Ivan est décédé le 7 décembre 2012 à Melbourne, Australie. Il était âgé de 74 ans. Il était le seul membre australien restant de la Société.

Ivan Jones Page est né le 17 février 1938 en Australie, dans le diocèse de Maitland, paroisse de Scone. Son père, gérant d’une grande entreprise moutonnière, est anglican. Sa mère est catholique. Il y a seulement un autre enfant dans la famille, une sœur. Baptisé le 24 février 1938 à l’église paroissiale, il reçoit une éducation catholique et est confirmé le 21 novembre 1948 dans la cathédrale Ste-Marie, Sale. Il est éduqué dans des écoles catholiques avant d’entrer à l’université de Melbourne ; il est titulaire d’un B.A. en français et en histoire en 1956.

Après ses études, il rejoint le l’administration et trouve son chemin dans le travail de bibliothécaire à la bibliothèque nationale d’Australie. Il est chargé de la section des livres rares. Il est nommé bibliothécaire de liaison en Europe pour la librairie nationale d’Australie. Basé à Londres, il se spécialise dans l’achat de vieux livres rares. De par son travail, il doit voyager beaucoup. Il en profite pour visiter l’Afrique un certain nombre de fois. C’est pendant un de ces voyages qu’il entre en contact avec les Missionnaires d’Afrique.

En janvier 1977, il est à Tamale, au Ghana. Cherchant un lieu pour passer la nuit, il s’adresse à la mission. Il raconte qu’il n’a pas été spécialement bien accueilli mais il a reçu un lit pour la nuit et on l’a conduit à la gare routière le matin suivant. Il dit dans l’homélie de son jubilé d’argent : “J’étais intrigué par cet Institut fondé pour l’évangélisation de l’Afrique”. De retour à Londres, il entre en contact avec la Société et prend part à quelques weekends “Viens et vois”. Il rejoint le premier cycle à Londres en 1979.

Auparavant, Ivan retourne en Australie pour régler ses affaires et il informe ses parents qui sont choqués. Sa sœur le soutient. Il entre dans la Société à l’âge de 41 ans et suit une formation abrégée qui inclut un stage de deux ans au Burkina Faso. Cette expérience le confirme dans sa vocation. Dans le rapport de stage, ses supérieurs remarquent qu’il est très organisé et qu’il a une solide vie spirituelle et un réel zèle apostolique. Il est apprécié, tant par ses confrères que par le clergé local. Ivan fait son serment missionnaire le 12 octobre 1985 à Toulouse et il est ordonné prêtre le 30 août 1986 par l’archevêque Francis P. Carroll dans la cathédrale St-Christophe de Canberra.

Ivan retourne au Burkina où il est nommé curé à Barsalogho dans le diocèse de Kaya. Il y travaille dix ans, servant à Barsalogho, Pissila et Tema-Bokin. En mars 1987, il a un sérieux accident de moto et doit aller en France pour être soigné. Il gardera un usage limité de son bras gauche pour le reste de sa vie. Malgré cela, il retourne à Barsalogho en novembre 1987. Il est nommé conseiller provincial en décembre 1993.

Lors de la célébration de son jubilé d’argent, Ivan parle de cette période en disant : “J’ai aimé le pays, j’ai aimé les gens, et j’ai aimé mon travail, même si cela n’était pas toujours facile. Il y avait des périodes d’instabilité politique et d’incertitudes. Le climat était difficile.”

Quand le Père François Renault, archiviste et historien de la Société, décède brusquement en 1996, Ivan est invité à le remplacer. Il est bien qualifié pour le travail. Déjà à Rome, il est appelé au Burkina pour organiser les archives de quelques diocèses. En 1998, il est le secrétaire anglophone du Chapitre général.

Bien qu’il sente parfois une frustration d’être à Rome et d’avoir un ministère pastoral limité, il met en œuvre son professionnalisme pour réaliser la tâche que la Société lui a confiée. Il apprécie particulièrement le contact des quelque 800 chercheurs qui viennent annuellement consulter les archives.

