der Meersch

1925 - - 2013

Jean est né à Bruges, en Belgique, le 11 mai 1925, dans une famille nombreuse et aisée, son père étant avocat. Il termina ses études secondaires au collège St-Louis en 1943 et entra chez les Pères Blancs en septembre de la même année. Suivirent la philosophie à Boechout, le noviciat à Varsenare et la théologie à Heverlee, avec un passage à Marienthal (1947-1948). Il prononça son serment missionnaire le 21 juillet 1949 et fut ordonné prêtre le 8 avril 1950.

Voici quelques expressions glanées dans les évaluations par ses professeurs : affable et délicat, d’humeur égale, énergique et généreux, intelligent. “Il parle et écrit très bien et sera certainement un excellent professeur”. Envoyé à Rome de 1950 à 1953, il obtint une licence en théologie à la Grégorienne et une licence en Écriture Sainte à l’Institut Biblique. Première nomination, en juillet 1953 : professeur de Bible et de pastorale catéchétique à Heverlee. Ensuite, en juillet 1958, il fut envoyé à Carthage pour le même travail.

Nommé au Rwanda, Jean arrive à Rwaza le premier septembre 1962, dans le diocèse de Ruhengeri où il s’initie à la vie paroissiale. Début janvier 1963, il suit le cours de langue à Nyanza et retourne à Rwaza. En juillet 1964, il s’installe à Butare, et est attaché au Centre de pastorale liturgique et catéchétique et nommé professeur à l’Institut Catéchétique Africain (ICA) . En août 1967, il rejoint les confrères de Nyumba, paroisse où le Père Hervé Lunden a fondé une école de catéchistes, située tout près du grand séminaire interdiocésain de Nyakibanda. Tout en continuant ses cours à l’ICA, Jean enseigne la pastorale catéchétique au grand séminaire. Il restera 21 ans à Nyumba.

Toujours à Nyumba, avec une équipe de collaborateurs, y compris des grands séminaristes, il rédigera un nouveau programme pour le catéchuménat des adultes et un autre pour les enfants, programme de quatre ans, avec des manuels pour les catéchistes, d’abord polycopiés, ensuite imprimés. Le manuel le plus original et le plus apprécié par l’Église locale est sans conteste ‘Mbise incuti’ (Je vous appelle mes amis.) Tous ces manuels sont évidemment en kinyarwanda et Jean se plaindra souvent de ne pas vraiment maîtriser cette langue. Ce handicap constitue sans doute une des causes de la fatigue nerveuse dont il souffrait régulièrement.

Il interrompt son séjour à Nyumba pour aller faire une licence en catéchèse et pastorale à Bruxelles, à l’Institut Lumen Vitae (1971-1972). De 1976 à 1978, il donnera chaque année des cours à Lumen Vitae (Bruxelles). En 1992, il publie une étude historique et pastorale “Le catéchuménat au Rwanda de 1?900 à nos jours” (244 pages).

Entre-temps, en décembre 1984, une sous-commission épiscopale pour la traduction de la Bible a été créée, modérée par Mgr Niyibizi, recteur du grand séminaire. Quand ce dernier mourra accidentellement, en février 1985, Jean le remplacera comme coordinateur. Bien qu’il regrette l’abandon de la traduction œcuménique, Jean se lance dans l’aventure avec un zèle renouvelé.

Mgr Vénuste Linguyeneza, qui avait fait partie de la commission, disait dans son homélie lors des funérailles : “Tout le monde reconnaît le mérite de Jean d’avoir donné à la commission un souffle nouveau, une méthode et une rigueur qui ont garanti à la fois efficacité et rapidité, sans bâcler le travail, au contraire, en produisant une œuvre de grande qualité en un temps quand même très court.” – “En bon chef d’équipe, il savait coordonner, répartir les tâches, conseiller, travailler lui-même en petits groupes ou avec les secrétaires, diriger les mises en commun, prendre les décisions définitives.” Entre-temps, Jean s’était adressé au Père André Pirmez de l’ICA pour l’initier à l’ordinateur, ce qui lui permit de mener à bien cet énorme travail en trois ans. La Bible sera éditée par Verbum Bible et imprimée en Espagne. Notons que, depuis mai 1988, Jean avait rejoint la Maison Lavigerie à Butare.

