Jan, nous l’appelions Bob, naît à Rotterdam le 2 décembre 1917. Il reçoit sa formation en vue de devenir missionnaire à Sterksel, St-Charles, près de Boxtel et s-Heerenberg. Il y prononce son Serment missionnaire le 22 mai 1947 et y est ordonné le 11 avril 1948 par Mgr Durrieu, notre Supérieur général, qui était en Hollande pour le jubilé d’or du Père Antoon Kersten.

Bob a étudié dans une école secondaire de commerce et a suivi un cours de comptabilité. Lors de son service militaire, il choisit l’artillerie montée, désireux de faire partie de la cavalerie. Il travaille une année au département comptable de BATA, fabrique de chaussures à Best, près d’Eindhoven, et il est appelé à la mobilisation en août 1939. Après la capitulation en mai 1940, il retourne travailler chez Bata. Ayant décidé de devenir Missionnaire d’Afrique, il commence à prendre des cours privés de latin. Avril 1941, il les continue dans notre petit séminaire de Sterksel et il commence à étudier la philosophie en septembre. Bob a 23 ans. À la fin des cours de philosophie, en août 1943, il a la peur de sa vie quand il est convoqué pour être envoyé comme prisonnier de guerre en Allemagne. À l’inspection, il apprend, rassuré, qu’il est libre.

Bob a un caractère résolu, travailleur et maître de lui. Il est toujours prêt à rendre service, non prétentieux ; il a un optimisme invétéré et largement ouvert. Il a un cœur d’or, voyant seulement le bon côté des personnes, parfois trop. Pendant sa formation, on lui conseille de prendre davantage d’assurance. Il est apprécié des confrères. Il joue du piano avec talent. Il est doué pour les langues. À la Maison généralice, il étudie l’italien, et l’espagnol quand il est à Den Bosch. Après son ordination et avant de partir en Afrique, il suit une formation dans un hôpital pour donner des injections et arracher les dents.

Il part au Mali en mars 1949 et travaille dans les paroisses de Kayes, Kakoulou et Guéné-Goré, la dernière étant grande comme la moitié de la Hollande ! Les confrères tiennent un dispensaire qui les occupe pratiquement toute la matinée, une école, et font des visites régulières de deux semaines chez des montagnards qui les reçoivent bien. La formation des catéchistes est la priorité.

Dans plusieurs lettres de Bob, nous lisons : “La vie est belle !” Il doit s’habituer à des températures de 47 degrés à l’ombre. Toute la population est pratiquement orientée vers l’islam. Bob est très apprécié. Un catéchiste demande au Supérieur régional d’obtenir davantage de missionnaires comme lui !

Souffrant de malaria, il retourne en Hollande en 1956 où il est nommé à la procure de Rotterdam en avril 1957. Il étudie ensuite l’histoire de l’Église à l’université de Nimègue dès août 1958, et pour un an. Par après, il enseigne cette matière au premier cycle, dont il est le Recteur, à Esch près de Boxtel. En juillet 1961, il devient Supérieur de la communauté de la procure de Boxtel. Il réalise de nombreuses consultations et réussit, généralement, à satisfaire chacun ; cependant, il lui est parfois difficile de prendre une décision.

Il retourne à Kayes en novembre 1965. La paroisse est aussi vaste que celle de Guéné-Goré et il passe chaque semaine trois ou quatre jours à visiter des communautés villageoises. La température atteint parfois 45 degrés et oblige à dormir dehors, sur la terrasse. Son Supérieur régional écrit : “Bob a de bonnes relations avec chacun. Il réussit dans son travail, sans histoires, au service de l’annonce de l’Évangile. Il a des problèmes de dos sans doute dus à sa jeep Willis qu’il continue à conduire de toute façon.” Il est assistant régional à Bamako, de mars 1972 à juillet 1976. Une priorité pour lui et le régional est : “Comment aider nos confrères à revenir à la méditation quotidienne ?”

Il devient supérieur de la communauté du Généralat en janvier 1977. Il est aussi en contact avec la communauté San Egidio. Il retourne au Mali en juillet 1981. Après deux mois au centre de langue pour rafraîchir sa connaissance de la langue bambara, il recommence à Kayes. Son service consiste à visiter les familles, les malades et prisonniers, à porter une attention pastorale à la police et aux militaires, à s’occuper de la formation des candidats au baptême, parmi lesquels quelques soldats et étudiants des dernières classes de l’école secondaire gouvernementale. Le coordinateur est un prêtre diocésain du Mali ; un confrère espagnol réalise la pastorale générale, avec une attention particulière pour les jeunes de l’école primaire ; un confrère suisse travaille à la pastorale auprès des étudiants et des jeunes travailleurs. Cela représente une équipe internationale dirigée par l’Église locale ; c’est bien une caractéristique de notre Société. Il y a aussi un volontaire néerlandais cherchant de l’eau en creusant des puits.

À l’occasion de ses 65 ans, le 2 décembre 1982, il écrit que, dû à une grande fatigue, il part dans une paroisse plus tranquille, Kita. Il y prend soin de la distribution quotidienne d’Afrique Nouvelle, réalise des contacts utiles avec des musulmans travaillant pour le gouvernement et dans les affaires, et célèbre l’Eucharistie dans des maisons de personnes âgées et malades. Le Supérieur régional est frappé par son style relax de relations, sa joie de vivre, son ouverture à de nouvelles formes de prières et d’échanges sur des sujets importants et engageants.

Il retourne pour de bon en Hollande en mars 1986, avec ces mots : “Après une splendide vie en Afrique !” Durant cette période, il enseigne le néerlandais à des migrants et les assiste comme interprète lors de jugements. En 1996, à deux reprises il remplace, pendant trois mois, l’animateur des pèlerins à notre basilique de Jérusalem. Il y rencontre des groupes du monde entier, principalement des USA, Corée, Allemagne et quelques-uns d’Indonésie. Lors de son jubilé d’or, en avril 1998, il dit : “J’ai eu une vie splendide !”

Il se retire dans notre communauté de Tilburg en août 1997, puis à Heythuysen en juillet 2002. Il est charmant en communauté, un vrai gentleman ; il aime marcher et faire de la bicyclette, apprécie son cigare presque jusqu’au dernier jour. En 2010, la marche lui devient plus difficile et il commence à perdre la mémoire. Le 26 octobre, il tombe dans sa chambre à coucher ; scanners et rayons-x ne signalent rien de cassé, seulement des contusions. Il retourne à la maison et décède paisiblement le 29 octobre à l’âge de 94 ans.

Ensemble avec les membres de sa famille, nous l’avons enterré dans notre cimetière d’Heythuy­sen le 2 novembre 2011. Louis Melis, qui l’avait accompagné attentivement, a présidé la célébration. Il a comparé la vocation de Bob à celle des apôtres, appelés à l’âge adulte à communiquer le message de Jésus comme missionnaires. Bob a offert un nombre impressionnant de services, en de bons ou difficiles moments. Selon lui, il n’y était pour rien. Tout venait de l’appel de Dieu.