Approchant les 70 ans, Ivan exprime son désir de finir ses jours en Australie. Le Conseil général lui donne la permission de vivre hors communauté. Un contrat est signé entre la Société et le diocèse de Sandhurst qui lui offre de travailler tout en étant en semi-retraite. Il demeure à Quarry Hill, Bendigo. Il aide à la cathédrale et dans des paroisses. Il commence à écrire l’histoire du diocèse et, bien sûr, travaille dans ses archives. Il est bien accepté par les prêtres et les gens. Un confrère le visite en mars 2012. Il semble content. Sa petite maison est pleine de livres. Il a repris ses contacts avec le monde académique et il est content d’avoir été invité à devenir chercheur adjoint de l’Université de Monash, Melbourne, en 2009.

Le 7 septembre 2012, Mgr Tomlinson informa le Supérieur général du décès d’Ivan. Ce dernier était allé à Melbourne pour sa retraite annuelle. Le mardi 3 septembre, il s’est senti mal et fut transporté d’urgence à l’hôpital de Melbourne. Il avait eu une forte attaque cardiaque. Le jeudi, les médecins dirent qu’il n’y avait aucun espoir de guérison. On décida de stopper la machine qui le maintenait en vie. Mgr Tomlinson lui administra les derniers sacrements. Ivan décéda cinq heures plus tard, dans la nuit du 7 septembre, entouré de sa sœur Sylvia, de son directeur spirituel, de quelques amis et prêtres et d’un séminariste du diocèse.

Pendant la veillée de prière qui précéda les funérailles, son directeur spirituel parla de l’attitude d’émerveillement d’Ivan. Il regardait sa vie avec gratitude et joie d’avoir tellement d’amis. Aux funérailles, sa nièce parla de sa bonté envers elle lors de sa visite à Rome. Le 9 octobre, au Généralat, pendant la messe du souvenir d’Ivan, le Père François Richard, son recteur à Toulouse, parla de sa recherche d’un nouveau défi, d’un engagement dans une vie qui contribuerait à changer le monde. Son stage au Burkina Faso a été l’étincelle qui le conduisit à devenir prêtre missionnaire. Il combina tout cela avec un grand amour pour les livres.

Plus de cinq cents personnes participèrent à la messe de funérailles d’Ivan, le 14 septembre 2012, dans la cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Bendigo. La messe fut présidée par Mgr Tomlinson et concélébrée par un grand nombre de prêtres du diocèse. Selon son désir, il fut incinéré.

Une citation du psaume 116 résume bien sa vie missionnaire : “Comment rendrai-je au Seigneur tout le bien qu’il m’a fait ?”

Ian Buckmaster

Condoléances que nous avons reçues de son évêque (En anglais)
The letter of condolence we have received from his Bishop

9th October 2012 : Memorial Mass at the Generalate, in Rome, for Ivan Page at 18.15

. .

Dans la chapelle François Richard, ancien Supérieur Général, a présidé cette messe avec Richard Baawobr, Supérieur Général. Etaient présents : la communauté, les Smnda, les Sœurs d Œuvre et des personnes de Rome ayant connu Ivan

Père Gabriele Pirazzo

1940 - - 2012

Gabriele, dernier né de 10 enfants, est né à Padoue, dans la région de Venise, le 29 novembre 1940. Le papa, Giovanni, était manœuvre et la maman, Maria, ménagère.
La foi simple mais solide de son milieu familial et social a marqué profondément Gabriele. Il avait 10 ans quand il rencontre le P. Giovanni Varotto, lors de ses visites pour l’animation missionnaire et vocationnelle dans les paroisses de la région.

“Quand j’étais enfant de chœur, j’écoutais avec intérêt les homélies du P. Giovanni Varotto de passage à la paroisse”, racontait le P. Gabriele pendant une interview. “J’ai dit à maman mon désir de rentrer au séminaire, mais elle m’a répondu que c’était des idées d’enfants.”

Gabriele ne se décourage pas et à l’âge de 14 ans, il écrit au supérieur du séminaire : “J’aurais désiré entrer au séminaire l’an dernier avec mon frère Giancarlo, mais j’ai su qu’il partait seulement quelques jours auparavant… Un soir, j’ai dit à maman que je préférais être missionnaire plutôt que prêtre diocésain. Elle m’a répondu qu’elle ne me laisserait pas partir, parce que j’étais trop maigrichon et qu’en Afrique, on mange peu et mal… Mais quand j’ai appris le départ de mon frère, mon désir s’est fait plus ardent et c’est pour cela que j’ai décidé de demander d’entrer l’an prochain.”