Quand, début 1990, la nouvelle Bible en kinyarwanda paraît (Bibliya Ntagatifu), Jean s’est déjà lancé dans un autre projet : il collabore avec Bernard et Louis Hurault à une nouvelle traduction de la Bible, populaire et pastorale (La Bible des Communautés Chrétiennes, parue en 1994). Il commence aussi à envisager fort sérieusement son retour définitif en Belgique, ce qu’il fit le 12 mai 1992.

Jean rejoint la communauté de la Katelijnevest à Bruges. Tout en faisant du ministère à gauche et à droite, il continuera à écrire et publier. En février 1998, le Conseil provincial lui demande de continuer les “feuilles vertes” du Père Jacques Casier (décédé en janvier 1998). Jean accepte de préparer quatre pages de commentaires bibliques pour chaque numéro de Nuntiuncula. Plus tard, en 2007, il en fera un livre : “Sur les sentiers de la Bible. 45 parcours à la rencontre du Dieu vivant…” (356 pages). Le 31 mai 2007, la Province décide de fermer notre maison de Bruges. Jean intègre alors la grande communauté de Varsenare. Il reste égal à lui-même, mais sa mémoire lui joue des tours et il en est conscient. De plus en plus perdu, il s’installe, en septembre 2012, dans la maison d’en face, à Avondrust (“Repos du soir”), où il s’est éteint doucement le 2 mars 2013.

Toute la vie de Jean était placée sous le signe de la Parole de Dieu. En 2001, il témoignait dans Nuntiuncula : “Durant toute ma vie active passée, le contact direct avec l’Évangile, prié, annoncé ou expliqué, tant en paroisse avec des gens simples que dans des écoles moyennes ou supérieures, a été la base de ma vie spirituelle.” Maintenant il contemple le Verbe dans sa gloire.

Jef Vleugels

PROFILES

Father Albert De Ryck

1926 - - 2012

Albert was born on the 26th September 1926 in Antwerp, Belgium. He was the fourth of five children. He received his primary and secondary education in St-John Berchmans College not far from his home. He was an enthusiastic sea scout. He entered the White Fathers in September 1944 as a ‘late vocation’ as he had not studied Latin.

When the V1 and V2 missiles began to fall on Antwerp, Albert continued his studies in Thy-le-Château. This was followed by two years of Philosophy in Boechout and a year’s novitiate in Varsenare (1947-1948). At that time the Society decided on a policy of internationalising its houses of formation and Albert was a member of the first group of Belgian students to go ‘foreign’. He was sent to Ottawa, Canada.

During his years of study, his Professors noted his practical intelligence, his common sense, and his gift for organisation. He was a realist, level-headed, methodical, patient, calm, not easily excited, reserved but always in good humour, ready to be of service, kind and friendly. The staff also noticed his drawing and photographic talents and that he was very interested in electricity and science. He was considered the best English speaker among the Belgians! Albert took his Missionary Oath on the 23rd June 1951 in Eastview, Ottawa and was ordained priest there on the 27th January 1952.

He was appointed to the Apos­tolic Vicariate of Lake Albert which was run by another native of Antwerp, Bishop Matthijsen, who asked him to study agronomy before coming to Africa. Albert graduated with a degree in Tropi­cal Agronomy from the University of Louvain in 1955. He boarded the plane for Bunia in the Congo on the 14th November 1955. Bishop Matthijsen was waiting for him and gave him a guided tour of the Vicariate showing him the different mission stations.

Albert spent some months in Drodro learning the local language, Kilendu. In August 1956, he was appointed Director of the Agricultural School of Pimbo. He succeeded Fr. Wim Van Hoef. At this time the school had only vocational school status and was not a full secondary school. There were about a 100 students from all over Ituri. Albert was helped by three Congolese Brothers. It was under his leadership that the school achieved full secondary school status becoming known as the “École Technique Secondaire Agricole.” The daily programme was divided into theoretical courses in the morning and practical work in the afternoon covering agriculture, horticulture and animal husbandry. Albert was the Director for 20 years. He was helped by a good number of confreres and other teachers coming from the Congo and Europe. He was also supported by the Belgian Development Cooperation.

In the meantime the Congo suffered a period of rebellion from September to December 1964 and Albert was imprisoned twice. The second time he was imprisoned in Fataki prison with 74 priests and religious: They were rescued by the mercenaries of Jacques Schramme and evacuated to Belgium. Albert did not speak much about this period. In 1974, President Mobutu nationalised all the schools. Albert wrote: “All the Directors of whom a big number were priests or religious had to be replaced overnight by Congolese personnel. For myself, I stayed at the school and I handed over the direction to Congolese teachers.”