Textes choisis par Bob :
“Seigneur, tu sais tout ; tu sais que je t’aime.” (Jean 21, 17)
“Avec patience et joie, toujours rendant grâce à Dieu pour toute chose.” (Col 1, 11-12)

Marien van den Eijnden

Père Laval Couture

1922 - - 2011

Le Père Laval Couture est né le 17 septembre 1922 à Charny dans l’archidiocèse de Québec, dans une famille jouissant d’une bonne réputation. Il fait ses études primaires à l’école Notre-Dame de Charny. Il fait ses humanités ainsi que ses 2 années de philosophie au séminaire du Sacré-Cœur de St-Victor de Beauce.

En septembre 1946, il commence son postulat chez les Pères Blancs à Éverell, près de Québec. Durant cette année, il a été apprécié, se montrant un bon travailleur. Un peu méticuleux cependant, avec une tendance à la contention et à la susceptibilité. On lui demande de développer la simplicité. L’année suivante, il est au noviciat St-Martin. En septembre 1948, il commence ses 4 années de théologie au scolasticat d’Eastview, près d’Ottawa. C’est là qu’il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 23 juin 1951, et qu’il est ordonné prêtre le 27 janvier 1952 par Mgr Vachon, archevêque d’Ottawa. Ses formateurs estiment qu’il a fait un bon scolasticat. Ils l’ont aidé à être plus souple, à être moins catégorique et tranchant dans ses jugements, et moins sévère à l’égard d’autrui. Il a fait des progrès, mais il est conscient qu’il lui reste encore beaucoup à faire.

Après un stage en Angleterre, au début de 1953, il arrive au Malawi actuel, dans le vicariat apostolique de Likuni. Il travaille successivement dans les paroisses de Nambuma, Ludzi, Nambuma, Mlale. Après avoir appris la langue, il est vicaire et s’occupe des écoles dans ces paroisses. Durant cette période de 6 ans, il a des difficultés avec ses confrères et les gens. Il manque de maîtrise de soi dans ses rapports avec eux. Par ailleurs, il est dévoué, intéressé à l’apostolat et aux mouvements d’action catholique.

En juillet 1960, après un bon congé, il revient dans le même secteur qui porte maintenant le nom de diocèse de Lilongwe. Il va encore être vicaire et s’occuper des écoles dans les paroisses de Chiphaso, Nathenje, Salima, Ntengo wa Nthenga, Mlale. Encore là, il est dévoué mais collabore peu. Devant tant de situations pénibles et stressantes, il prend la décision de rentrer définitivement au Canada en mai 1972. Il avoue à son Supérieur régional qu’il ne se sent pas à l’aise dans son travail et dans ses relations. “C’est une sage décision”, lui répond son Supérieur, “car on voit bien que tu n’es pas complètement heureux.”

En arrivant au Canada, il passe quelques mois à la procure de Québec, avant de partir pour la procure de St-Boniface, dans l’ouest du Canada. Il aide à l’animation missionnaire, mais il fait surtout du ministère dans les paroisses environnantes. Cela va durer 3 ans. À la fin de 1975, on offre au Père Couture d’aller en Zambie pour être économe à la maison d’accueil des Pères Blancs à Lusaka. Il arrive à Lusaka en avril 1976. À la fin de 1977, il laisse ce travail et retourne de lui-même au Canada. En apprenant cette nouvelle, le Père provincial du Canada lui écrit : “Je tiens à te souhaiter la bienvenue au Canada. Ensemble nous chercherons à comprendre le cheminement que le Seigneur veut te faire faire à travers les évènements qui semblent te bousculer. Je suis persuadé que tous ces changements aboutiront à du positif pour toi et pour ceux que tu veux servir.”

Au Canada, il retourne à la procure de Québec, puis s’engage comme membre d’une équipe pastorale à la paroisse de l’Ancienne-Lorette de Québec. En janvier 1980, il est aux USA, à la procure de Los-Angeles. Il s’engage surtout en paroisse, tout en étant rattaché à la communauté de cette procure. À la fin de 1983, il demande de retourner au Canada. Il s’installe à la procure de Québec pour aider et faire du ministère.

Cela va durer 6 ans. À la fin de 1990, il est encore aux USA, dans le diocèse de “Little Rock”, en Arkansas, pour du ministère en paroisse. Mais à cause de conflits de personnalité entre lui et certains membres de la paroisse, il démissionne et revient à Québec en 1993. Avec l’âge, il reconnaît qu’il a plus de difficulté à fonctionner avec les autres, et cela lui pèse beaucoup. Il prend alors sa retraite.

Laval va demeurer une quinzaine d’années à la procure de Québec. Il prend de plus en plus conscience que les difficultés qu’il a vécues partout où il a été dépendent surtout de lui. Il en souffre beaucoup. Il n’arrive pas toujours à se dominer, malgré sa bonne volonté. Surtout qu’en vieillissant, ses capacités de résistance diminuent. Durant les dernières années, la fébrilité de sa personne et sa santé qui diminue rendent difficile de le garder dans cette procure.

En août 2007, il est transféré à notre maison de repos de Lennoxville où il sera mieux encadré médicalement et plus en sécurité. Mais après quelques mois, la situation devient intolérable. Il faut donc lui trouver une maison plus adaptée à sa condition. Comme les membres de sa famille expriment le désir de le voir placé dans un centre plus près d’eux pour lui rendre visite, on lui trouve une place au Pavillon Beau­séjour de St-Romuald, près de Charny, lieu de sa naissance. Il y est transféré en janvier 2008. L’année suivante, il est au Centre de santé Paul-Gilbert, à Charny même. C’est là qu’il est décédé le 2 novembre 2011.

Les funérailles ont eu lieu le 8 novembre en l’église Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens de Québec, suivies de l’inhumation au cimetière Belmont dans le lot des Missionnaires d’Afrique. Le Père Jean-Marc Lindzay a prononcé l’homélie des funérailles. En voici quelques extraits : “Le Père Couture s’est révélé un fervent prêtre du Seigneur, engagé généreusement à son service. Sa vie missionnaire, que ce soit en Afrique, au Canada ou aux USA, a révélé chez lui une vie vécue dans la fidélité au Seigneur et dans un esprit de prière…

Au cours des dernières années de sa vie, vécues dans la maladie, ses convictions lui ont fait traverser avec sérénité les turbulences de la vie et les souffrances, cela dans l’accompagnement d’une prière missionnaire. Nous prions le Seigneur de lui accorder sa miséricorde, en récompense de sa vie toute consacrée à son service pour l’avènement de son Règne.”

Lauréat Belley

Père Denis Bernardin

1930 - - 2011

Le Père Denis Bernardin est né le 22 septembre 1930 dans la paroisse d’Élie, du diocèse de Winnipeg, dans la Province du Manitoba de l’Ouest canadien. Élie est un petit village, non loin de Winnipeg, fondé par son arrière-grand-père, Élie Dufresne. Son père est fermier, puis ouvrier. Sa mère est enseignante. Leur mariage a donné naissance à 12 enfants. Denis est le neuvième. Il fait ses études primaires au couvent du village. Pour ses études secondaires, il est au collège de Saint-Boniface, tenu par les Jésuites.