En septembre 1955, il est admis au petit séminaire de Treviglio, et ensuite au séminaire de Parella (1959-1960).
Le mois de septembre 1960, il part pour le noviciat à Gap avant de rejoindre Heverlee pour le scolasticat de 1960 à 1964.

Gai, simple et ouvert, Gabriele s’applique soigneusement aux études. Docile, sérieux et homme de foi, il en profite pour mûrir sa vocation missionnaire.

Avec ses frères Giancarlo et Romeo, il fait son serment à Gap le 16 août 1964. L’année suivante, le 29 juin 1965, Gabriele et Giancarlo ont été ordonnés prêtres ensemble à Padoue.

Après 2 ans comme membre du staff au petit séminaire de Treviglio, Gabriele est nommé en Haute Volta (aujourd’hui Burkina Faso), pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest, où il vivra ses 35 ans de vie missionnaire en Afrique.

Pendant son stage de la langue mooré, au CELA de Guilongou, il a montré de l’intérêt pour la langue et les coutumes du pays. Au Burkina, il a travaillé comme vicaire à Gounghin, Zorgo, Dori et, les trois dernières années, à Ouagadougou dans la communauté Jean XXIII.

Dans le secteur d’Italie, il a rendu service à Ciriè, Marano (1975-1977), Treviglio et Castel­franco (1999-2003).
Là où il est passé, que ce soit en Italie ou au Burkina, Gabriele a été un confrère de bonne volonté, de caractère agréable et joyeux en communauté, prêt à écouter et à être aidé par les confrères.

Au Burkina Faso, il aimait rencontrer les gens des villages et passer du temps avec eux lors des tournées. Il s’est aussi occupé de l’animation des jeunes de la JAC (Jeunesse Agricole Croyante).
Gabriele s’est montré un homme de foi à l’apparence simple, mais certainement profonde, sincère et solide, foi qui cherche l’union avec Dieu et qui se réjouit de rester avec lui dans la prière personnelle et communautaire.

De tempérament joyeux, ouvert et franc, et avec un jugement bon et droit, il a su passer à travers les moments difficiles avec courage, persévérance et équilibre, tant au Burkina Faso qu’en Italie.
En 2011, le secteur d’Italie lui avait proposé de rentrer pour s’occuper de l’animation de la communauté de Castelfranco.
Gabriele lui-même, quelque temps auparavant, avait montré son intention de rentrer définitivement, suite à des problèmes de santé et à une fatigue persistante.

Le mois d’avril 2012, à son arrivée à l’aéroport, il était très fatigué, il marchait péniblement et donnait l’impression d’être absent.
On lui a “imposé” un repos total pendant au moins deux mois, avant d’être nommé officiellement responsable de la communauté et d’entreprendre le travail d’animation missionnaire dans les paroisses environnantes.

Le premier dimanche du mois d’août 2012, il est allé animer une journée missionnaire à Cortina d’Ampezzo. Il y a prêché à quatre célébrations eucharistiques. Il semblait complètement rétabli et prêt à reprendre ses activités.

Le vendredi 17 août matin, à la chapelle de la communauté, il a ressenti de fortes douleurs aux reins. Les examens et l’échographie n’ont rien montré de particulier, sauf une infection. Le médecin lui a prescrit les médicaments appropriés.

Le dimanche 26 août, dans la matinée, Gabriele est sorti pour célébrer l’Eucharistie à la paroisse. Il semblait aller mieux, quoiqu’il eût encore un peu de douleurs. L’après-midi, il a reçu des visiteurs à la maison.

Avant le repas du soir, il a averti l’économe de la maison qu’il ne descendrait pas pour manger avec les autres. Pourtant, à la dernière minute, il a rejoint ses confrères à table.

Après avoir mangé sa soupe, il s’apprêtait à prendre des comprimés, quand il s’est appuyé sur l’épaule du confrère assis à sa droite. Il était mort. Le médecin, arrivé quelques minutes plus tard, n’a rien pu faire d’autre que constater la mort soudaine de Gabriele, probablement due à un arrêt cardiaque.

Les funérailles ont eu lieu à la paroisse de la Pieve de Castel­franco où se trouve la communauté des Missionnaires d’Afrique. Son corps repose dans la chapelle réservée aux Pères Blancs dans un cimetière de la banlieue de Castelfranco.