Two years later, Mobutu handed back all the schools. For a number of years already the Catholic Schools were grouped in what was called a Schools Coordination Programme. It was organised at Diocesan level as well as the Ecclesiastical Provincial level. After the schools were returned, this structure had to be re-established and in November 1976, Fr. De Ryck was asked to be the Schools Coordinator of Bunia Diocese. Albert worked in this capacity with great success for about 10 years. The successor of Bishop Matthijsen, Bishop Ukec died in 1984 and he was succeeded by Bishop Dhejju. In January 1985, he put Albert in charge of the the social works of the Diocese including the development of health services

Albert had a disagreement with the Bishop on the subject of an appointment to Kisangani as Coordinator for Schools for the Ecclesiastical Province. Albert had to leave the Diocese of Bunia. He was named procurator in Kinshasa. On the 28th July 1987, he took up his post on the ‘11th Street’ in Limete, Kinshasa. He was responsible for getting official documents, visas, passports, plane tickets and for communications. He did the shopping for the dioceses in East Congo where we are working. This included not only Bunia and Mahagi but also the towns of Goma, Bukavu, Kalemie, Lubumbashi and Kason­go.

For some time Albert suffered from angina but the attacks never lasted long.
However in February 1999, Albert had to advance his home leave and the following month, he underwent a big heart bypass operation. This resulted in an appointment to Belgium to Keizerstraat in Antwerp. In 2001, he returned to Kinshasa to replace a confrere for two months but this short stay brought on a small brain haemorrhage which left one arm temporally paralysed and a definitive return to Belgium.

Albert continued to give a hand in the procure in Antwerp by keeping the books and he was also faithful to his duties as a receptionist. He was, as always, a friendly confrere ready to be of service and always in good humour. Every day he went walking in the city. At the end of 2010, when he was losing the power in his legs, he moved to the retirement home of the Sisters of Our Lady of Antwerp near to the Procure. He continued to go out in his motorised wheelchair and dropped in for a cup of coffee with the confreres of Keizerstraat.

Albert died peacefully on the 28th August 2012. The farewell liturgy took place on the 8th September in the Church of St. Laurent, his native parish in the presence of a big number of confreres.

Jef Vleugels

Faher Mathieu Nijs
1926 - - 2012

Mathieu, nicknamed “Thieu”, was born in Harmont in the Limburg Province of Belgium on the 23rd December 1926. He was one of six children, three boys and three girls. He spent one year in a Vocational School in Overpelt and after three years in secondary school at Neerpelt, he entered, as a ‘late vocation’, our seminary at Boechout (1948-1950). He did his novitiate in Varsenare followed by Theological studies in Heverlee.

He took his Missionary Oath on the 10th July 1954 and was ordained priest by Bishop Durrieu on the 10th April 1955. He was described as a good worker, faithful to the task, generous and obliging. He was good company in the community. He was of a very practical nature and felt equally at home in dealing with electricity, mechanics, agriculture and animal farming. In the scholasticate, he was “the right hand man of Bro. Laurent” who ran the farm and he was described as: “the bushman who was not afraid to get his anointed hands dirty”!

Mathieu did a six month course on colonial science before taking the Sobelair flight, on the 5th April 1956, for Bukavu en route to the Diocese of Goma. He spent some months in Jomba before being appointed as curate with responsibility for schools in the Parish of Nyakariba. Two years later, he was back in Jomba followed by service in Matanda. In 1960, he was the founding Parish priest of Mweso Parish. He wrote: “After Independence, there was no question of building and we had to organise everything in the open. A small roof over a shack for drying coffee was the sole protection against the elements and this was where we celebrated the Eucharist. In the outstations there was not even a small church or chapel.”

At the beginning of 1965, he began to lose his voice and this was to affect him for the rest of his life. He consulted specialists in Belgium but they could find no damage to his vocal chords and talked of tiredness and stress. From then on he could not project his voice. The result was that Thieu never again presided at a service either in the parish or community. In May 1966, he returned to Goma when he worked as an Assistant Inspector of schools. In July 1969, he was handed a completely different job and to which he was able to devote himself completely.

