François naquit à Niort, diocèse de Poitiers, France, à la veille de la grande guerre, le 4 juillet 1914, septième d’une famille de onze enfants. La famille, aisée, était profondément chrétienne, très unie : “On s’aimait bien, confie-t-il dans son curriculum vitae, mais sans grandes démonstrations entre nous.” Six des neuf garçons devinrent prêtres, une sorte de record : deux Pères Blancs, François et Xavier, un bénédictin qui fut Abbé de Tournay, un dominicain, et deux chanoines du diocèse de Poitiers, Pierre, l’aîné (mort en 1990), vicaire général durant 18 ans, et Paul, archiprêtre de la cathédrale.

Connaissant les Pères Blancs par les revues missionnaires, François décida d’entrer à Kerlois en septembre 1932, sous la célèbre férule du Père Stani Vanwaelscappel. Il fit son noviciat en 1934-1935 sous celle du Père Betz, et se rendit à Thibar pour la théologie en septembre 1935. À Pâques 1938, il commença son service militaire, au 4e Zouaves à Tunis, comme beaucoup de scolastiques français. Mais quand les supérieurs apprirent que ce régiment devait partir au front, ils décidèrent d’anticiper l’ordination de François et, en moins d’une semaine, dit-il, il reçut sous-diaconat et diaconat, fit le serment Père Blanc et fut ordonné prêtre, le 15 mai 1940, dans l’oratoire de l’archevêque de Tunis.

Il partit alors pour le front de France, en fonction d’infirmier, et fut fait prisonnier le 16 juin 1940 ; il chanta sa première messe le 15 août, fait peu banal, au camp de prisonniers de Meaux. Sa condition d’infirmier lui valut d’être libéré, en janvier 1941, et employé à l’hôpital militaire du Val-de-Grâce à Paris. Dès qu’il le put, en mai de la même année, il rejoignit Thibar pour faire sa dernière année de théologie. Après trois ans de vie militaire, ce lui fut quelque peu pénible, et l’on notait alors chez lui, dit-on, outre un fond de timidité, un certain pessimisme.

Il fut nommé, le 25 avril 1942, à Bobo-Dioulasso (Haute Volta) mais, deux jours avant le départ de Marseille, les Américains débarquaient en Afrique du Nord ! Le bateau ne put partir et il fallut à François patienter longtemps, exerçant son ministère à Tournus, Villeurbanne et Antilly, avant de pouvoir, en mai 1945, rejoindre enfin sa mission.

D’entrée, alors qu’il entamait à peine l’étude de la langue, il fut nommé à Dédougou, une paroisse qu’il décrit aride et dure, avec peu de chrétiens. Il s’occupait de l’école en plus du travail de la mission, alors que, de son propre aveu, il avait du mal à parler le bobo-oulé. On le nomme pourtant supérieur du poste au bout d’un an, en 1947. Mais, sur sa demande, la charge lui semblant trop lourde, le 3 septembre 1948, il fut nommé vicaire à Ouakara, en charge de l’école de catéchistes, avant de retrouver Dédougou le 31 août 1951. Il était, note-t-on, apprécié de ses supérieurs pour sa docilité, estimé des confrères, respecté des chrétiens et particulièrement à l’aise avec les jeunes.

À l’été 1952, lors de son premier congé, pour la première fois, les six prêtres Boinot se retrouvèrent : c’était malheureusement pour entourer leur père malade qui décéderait quelques semaines plus tard. Au cours de ce congé, François fit la grande retraite à Mours à partir du 17 février 1952 et fut de nouveau nommé à Ouakara le 20 juin 1953, puis à Dédougou le 6 novembre 1960 comme supérieur. Il alternera toujours, dit-il, entre ces deux paroisses, comme supérieur ou vicaire, s’occupant des écoles de la mission et des catéchistes, tout en faisant le travail paroissial en cette langue bobo-oulé qui lui résiste encore ; de plus, étant de santé fragile, les tournées à mobylette lui coûtaient visiblement, et c’est très fatigué qu’à chaque congé, il arrivera en France ; il devra même anticiper ce congé en 1973, en raison de fortes fièvres et de problèmes de vue.

En 1960, Mgr Lesourd, évêque de Nouna, avait décidé de construire à Tyonkuy, près de Dédougou, un petit séminaire. Étant à Rome, il délégua François pour bénir la première pierre de ce bâtiment. En juillet 1961, il l’y nomma pour s’occuper plus particulièrement, (à la manière PB, dit François) de la première division des petits. Ce fut une nomination heureuse, car, aimant la compagnie des jeunes, il s’y épanouira.

De l’avis général, il y fera beaucoup de bien, préparant soigneusement ses cours et procurant à de nombreux élèves l’aide spirituelle dont ils avaient besoin. Très ordonné, il était à l’aise aussi dans des travaux de secrétariat, polycopie, dactylographie. Il restera à Tyonkuy jusqu’en juillet 1981, comme professeur et aussi supérieur du séminaire à deux reprises, marquant incontestablement cette maison de son empreinte : “16 ans de travail en paroisse avec tournées, écoles, catéchistes, 20 ans au petit séminaire avec les jeunes”, résume-t-il sobrement. Entre-temps, en 1973, Mgr Zéphirin Toé, pour qui François eut toujours beaucoup d’amitié, avait pris les rênes du diocèse de Nouna.

Le 24 juin 1981, “vieilli, fatigué, diminué”, dit-il, “n’ayant pas pratiqué la langue bobo-oulé depuis 20 ans, je demande à rentrer en France ; j’y arrive en août 1981 et, deux mois plus tard, directement à la maison de retraite de Billère ; content d’être à Billère où je fais toutes les rues à pied. J’ai travaillé un peu dans presque tous les services de la maison : philatélie, économat, reliure, etc., et je suis heureux ici”. Il n’avait que 67 ans lors de son arrivée, mais “traînait notamment”, confie son frère Xavier, “une furonculose persistante et épuisante”. Il passera donc 30 ans à Billère, autre record sans doute, jusqu’à son retour à la maison du Père, le 14 août 2011. Il était devenu très dépendant, mais acceptait avec humilité et reconnaissance les services de l’infirmière et des aides-soignantes.

“Ne soyez pas bouleversés, je pars vous préparer une place ; là où je suis, vous y serez aussi”. “François, attendait ce jour depuis longtemps, dit Joseph Olivaud dans l’homélie des obsèques. Tu es maintenant dans la paix du Seigneur où tu as retrouvé tous ceux et celles qui t’ont précédé. Avec la Vierge Marie que tu as tant priée. Combien de chapelets n’as-tu pas dits ! Je te vois dans ce couloir du 2e étage. Tu as été un modèle de fidélité à l’Office du matin, sauf à de rares moments de trop grosse fatigue, à l’Eucharistie, à l’Office du soir, même si tu ne pouvais plus lire.

“François, tu nous as quittés mais tu es toujours parmi nous. Nous pouvons penser que Dieu est amour et que ceux qui vivent en lui sont là, près de nous, au milieu de nous, qu’ils partagent nos joies, nos espoirs, nos souffrances et veulent nous aider à réussir notre vie. François nous a quittés : il est parti vers la maison du Père. Ce sont des paroles très fortes : tout n’est pas fini, au contraire, tout commence ; une vie nouvelle qui ne finira pas. Nous retrouverons tous ceux et celles qui auront suivi Jésus, notre Sauveur.