Les Pères Blancs avaient une procure à côté du collège de Saint-Boniface. Denis a donc eu très vite des contacts avec les Pères qui l’ont informé et sensibilisé aux besoins de l’Afrique. C’est ainsi qu’au mois d’août 1953, il est au noviciat des Missionnaires d’Afrique à St-Martin, dans l’archidiocèse de Montréal.

L’année suivante, il est au scolasticat d’Eastview, près d’Ottawa, pour ses 4 années de théologie. Durant ces années, il travaille sérieusement à sa formation missionnaire. Il se montre un confrère doué humainement, plutôt original, équipé d’une volonté ardente, et d’un grand esprit de foi et d’amour. On lui conseille de développer le sens communautaire, afin de ne pas imposer aux autres ses façons de faire. Il a un très bon cœur et aime rendre service. Il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 22 juin 1957. Il est ordonné prêtre le 8 février 1958 dans la cathédrale de Winnipeg.

Après un stage en Angleterre, en décembre 1958, il arrive en Zambie, dans le diocèse d’Aber­corn, qui deviendra, 2 ans plus tard, le diocèse de Mbala. Toute sa vie missionnaire en Afrique va se passer dans ce diocèse qui changera encore de nom pour celui de Mpika. À la paroisse de Kayambi, il apprend la langue et les coutumes, tout en remplissant la charge de vicaire. Après 2 ans, il est transféré à la mission de Chalabesa. Il écrit : “Toutes les tournées étaient de seize jours en bicyclette, avec des cyclistes pour le transport du nécessaire : caisse chapelle, nourriture, linge, lit de camp. De là, j’ai passé 4 ans à Chilonga où l’on se servait de la motocyclette ; les centres ou succursales étaient aussi mieux organisés.”
À la fin de 1965, il prend son premier congé. Ces sept années de vie missionnaire l’ont fatigué. Il avait tendance à se replier sur lui-même, à s’occuper surtout de ce qui l’intéressait personnellement. Il a ainsi parfois négligé son travail de vicaire pour des tâches moins utiles, moins essentielles. Il était porté à se donner entièrement pour rendre service. Il était plein d’égards pour tout le monde. Il acceptait tout. On comprend alors qu’il se fatigue vite et qu’il ait besoin de se reposer.
En 1966, au retour de congé, il travaille quelques mois à Katibun­ga, puis 2 ans à Mulilansolo, et 3 ans à Chalabesa. À ce dernier endroit, il s’intéresse beaucoup au dispensaire. Il y va souvent pour visiter les malades, les soulager et les aider. À ce moment, il a une camionnette et fait beaucoup de transports.
À la fin de 1971, en revenant de congé, il va à Kopa pour 5 ans. Il est vicaire et, à la fin, il est quelques mois supérieur. En 1977, il fait la session retraite à Jérusalem. Ce stage le réconforte dans son zèle et l’invite à se donner encore davantage. De retour en Zambie, il continue son travail de vicaire dans différentes paroisses, parfois regroupées par manque de personnel. Pendant plusieurs années, on le retrouve successivement à Chalabesa-Kopa, Mulanga-Katibunga, Isoka, Mpika, et Serenje, où il passera presque 9 ans à la fin de sa présence en Afrique.
Partout où il passe, il se montre original, mais il se montre surtout grand travailleur, ne se préoccupant pas de son confort. Il peut sauter des repas, marcher de longues distances à pieds pour le bien des gens. Ce genre de zèle cause des embarras pour les autres confrères qui n’ont pas son charisme, et qui suivent plutôt la façon de faire commune. Mais ils acceptent cela, car Denis est toujours attentif à leur faire plaisir. Ce dévouement excessif ne l’empêche pas d’avoir une sérieuse vie de prière. Tous constatent qu’il ne prend pas assez soin de sa santé. Chaque fois qu’il part en congé, le régional lui recommande de se faire examiner sérieusement et de prolonger son congé pour se reposer. Mais il n’en tient pas compte et revient vite reprendre le travail.
Il n’est pas très créatif dans son travail pastoral. Souvent, on lui propose de se recycler, mais il trouve toujours des raisons pour ne pas le faire. Les gens l’aiment, surtout pour l’aide qu’il leur fournit, par exemple en les transportant dans sa voiture. Un confrère qui travaillait avec lui faisait ces remarques : “Denis ne démontre guère de goût pour le travail pastoral comme tel. Il s’en acquitte d’une façon routinière. Il s’adonne plus facilement au travail matériel, comme les constructions et l’entretien. Quant à sa tendance à prendre beaucoup de gens dans sa camionnette, suite au dialogue, elle s’est améliorée.”
Après plus de 40 ans de service en Zambie, notre confrère se voit dans l’obligation de demeurer au Canada. Il a trop négligé sa santé : par exemple, il ne prenait pas de médicaments contre le paludisme, et négligeait de bien manger. Il a fait de longs séjours à l’hôpital de Serenje, ce qui préoccupait les confrères. Il avait aussi des problèmes de cœur. Pas surprenant alors qu’il soit dans l’obligation de faire le sacrifice de l’Afrique.
Il arrive au Canada en juin 2005. Le provincial lui recommande fortement de se faire soigner et de se reposer. Il lui permet de vivre une année hors communauté, avec sa sœur. Au mois d’août 2006, il rejoint la communauté de Winnipeg. Comme d’habitude, il cherche à rendre service, à faire plaisir, à faire du ministère, et il prie beaucoup.
Il est décédé subitement le 5 novembre 2011. Il déjeunait quand une grosse attaque de cœur l’a foudroyé, et il n’a jamais repris connaissance. Les funérailles ont été célébrées le 10 novembre en l’église cathédrale Saint-Boniface, présidées par Mgr Albert Thévenot, MAfr. Après la célébration, la dépouille a été inhumée au cimetière paroissial de cette même paroisse.

Notre confrère était un homme du peuple. Il avait le don d’être à l’aise avec tous, et de mettre les autres à l’aise avec lui. Des témoignages de condoléances ont été envoyés, spécialement par la paroisse de Serenje où il avait beaucoup d’amis. En mai 2005, à l’occasion de son départ définitif de cette paroisse, on avait organisé une grande fête pour le remercier et lui montrer combien on regrettait son départ. L’évêque du diocèse avait présidé une messe devant une foule nombreuse.
Un autre Père qui a été avec lui en Afrique témoigne ainsi : “Denis avait un cœur aussi grand que l’Afrique. Autant il était dur pour lui-même, autant il était sensible pour les autres. Il ne manquait jamais une occasion d’aider, de soulager ou de protéger quelqu’un. Sa santé était la dernière de ses préoccupations. Il avait horreur des médicaments et souvent il préférait faire à sa tête. Il était imprévisible ! Il pouvait être dérangé par les gens plusieurs fois par jour, mais lui-même ne dérangeait personne. Il trouvait sa force dans la prière. Sans faire de bruit ni ostentation, il pratiquait la charité à un haut degré. Sa préférence allait vers les pauvres, les faibles.”