He began by following a training course in offset printing in a printing press in the city of Halle. In May 1970, he set up the Kivu Press in Bukavu. He had an empty shed; the Archdiocese owned a property in the Industrial zone of the city, and as it was written in ‘Karibu’ later: “two reams of paper under my arms.” He transformed it, progressively, into a large enterprise whose publications spread well beyond the borders of the Archdiocese.

He had gifted fingers and was able to repair all the broken down machinery. The intention of the Episcopal Conference was to print books on catechism and liturgy. It was a period when Frs. Diacre, Cooreman and Cuppens published a lot. Kivu-Press was also editing ‘HODI’ the precursor of the present day ‘Karibu’.

A confrere testified about Mathieu: “He is a very pleasant confrere and a mechanical genius. His work at Kivu-Press allowed us to flood the Eastern part of the Congo with innumerable publications, catechisms, prayer books, hymn books, lectionaries and grammars. He gave work to many fathers of families and trained them as competent technicians.”

Mathieu left Kivu-Presse in June 1984. He was warmly thanked by the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical province of Kivu. The White Fathers, thanks to him, handed over an efficient and profitable venture.

In December 1985, Mathieu returned to Goma after a sabbatical year in Belgium. He was appointed to the Parish of the Holy Spirit. Later on, in January 1988, he moved to Maison Lavigerie. He collaborated with the Volcans Printing Press and began to specialise in Information Technology because computers were becoming more and more common. He introduced into all White Fathers’ posts an original system of bookkeeping. Local clergy and confreres depended on him for repair work. Little by little, he became the big expert in computers for the whole region. In November 2000, he moved to the Provincial House (Maison Charles Lwanga) to keep the books. After his holiday in 2003, he was put in charge of what was called “technical services”.

After his annual retreat in 2007, he wrote to the Belgian Provincial:” I am now 81 years old. I am aware that at this age health can fail very quickly. I do not want my confreres to be put in a situation where they are faced with an urgent medical evacuation. Consequently, I am asking for a little place in Belgium.” On the 21st May 2008, Mathieu returned to Belgium for good. He was appointed to our community in Genk where he was able to spend a number of peaceful years.

On Monday 8th October 2012, Mathieu died peacefully in our community in Genk after a couple of weeks of palliative care. The Farewell liturgy took place on Saturday 13th October in the Church of St. Laurent in Harmont, his native village. He was buried afterwards in our cemetery in Varsenare.

Jef Vleugels

Brother Denis Bellegarde

1931 - - 2013

Brother Denis Bellegarde (Bro. Raynald) was born on the 10th June 1931 in St-Prosper de Beauce-Sud in the Archdiocese of Quebec, Canada. He was the next to last child in a family of 11 children, five girls and six boys. He did his primary schooling and the first four years of secondary school in the convent of the Bon-Pasteur situated in his native parish. He wanted to become a primary school teacher. Then he worked for a number of years in the house helping his parents. From 1950 to 1954, he taught in a rural primary school being in charge of classes 1 to 6.

In 1954, at the age of 23 years, Denis asked to be admitted to the Brothers’ postulancy of the White Fathers in Pont-de-Québec. He was accepted and, after some months, he began the Brothers’ novitiate in St. Martin, near Montreal.

At the end of the two years novitiate, he took his first Missionary Oath on the 26th January 1957. The members of staff were very pleased with him and noted his many aptitudes especially in teaching and administration. His talent for music and singing was noted and these were to serve him well later on in liturgical celebrations.

At the beginning of 1957, he went to Lennoxville which was, at the time, the Scholasticate for the Brothers. For two years he followed courses in various trades with the other Brothers. From 1959 to 1962, he continued his studies in the Technology Institute of Sherbrooke. He passed with honours his Diploma in Technical Studies specialising in Woodwork and Industrial Design. He also added some night courses as a fitter and motor mechanic. During this period, he took his Oath for three years in February 1960.

In August 1962, he left for Burundi. He taught at the Teachers Training College in Rotovu for four years preparing primary school teachers. He taught English and Mathematics. As he was only beginning and he had many courses, he felt a bit overwhelmed and this put him under stress. When the time came to take his Final Oath, he hesitated and postponed it but did not confide in anybody. A couple of months later after talking with the Regional, he took his Perpetual Oath on Christmas Day 1963 in the presence of Cardinal Leger who was visiting Burundi with the Provincial of Canada. It was a big feast which Denis liked to reminisce about from time to time.