“Que notre tristesse d’aujourd’hui se change en joie, que nous partagerons avec tous ceux qui nous entourent, qui vivent avec nous ! Célébrons dans la paix et la joie cette Eucharistie.”

Armand Duval

Père André Lacoste

1923 - - 2011

André est né le 29 juin 1923 à Tournai, Belgique. Il fait les premières années de ses études secondaires au collège Cardinal Mercier à Braine-l’Alleud et les trois dernières à l’institut St-Georges à Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. Il entre chez les Missionnaires d’Afrique à Thy-le-Château en 1945, fait son noviciat à Varsenare et la première année de théologie à Marienthal. Suivent trois autres années de théologie à Heverlee, où il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 21 juillet 1951 et est ordonné prêtre, le 12 avril 1952, par Mgr Geeraerts.

Ses formateurs le décrivent intelligent, philosophe, ouvert aux problèmes de la vie, doué de goût artistique, mais manquant parfois de sens pratique et peu doué pour les langues. Envoyé à l’université de Louvain, il obtient une licence en Sciences politiques et sociales.

Nommé au Burundi, André s’envole, le 10 octobre 1955, pour le vicariat de Gitega. Il s’occupe du journal “Temps Nouveaux”. En septembre 1956, il passe en RD. Congo et devient professeur au petit séminaire de Mungombe et l’année suivante, au petit séminaire de Mugeri (Bukavu), où il reste jusqu’en janvier 1963. Il enseigne ensuite six mois au collège Notre-Dame à Bukavu.

En février 1964, il rentre en Belgique pour raison de santé. Il a son pied-à-terre à Namur, où il participe à l’animation missionnaire.
Il profite de son séjour en Belgique pour se recycler en méthodes d’éducation. Il est intéressé par les progrès accomplis dans l’enseignement religieux des jeunes et l’utilisation des méthodes actives et audiovisuelles. Il amasse beaucoup de matériel : diapositives et enregistrements. Il a aussi l’occasion de faire un voyage d’étude en Égypte et au Sinaï avec deux professeurs du grand séminaire de Namur. Il suit en outre la grande retraite à Villa Cavaletti. En septembre 1966, le voilà de retour au petit séminaire de Mugeri, jusqu’à son congé en 1970, où il fera une année de recyclage à Louvain.

De 1971 à 1975, André enseigne à l’Athenée d’Ibanda (Buka­vu). De 1975 à 1980, il est professeur à l’institut de sciences pédagogiques à Bukavu et chargé de l’animation des jeunes. Grâce à un jumelage avec les étudiants d’une paroisse de Bruxelles, il ouvre un centre pour étudiants, qu’il baptise “Maison de Partage”. Les étudiants y trouvent une salle d’étude, des salles de réunion, une bibliothèque, un atelier de bricolage et même une chapelle. “Dommage qu’André ne soit pas très organisateur et qu’il se laisse rouler facilement”, note le régional.

C’est à cette époque qu’il lance, avec le Père Pierre Croteau, le “Village Pilote d’Agriculture Moderne (V.I.P.A.M.) dans la vallée de la Lwana, à une petite centaine de kilomètres de Bukavu. Le but est d’installer de jeunes couples et de leur apprendre de nouvelles méthodes agricoles. Ce projet sera fortement soutenu par la famille Lacoste. Fin 1980, il part en congé et, au retour, fait un long voyage en Afrique occidentale. De mars 1981 à juillet 1985, il est chargé de la formation des jeunes et du développement rural.

En 1985, il se fait opérer à la jambe (varices). Après un court passage à la paroisse de Bagira, il retourne enseigner au petit séminaire de Mugeri. Entre-temps, le projet VIPAM tourne plutôt mal et affiche une grosse dette. L’archevêque intervient personnellement auprès du régional. Ce dernier écrit, en mai 1988 : “Il (André) est attachant et convainquant, mais ce n’est pas un gérant. Il n’aurait pas dû essayer de réaliser lui-même un projet qui pourtant serait une excellente solution à beaucoup de problèmes de nos gens.”

En septembre 1989, André suit la session retraite à Jérusalem. Il doit ensuite se faire soigner en Belgique. Puis il retourne à Mugeri, où il enseigne au lycée d’à-côté, jusqu’en 1993. En janvier 1993, il devient aumônier au lycée Katana, près de la Fomulac, où il fait partie de la communauté PB. En février 2000, il fait une phlébite et comme l’état de sa jambe ne s’améliore pas, les médecins décident de le rapatrier. Mais, en septembre, il est de retour à la Fomulac.

En mai 2005, il est définitivement nommé en Belgique et réside dans notre communauté de Salzinnes, où nous l’avons toujours connu assis, sa mauvaise jambe surélevée… mais gardant le sourire, heureux.
André a enseigné toute sa vie. Il a enseigné principalement le français et la religion et a été hautement apprécié dans tous les établissements où il a travaillé. Toute sa vie aussi, une soif d’apprendre l’a habité. Il désirait rester à jour et améliorer constamment ses cours. Il disait : “Nos élèves africains ont droit à un enseignement de qualité.” Son caractère généreux et imaginatif l’a toujours poussé à voir plus large que son métier d’enseignant. C’est pour cette raison qu’il a lancé VIPAM, dont nous avons parlé, et, plus récemment, “Bethsaïde”, où se forment encore aujourd’hui des serviteurs et des servantes de la Parole de Dieu.

André était un doux et il aimait la vie. Il disait souvent : “La vie est belle !” Et il ajoutait : “Il faut la faire belle !” C’était un artisan de paix. Il était plus porté à voir le bien et le beau et à s’en émerveiller, qu’à voir le mal. Lorsque l’épreuve s’est présentée à lui dans la maladie, il ne s’est pas révolté. Il l’a reçue joyeusement et sereinement.

Le 4 février 2011, aux premières heures, André s’est éteint doucement au Foyer Sainte-Anne à Salzinnes (Namur). Sur sa table, on a trouvé ces mots écrits de sa propre main : “On va tout doucement vers la fin de sa petite vie sur terre. Laissons les choses se faire peu à peu comme le Seigneur le voudra. Que sa sainte volonté soit faite !”

Jef Vleugels

Père Toussaint Perron

1931 - - 2011

Le Père Toussaint Perron est né le 30 octobre 1931 dans la paroisse de St-Léon du diocèse de Chicoutimi, au Québec, Canada. Il a vécu dans une grande famille, où il a dû affronter parfois de grandes difficultés. Il perd sa mère alors qu’il a 7 ans. Son père se remarie vite, et la relation avec sa nouvelle mère et les autres enfants n’est pas toujours cordiale. Il connaît des moments difficiles, ce qui lui cause certains complexes qui le marqueront toute sa vie.

Pour ses études primaires, il est placé dans un orphelinat. Puis, à la fin, il réussit à être accepté au séminaire de Chicoutimi pour ses études secondaires et pour les deux années de philosophie. Il n’a pas toujours le soutien dont il aurait besoin pour faire ses études. Pour avoir le nécessaire, il doit parfois se débrouiller en travaillant et en faisant du petit commerce. Les prêtres du séminaire l’aident et lui font confiance. Ils témoignent que sans être brillant pour les études, il ne manque pas d’ardeur et a le nécessaire pour réussir. Il est prompt et versatile, tout en prenant ses responsabilités au sérieux.