Merci, Seigneur, pour la vie du Père Gabriele et pour l’avoir accueilli près de toi. Merci à toi aussi, Gabriele, pour ce que tu as été pour tes confrères et pour tous ceux qui t’ont croisé au Burkina et en Italie. Repose dans la paix de celui que tu as aimé et cherché pendant toute ta vie.

Vittorio Bonfanti

Père Josef Dresselhaus

1916 - - 2012

Considérant les 37 années passées au Malawi comme missionnaire, Josef écrit : “J’y suis parti avec de grands espoirs. J’ai beaucoup appris, j’ai aidé des gens et ces années n’ont pas été vaines. Ainsi, j’ai pu quitter avec une grande satisfaction.”

Josef est né le 6 août 1916 à Liemke, un petit village de l’archidiocèse de Paderborn en Allemagne. La dernière année de la première guerre mondiale, son père meurt. Sa maman se remarie. Sept garçons et quatre filles naîtront des deux mariages. Trois enfants décèdent de problèmes pulmonaires en 1924.

De 1922 à 1930, Josef est à l’école primaire de son village. En 1930, il va à l’école des Missionnaires d’Afrique à Rietberg, à dix kilomètres de sa maison. Il complète son éducation secondaire à Grosskrotzenburg en 1937. Après quelques mois de service national, il commence ses études de philosophie dans la Société, à Trèves.

Josef termine la philosophie, et il est ensuite enrôlé dans l’armée allemande. Il est envoyé en France et, ensuite, en Pologne, d’où il est envoyé au front de Russie. La cruauté de la guerre lui cause une grande souffrance. “J’ai traversé la bataille de Stalingrad. C’était terrible”, dira-t-il plus tard. En avril 1945, il est prisonnier de guerre en Russie. Il ne parlait pas souvent des souffrances de cette période de sa vie. En mai 1949, il est libéré et retourne en Allemagne. Peu après son retour, il souffre de sa première crise de paludisme, contracté en Russie. Bien que le Provincial de la Société ne lui donne que deux semaines de vacances, il reçoit finalement la permission de rester quatre mois à la maison.

Il continue sa formation missionnaire en septembre 1949, avec le noviciat et la théologie à S’Heerenberg. Une des plus belles expériences de sa vie est la réception fraternelle et la vie communautaire pacifique vécue avec ses confrères qui, après tout, appartenaient à des nations qui furent ennemies pendant la guerre. Il fait son serment missionnaire le 22 juillet 1953. Après une année d’études complémentaires à Monteviot, en Écosse, il est ordonné prêtre le 10 juin 1954 à Galashiels.

Le 28 septembre 1954, il prend l’avion pour le Malawi qu’il atteint après dix jours, via Rome, Malte, le Caire, Tabora et Mbeya. Il passe toute sa vie missionnaire dans le diocèse de Mzuzu. Il vit et travaille dans les paroisses de Nkhamenya, Nkhata Bay, Mzambazi et Mzimba. Après ses années de vicariat, il devient curé à Mzuzu en 1964 et, plus tard, à Chilumba, Katete, Rumphi et Karonga. Au total, il travaille en plus de quinze paroisses.

Son évêque le déplace souvent parce que Josef développe les structures de ses paroisses. Il construit des écoles, succursales et dispensaires. En même temps, il est un pasteur zélé. Il est proche des gens à qui il prêche l’Évangile, qu’il vit lui-même d’une manière exemplaire. Il est plein d’énergie et de zèle, auditeur attentif prenant le temps de s’occuper des problèmes des gens. C’est difficile pour lui de dire “non” à une demande.

Josef se surmène peut-être. Il souffre de troubles digestifs et, à la fin 1970, une perforation intestinale se déclare. Un docteur de Mzuzu lui sauve la vie en l’opérant d’urgence, puis Josef va en Allemagne pour récupérer. Là, une deuxième opération le soulage de ses problèmes de digestion pour le restant de sa vie. Il prend le temps de récupérer en Allemagne et, aussi, il accepte une activité pastorale dans sa paroisse d’origine. Après un an, Josef retourne au Malawi renouvelé et plein de zèle.