In 1966, he returned to Canada for his regular home leave. He wanted to return to Rutovu but was asked to stay on in Canada to obtain his Teacher’s Diploma. He was appointed as an instructor in the Brothers’ postulancy in Lennoxville. The following year he began his studies in the University of Sherbrooke. He graduated in 1971 with his Licentiate in Education specialising in Science (Chemistry).

In September 1971, he returned to Burundi where he was awaited with impatience. He was asked to teach at the Junior Seminary of Burasira which received students for the three last years of secondary schooling. He taught Mathematics and Chemistry. Again the beginning was difficult as he had to spend a lot of time preparing his classes. He was to spend 14 years there while taking his regular holidays and a sabbatical year in 1981. As he got further experience, he developed into a very fine teacher. He was also an excellent educator much loved by his students.

In 1985, he returned to Canada. The last few years in Burundi had been difficult and he suffered from internal stress despite his professional success as a teacher. He asked not to return to Burundi which greatly disappointed many who were waiting for him.

In the course of the next few years, he worked in different houses of the Province. He took on many different jobs: bursar, assistant Superior, in charge of burseries and annuities, responsible for African Documentation, Provin­cial Councillor, receptionist, and liturgist. He was a man of all trades, competent but all these functions stressed him and caused him anxiety. He was too good and could not refuse anybody. Everything seemed to be easy but that was not the case.

Already in 1982, he had explained his internal problems to his Superiors: “I should point out that there is a dominant trait in my character which is a great sensitivity along with big dose of shyness. I think that a lot of my worries, fears, hesitations, anxieties or any other problems come from this character trait to which I have not paid adequate attention in the past. He confessed that he had sought help during his sabbatical year in order to get some insight on these internal pressures. One can understand why over the course of his missionary life, he asked to be changed very often.

In November, 2010, he arrived in our Lennoxville Retirement House in Sherbrooke. He was sick, weak and depressed. He did not show it much exteriorly. In the months that followed, the doctors found a deficiency in the red and white corpuscles of his blood. The specialist who was treating him was able to improve the situation by giving him injections; however, in the end, even blood transfusions were necessary.

In February 2013, his illness was getting very obvious. He was brought to Sherbrooke Hospital. People were saying it was leukaemia. He died on the 15th February 2013 in the hospital. His funeral was celebrated on the 22nd February in our chapel in Lennoxville in the presence of his body. Afterward, his body was cremated and the ashes were buried in the Missionaries of Africa plot in the Cemetery of St-Antoine de Lennoxville.

Fr. Jean-Paul Laflamme gave the homily at the funeral. Here are a few extracts from what he said: “I remember Denis as a missionary confrere who was generous with his time and with his person...He was not one to complain... he was a man of prayer, he tried to live the beatitudes at their deepest level... One can then understand that his moments of solitude and his long walks in nature were for him a source of renewal and contemplation.”

Lauréat Belley

Father Sjef Donders
1929 - - 2013

Sjef was born in Tilburg, The Netherlands on the 11th March 1929. In view of becoming a missionary, he received his formation in Sterksel, ‘s-Heerenberg, where he took the Missionary Oath on the 24th July 1956, and Monteviot. He was ordained in the Parish of Galashiels, Scotland on the 16th May 1957.
Sjef had a sound judgment and a quick reaction. He enjoyed intellectual work, read much, and wrote a lot. He had the gift of explaining things in clear language, and had a creative mind which put original questions and got original answers. He was interested in others, ready to be of service, and to strike up a conversation. He knew what he wanted and went for it. His brother Paul is our confrere, another brother is a Franciscan.

In the autumn of 1957, he went to study Philosophy at the Gregorian University in Rome. He started with a thesis on Teilhard de Chardin, but, in May 1959, the authorities let him know that it was “inopportune”! In June 1960, he went to teach in our Philosophy House in Esch near Boxtel and later in Tilburg. At the same time, he followed a course in journalism, started to publish and give interviews for radio and TV. In 1966, he was elected to the Provincial Council and went to the General Chapter as delegate for The Netherlands in 1967.

On the 2nd April 1970, he took up an appointment in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies in the University of Nairobi, also giving courses in the St. Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, which was expanding as the following year they were expecting 104 first year students! A year later, he became a member of the National Commission for Religious Education. He also gave radio interviews, led retreats and, on average, three talks a week to other organisations. Sjef commented: “I am quite busy, but I have still time for my hobbies”.