Au cours de sa deuxième année de philosophie, il demande à être admis au noviciat des Pères Blancs à St-Martin, près de Montréal. Au mois d’août 1954, il commence son noviciat. Cette année se passe relativement bien. Le supérieur le considère comme un sujet généreux et dévoué, mais qui doit maîtriser sa nervosité et développer la pondération et la réflexion avant d’agir.

Au mois d’août 1955, il est au scolasticat d’Eastview. Il y passe 4 années en travaillant durement. Il est éprouvé par la maladie, la fatigue et par une fracture à une jambe. Comme dans le passé, sa volonté lui permet de passer à travers ces contretemps. Il a une bonne intelligence, mais on pense qu’il pourrait donner davantage s’il mettait plus de méthode et d’ordre dans son travail. Il est meilleur pour le côté pratique, car il est débrouillard et dévoué, mais ce qu’il fait n’est pas toujours bien réfléchi.

Notre confrère prononce son Serment missionnaire le 21 juin 1958. Il est ordonné prêtre le 3 janvier 1959, dans sa paroisse natale de St-Léon, par Mgr Marius Paré, alors évêque auxiliaire de Chicoutimi.

Après ses études, il va se reposer dans son milieu. Au début d’octobre 1959, il arrive au Burundi où il est nommé dans le diocèse de Bujumbura. Il va d’abord quelques mois à Mabayi et Mutumba pour apprendre le kirundi et s’initier à la pastorale. Par la suite, il sera vicaire à Musigati, Cibitoke et Munanira. Après 7 ans de présence au Burundi, il part en congé pour se reposer car il est malade et énervé. Il vivait beaucoup de tensions dans ses rapports avec les gens et ses confrères. On n’aimait pas sa façon de travailler seul et de tout exagérer dans ses conversations. Son régional souligne tout de même qu’il a montré du dévouement et qu’il a réussi de petites constructions en succursale.

Il arrive au Canada en mai 1966 et part se reposer en famille. Après quelques mois, le Père provincial apprend qu’il a dû être hospitalisé pendant un mois pour des examens et une opération pour un ulcère à l’estomac.

En septembre 1967, il est à Montréal et fait des études de pastorale. En 1969, il part en Floride, aux USA, pour y suivre des cours et se reposer. Plus tard, il demande au Père provincial une lettre de référence pour pouvoir faire du ministère dans le diocèse d’Orlando, en Floride, USA. L’évêque l’accepte pour une expérience de 3 ans.

En mars 1973, il est accepté dans le diocèse de Peoria en Illinois, USA. Il est vicaire successivement dans quatre paroisses, de 1973 à 1984. Il est ensuite curé dans trois paroisses, de 1984 à 1992. Il retourne au Canada en 1996. Il prend résidence à notre communauté de la rue St-Hubert à Montréal.

Au début de 2011, il est hospitalisé pour différents troubles, dont un début de pneumonie. À son retour à la résidence, on constate qu’il diminue beaucoup physiquement et psychologiquement. Au mois d’août de la même année, il est admis à l’hôpital de l’Enfant-Jésus à Québec. C’est là qu’il décède le 23 août 2011.
Les funérailles ont été célébrées le 30 août 2011 en l’église des Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens, en présence de l’urne funéraire. Ses cendres ont été déposées au cimetière de son village de St-Léon. Le Père Gérard Bouchard a présidé la messe des funérailles et fait l’homélie. Un de ses frères a donné un témoignage en parlant de l’expérience de notre confrère.

Le Père Perron a été un grand malade. Cette situation a été pénible pour les autres, et aussi pour lui. Des confrères ont pu recevoir certaines confidences de lui. Ils ont constaté qu’il a beaucoup souffert intérieurement.

Nous sommes certains que Dieu le Père, dans sa grande bonté, a accueilli notre confrère dans son Royaume pour qu’il reçoive un repos bien mérité.

Père Jaak De Meyer

1931 - - 2011

Jaak est né à Torhout en Flandre occidentale le 8 mars 1931, mais la famille a déménagé peu après à Bruges, où Jaak a fait ses études primaires et secondaires au collège Saint-Louis. En septembre 1950, il entre chez les Pères Blancs à Boechout et fait ensuite son noviciat à Varsenare.

En septembre 1953, il commence ses études de théologie à Heverlee, où il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 7 juillet 1956. Il sera ordonné prêtre à cet endroit le 21 avril 1957, par Mgr. Ogez. Un de ses formateurs disait de lui: “Il sait organiser avec autorité, mais paie surtout de sa personne”. Cela restera vrai toute sa vie, avec beaucoup d’avantages mais aussi quelques inconvénients. Un confrère témoignera plus tard : “Jaak a, en effet, une forte personnalité, avec ses idées bien arrêtées, et il est fort peu porté au compromis. Il est aussi carré au moral que son menton volontaire l’est au physique.”

Nommé au diocèse de Bunia, Jaak s’envole avec Sobelair le 22 avril 1958. Sa première nomination le conduit dans la paroisse de Mudzi Maria à Bunia, où il apprend la langue swahili et fait fonction de vicaire. En octobre de l’année suivante, il est nommé à Badiya. C’est là qu’en pastorale, il se révèle vrai meneur d’hommes et un organisateur compétent. Devenu responsable enthousiaste de ALTI (Action contre la Lèpre et la Tuberculose en Ituri), il construit pour les malades de la lèpre et les patients tbc de petites maisons, pourvues d’eau courante et d’électricité. ALTI est financée par l’organisation allemande ‘Aktion Canchanabury - Lepra­hilfe Hans Reinhardt e.V.’ de Bochum. Cet organisme collabore avec les Pères Blancs et les diocèses concernés.

L’année 1964 est une année cruciale à cause de la rébellion. Jaak est emprisonné à deux reprises, mais il est chaque fois libéré. Après une période de repos en Belgique, il retourne dans sa paroisse de Badiya dévastée. Vers la fin de son séjour dans cette paroisse, il ajoutera les patients du sida aux autres malades, auxquels il s’est dévoué de tout cœur.

En décembre 1974, Jaak est nommé curé à Mongbwalu. Il déploie une grande activité, mais n’est pas toujours facile pour ses collaborateurs. Il demeure le responsable de ALTI. Le fait que cette organisation profite du diocèse comme association sans but lucratif (ASBL), sans s’intégrer dans le œuvres sociales diocésaines, provoque pas mal de difficultés. Il faut ajouter que Jaak ne se contente jamais de son engagement dans l’ALTI. À Mongbwalu et ailleurs, il crée et anime les Centres de Santé Communautaire (CSC) dans quantité de petits villages. Quelques-uns de ces centres ont évolué et deviennent de véritables dispensaires-maternités.

Il forme les ASC, Agents de Santé Communautaire. Comme on parle de “médecins aux pieds nus”, on peut dire que les ASC sont “infirmiers aux pieds nus” pour les soins de santé primaires. Dans ce but, Jaak s’informe et cherche des collaborateurs qualifiés. La mise en marche de toute l’organisation CSC et ASC témoigne de son grand souci pour le développement et la santé des gens. Un autre exemple encore : il sait par expérience ce que le scoutisme lui a apporté dans sa jeunesse. Aussi est-il, avec quelques confrères, à l’origine du scoutisme dans toute la région.