Lauréat Belley

PROFILES

Father Joseph Kamya

1928 - - 2011

A Medical Missionary of Mary told me Father Joseph would refer to himself in the words of the old Negro spiritual, ‘Ole Black Joe’. Did they not represent Jesus, the humble Suffering Servant?
Joe was born in the parish of Kijaguzo in the Archdiocese of Rubaga, Uganda, on the 18th April, 1928. His Dad, Arseni Kigwokyalwazi, was a catechist and his mother, Tereza, gave birth to four children. Joseph was baptised not long after, on the 17th May, indicating that he had the advantage of a good Christian upbringing, thus giving him a deep spirit of faith and a sense of responsibility.

At the age of 15, he entered Bukalasa Minor Seminary and, having completed his studies there, went to Katigondo, the first major seminary in Uganda, where academically and spiritually he did very well. He was known as ‘very pious, serious, supernatural, having personal convictions with no human respect, obedient, joyful and hardworking, yet sometimes sticking too much to his ideas.’

For the first time, mention is made of his ill-health. While playing football as a boy, he broke his leg and one leg became shorter than the other, something that was going to cause him to limp and suffer for the rest of his life. Obviously, he had a mind of his own.

After his ordination in 1956, he became secretary to the Archbishop of Rubaga, until he was appointed parish priest of Nabbingo. It was at this point that he asked to join us, the Missionar­ies of Africa, and was admitted to the novitiate in Dorking, England, in September 1962. The following year, we find him at the Gregorian University in Rome to study theology. He was unable to pass the exams satisfactorily. However, he did study at Corpus Christi Catechetical Institute in London.

It was about this time that he wrote a letter to the Cardinal Prefect of Propaganda Fide about the reasons he wanted to become a Missionary of Africa. The first reason had to do with the advantage of having a Rule to help him in his sanctification and that of others. Fr Marcel Neels, in charge of the young confreres in Rome, bore witness to a lively table conversation where ‘Joe does not seem to consider his WF vocation as a missionary call: he wants to dedicate himself to his own country.’ He added, ‘I would think that he joined us rather because of the benefits of a communal and regular life.’ One confrere in Rome at the time did not vote for his admission to the Oath because of this. In fact, Joe spent all his life in his country of origin, doing what he could for his own people.

The second reason he gave reveals an important dimension of his spirituality. ‘I want to be more closely united to St Therese of the Child Jesus, and so work together with her for the salvation of souls. As a Carmelite, she had two brother priests, one of whom was a WF. Therefore, to ensure her powerful intercession and desirous of her Little Way, I want to be in the number of those whom are more closely united to her. However, I hope I will give more glory to God as I shall be working imitating her so simple a strategy.

Upon his return to Uganda, Fr Kamya was sent to Katigondo Major Seminary. Aware of his own limitations, he refused to be both Spiritual Director and to teach. Joe would spend many years at Katigondo as Spiritual Director and was well appreciated by the students, amidst several interruptions: to study Spiritual Direction at Drygrange in Scotland; a serious eye operation; studies at Reading University; and taking part in our General Chapter as a representative of our budding African confreres in 1974.
In 1976, he became acting parish priest of Kisubi. Parish administration was not his forte, however. In the years to come, he also served at Kayunga, Naka­songola, Old Kampala, and finally at Kyamaganda parish. He loved the people and did what he could to help them spiritually.

The 30-Day Retreat in Jerusa­lem under the guidance of Louis Roelens opened up for him the spirituality of the Focolari, which is so closely related to what our Founder handed on to us: ‘Father, that they be one just as you and I are one, so that the world will believe.’ He even followed a 3-month session for Religious at the Focolari Centre. Joe remained very keen on taking part in the Marianopolis whenever he could.
Prior to that, he had also been one of the pioneers of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Masaka and Kampala Dioceses, along with the late Fr Norbert Deprez. He was open to the movements of the Spirit in the Church and was ever ready to share with others what had given him new life. His great devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary had led him to have an ongoing interest in the Legion of Mary.

Towards the end of his life, he became chaplain at the Mulago Hospital in Kampala. It was a tall order, but he did what he could to visit the patients and show them all the compassion of Christ living in him. Then he became chaplain at St Francis Hospital at Nsambya, which was closer to Lourdel House, where he lived. Becoming more and more frail, he could better identify with the suffering poor and was a great consolation to them.

It seems that after a bad car accident in 1994, his body began to show signs of collapsing. He had had two very serious eye operations. His bad leg was acting up, as were his aching teeth, which caused him a great deal of pain and humiliation. His prostate problems caused him a great deal of suffering and obliged him to wear a catheter. During this period, he came close to death several times, but he rallied after receiving the Sacrament of the Sick. He began to show signs of senility, appearing so ‘lost’ that the community could no longer adequately care for him.

It was then that he was entrusted to the kind hands of the Good Samaritan Sisters at the Naluko­longo Bakateyamba Home, a home for old and disabled people, where we had built special rooms for our aged confreres. To the amazement of everyone, he came back to life. As he himself admitted, seeing the plight of people who were worse off than himself, he felt called to forget himself and to reach out to them, loving them to the end. Every Saturday, his old friend, Fr Gerard Reynaert, went to shave him; this was an occasion to share news and reminisce. Although he became more and more limited and in pain, he did not complain, offering his sufferings in union with Christ.

Joe died on the 24th September 2011. Two days later, we accompanied him to his final resting place here on earth: Nabulagala Parish, which is becoming a Pilgrimage Centre in honour of our Ancestors in the Faith, Fr. Mapeera Lourdel, Brother Amans and companions.

Father Rudi Lehnertz had visited Joe with Fr Gerald Chabanon, former Superior General, about a week before. He then went to Rubaga hospital for his regular check up. It seems that the rest of the week found him visiting the other patients with extra dedication. On Saturday morning, the Sisters noticed that he had stopped breathing.

A hearse brought his remains to Nabulagala just in time for the Eucharist. Of the priests who came to show their respects, many had been Joe’s students and directed by him when he was General Spiritual Director at Katigondo. Bishop Paul Kalanda, Emeritus of Moroto, Fort Portal and Lira, who had been both his fellow student and teacher at Katigondo also came. Bishop Kalanda did not hide his deep friendship with Joe over the years.

Cardinal Wamala accompanied Archbishop Cyprian Lwanga of Kampala who presided, along with Bishop Christopher Kakoza and many diocesan and regular priests. Joe’s own family came in great numbers and also paid tribute to him at the end of the Eucharist.

Only God knows all the good that Joe allowed the Lord to do through him. I am sure that he is continuing to help us all from his place in the Heart of God. I myself am reminded of the joy he took in singing the great Amen at the Mass!

To see Text & photos (Burial) sent by Rudi Rudi Lehnertz

Rudi Lehnertz

Father Alfred Hauman

1926 - - 2011

Fred was born on the 10th May 1926 at Antwerp, Belgium. When he was 6 years old, his family moved house to Oude-God. He did his primary schooling at Mortsel and his secondary studies at the junior seminary of Hoogstraten, where he completed his last year as top student. In September 1945, Fred entered the White Fathers at Boechout. He stood out because of his intelligence, his critical attitude, his talent as an organiser, his willingness to serve and his solid piety. It was already noted that he had digestive problems and that his nervous system presented weaknesses.