Midway through 1971, he became Acting Head of the Department. His living quarters extended too. By the end of 1972, he had 13 rooms and offices! In March 1973, the Opus Dei priests left the chaplaincy of the university and Sjef was appointed to lead the pastoral team for the Catholic community of 780 students, 10 staff members, and 1800 employees and neighbours. He put his heart into it and his homilies were very much appreciated, so much so that in September they had to buy 200 additional chairs. Many students came for a chat. Together with a Kenyan staff member he launched the first East African Journal for Philosophy “Practice and Thought”.

On 23rd May 1974, he was appointed Professor, and Head of the Department. He wrote in July 1975: “The work both at the university and as a chaplain is surprisingly interesting. The Sunday liturgy is almost completely organised by the students, and is regularly on the radio”. One service was led by the choir and band of the street children of our confrere Arnold Grol (+ 1979) and was broadcast by Radio Kenya and recorded by Canadian TV.

Sjef was usually running several things simultaneously and he sighed in 1977: “I sometimes regret that one has only one life”! That year he got involved with refugees from Uganda, Ethiopia, South Africa and Mozambique. Together with university students, he helped 12 young people; 4 in a house, 4 in his chaplaincy, and 4 in boarding schools. “I hope this is a practical application to all those sermons in the chapel”. He also gave conferences outside: for Heads of Secondary Schools, Philosophy Clubs, Theology Clubs, a meeting of Methodists, the National Council of Churches, a Prison Staff Training Course, 15 young priests, etc.

In July 1980, a Kenyan became Head of the Department, and Sjef still gave three lectures a week while becoming a full time chaplain. His first students were now his colleagues.

On the 1st March 1984, Sjef moved to Washington becoming the director of Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), of which the White Fathers were the co-founders. It is a service organised by all missionary congregations living and working in Africa, which had, in 1984, more than 10.000 missionaries there. Someone characterised him at that time: “I believe you have a talent to spot the developments in Africa. You have sensitivity to and the positive appreciation for the thinking and ambitions of Africans. And you have the flair to get the needed attention”. He also gave conferences and courses in the Washington Faculty of the Theological Union. But his dream was to try out in a parish in The Netherlands what he had learned as a chaplain in Kenya.

In 1988, he did not renew his contract with the AFJN and but continued to teach Missiology at the Washington Faculty of the Theological Union. As this was only part time, he could give talks and courses all over the USA, and also in Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. He kept publishing too, and he wrote in February 2004: “As a retired man, I lead quite an interesting life”.

He was in Australia in November 2004 and returned there, from the beginning of May to the end of June 2008. He was there as a resource person and to prepare, with some 30 others, the visit of the Pope to the country and for the World Youth Day. 30.000 young people were expected from abroad

His hobbies were to meet people, to read, and to prepare conferences. As a philosopher he kept searching for wisdom for himself and to pass it on to others. On the 1st December 2010, he left Washington and retired to Dongen in The Netherlands. In August 2012, he moved to St.Charles in Heythuysen. The most difficult change in his way of life was no doubt accepting his age and no longer being active. Both in Dongen and in Heythuysen he was happy and grateful in community life and for the care provided.

Sjef died on the 7th March 2013, a couple of days after a serious operation in the University Hospital of Maastricht. With his relatives and confreres we held his funeral in St.Charles, Heythuysen and buried him in our cemetery there on the 13rd March 2013.

Marien van den Eijnden

To see also

 

Father Edmond Thiry

1925 - - 2013

Edmond was born on the 25th April 1925 in Saint-Servais, a suburb of Namur, Belgium. He came from a large Christian family. His father owned a small building supplies company. He did his primary schooling with the Marist Brothers in Saint-Servais and for secondary school, he went to the College Notre Dame de la Paix in Namur run by the Jesuits. In September 1942, he entered the White Fathers in Thy-le-Chateau.

He did his novitiate in Varsenare and his Theological studies in Heverlee. He took his Missionary Oath on the 28th March 1948. He was ordained priest on the 18th April 1949. In 1951 he obtained a Diploma in Teaching from the Teachers Training College of St. Thomas in Brussels. His professors described Edmond as an ordinary person, open and frank, always in good humour, and ready to be of service, full of life and very active. They also noted that he was a bit of a bushman and not very tidy. He had a fertile imagination and was a born caricaturist.