Jaak ne s’occupe pas seulement de développement, même si cette activité lui demande beaucoup de temps et exige de lui beaucoup d’efforts. Prêtre très soucieux de la pastorale, il déborde d’idées et d’initiatives pour animer les Communautés Ecclésiales Vivantes, pour former et recycler les divers responsables, pour impliquer les chrétiens dans la vie de l’Église. Il est aussi un très bon prédicateur, et ses homélies sont toujours bien adaptées, riches d’enseignement et souvent d’une grande profondeur.

En 1987, Jaak est de nouveau nommé à Badiya tout en restant responsable de ALTI. Mais en septembre 1995, à la demande du conseil régional, il doit donner sa démission à la tête de cette organisation. Sa désignation pour Kibibi dans l’archidiocèse de Kisangani ne se réalise pas et, le 14 février 1996, Jaak, assez déçu, rentre définitivement en Belgique. Les premières années en Belgique, il continuera à faire du travail administratif pour ALTI et à envoyer des médicaments.

Jaak s’installe un temps chez sa sœur et son beau-frère, d’abord aux Pays-Bas, puis au Luxembourg. En novembre 2000, il rejoint notre communauté de Berchem. Un essai d’engagement dans l’organisation Wereld-Missiehulp, située à Boechout et spécialisée dans les expéditions vers ‘les missions’, n’aboutit pas.

En avril 2001, Jaak est nommé à Varsenare où il passera encore des années heureuses et paisibles, bien inséré dans la communauté. Il continuera à se rendre à Bunia chaque année, pendant quelques semaines, afin d’y suivre les affaires de ALTI et d’y visiter ses nombreux amis. Jusqu’à ce que sa santé ne le lui permette plus.

Au mois de mars 2010, il rejoint la maison de repos “Avondrust”. Il y décède paisiblement le mercredi 8 juin 2011. Le 14 juin, nous avons concélébré l’Eucharistie d’adieu avant l’inhumation dans notre cimetière de Varsenare.

Jaak a mené une vie mouvementée. Sans aucun doute, le fil rouge de son existence a été l’engagement pour ses frères et sœurs socialement exclus, notamment les patients de la lèpre et du sida. “Ce que vous avez fait pour les plus petits des miens, c’est à moi que vous l’avez fait.” (Matthieu 25, 40).

Jef Vleugels

 

PROFILES

Father Maurice Mertens

1925 - - 2011

Maurice was born on the 4th February 1925 into a working-class family, numbering 15 children, at Geetbets Commune, in Louvain, Belgium. Maurice was the last-but-one and outlived all his elder brothers and sisters. He did his secondary schooling at the St John Berchmans College at Diest. Maurice entered the White Fathers at Boechout in 1945. In this way, he was following in the footsteps of his priest brother and his sister, who became a nun.

After his novitiate at Varsenare, he began his theology studies at Marienthal (1948-1949), completing them at Heverlee, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 21st July 1951.

During his years of formation, his professors described him as a man full of enthusiasm, generous, with a strongly developed social bent, an engaging smile and very communicative. He was a good psychologist, a master at motivating people and with whom everyone felt at ease. On the intellectual level, he did not soar like an eagle, but had good, solid and realistic common sense.

On the 12th April 1952, Maurice was ordained a priest at Heverlee. After completing his military service after the fashion of the times, by six months studying at the Louvain Inter-Faculty Colonial Institute, he was ready to leave.

On the 1st April 1953, Maurice took off via Sobelair Airline for Bukavu, (in the ‘Belgian’ Congo of the day). He began learning the local language at Burhale. He wrote, ‘I think I can thank heaven on my knees for being able to begin in such a mission post, for Burhale is already very close to my heart. I love the people here, these calm, straightforward and good Bashi. They are so open to the faith. Moreover, I love their language. I find Mashi a terrific language: I am truly passionate about studying it and then one forgets how difficult it is. Besides, whoever does not like the language does not like the people who speak it either.’ He experienced an earthquake at Burhale. It brought the church and the mission building crashing down.

In February 1954, he was appointed curate of the parish of St Therese at Bukavu, where he had two main duties. He was Schools Director and Hospital Chaplain. It was also there that he lived out the people’s struggle for Independence and where his confrere Renaat De Vos was murdered.

In order to return for his first home leave in 1961, he had to cross Lake Kivu to Rwanda by stealth, in a dugout canoe, as though he were fleeing. After his Long Retreat at Frascati, Maurice became curate in September 1961 at the Holy Family parish at Bagira, quite near Bukavu, with a Congolese priest as parish priest. He felt more and more at home at Bukavu.

In July 1963, Maurice moved to the Archdiocesan residence, appointed Secretary and Chancellor of Archbishop Van Steene. He continued this same mandate under his successor Archbishop Mulindwa. In addition to his administrative tasks, he was also officially appointed ‘parish priest of the whites’ and, on occasion, he gave courses at the Academy of Science and the Nurses’ School. In 1964, he lived through the Simba Rebel­lion, the mercenaries and the intervention of the Belgian paratroopers. After a short leave in late 1965, Maurice returned to Bukavu and there went through the crisis with Schramme and his mercenaries. During this time, (1964-1968), 218 missionaries were killed in the Congo, including 10 White Fathers. (For them all, the Kongolo Memorial was erected at Gentinnes, Belgium). For Mau­rice, it was the last straw. In August 1967, he returned to Belgium for good.

For the active and committed missionary he was, a completely new life began. On the 1st November 1967, Maurice was appointed an Army chaplain for Belgian soldiers stationed in Germany, more exactly at Soest. On the 1st November 1970, he was shifted to Aix-la-Chapelle. On the 1st October 1980, his final appointment in the Army brought him back to Belgium, to Brasschaat, where he was to remain for ten years. For all these long years, he was a highly-regarded pastor for the soldiers and their officers and families. He accompanied them pastorally for catechism, liturgy and the sacraments. There also, Maurice was a happy man, eager to be of service and greatly appreciated.

At the end of February 1990, he was officially pensioned off. However, as early as the 1st March, he recommenced his service as Rector of the Sœurs Noires at Lierre. He was also – except for the last few years – chaplain to the large Saint Joseph Rest Home run by the same Congregation. In early 2010, Maurice became increasingly confused. In March, he was transferred to Avondrust (Varsenare), as his condition required constant observation. He lived more and more in the past, far from the present moment, but continually cheerful, smiling and always ready for a chat.

He was ready for his last journey. He himself had meticulously prepared his funeral. Maurice died on the 22nd august 2011 at Avondrust (Varsenare), Belgium after 60 years of missionary life in DR Congo and Belgium. There he is now in heaven, with Christ, his Risen Lord and Master.

Jef Vleugels

Father Richard Deschamps

1923 - - 2011

Father Richard Deschamps introduces himself in this way: ‘I was born on the 1st April 1923 in the Diocese of St. Hyacinthe, Québec. I am the oldest of a family of seven children. We lived a few steps from the church and the school. I was brought up during the hard times of the Thirties. It was not easy to raise a family of seven children with my father’s low salary, but we never lacked the essentials. My parents were deeply Christian. In addition to preaching by example, they made sure we went to church. Night prayer and the family rosary were obligatory in the evenings. At the end of my primary school, the parish priest proposed to my parents to send me to St. Hyacinthe Seminary and to help them pay my fees. In September 1937, I was able to begin my standard courses at this Seminary. My secondary studies and philosophy were wonderful years. Studies were not a problem for me. During the holidays, I found work to earn a little money to help my parents.’