In 1947-1948, he did his novitiate at Varsenare. He did his first year of theology at Marienthal, the others at Heverlee. There, he took his Missionary Oath on the 21st July 1951 and was ordained a priest by Bishop Geeraerts on the 12th April 1952. As he possessed a good speculative intelligence, he was sent to Rome (1952-1954). He obtained a licentiate in Philosophy from the Gregorian Pontifical University. Before the exams of the first year, he asked Bishop Durrieu, the Superior General, if he could leave if he did not succeed. Since the reply was negative and that he would simply have to repeat, Fred understood that he could not escape and plunged himself into his books. During the holidays, he was active in pastoral activity and took part, amongst other things, in camps for young destitute Romans.

His first appointment, on the 1st September 1954, was as professor of philosophy at Boechout, where several of us knew him. At that time, a group of Dutch candidates did philosophy at Boechout, which at times caused tension with the ‘Flemish group.’ One of these last-mentioned recalls, ‘From the outset, Father Hauman was a mediator. We as students remember him with gratitude. He was a warm person and an enthusiastic professor.’ Father Hauman was not the man to withdraw into his study. He did ministry in the surrounding area, was chaplain to the KSA (student movement) at Boechout, and played football with the philosophers.

In 1961, he could finally leave for Africa. On the 1st August, he became professor of Canon Law at the major seminary of Koumi, Upper Volta. Five of his pupils would become bishops! He was greatly appreciated by the seminarians. He did not hide, however, that he would have preferred missionary work in the field rather than giving lectures. In 1965, Father Kamiel Plessers, the Belgian Provincial, tried to recall Fred to Belgium for missionary promotion, but without success. In August 1966, he was appointed curate at Tounouma in the diocese of Bobo-Dioulasso. A year later, he became parish priest founder of Nasso, near Koumi. Fred lived close to the villagers and helped them to take a step forward in life, thanks to improvement in healthcare, to teaching, to the modernisation of farming methods.’

The diocesan offices called on him as an official to resolve legal cases of marriage. In late 1972, he attended two months of updating in Canon Law at Rome, followed by home leave in Belgium and the Long Retreat at Villa Cavaletti. In June 1973, he returned to Nasso, but as early as August he had to return to Belgium for health reasons. His recovery was slow. In March 1975, Fred returned for a month to Burkina. He attended the consecration of Bishop Anselme Sanon. It was agreed that a long period in Belgium would be required for Fred to recover properly, as psychologically he was going through a deep depression.

Fred became more and more involved in the charismatic movement. For some time, he was part, in the company of Father Jan Leen, of a community of charismatics which led and ran the ‘Rabboeni’ House of Prayer at Antwerp. Some months later, he was appointed to our ‘Cogels-Osylei’ community at Berchem. From there, he leaded several charismatic groups. For some time, he was also Superior of the house. He had a gift for personal contacts and was very much appreciated as a preacher of retreats.

In September 1978, Fred left for Burkina Faso, this time for Ouagadougou, the capital, where he became professor of philosophy at the Saint John Major Seminary. In September 1979, after his home leave in Belgium, he returned to Bobo-Dioulasso, where he preached retreats. However, through lack of support, he did not succeed in realising his dream of founding a house of prayer. In July 1980, he returned to Belgium for good.

For nearly two years, Fred took on the duty of Local Superior of the Generalate at Rome. On the 1st June 1982, he rejoined the community at Berchem. It was a base to launch himself completely into Charismatic Renewal. He gave instructions to prayer groups, and did accompaniment during days of recollection. He drew up the theological foundations of the movement.

In 1986, he was mandated by Bishop Vanden Berghe of Antwerp as ‘head of Charismatic Renewal in the diocese of Antwerp. After the sale of our house at Berchem, Fred, accompanied by Father Lode De Backer, moved into a house in Saint Norbert parish. Both of them provided service there in a friendly understanding with the diocesan parish priest. Fred continued to follow up some charismatic groups. However, his health was causing him concern and his mood showed its effects.

In January 2009, he was appointed to the community of the Rue de l’Empereur at Antwerp for complete rest. He had severe psychological problems. He himself said, ‘I am no longer able to read. I cannot get my thoughts together.’ He lost all sense of time and space. His way of speaking did not improve matters. He could swear like a trooper and was sometimes aggressive. On medical advice from the house doctor, Fred was finally hospitalised. In the final weeks, he hardly recognised anyone.

Fred passed away in the night of the 25th September 2011, in palliative care at the Erasmus Hospi­tal at Antwerp. The Eucharistic concelebration took place on the 30th September in the parish church of Saint Charles Borromeo at Antwerp, followed by burial at our cemetery at Varsenare.

Jef Vleugels

Father Maurice Giroux

1929 - - 2011

Father Maurice Giroux was born on the 3rd October 1929 at Quebec. His mother was a fervent Christian and his father was a lawyer. He had two brothers and four sisters. He did his primary schooling at St Louis Gonzaga School. His secondary studies took place in four different places, including the Jesuit College at Quebec, where he also did his 2 years of philosophy. Throughout all his studies, he was greatly involved in the Scout movement.

In August 1955, he began his novitiate with the Missionaries of Africa. During this year, Maurice was seen as someone having a certain intellectual attainment, but he was not organised enough. He had a lot of good will, generosity and piety, but he sometimes lacked a sense of proportion and restraint. He was reckoned to have made progress.

The following year, he began his four years of theology at Eastview near Ottawa. His great charity and deep interior life was acknowledged. He had a great desire to give of himself. However, he needed to make progress in his contact with reality. It was reckoned that in spite of his good will, he would need to be helped in the choice of his activities. He took his Missionary Oath on the 20th June 1959. He was ordained a priest on the 30th January 1960 in the church of St. Sacrement at Quebec by his uncle, Cardinal Maurice Roy.

In September 1960, Maurice arrived in Burundi, where he was appointed to the Diocese of Gitega. He first went to Gisuru, a rural parish to learn Kirundi and act as curate and director of primary schools. He was to do the same work at Rusengo, Gitongo, and Gitega. He was very interested in the local youth movements.

In September 1965, he was sent as professor to the minor seminary of Mugera until 1971. In the parish as in the seminary, he came across problems. He often lacked balance and his zeal led him to take decisions that were not always realistic. He was ready to do anything for the poor and youth. He was at the service of pupils day and night with no boundaries. He was difficult to reason with, as the others tired to help him preserve his health and reputation. In 1971, he was sent to Laval University at Quebec to study for the required diplomas so he could be a professor in Burundi in a higher cycle of studies.

Father Giroux was in Canada from 1971 till 1976. He resided at the Quebec Procure of the White Fathers to follow his courses at the University, where he obtained a BA. He was also a missionary promoter in the schools. He continued to take part in scouting activities in St Sacrement parish. He organised missionary camps for youth.