Josef continue son travail missionnaire avec beaucoup de dévouement. Il est peut-être vieux jeu et paternaliste mais cela n’entame pas sa popularité. Il est aussi aimé de ses confrères. Le Régional écrit que les confrères apprécient de vivre avec lui. Il exprime son opinion clairement mais toujours poliment et prêt à rendre service. Il participe régulièrement aux exercices spirituels. Il aime la ponctualité mais apprécie aussi qu’au Malawi le jour ne soit pas dirigé par la montre. Il passe ses dernières années au Malawi comme vicaire dans la paroisse de Mzimba.

En septembre 1991, Josef décide de retourner en Allemagne pour de bon. Son Régional écrit : “Josef a décidé de retourner en Province d’Allemagne. Il a maintenant 75 ans et voudrait offrir quelques années à la Province. Il a fait un très bon travail au Malawi. Le diocèse de Mzuzu lui doit beaucoup. En communauté, il a toujours été un homme de qualité. Nous perdons un excellent confrère.”

En fait, Josef s’adapte très bien à la vie à Hörstel. Il reste en forme et actif, en faisant de nombreux exercices. Il s’occupe du poulailler, travaille au jardin, collectionne les timbres-poste. En plus, il est impliqué dans le travail pastoral et ceci jusque peu avant son décès. Dans sa nécrologie, la paroisse de St Reinhildis écrit : “Depuis son retour en Allemagne, nous avons apprécié le Père Dresselhauss comme étant un pasteur zélé dans tous les secteurs de notre communauté paroissiale. Il fut un homme de dialogue ; il a accompagné des groupes de prière et développé la mission africaine.”

Josef n’est jamais retourné au Malawi mais son cœur est resté en communion avec le peuple et le travail missionnaire de ce pays. Ses anniversaires étaient l’occasion de collecter des dons pour des orphelins et divers projets au Malawi.

Ses forces commencèrent à faiblir seulement quelques semaines avant son décès. Après un séjour à l’hôpital, il entra dans une maison de soins à Puesselbueren. Il décéda là-bas quelques jours plus tard, à l’âge de 96 ans. Il fut enterré au cimetière d’Hörstel le 26 octobre.

Josef commentait ainsi ses nombreuses années au Malawi : “Ce fut la plus belle période de ma vie !” Il aimait Dieu et les gens à qui il avait été envoyé. À l’âge de 75 ans, il a eu le courage de quitter le Malawi “parce qu’il ne voulait pas être un fardeau là-bas.” Il a gardé le Malawi en son cœur et, il a aussi vécu des années fructueuses en Allemagne. Où qu’il soit, il travaillait comme prêtre et missionnaire, enraciné en Jésus Christ. Il est maintenant à la maison avec Lui.

Rolf Wigger

Père Juan Vargas Moreno

1925 - - 2012

Le 16 mars 2012, le Père Juan Vargas nous a quittés alors qu’à cause de problèmes respiratoires, il était transporté en ambulance vers l’hôpital de Granada.

Juan est né à Cullar Vega, Espagne, le 12 octobre 1925. Très jeune, il sent le désir de consacrer sa vie aux plus pauvres. Cela le conduit au séminaire San Cecilio de Granada dont bientôt l’enceinte sera trop étroite pour lui. En février 1946, alors qu’il est en troisième année de philo, il demande avec insistance à entrer chez les Pères Blancs. L’année suivante, il débarque à Alger pour le noviciat de Maison-Carrée. Un an plus tard, il étudie la théologie en Tunisie. Il prononce son serment missionnaire à Thibar le 26 juin 1951, et il est ordonné prêtre à Carthage le 12 avril 1952.

Le Rwanda est son premier pays de mission. En décembre 1952, il est nommé à Kabgayi où, pendant les six premiers mois, il s’initie à la connaissance du Kinyarwanda. Du début de son séjour jusqu’à son retour en Espagne, au mois de mars 1970, le P. Juan donne ce qu’il a de meilleur, annonçant l’Évangile de Jésus dans les très difficiles circonstances que vit le pays.

Juan a vécu de très près les luttes fratricides entre ses paroissiens, Hutus et Tutsis. Il était persuadé de la parole dite par sainte Thérèse : “Au déclin du jour, je serai examiné sur l’amour.” Homme impartial, il maintenait ses relations avec tous, cherchant le chemin de la réconciliation et la vie pour tous. Il vécut les génocides perpétrés de part et d’autre. Il n’était pas un observateur passif. Grâce à une rencontre avec le président Grégoire Kayibanda, il sauva de la mort quelque 700 Tutsis à Noël 1966. L’année suivante, il réussit à faire sortir de prison 90 condamnés à mort.