At the end of his philosophy, Richard chose the missionary vocation with the White Fathers. In September 1945, he went to Éverell for the postulancy. The following year, he began his novitiate at St. Martin, near Montreal. From 1947 till 1951, he went to Eastview for his four years of theology. As he was gifted from the intellectual point of view, he succeeded easily. He was helped to overcome his shyness and nervousness, so as to push himself forward and make the best of his attainments. He was considered a good prospect, a man of duty, who needed to ensure that he relaxed above all physically.

He took his Missionary Oath on the 27th June 1950, and was ordained a priest on the 28th January 1951 in the Ottawa University Chapel by Archbishop Alexandre Vachon of Ottawa. On the 2nd February, he celebrated his first Solemn Mass in his parish. At the end of the Scholasticate, in July and August, he spent his holidays with his family.

To his great disappointment, he did not leave for Africa right away. However, he accepted to do a year of studies in education at London University. At the end of this year, he was happy to leave for Tanzania, appointed to the Diocese of Mwanza. He travelled firstly to Europe, then by ship to Dar es Salaam. He related how lovely this voyage was which enabled him to rest and to recover a bit after his stressful year in London.

He arrived in Mwanza in September 1952 and two days later left for the Teacher Training College at Bukumbi to replace a confrere there. He began immediately with a full programme of courses to complete the academic year. This was hard for him as he had to teach only in English, not knowing Kiswahili; the students did not know English well. The results reflected this and he suffered from it.

During the holidays, the Teacher Training College was moved to Murutunguru on the Island of Ukerewe, where the building was under construction. As for Richard, he went to a parish for six weeks to learn Kiswahili. He made great progress, but not enough to speak fluently. During this time, he fell off his motorbike and seriously injured his leg. It took some months for the infection in this leg to heal, but it did not prevent him from giving his courses. During his free time, he continued to learn Kiswahili so that gradually he was able to teach in this language.

In 1957, after some years in teaching, Father Deschamps was appointed Schools Inspector in a part of the diocese. He carried out this work most often on the road, as he had to visit, compile reports, and look after the provision of school materials and many other matters.

In 1963, when the post of Inspector was abolished, he returned as professor at Murutun­guru Teacher Training College. There, he was to be content, because after gaining this experience, his task became easier and there was a good understanding between the professors and the students. On the occasion of his home leave, he did his Long Retreat at Villa Cavaletti in 1964. He remained at the Teacher Training College until 1969, when the decision was taken to appoint him curate at Murutunguru parish. He worked there for two years. He acclimatised well to this new life, but he had to limit himself in his work. In early 1972, he shifted to Nancio, again as curate. However, his problems were to increase there. His health was not very good. Above all, he had a problem of deafness that annoyed him greatly. After some months, with the agreement of his Superiors, he took the decision to return to Canada for good.

He arrived at Montreal on the 11th December 1972. After some rest in his family, he went to help at the Procure des Missions, and then to the Dollar-a-Month Club. In 1974, he was placed in charge of this service, which he was to provide for 17 years. It was a task tailor-made for him, as it was only office work and his hard-of-hearing problem did not disturb him.

En 1991, he asked to leave this task and sought a sabbatical year to rest and do some updating. After this time of rest, he agreed to take charge of the accounting of our rest home at Lennoxville. This was to be his last change of house, as two years later he took his full retirement while remaining on the spot. He was unable to accept any other work as he became increasingly disabled.

The final years of his life were to become progressively more painful. His legs soon gave up on him. Firstly, he moved around with a Zimmer frame, then in a wheelchair. He was to suffer from heart failure, and pneumonia, requiring hospitalisation. He died on the 29th August 2011 in our house at Lennoxville. He had so much requested the favour of remaining at home to die.

The Funeral Mass was celebrated on the 3rd October in our chapel, followed by burial at St. Antoine Cemetery Lennoxville, in the plot reserved for Missionaries of Africa. Father Jacques Bédard, MAfr, who was the Main Celebrant at the Mass and Father Richard Dandenault, MAfr, preached the homily. Here are some extracts: ‘For almost eighteen years, Richard was in retirement in this house. He lived his mission in silence, in prayer, in smiling, in company with his daily health problems, including muscular dystrophy, hard-of-hearing and much more. God alone knew the depths of his heart and God alone knows how to draw the fruitfulness that may emerge from such a condition of offering and of love. We take for granted that without hardship he welcomed this invitation to life eternal from his God, following the example of Jesus his Master, and that he entered into the blessedness of life and fullness of love that are now offered to him in eternity.’

Lauréat Belley

Father Francis Kermasson

1924 - - 2011

Francis was born on the 7th April 1924 in the hamlet of Kermoret in Assérac Commune, France. He was baptised the next day and on the 24th May 1935 received Confirmation in this same parish. Francis studied at the junior seminary of Guérande, and then at the middle seminary of Notre-Dame des Couëts, at Bouguenais, quite close to Nantes. When entering the major seminary, he wanted first to do his military service to think more about it. As the intake class of 1944 was ultimately not called up, he returned home to work in the fields with his parents. Like every Breton, he was attached to the soil, a little corner of heaven on earth. It is not for nothing, for the Brière, drained by the Brivet, the last tributary of the Loire, is famous for its lovely thatched dwellings.

In addition, even if people no longer use the local peat for heating fuel, there are always a multitude of birds to contemplate: green sandpiper, common snipe, curlews, little grebe, water rail, Montagu’s Harrier, black-headed gulls, purple heron and many other species. The canals teem with succulent eels, bream, tench and pike. On the banks, there are nests for otters, weasels, ermine, and mink; and for hunters, brown hares proliferate in the forest of tall trees. Nothing there seems to have been too damaged by human intrusion.

Nevertheless, after a year, on the 15th April 1946, Francis applied to enter Kerlois seminary of philosophy. This did not surprise his parents, as his mother was the sister of Fr Robert, White Father. After two years of philosophy at Kerlois, and the novitiate at Maison Carrée in 1948-1949, he spent three years at Thibar, concluding with the Missionary Oath on the 27th June 1952, then priesthood at Carthage on the 5th April 1953. Physically, Francis was a colossus: as a centre-half in football, he was a terror. ‘As long as you have ‘this sold machine’, cried the young Tunisians who played against the scholastics in friendly matches, ‘we will never win!’ He was a wall in goal. Francis was not an intellectual, but he was gifted for manual work and solid spirituality. Somewhat shy and sometimes cautious, he held the esteem of his confreres and members of staff who appreciated his good common sense, his kindness, his sincere piety and dedication.