In 1976, Maurice was back in Burundi. Initially, he was curate and parish priest in parishes in the rural areas. At the same time, he gave lectures at the Teacher Training College of Muyaga, while chaplain to Scouts. In 1980, he returned to Canada to complete his studies at the University of Sherbrooke. The following year, he was once again back in Burundi as seminary professor at Muyinga, where he took on more and more responsibilities. However, in Burundi in 1986, there was a state campaign of persecution against the Church and missionaries. Maurice was afraid to be expelled like other missionaries. Then there occurred an even more dramatic event. Here is the testimony of Father Waly Neven, who was regional in Burundi at that time:

‘Maurice was endowed with an extraordinary physical energy. He could demolish kilometres on foot to be of service in the farthest outstations. He was gifted with an exceptional ability for teaching at secondary level. He was able to replace any teacher at the last minute in any secondary subject from the lowest to the highest classes.

His missionary journey was brutally interrupted by a rare event in the life of a White Father: pri­son! We are in 1986, at the peak of the Bagaza regime, hostile to the Church and attempting by every means possible to sully it and to deprive it of its missionaries.
Maurice was viciously torn from a peaceful and regular life in the minor seminary of Muyinga by the police who surprisingly charged him. Maurice then began to experience a terrible way of the cross that was to affect him for the rest of his days: malicious inquest, trial in camera, with a sentence of five years imprisonment. Maurice spent one hundred and ten days in prison, which demolished him to the depth. No doubt fearing the consequences of the death of a ‘White’ in a Burundi prison, the legal authorities agreed to his conclusive departure from Burundi in July 1986.

On arrival in Canada, Father Giroux was taken to our retirement community at Lennoxvile. He needed to be treated, to rest and to relax. However, very soon he wanted to resume work. He was advised to continue his doctoral studies in literature at the University of Sherbrooke. He agreed with this proposal, as he liked studying, reading and learning languages. He also wanted to do some ministry and resume his apostolate with young people. However, those in charge tried to prevent him for his own sake.

In 1990, he did the Jerusalem Session Retreat. He made a visit to Rome, ostensibly for study. He returned to Canada, where he was asked to help in the Provincial House at Montreal, especially in the library. In August 1996, of his own volition and without permission, he set himself up in an apartment in Sherbrooke, to live alone, outside community. After all sorts of negotiations, his Superiors succeeded in convincing him to rejoin the Lennoxville community. He did this in early 2000, as he insisted on remaining a White Father.

These years at Lennoxville would continue to be spent solving problems. Maurice did not understand the conditions of surveillance and prudence imposed on him. He was allowed to do some limited ministry in residences for the elderly and some parishes. He was asked especially to be of service to confreres in our house. This he generously did. He drove the sick to their appointments and patiently waited for them. The years passed and the misunderstandings and circumstances still persisted. Despite this, he continued to be enthusiastic and to render service. Above all, he was ageing and his strength was diminishing progressively.

In 2010, during tests, the doctors discovered that he had the early signs of pancreatic cancer. He had an operation to remove the spleen and the affected part of the pancreas in January 2011.
Maurice lived through these sufferings and the limitation on his activities in a great spirit of faith. He kept his good mood, submitting to all the care proposed and read a great deal. In October, metastasis had set in and spread the disease to organs close to the pancreas. There was nothing more to be done. He asked to remain in our house at Lennoxville. After only two days, on the 24th October 2011, he died.

A prayer vigil around the coffin of Father Giroux was held on the 27th October at the house in Lennoxville. The next day, the Funeral Mass was celebrated in the church of the Saint Sacrement, Quebec, followed by burial in Belmont Cemetery at the same place in the family vault. A large crowd attended this celebration in homage to our dear departed Maurice. Father Jean-Marie Tardif, who was the main celebrant at the Mass, also preached the homily. Tributes were paid by Father Fernand Chicoine and Burundians who had been pupils of Maurice.

Lyne Giroux, Maurice’s niece, illustrated how important a person he was for them. ‘We have lost a very dear brother, uncle and White Father community member; he was a friend and a good scout. As far as I am concerned, I have lost an uncle, of course, but more than that, a friend. On behalf of Maurice’s family, I wish to thank you all for being here today. In particular, I wish to thank his other family, his brothers of the White Father community for their presence here today and for all the support and care given to Maurice throughout his life, but in particular, over the last few years.’

Maurice suffered a great deal physically and especially emotionally in his life. He never lost heart and continued the struggle. He was a great missionary in his own way. May the Lord grant him the true peace of the good servant.

Lauréat Belley

Father Jan (Bob) Geertman

1917 - - 2011

Jan, we called him Bob, was born in Rotterdam on the 2nd of December 1917. In view of becoming a missionary, he received his formation at Sterksel, St. Charles near Boxtel, and ´s-Heerenberg, where he took his Oath on the 22nd of May 1947, and where he was ordained on the 11th of April 1948 by Bishop Durrieu, our Superior General, who was in Holland for the Golden Jubilee of Father Antoon Kersten.

Bob followed the Commercial Secondary School, and did a course in bookkeeping. For his year military service, he opted for the Army Horse Artillery, as he wished to learn horse-riding. He worked for a year in the bookkeeping department of the BATA shoe factory at Best near Eindhoven, and was called up in August 1939. They surrendered in May 1940, and he returned to work at BATA. Even as early as then, he had decided to become a MAfr and had started taking private lessons in Latin. From April 1941, he continued those lessons in our minor seminary at Sterksel, and started philosophy in September the same year. Bob was then 23 years of age. In August 1943, at the end of the philosophy course, he got the fright of his life when he was called up to go as a prisoner-of-war to Germany. It was quite a relief when at the inspection, they let him go free.

Bob was resolute, a hard worker, and had self-control. He was always ready to render a service, unpretentious, and an inveterate optimist of wide interests. He had a heart of gold, seeing only the good in people, sometimes too much so. During his formation, it was hoped he would become more self-assured. He was appreciated by his confreres. He played the piano with talent. He was gifted for languages and knew French and English. When in the Genera­late, he learned Italian; when in Den Bosch, he learned Spanish. After his ordination and before leaving for Africa, he followed a course in a hospital, learning to give injections and to pull teeth.

In March 1949, he left for Mali and worked in the parishes of Kayes, Kakoulou, and Guéné-Goré. The latter was more than half the size of Holland! The confreres ran a dispensary which occupied them virtually for the whole forenoon; there was a school, and they made regular visits of two weeks to the mountain people who received them with hospitality. Their priority was the formation of Catechists. In many of his letters, we read the cry, ‘La vie est belle!’ He had to get used to 47º C in the shade. Virtually the whole population were Muslim. Bob was liked so much that the Catechist asked the Regional Superior to get more missionaries like him!

He suffered so much from malaria that in 1956, he returned overtired to Holland, where in April 1957, he was appointed to the Rotterdam Procure. From August 1958, he studied a year of Church History at the University of Nijmegen, and taught it in our 1st Cycle while chaplain to the MSOLA in Esch, near Boxtel. In July 1961, he became Superior of the Procure community at Boxtel. He held plenty of consultations and usually succeeded in pleasing everyone; but it did cause him trouble sometimes to come to a decision.
In November 1965, he returned to Kayes, spending 3 to 4 days every week visiting outstations.