Plusieurs de ses confrères témoignent : “Nous gardons de très bons souvenirs de Juan. Bon confrère, il était simple, pauvre, et il parlait volontiers avec les gens et ceux-ci l’écoutaient.”

“Juan vécut au Rwanda dans une époque de changements sociaux, politiques et religieux. J’ai eu la chance de le connaître à peine un mois après son arrivée. Sa sympathie, sa simplicité et sa joie m’impressionnèrent ; son amabilité ne fit jamais défaut. Il vivait la pauvreté. Son engagement à la mission et son amour au Seigneur Jésus et aux pauvres étaient sans ostentation. Sa lutte contre les injustices était quelque chose qu’il portait bien dans son cœur et faisait partie de sa manière de vivre son sacerdoce et de servir le Seigneur Jésus et les personnes auxquelles il avait été envoyé.”

Dans l’une ou l’autre de ses lettres, Juan a mis au courant les autorités du Rwanda des grandes injustices et des massacres possibles . Il leur demandait de tout faire pour empêcher l’irréparable. Ses interventions devant les tribunaux en faveur des personnes injustement accusées sont bien connues.

Il parcourait à pied les nombreuses collines des paroisses où il est passé. Il aimait rencontrer les gens dans leurs cases ou dans leurs maisons. Il passait des heures à parler avec eux, s’intéressant à leur vie et leur apportant l’Évangile et la connaissance du Seigneur Jésus. Ses rencontres avec ses confrères étaient toujours intéressantes car il aimait réfléchir et il discutait volontiers des problèmes qu’il avait rencontrés. Il aimait échanger ses idées sur des thèmes religieux, sociaux et politiques. Beaucoup de gens se souviennent encore de lui avec amour et gratitude.

Le Père Emilio Galindo, ami de Juan depuis l’enfance, né dans le même village, le caractérise comme “l’ami fidèle, l’homme de Dieu et l’ami des pauvres”. Il termine son témoignage par un conseil à saint Pierre : “Fermez bien la porte, Juan pourrait s’évader du Ciel pour revenir sur terre défendre les pauvres !”

En 1970, le P. Juan retourne en Espagne. Il est nommé à l’animation missionnaire dans la communauté de Séville. En 1972, il se voit obligé de s’occuper de ses parents âgés et de santé fragile. En accord avec son Provincial, il obtient de l’archevêque de Granada la nomination de vicaire dans la paroisse de Santa Fe, près de son village natal. Il refuse cependant d’être incardiné dans l’archidiocèse car il veut rester Père Blanc.

Il arrive à Santa Fe avec le désir de partager ses aspirations et inquiétudes en faveur d’une Église moins routinière et plus engagée envers les pauvres. Sa vitalité se manifestait dans ses homélies avec une voix bien forte, souvent en criant. Il a été bien accueilli par les gens à cause de sa gaieté, de son désir de changement et de son engagement pour les pauvres. Ils l’ont surnommé “le curé rouge”. Sa bonté permit à quelques-uns d’en profiter mais finit aussi par fatiguer les autorités.

Sa nouvelle mission à Granada ne lui fit pas oublier son Rwanda. Toujours préoccupé de ce qui se passait là-bas, il y envoyait une partie de ses modestes ressources. Il lisait les nouvelles concernant ce pays et il écrivait des lettres à ses anciens confrères. Sa participation à l’ONG “Granada Acoge” (pour l’accueil des immigrés) l’aidait à maintenir un contact immédiat avec les problèmes d’Afrique.

Après sa mise à la retraite, le Père Juan vivait dans une famille qui, affectueusement, l’appelait “l’oncle Juan”. C’est elle qui s’est occupée de lui, notamment durant les dernières huit années pendant lesquels il était atteint des cancers du colon et de la prostate. Pendant 40 ans, le P. Juan Vargas a donné le meilleur de lui-même dans la paroisse de Santa Fe, toujours accueillant et prêt à rendre service, même quand il ne pouvait plus se déplacer. Il est parti pour la maison du Père le 16 mars 2012.