A lad as well-built as he could only be appointed to a tough mission and this was to be Mali on the 25th June 1953, in the Diocese of Bamako. On the 2nd Sept­ember, he was at Ouolossé­bougou to learn Bambara. After a short stay at Ségou, from July to December 1954, he was appointed to Kolongotomo then on the 18th October he became Superior of the important post of Ségou. On the 20th October 1956, he was made Superior and Director of the catechists’ school of Faladyé. Moreover, he reserved the most arduous parish visits to himself, even during the wet season. In this way, he gained a great deal of influence with the people by his goodness, his patience and his spirit of faith. He was also much appreciated by the Sisters for his supernatural attitude and his dedication. He was to remain in this post until 1964, when he did his Long Retreat at Villa Cavaletti, Rome.

On his return, he was appointed Superior of a new foundation at Kolokani, where he arrived on the 6th January 1965. He was to spend 12 years there, until 1977. He then returned home for a long period of updating at Angers. He lodged at the Major Seminary, but every weekend went to Brière to visit his sick mother. On the 8th November 1979, he returned to his mission at Faladyé, Bamako Diocese, until the Jerusalem Session-Retreat in 1984. After this, he came back to Faladyé in 1985, then to Kolokani and Kati in April 1986. He was therefore almost always Superior and the confreres were happy with him.

However, in 1979, the engine began to seize up. He began to have problems with his kidneys, bilharzia, amoebas, deforming rheumatism, and arthritis attacks, which were increasingly to disable him. His home leaves were not restful as his mother was in decline, his brother-in-law was dying of a brain tumour and his sister had depression. Everyone was leaning on him. Each time, not wishing to abdicate, he went back to the mission. Faithful to his apostolic methods, which some found too traditional, but which the people appreciated, he dedicated himself. ‘Admittedly, he was somewhat reluctant when faced with some innovations in the apostolate, but he was hardy, well-integrated into the life of the rural villages as so very few are’, noted the Regionals.

Indeed, during this long period in his life, he was able to come close to the weak. He loved the people of Mali, making himself one of them, conscientiously studying their language, respecting their customs and traditions. Without neglecting the rural catechumenates and evangelisation, he helped them to live better by improving their farming methods, initiating them into gardening and to the valuable bringing-in of fishing, his one-time passion in the countless canals of the Grande Brière. In 1996, after a fall which caused a hip fracture, an operation in Paris and a period of rehabilitation, he winkled a final return to the mission from the doctor. However, he was not up to it anymore and although Bishop Sangaré told him that ‘the bones of old missionaries are a source of blessing’, this courageous strapping lad took the hard decision to return home to France for good in April 1997.

All the same, he took on the Bursar’s task at our house in Nantes, as well as giving a helping hand to parish priests here and there. When the White Fathers left Nantes, he opted for the retirement community at Billère, from November 2002. However, every year, he liked to return to his home, and in spite of his strength diminishing, to be of service to the parish priest of Herbignac and Saint Lyphard, where his sister lived, in the Grande Brière he loved so much. It was there during his last visit that the Lord called him to Himself. A neighbour noticed his lifeless body as it lay in the garden of Saint-Lyphard presbytery on the 14th August.

He was interred, no doubt in accordance with one of his secret desires, in the church of Saint Lyphard, among his own folk. Father Paillard, who had been his companion at Nantes for many years, led the funeral Mass. He summarised the fruitful life of Francis by concluding, ‘Thank you for your missionary life, your example and your discreet but solid testimony. We celebrate this Eucharist as you did so often here and elsewhere; may God welcome you into his presence for life everlasting!’

Armand Duval

Father François Boinot

1914 - - 2011

François was born at Niort, in the Diocese of Poitiers, France, on the eve of the Great War, the 4th July 1914. He was the seventh in a family of eleven children. The close-knit family were well-to-do and deeply Christian. ‘We loved one another,’ he confided in his curriculum vitae, ‘but without much show between us.’ Six of the nine boys became priests. It is a kind of record. There were two White Fathers, François and Xavier, one Benedictine who became Abbott of Tournay, one Dominican and two canons of Poitiers.

Getting to know the White Fathers through missionary magazines, François decided to apply to Kerlois in September 1932. He did his novitiate in 1934-1935 under Father Betz, and went on to Thibar for theology in September 1935. At Easter 1938, he began his military service in the 4th Zouaves at Tunis, as did many French scholastics. However, when the Superiors learned that this regiment was due to leave for the front line, they decided to anticipate François’ ordination. Therefore, in less than a week, he said, he received the sub-diaconate, the diaconate, took his White Father Oath, and was ordained a priest on the 15th May 1940 in the oratory of the Archbishop of Tunis.

He then left for the French Front as a nursing officer and was taken prisoner on the 16th June 1940. He sang his First Mass on the 15th August, no small feat, in the prisoner-of-war camp at Meaux. His status as a nursing officer enabled him to be freed in January 1941 and employed in the military hospital at Val-de-Grâce, Paris. As soon as he could, in May of the same year, he reached Thibar to complete his final year of theology. After three years of military life, it was rather hard for him and in addition, it was said that there was a degree of pessimism.

On the 25th April 1942, he was appointed to Bobo-Dioulasso (Upper Volta), but two days before the departure from Marseilles, the Americans landed in North Africa! The ship could not sail and François had to wait, exercising his ministry at Tournus, Villeurbanne and Antilly before finally being able to reach his mission in May 1945. From the very start, whereas he had only begun learning the language, he was appointed to Dédougou, a parish he described as arid and tough with few Christians. He looked after the school in addition to mission work, while on his own admission, he did not speak Bobo-oulé very well.

Nevertheless, he was appointed Superior of the mission after a year, in 1947. It was noted that he was appreciated by his Superiors for his docility, esteemed by his confreres and respected by the parishioners and notably at ease with young people.

In the summer of 1952, during his first home leave, the six Boinot priests gathered together for the first time. It was unfortunately to surround their sick father who was to pass away some weeks later. During this home leave, François did his Long Retreat at Mours from the 17th February 1952. On his return, he was once again appointed to Ouakara on the 29th June 1953, then to Dédougou on the 6th November 1960 as Superior. He always alternated, he said, between these two parishes, as Superior or curate, looking after the mission schools and the catechists’ training, while working in the parish with his poor knowledge of Bobo-oulé. In addition, as his health was weak, his trips by moped were visibly demanding on him and he was always very tired arriving back in France for each home leave. He even had to anticipate his home leave in 1973 due to high fever and eyesight problems.

In 1960, Bishop Lesourd of Nouna decided to build a junior seminary at Tyonkuy near Dédougou. As the Bishop was in Rome, he delegated François to bless the foundation stone of this building. Then, in July 1961, he appointed him there to look after (typically WF, said François) the first intake of youngsters. This was a fortunate appointment as he enjoyed the company of young people and he shone in the task. The general opinion was that he did a lot of good there, carefully preparing his courses and being of spiritual help to the many pupils who needed it. Very organised, he was also at ease in the work of the secretariat, duplicating and typing. He was to remain at Tyonkuy until July 1981 as professor and also rector of the seminary on two occasions, unmistakeably making his mark on the house. ‘16 years of parish work with visits, schools, catechists; 20 years in the junior seminary with the youngsters,’ he soberly recorded in his diary. In the meantime, in 1973 Bishop Zéphirin Toé, for whom François was always very friendly, took over the direction of Nouna Diocese.