Edmond was appointed to the Lake Albert (Ituri) region and he left on the 24th September 1951. He was immediately appointed as the Director of the Teachers Training College of Vieux-Kilo. He held this post for 24 years. He allocated to himself 30 hours of teaching per week and supervised the practical training of the students never hesitating to go to the smallest village in the bush for this purpose. He developed his school both from the quality of its buildings and the quality of its teaching. It eventually became known as the Institut Pédagogique de Kilo. The fact that he never worked in a parish did not prevent him from learning Swahili very well. In 1956, the Regional noted that he was developing an interest in Ethnology. In 1963, he wrote his first article on the Bahema in a Tervuren Museum publication. (“On the history of the tribes of Ituri and their migrations which has interested me for a long time”). His presence was only interrupted by the usual home leaves and an enforced absence during the Simba rebellion from December 1964 to June 1965.

In September 1975, we find Edmond in Thy-le-Chateau as Superior. But it was not for very long as he was appointed as Regional of Ituri, residing in the Nyakasanza area of Bunia. He completed two terms and participated in the plenary council of 1977 and the Chapter of 1980. He had very clear and definite ideas on the mission and the role of missionaries. He insisted a lot on the necessity for missionaries to study the history of the people among whom they were working. He did not hide his opinions and was quick to respond to articles appearing in, for example, the Petit Echo. His confreres appreciated his discretion and attentiveness as Superior but felt he was a bit slow to take certain decisions.

In July 1982, Edmond spent some months in Gety before leaving on holiday and to do the Jerusalem Session/Retreat. He returned to the Congo at the end of January 1984 and he was appointed to the Parish of Badiya where he was able to devote himself to Ethnological research. He wrote two manuals sketching out the ideas that appeared in his later publications (“Les Hema Banya-ndama du Bas-Shari” and “Les Hema Bagombe du Shari”).

In January 1988, he returned to Nyakasanza as Professor in the Institut de Sciences Religieuses (ISR). All his free time was consecrated on his scientific research and fieldwork. In 1996, the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren published his masterpiece: “Une introduction à l’ethnohistoire des Hema du Sud, Haut Zaïre” (321 pages). He continued to work at the ISR until he returned for good to Belgium at the end of 2004. This was also the year of the publication by the Tervuren Museum of his study of the Northern Hema which is a less developed work than his previous one. It should also be noted that his long residence at the ISR was interrupted by his evacuation during the troubles arising from the conquest of the country by the ASDL of Laurent-Desiré Kabila and his Rwandese allies.

At the end of 2004, he returned definitively to Belgium and took up residence in Namur-Laplante. He was tired and suffering seriously from diabetes which had affected him for a number of years. He did not ease up for all that. He read a lot, responded to articles and kept up a continuous correspondence with the Provincial on Missionary Identity! In 2005, he took part in the Session for over 70s in Rome. He wrote an article “On Missionary ‘specificity”. In January 2009, he composed a reflection in view of the 2010 Chapter entitled: “Ce qu’est le missionnaire”. His final complaint was addressed to the editor of the Petit Echo dated 30th May 2012. He never lost his flair, always the same indignation, and the same fire.

In September 2012, Edmond was admitted to the Nursing Home of St. Anne close to the confreres of Salzinnes. For a long time he had wanted to put into writing his ideas on the Belgian language question as he had experienced it in the White Fathers. He was able to complete a part of it and it was complimented by notes taken by a confrere when he was already very sick. We have published these reflections posthumously. His state of health did not improve and he had many stays in hospital. The last occasion was on the 19th January 2013 when he was transferred to the Emergency department of the hospital. He died the following day, the 20th January 2013. The Farewell Eucharist took place on the 23rd January 2013 in his home parish of Sainte-Croix in Saint-Servais followed by burial the following day in our cemetery in Varsenare.

Jef Vleugels

 

Father Jean van der Meersch

1925 - - 2013

Jean was born in Bruges, in Belgium, on the 11th May 1925. He came from a large and well off family. His father was a lawyer. He finished his secondary schooling in St-Louis’ College in 1943 and entered the White Fathers in September of the same year. He then studied Philosophy in Boechout, did his novitiate in Varsenare followed by Theolo­gical studies in Heverlee with a short stay in Marienthal (1947-1948). He took his Missionary Oath on the 21st July, 1949 and was ordained priest on the 8th April 1950.