Les funérailles ont eu lieu à l’église paroissiale de Santa Fe, présidées, au nom de l’archevêque, par le vicaire général de la pastorale en compagnie de 21 prêtres concélébrants. Les cendres de Juan reposent dans cette ville.

Cher Juan, repose en paix auprès du Seigneur Jésus et du Père qui t’a appelé à une Mission que tu as servie avec un amour généreux !

José Morales

PROFILES

Father Gérard Charbonneau

1923 - - 2012

Fr. Gerard Charbonneau was born on the 18th September 1923 in Montreal, Canada. He was the second in a family of eight children. His father was an electrician with Canadian Pacific Railways and when Gerard was only three years old, he was transferred to Quebec. Gerard did his primary schooling in École St-Esprit of Quebec and did his secondary school studies in the Junior Seminary of Quebec from 1937 to 1945 which included two years of Philosophical studies.

In September 1945, Gerard entered the White Fathers postulancy at Everell, near Quebec. The following year, he entered the novitiate of St. Martin, near Montreal. In September 1947, he began his four years theological course in Eastview, near Ottawa. On the 27th June 1950, he took his missionary oath before, the then Superior General, Bishop Durrieu. On the 28th January 1951, he was ordained priest by Bishop Vachon in Ottawa Cathedral.

His years in formation went well. He was gifted intellectually. He had a sound character, simple without pretensions. It was noted that he had a real talent for organisation, taking initiatives and foreseeing things. He got on well with all the confreres. He was serious, a little shy and it was thought that he would do well in anything he did because of his generosity. He was very good at any sport he played.

At the end of August 1951, he left for England. He had been asked to do a year’s study at the University of London. The following year, he set out for Ghana where he had been appointed. He went to Bolgatanga in order to learn the language and become acquainted with pastoral work. He settled down very quickly and he stayed there for three years. At the beginning of 1955, he was appointed Director of the Cate­chists School of Binduri. This was to last only a few months: he was needed in the Junior Seminary of Tamale where he arrived in January 1956.

Gerard went on his home leave to Canada in 1958 having spent two years teaching in Tamale. The Bishop of Tamale, Gabriel Champagne, wrote to the Cana­dian Provincial: “We have an urgent need of qualified teachers for our Junior Seminary. Can you find some place where Fr. Char­bonneau can do a diploma in Edu­cation? He needs to do an English course in a teachers training college which will grant a recognised certificate.” In September 1958, Gerard began his studies for a Masters in Education at the Loyola University in Chicago, USA. After two years study, he returned to Ghana passing by Rome to do his Long Retreat. He taught in the junior Seminary for two years before being appointed Superior for another two years in September 1962. In June 1968, he returned to Canada.

The following years saw him work on missionary promotion in the U.S.A., then some ministry in Ghana, but he worked principally as a teacher in St. Charles Seminary in Tamale. In 1988, when he was in Canada, he gave the following witness: “It was in the junior Seminary of Tamale that I believe that I fulfilled my missionary life. As a teacher, I helped in the training of a future generation of Ghanaian priests. I taught there with some interruptions from 1956 to 1979. It was a fruitful period for vocations because 25 of my students became priests. Then, I did some missionary promotion work in the United States. I returned to Ghana as Secretary/Treasurer of the Region. Happy people do not have any gripes and I am among that number. In order to be happy, one has to count on one’s family. Me, I have two: my real family, who have always given me love and support and the family of the Missionaries of Africa who have always supported me during difficult periods and with whom I have shared the good moments of my life as well. I have never regretted my decision to become a Missionary of Africa. Maybe that is why I am a happy man.”

When he returned to Canada in 1987, he knew that he was not going to return to Africa. He felt depressed and was often anxious and tense. But he was not inactive in Canada. He worked in the Toronto Procure until 1990 as superior and vocations director. He also worked as chaplain in Bréboeuf College in Toronto, which he enjoyed very much and he is still remembered for his work there by former students.

In 1990, Gerard accepted the post of Provincial Secretary in Montreal. He did this work competently and enthusiastically despite his health problems. In 1994, he took up residence in the Quebec Procure where he continued to be of service. However, he became more and more handicapped and he had to limit his activities. In 2011, he was placed in Pavillon St-Dominique, in Québec city, so that he could receive more suitable care.