On the 24th June 1981, ‘Old, tired and spent’, he wrote, ‘not having practised Bobo-oulé for 20 years, I requested a return to France. I arrived in August 1981 and two months later went directly to the retirement community at Billère. I was happy to be at Billère when I walked the streets. I worked a little in almost all the services of the house. I am content here.’ He was only 67 on arrival, but ‘was particularly besieged by a persistent and exhausting furunculosis’, said his brother Xavier. He was to spend 30 years at Billère, another record no doubt, until his return to the Father’s house on the eve of the Assumption, the 14th August 2011. He had become very dependent, but accepted with humility and gratitude the hospital and medical treatment services.

‘Do not be overcome; I am going to prepare a place for you; where I am you will be there also.’ ‘For a long time, François was waiting for this day,’ said Joseph Olivaud in the homily at the Funeral Mass. ‘You are now in the peace of the Lord meeting those who preceded you. You are with the Virgin Mary, whom you prayed so much. How many rosaries you recited! I can still see you in the 2nd floor corridor in the pre-dawn light or in the course of the day. You were a model of fidelity to Morning Prayer, to the Eucharist, to Evening Prayer, even if you could no longer read because of your poor eyesight. When others sought to help you stand after the breviary, you kindly refused to demonstrate that you were still able to do so alone.

‘François, you may have left us, but you are still with us. We believe that God is love and those who live in him are near to us, among us, sharing our joys, hopes and suffering. They want to help us succeed in our lives. François has left us; he has gone to the Father’s house. These are very powerful words: all is not over; on the contrary, everything is just beginning; it is a new life that will never end. We will meet up with all those who followed Jesus.

Let our sadness today be transformed in joy, so that we will share with all those who surround us, who live with us. Let us celebrate this Eucharist in peace and joy!’

Armand Duval

 

Father André Lacoste

1923 - - 2011

André was born on the 29th June 1923 at Tournai. He did his first years of secondary schooling at the Cardinal Mercier College at Braine-l’Alleud and the three last at the St. Georges Institute at Woluwe-Saint-Pierre. He entered the White Fathers at Thy-le-Château in 1945, and did his novitiate at Varsenare and the first year of theology at Marienthal. Three more years of theology were to follow at Heverlee, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 21st July 1951 and was ordained a priest on the 12th April 1952 by Bishop Geeraerts. Those in charge of his formation describe him as intelligent, philosophically open to life’s problems, gifted with artistic taste, but sometimes lacking common sense and not gifted for languages. He was sent to Louvain University, where he obtained a licentiate in Political and Social Science.

Appointed to Burundi, André left by plane on the 10th October 1955 for the Vicariate of Gitega (Bujumbura was still part of it) to take charge of the ‘Temps Nouveaux’ newspaper. In Sep­tember 1956, he is sent to DR.Congo and became professor at the junior seminary of Mungombe and a year later at the junior seminary of Mugeri (Bukavu), where he remained until January 1963. He then gave lectures for six months at the Notre Dame College at Bukavu. In February 1964, he returned to Belgium for health reasons. He had his pied-à-terre at Namur, where he took part in missionary promotion and updated himself in educational method.

He was interested in the progress made in religious teaching with young people and in the use of interactive and audiovisual methods. He amassed a huge amount of material: slides and recordings. He also had the opportunity to make a study trip to Egypt and the Sinai with two professors of the major seminary of Namur. In addition, he followed the Long Retreat at Villa Cavaletti. In September 1966, he was back in the junior seminary of Mugeri until his ‘leave’ in 1970, when he did a year of updating at Louvain.

From 1971 till 1975, André lectured at the Atheneum of Ibanda (Bukavu). From 1975 till 1980, he was a professor at the Institute of Pedagogical Sciences at Bukavu and in charge of the spiritual care of youth. Thanks to the twinning with students of a parish in Brussels, he opened a students’ centre he baptised ‘Sharing House’. The students found there a study hall, meeting rooms, a library, a do-it-yourself workshop and even a chapel. The Regional noted, ‘It is a pity that André is not much of an organiser and easily lets himself be cheated.’

It was at this time he launched, with Father Pierre Croteau, the ‘Pilot Village of Modern Agricul­ture’ in the valley of the Lwana, short of a hundred kilometres from Bukavu. The aim was to set up young couples and teach them new farming methods. This project was heavily supported by the Lacoste family. In late 1980, he left for home leave and on his return, made a long journey in West Africa.

From March 1981 till July 1985, he was in charge of the education of youth and rural development. In 1985, he was operated on for varicose veins in one leg. After a short stay at the parish of Bagira, he returned to teach at the junior seminary of Mugeri. In the meantime, the ‘Pilot Village of Modern

Agriculture’ went badly and posted a huge debt. The Archbishop addressed the Regional personally. In reply, in May 1988, the Regional wrote, ‘He (André) is charming and convincing, but he is no manager. He should never have tried to achieve a project alone that nevertheless would be an excellent solution to many of the problems of our people.’

In September 1989, André followed the Jerusalem Session-Retreat and was obliged to be treated in Belgium. He then returned to Mugeri, where he taught in a next-door secondary school until 1993. In January 1993, André became chaplain to the Lycée Katana, near Fomulac, where be joined the WF community. In February 2000, he contracted phlebitis and as his leg did not improve, the doctors decided to repatriate him. In September, André was back at Fomulac. In May 2005, he was officially appointed to Belgium for good and resided in our Salzinnes community, where we always knew him seated with his bad leg raised; he was smiling, content.

Andre taught all his life. He taught mainly French and Religion and was highly appreciated in all the establishments he worked in. Also throughout his life, he had an inborn yearning to learn so as to keep up-to-date and improve his courses. For, he said, our African pupils have a right to quality teaching. His generous and imaginative character always pushed him to see the broader picture than his career as a teacher. Launching the ‘Pilot Village of Modern Agriculture’ or more recently, ‘Bethsaida’, where even today men and women Servants of the Word are being formed, was part of it.

André was a gentle soul and loved life. He often said, ‘Life is beautiful’, adding, ‘We have to make it beautiful!’ He was an architect of peace, more inclined to see the good and the beautiful with a sense of wonder than to see the evil. When trials came his way through illness, André did not rebel. He accepted it cheerfully and serenely. On the 4th February 2011, in the early hours, André passed away peacefully at the Foyer Sainte-Anne at Salzinnes (Namur). On his table were found these words written in his own hand, ‘We go ever so gently towards the end of our short life on earth. Let things happen little by little, as the Lord would wish. May his Holy Will be done!’

Jef Vleugels

 

Father Toussaint Perron

1931 - - 2011

Father Toussaint Perron was born on the 30th October 1931 in the parish of St. Leon, Diocese of Chicoutimi, Quebec. He was brought up in a large family where he had sometimes to face up to major problems. He lost his mother when he was only seven years old. His father soon remarried and the relationship with his new mother and others was not always pleasant. He experienced some trying times which caused complexes that would mark him for life.

For his primary schooling, he was placed in an orphanage. Then, afterwards, he managed to be accepted in the seminary of Chicoutimi for his secondary school studies and two years of philosophy. He did not always have the support he would have needed to do his studies. To make ends meet, he sometimes had to rely on finding work and running a little business. The seminary priests helped him and trusted him. They stated that although not brilliant in studies, he did not lack enthusiasm and what was required to succeed. He was lively and multitalented, while taking his responsibilities seriously.