Among the comments made by his teachers was that he was friendly and discrete, had a good sense of humour, was energetic, generous and intelligent. “He speaks and writes very well and will certainly be an excellent teacher.” From 1950 to 1953, he studied in Rome and obtained a Licence in Theology from the Gregorian University and a Licence in Biblical Studies from the Biblical Institute. His first appointment was to teach the Bible and Catechetics at Heverlee. In July 1958, he was appointed to Carthage for the same work.

Jean was appointed to Rwanda and arrived in Rwaza, in the Diocese of Ruhengeri, on the 1st September 1962 and began parish life. In January 1963, he began a language course at Nyanza after which he returned to Rwaza. In July 1964, he was appointed to the Pastoral Centre for Liturgy and Catechetics and teacher in the Institute of African Catechetics (ICA) in Butare. In August 1967, he joined the parish community of Nyumba where Fr. Herve Lunden had founded a Catechists school near the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Nyakibanda. While continuing to give courses at ICA, Jean taught Pastoral Catechetics in the Major Seminary. He was to stay in Nyumba for 21 years.

While he was in Nyumba, he drew up a new programme for the catechumenate for adults and another one for children. He had many collaborators including the major seminarians. The course covered four years and had a manual for catechists, initially polycopied and then printed. The most original and most appreciated of the manuals was, by far, the one called ‘Mbisi incuti’ (I call you my friends). All these manuals were in Kinyarwanda and Jean often complained that he never had a good grasp of the language. This handicap was, no doubt, one of the reasons why he suffered from regular periods of nervous fatigue.
He interrupted his sojourn at Nyumba to do a Licence in Catechism and Pastoral Work at the Lumen Vitae Institute (1971-1972). From 1976 to 1978, he gave regular courses at Lumen Vitae. He published a historical book on pastoral work entitled: “Le catéchuménat au Rwanda de 1900 à nos jours” (244 pages) in 1992.

Meanwhile, a sub-commission of the Episcopal Conference for the translation of the Bible was created in December 1984. Its chairman was Mgr. Niyibizi, the rector of the Major Seminary. When he was accidently killed in a car accident in February 1985, Jean replaced him as the coordinator. Jean regretted the abandoning of the ecumenical translation but nevertheless launched himself into the new adventure with renewed zeal.

Mgr. Venuste Linguyeneza, who was part of the commission, said in his homily at Jean’s funeral: “Everyone recognises that Jean was a breath of fresh air for the commission. He gave it a method and thoroughness which guaranteed efficiency and speed without sacrificing the quality of the work. In fact, it produced a work of rare quality in a very short time. – “He was a good team leader who knew how to coordinate, and share out the work. He worked, himself, in small groups and with the secretaries. He directed the coordination of the texts and took the final decisions.” During this time, Jean asked Fr. André Pirmez of the ICA to teach him something about computers which allowed him to successfully complete this enormous work in three years. The Bible was published by Verbum Bible and printed in Spain. In the meantime Jean had been living in Maison Lavigerie in Butare since 1988.

When, at the beginning of 1990, the new Bible in Kinyarwan­da appeared (Bibliya Ntagitifu), Jean had already launched himself into a new project; he was collaborating with Bernard and Louis Hurault on a new translation of the Bible (La Bible des communautés chrétiennes, published in 1994). It was more pastorally oriented and easy to read. He also began to think seriously about returning home for good, which he did in May 1992.

Jean joined the community of Katelijnevest in Bruges. He was still very active in ministry and also continued to write and publish. In February 1998, the Provincial Council asked him to continue the series of Green Pages written by Jacques Casier who had died in January 1998. Jean agreed to prepare four pages of biblical commentary for each edition of Nuntiuncula, the Belgian link. Later on, in 2007, he published them in book form; “Sur les sentiers de la Bible. 45 parcours à la rencontre du Dieu vivant…” (356 pages). On the 31st May 2007, Bruges closed and Jean went to Varsenare. He was still true to himself but he was aware that his memory was playing him tricks. He gradually got more and more lost and in September 2012, he moved to nearby Avondrust where he died peacefully on the 2nd March 2013.

All his life Jean lived under the sign of the Word of God. In 2001, he wrote in Nuntiuncula: “During all my active life, the direct contact with the Gospel, prayed, proclaimed, or explained either in a parish with simple people or in schools and training colleges has been the foundation of my spiritual life” Now he contemplates the Word in all His glory.

Jef Vleugels