Sometimes it was 45º C in the rooms, obliging them to sleep on the terrace outside. His Regional Superior wrote, “Bob has good relations with everyone. He is successful in his work, without any fuss, thus promoting the Gospel. His back is troubling him, no doubt due to his Willys jeep… which he keeps driving anyhow.”

From March 1972 to July 1976, he was Assistant Regional, stationed at Bamako. A priority policy of him and the Regional was, “How to get our confreres back to daily meditation”.

In January 1977, he became Superior of the community in the Generalate. There, he got into contact with the Sant’Egidio Community. In July 1981, he returned to Mali. After a two-month refresher course in Bambara at our language centre, he started again in Kayes. His task was to visit families, the sick and prisoners; the pastoral care of the police and military and the formation of those to be baptised, among whom some soldiers and students of the higher classes of the state secondary school. The coordinating pastor was a diocesan priest of Mali; a Spanish confrere did general pastoral work with special attention to primary school youth and a Swiss confrere had the pastoral care of students and young workers. It was characteristic of our Society: an international team under the leadership of the “Local Church”. In addition, there was a Dutch volunteer in the service of the Church searching for water and digging wells. It worried them that the water level kept decreasing every year.

Exactly on his 65th birthday, the 2nd December 1982, he wrote that due to overtiredness, he was going to Kita, a quieter parish. There, he looked after the distribution of the daily “Afrique Nouvelle”, made useful contacts with Muslims in government and business, and celebrated the Eucharist in the homes of the sick and the aged. His Regional Superior was struck by his relaxed relations, his “joie de vivre”, and his openness to new forms of prayer and discussions about what is important to us and what is moving us.

In March 1986, he returned for good to Holland. In his words, he said, “After a splendid life in Africa”. In those days, he taught Dutch to immigrants, and assisted them as an interpreter in court cases. In 1996, for three months he twice replaced the pastor for pilgrims to our St. Anne’s Basilica in Jerusalem. There, he met groups from all over the world, mainly from the USA, Korea, Germany, and a few from Indonesia. At his Golden Jubilee in April 1998, he could say: “I have had a splendid life”.

In August 1997, he went to retire to our community at Tilburg, and in July 2002 he moved to Heythuysen. He was charming in community, forever a gentleman. He loved walking and cycling and enjoyed his cigar until almost the last day. In the course of 2010, walking became increasingly difficult and he started getting forgetful. On the 26th of October 2011, he fell in his bedroom. X-rays and scans in the hospital showed nothing was broken, only bruises. He was able to return home and died peacefully in his apartment on the 29th of October, aged 94.

Accompanied by his relatives, we buried him in our cemetery at Heythuysen on the 2nd of November 2011. Louis Melis had taken special care of him and he presided at the Eucharist. He compared the vocation of Bob to that of the Apostles; they too felt called as adults and spread the message of Jesus as missionaries. To us, it looks as if Bob had an impressive record of service; not so to Bob himself. For him, it was God’s call, whether in good or in difficult times.

These texts were personally chosen by Bob: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you”. (John 21:17) “You will have in you the strength, based on his own glorious power, never to give in, but to bear anything joyfully, thanking the Father who has made it possible for you...” (Col 1:11-12.)

Marien van den Eijnden

 

Father Laval Couture

1922 - - 2011

Father Laval Couture was born on the 17th Septem­ber 1922 into a highly regarded family at Charny in the Archdiocese of Quebec. He did his primary schooling at Notre-Dame School at Charny. For his secondary schooling, he attended the Sacred Heart Seminary at St Victor de Beauce, including his two years of philosophy.

In September 1946, he began his postulancy with the White Fathers at Éverell near Quebec. During this year, he was appreciated, showing himself to be a good worker. However, he was somewhat meticulous with a tendency to argument and sensitivity. He was asked to develop simplicity. The following year, he went to the novitiate at St. Martin. In September 1948, he began his four years of theology at the Eastview Scholasticate, near Ottawa. There, he took his Missionary Oath on the 23rd June 1951 and was ordained a priest on the 27th January 1952 by Archbishop Vachon of Ottawa. Those in charge of his formation considered that he had done a good scholasticate. They helped him to become more flexible, less categorical, cut and dried in his judgements, as well as less severe with regard to others. He did make progress, but he was aware that there was still a lot of progress to be made.

After a course in England in early 1953, he arrived in modern-day Malawi for the Vicariate Apostolic of Likuni, where he had been appointed. In turn, he worked in the parishes of Nam­buma, Ludzi, Nambuma, and Mlale. After learning the language, he was curate and looked after the schools in these parishes. During this period of six years, his difficulties with confreres and the people were emphasised. He lacked self-control in his relations with them. In other ways, he was dedicated, interested in the apostolate and in Catholic Action movements.

In July 1960, after a good home leave, he retuned to the same sector that now bore the name of Diocese of Lilongwe. He was again to be curate and look after the schools in the parishes of Chiphaso, Nathenje, Salima, Ntengo wa Nthenga, and Mlale. Once again, he was dedicated, but not much of a team player. Faced with hurtful and stressful situations, he took the decision to return to Canada for good in May 1972. He admitted to his Regional Superior that he was not at ease in his work or in his relations. His Superior replied that it was a wise decision in the circumstances as it was clear that he was not at all happy.

On arrival in Canada, he spent some months at the Quebec Procure before leaving for the St Boniface Procure. He helped in missionary promotion, but above all he did ministry in neighbouring parishes. This was to last for 3 years. In late 1975, Father Couture was recommended for Zambia as bursar at the White Fathers guest house at Lusaka. He accepted and prepared his departure. He arrived at Lusaka in April 1976. At the end of 1977, he left his work and returned to Canada on his own volition. Upon learning of this, the Father Provincial of Canada wrote, ‘I wish to welcome you to Canada. Together, we shall look for understanding in the path the Lord seeks for you through the events that appear to buffet you. If feel sure that all these changes will end up positive for you and for those you seek to serve.’

In Canada, he once again went to the Quebec Procure, and then became a member of a parish team at the parish of Ancienne-Lorette in Quebec. In January 1980, he was in the USA in the Los Angeles Procure. He was essentially involved in the parish while attached to the Procure. At the end of 1983, he asked to return to Canada. He settled in at the Quebec Procure to help and do ministry. This was to last 6 years. at the end of 1990, he again went to the USA, to the Diocese of Little Rock, Arkansas, for parish ministry. However, because of personality clashes between him and some members of the parish, he resigned and returned to Quebec in 1993. With age, he acknowledged that he had more problems working with others and this weighed on him. He then said he would retire.

Laval was to remain a good fifteen years at the Quebec Procure. He became increasingly aware that the problems he had experienced everywhere essentially stemmed from him. He suffered greatly from this. He did not always manage to restrain himself despite his good will. His ability to resist lessened particularly with age. For his final years, his constantly agitated nature was noticeably felt, his health diminished and it was hard to keep him in this Procure.