During his second year of philosophy, he applied to the White Fathers’ novitiate at St. Martin near Montreal. Some months later, very happy, he learned he had been accepted. He began his novitiate in August 1954. The year passed relatively well. The Superior considered him a generous and devoted candidate, but that he needed to control his nervousness and develop level-headedness and reflection before acting.

In August 1955, he went to the Eastview Scholasticate. He spent four years in hard work, tested by illness, fatigue and a fractured leg. As in the past, his will-power enabled him to traverse these setbacks. He had a good mind, but it was thought he could do better if he put more method and order into his work. He was better at practical work, as he was resourceful and dedicated, but it was not always well thought-out.
Toussaint took his Missionary Oath on the 21st June 1958. He was ordained a priest on the 3rd January 1959 in his home parish of St. Léon by Bishop Marius Paré, at that time Auxiliary Bishop of Chicoutimi.

After his studies, he took some rest at home. In early October 1959, he arrived in Burundi where he was appointed to the diocese of Bujumbura. He first went for some months to Mabayi and Mutumba to learn Kirundi and be introduced to pastoral work. Afterwards, he was to become curate at Musigati, Cibitoke and Munanira. A

fter seven years in Burundi he left for home leave to rest as he was ill and nervously exhausted. He had lived through a great deal of tension in his relations with the people and his confreres. His way of working alone and his exaggerations in conversation were not liked. Nonetheless, his Regional emphasised that he showed dedication and succeeded in some small building work in outstations.

He arrived in Canada in May 1966 and left to rest up in his family. After a few months the Provincial learned that he had had to be hospitalised for a month for tests and an operation on a stomach ulcer.
In September 1967, he was at Montreal for pastoral studies. In 1969, he left for Florida in the USA to follow courses and rest. Later, he asked the Provincial for a reference to do ministry in the Diocese of Orlando, Florida, USA. The bishop accepted him for a period of three years.

In March 1973, he was accepted into the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois, USA. He was curate in four parishes, from 1973 till 1984. He was then parish priest of three parishes from 1984 till 1992. He returned to Canada in 1996. He took up residence in our community at the Rue St. Hubert in Montreal.

Life began anew for him. At the start of 2011, he was hospitalised for various problems, including pneumonia. On his return to the Residence, he was seen to have considerably diminished physically and psychologically. In August the same year, he was admitted to the Quebec Enfant-Jésus Hospital. He died there on the 23rd August 2011.

The funeral services in the presence of the cremation urn took place on the 30th August 2011 in the church of the Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens. Toussaint’s ashes were interred in the cemetery of his village of St. Léon. Father Gérard Bouchard was the main celebrant at the Funeral Mass and preached the homily. One of Toussaint’s brothers bore testimony to him in speaking of the experience of our confrere.
Father Perron was a very sick person. The situation was distressing for others, but also for him. Some confreres were able to receive some confidences from him. They stated that he had greatly suffered interiorly.

We feel sure that God the Father in his great goodness has welcomed our confrere into his Kingdom for him to receive a well-earned rest.

 

Farher Jaak De Meyer

1931 - - 2011

 

Jaak was born on the 8th March 1931 at Torhout in West Flanders. However, the family soon afterwards moved to Bruges, where Jaak did his primary and secondary schooling at the College Saint Louis. In September 1950, he entered the White Fathers at Boechout and then did his novitiate at Varsenare. In September 1953, he began his theological studies at Heverlee, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 7th July 1956, and where he was ordained a priest on the 21st April 1957 by Bishop Ogez. One of those in charge of his formation at the time said of him, ‘Knows how to organise with authority, but it costs him dear.’ This would remain so throughout his life with many advantages, but also some drawbacks. One confrere was to bear testimony later: ‘Jaak had a strong personality, indeed, with very strong-headed ideas and was not at all inclined to compromise. He was square-cut, mentally and physically.’

Appointed to the Diocese of Bunia – Lake Albert – Jaak flew via Sobelair on the 22nd April 1958. His first appointment led him to the parish of Mudzi Maria at Bunia, where he learned Kiswahili and carried out the duties of a curate. In October the following year, he was appointed to Badiya. There, in pastoral work, he showed himself to a real leader of men as well as a competent organiser. Becoming an enthusiastic leader of ALTI (Action against Leprosy and Tuberculosis in Ituri), he built little houses with running water and electricity for leprosy and TB patients. ALTI was financed by the German organisation: Action Canchanabury Leprahilfe Hans Reinhardt e.V. Bochum. This organisation worked with the White Fathers and dioceses concerned.

1964 was a crucial year because of the rebellion. Jaak was imprisoned twice, but each time was set free. After a period of rest in Belgium, he returned to find his parish of Badiya devastated. Towards the end of his residence in this parish, he added AIDS patients to the other sick, to whom he was entirely devoted.
In December 1974, Jaak was appointed parish priest of Mongbwalu. He expended himself in great activity, but it was not always easy for his co-workers. He remained in charge of ALTI. The fact that his organisation benefited from the diocese as a charity without integrating into the diocesan social works provoked quite a few problems. It should be added that Jaak was never content with his commitment to ALTI. At Mongbwalu and elsewhere, he created and ran Community Health Centres in a number of small villages. Some of these Centres developed and became real dispensary-maternities. He formed an organisation for Community Health Workers (as one speaks today of ‘barefoot doctors’), these were ‘barefoot nurses’ for primary health care. With this in mind, Jaak informed himself and looked for qualified co-workers.

He started up these organisations due to his great concern for the development and health of the people. Again another example: he knew by experience what scouting had brought him in his youth. He therefore was, with some other confreres, at the origin of the scouting movement in the entire region.
Jaak did not only look after development, which took up a lot of his time and demanded much of his energy. As a very concerned pastoral priest, he overflowed with ideas and initiatives to lead the Living Church Communities, to form and update the various leaders, to involve Christians in the life of the Church. He was also a very good preacher, whose homilies were very well adapted, loaded with teaching and often of great depth.

In 1987, Jaak was once again appointed to Badiya while remaining in charge of ALTI. However, in September 1995, at the request of the Regional Council, he had to submit his resignation. His assignment to Kibibi in the Archdiocese of Kisangani was not taken up. On the 14th February 1996, Jaak, quite disappointed, returned home to Belgium for good. For the first years in Belgium, he continued to do the administrative work for ALTI and to send out medicines.

Jaak set up home for a while with his sister and brother-in-law, firstly in the Netherlands then in Luxembourg. In November 2000, he joined our community at Berchem. An attempt to become involved in the Wereld-Missiehulp, organisation situated at Boechout and specialising in expeditions to the ‘missions’ did not work out. In April 2001, Jaak was appointed to Varsenare, where he was still to spend some happy and peaceful years well ensconced in the community. He was to continue to spend a few weeks in Bunia every year so as to follow up the ALTI business and visit his many friends, until his poor health would no longer allow him to do so. In March 2010, he was admitted to the Avondrust rest home. There, he peacefully passed away on Wednesday the 8th June 2011. On the 14th June, we concelebrated the Farewell Eucharist before his burial in our cemetery at Varsenare.

Jaak led a very eventful life. Without doubt, the connecting thread of his existence was his commitment to his socially excluded brother and sisters, notably his leprosy and AIDS patients. ‘I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me’ (Matthew 25: 40).

Jef Vleugels