In August 2007, he was transferred to our retirement community at Lennoxville to be better looked after medically and for more security. However, after a few months the situation became just as intolerable at this place. A place had to be found for him that was more adapted to his condition. As his family expressed the desire to see him placed in a centre nearer their home to visit him, a place was found for him at the Pavillon Beauséjour at St-Romuald, near Charny, his birthplace. This was done by the mediation of the Centre Argyll of Sherbrooke. He was transferred there in January 2008. The following year, he was sent to the Paul-Gilbert Health Centre at Charny proper. It was there he died on the 2nd November 2011.

The funeral took place on the 8th November in the church of the Saints Martyrs Canadiens at Quebec, followed by burial at Belmont Cemetery in the plot reserved to Missionaries of Africa. Father Jean-Marc Lindsay gave the funeral homily. Here are some extracts: ‘Father Couture proved to be a fervent priest of the Lord, generously committed to his service... His missionary life in Africa, Canada and the United States revealed in him a life lived in fidelity to the Lord and in a spirit of prayer. In his final years, lived in illness, his convictions enabled him with peace of heart to go through the turmoil of life and suffering. This he did with the accompaniment of missionary prayer. We ask the Lord to grant him mercy in return for his life, entirely consecrated to his service for the coming of his Kingdom.’

Lauréat Belley

 

Father Denis Bernardin

1930 - - 2011

Father Denis Bernardin was born on the 22nd September 1930 in the parish of Elie, Diocese of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Elie is a little village not far from Winnipeg founded by his great-grandfather, Elie Dufresne. His father was a farmer and then a worker. His mother was a teacher. There were 12 children in this family. Denis was the ninth. He did his primary schooling at the village Convent. For his secondary studies, he went to the Jesuit Saint Boniface College, where he received, he said, a solid and unforgettable education.

The White Fathers had a Procure beside Saint Boniface College. Denis therefore very soon made contact with the Fathers who gave him information and made him aware of the needs of Africa. His mind was made up a long time in advance. Therefore, in August 1953, he entered the novitiate of the Missionaries of Africa at St Martin, in the Archdiocese of Montreal. The following year, he went to the Scho­lasticate at Eastview, near Ottawa, for his four years of theology. During these years, he worked hard at his missionary training. He showed himself to be normally naturally gifted, quite original, but endowed with a fiery will and a great spirit of faith and love. He was advised to develop his community awareness so as not to impose on others his own ways of doing. He had a good heart and liked to be of service. He was accepted to take his Missionary Oath on the 22nd June 1957 and was ordained a priest on the 8th February 1958 in Winnipeg Cathedral.

After a course in England, in December 1958, he arrived in the Diocese of Abercorn, Zambia. Two years later, it was to become the Diocese of Mbala. His entire missionary life in Africa was spent in this diocese which would again change its name to Mpika. He learned the language and customs at Kayambi mission, while carrying out the duties of curate. After two years here, he was transferred to the mission of Chalabesa. He wrote, ‘All the tours were sixteen days by bicycle, with cyclists to carry the supplies: Mass kit, food, clothing, camp bed. From there, I spent 4 years at Chilonga, where we used a motorbike and in addition, the Mass centres and outstations were better organised.’

His first home leave was at the end of 1965. These seven years of missionary life had tired him. He had a tendency to withdraw into himself in the sense that he especially looked after what he thought best. In this way, he sometimes neglected his work as curate for less useful, less important tasks. He was ready to devote himself to be of service and was attentive to everyone. He accepted everything. It was therefore understandable that he was soon tired and needed a rest.

In 1966, back from his home leave, he worked for some months at Katibunga, then two years at Mulilansolo, and three years at Chalabesa. In this last place, he became very interested in the dispensary. He often went there to visit the sick, console them and help them in all kinds of ways. At that time, he had a van and he did a lot of transportation.

At the end of 1971, returning from home leave, he went to Kopa for five years. He was a curate and at the end of some months, he became Superior. In 1977, he did the Jerusalem Session Retreat. This course reinforced his zeal and encouraged him to be more self-giving. Back in Zambia, he continued his work as curate in various parishes sometimes regrouped through lack of personnel. For several years he was in turn at: Chalabesa-Kopa, Mulanga-Katibunga, Isoko, Mpika, and Serenje, where he spent almost nine years.

Wherever Denis went, he showed himself to be somewhat original, but above all he proved to be a great worker, not concerned for his own comfort. He was able to skip meals and walk long distances for the good of the people. This type of zeal embarrassed the other confreres who did not have his charism and who rather followed the crowd. However, they accepted this, because Denis was always eager to please them. This excessive dedication did not prevent him for having a serious prayer life. Everyone observed that he did not take enough care of his health. Every time he left on home leave, the Regional recommended him to have proper tests and to prolong his leave to have a good rest. Nevertheless, he did not listen and soon returned to resume his work.

Denis was not very creative in his pastoral activity. He was often recommended to do updating, but he always found a reason not to do so. The people loved him, especially for the help he provided, for example in taking them in his vehicle. A confrere who worked with him commented, ‘Denis did not show much interest in pastoral work as such. He did so routinely. He was more easily concerned in material work, such as building and maintenance. As for his tendency to take loads of people with him into his van, he improved after dialogue.’

After over 40 years of service in Zambia, Denis was obliged to remain in Canada. He had neglected his health overmuch, as for example not taking medicine against malaria and neglecting to eat properly. He spent some extended stays in hospital at Serenje, which worried the confreres. He also had heart problems. It was not surprising therefore that he had to make the sacrifice of Africa.

He arrived in Canada in June 2005. Father Provincial strongly recommended him to go for treatment and to rest. He was allowed to live for a year outside community with his sister. In August 2006, he joined the Winnipeg community. There, as usual, he looked for services to render, to please, to do ministry and to pray a great deal.

To everyone’s surprise, he suddenly died on the 5th November 2011. He was at lunch with everyone else and suddenly, he suffered a massive heart attack. He never regained consciousness. The funeral took place on the 10th November in the Cathedral of Saint Boniface. The main celebrant was Bishop Albert Thévenot, MAfr. After the Eucharist, Denis’ body was buried in the cemetery of this same parish. Denis was a man of the people. He had a natural gift to be at ease with everyone and to put others at ease with him. Messages of condolence arrived, especially from Serenje parish where he had many friends. In May 2005, on his final departure from this parish, they had organised a great celebration in his honour to thank him and show him how they regretted his leaving them. The Bishop of the Diocese celebrated the Mass with a great crowd of people.

Another Father who was with him in Africa added this tribute: ‘Denis had a heart as big as Africa. As hard as he was on himself, he was correspondingly sensitive to others. He never missed a chance to help out, to console or defend someone. His health was the last thing on his mind. He had a horror of medicine and often preferred to follow his own way. He was unpredictable! He could be called upon by the people several times a day, but he never disturbed anyone for his needs. Denis found his strength in prayer. Without fanfare or display, he practiced charity to a high degree. His preferential option was to go towards the poor and the weak.’

Lauréat Belley