At the end of August 2012, he had to go into hospital for a minor operation. However, he did not recover from the anaesthetic and his condition got worse. He was put into an intensive care unit. He died at the hospital of the Child Jesus on the 8th September 2012. The funeral took place in the church of the Canadian Martyrs, Quebec on the 20th September. After the funeral he was cremated and his ashes were placed in the plot of the Missionaries of Africa in Belmont Cemetery.

Fr. Julien Cormier, the Provin­cial, presided at the funeral service. He used Fr. Gerard’s chalice and this gesture deeply touched the family especially when they learnt that this chalice would be presented to a young Mexican Missionary of Africa who was soon to be ordained and then leave for Africa. At the end of the Mass, Raymond Charbonneau, a brother of Gerard, gave this witness:
“When I think of Gerard, the word that comes to mind is ‘interiority’: This is what best characterised him.

He lived close to an interior power which filled him and which meant that his physical environment was somehow secondary. He talked little about his everyday activities but one day he told me that he was never bored. I believed him, because the basics of his life always passed on the level of his spiritual life. Gerard, we will miss your physical presence, however, I already feel that we are close on the level of our hearts.”

Lauréat Belley

Faher Octave Juvent

1916 - - 2012

Fr. Octave Juvent was born on the 25th July 1916 in Frameries, Belgium. His mother died when he was eight years old. He began his secondary education in Jemappes before joining the junior seminary of Notre-Dame de Bonne-Esperance. He finished his secondary education at the College of St. Julien in Ath.

He entered the White Fathers at Glimes on the 14th September 1935 followed by his novitiate at Varsenare. He studied Theology at Heverlee and took his missionary Oath there on the 13th April 1941. He was ordained priest on the 6th April 1942. The staff noted that he was a bit rough with an explosive temperament, swift into action, but calmed down quickly. He graduated with a licence in theology at the University of Louvain in 1945.

In 1943, Fr. Juvent was a chaplain to the Belgian Resistance at Herchies. He said: I was very prudent, I never carried a gun. I frequently visited the homes of the resistant fighters trying to keep up their spirits” One day, a pastor asked him to hide a Jewish family, called Schweitzer, from Brussels somewhere in the Borinage area (Mons). He said: “it was my duty to do so, my conscience demanded it”. He hid them in the loft of the institute and fed them until the liberation. 50 years later, after having refused it on many previous occasions, he was awarded the title of ‘Righteous among the Nations”, the highest award to civilians by the Israeli State.

After finishing his studies, Octave taught philosophy for one year in Thy-le-Chateau and, then, taught Dogmatic Theology for two years in Heverlee. On the 1st December 1948, he took the plane for Rwanda. He was appointed Professor to the Regional Senior Seminary at Nyakibanda, having passed the language exam in Kinyarwanda. The Regional at the time, Fr. Hellemans, observed: “He is generous and devoted; he does manual work with the seminarians and is well liked by them”. However, his innovative ideas did not please everyone, especially the authorities. In 1952, it was decided to appoint him to the active side of missionary work.

In January 1953, he was appointed curate and in charge of schools in Rwamagana. A year and a half later, he started the Parish of Bungwe. In June 1955, he became Parish Priest of Kigali and in April 1956, Parish Priest of Butare (known then as Astrida). In February 1958, he did the long retreat at Mours and he was, then, appointed to missionary promotion work in the Walloon area of Belgium. However, in June 1959, he was appointed Professor of Moral Theology in Heverlee. He had many contacts with the students and would have liked to have seen less insistence on the rules and regulations and putting more trust in them. He gave many theological conferences on the encyclicals ‘Mater et Magistra’ and ‘Pacem in Terris’. In 1962, he was elected Provincial Councillor.

In November 1965, he left again for Rwanda. He was appointed to the Diocese of Ruhengeri. In December, he became Secretary to the Bishop, Mgr. Sibomana. Octave had a great capacity for work and he felt underemployed. So, he accepted to preach retreats and recollections well beyond the boundaries of the diocese. He was Spiritual Director to many young confreres. In the 1967 Chapter, he was the representative of the Rwandan confreres. On his return in June 1968, he was appointed as Superior in Busogo. In January 1969, he was elected as Regional Councillor. In July 1969, he was put in charge of the Catechists school at Ruhengeri. He returned to Belgium in July 1970. He was having no end of problems with one of his kidneys. In the meantime, the old theology house at Heverlee had become a training centre for University teachers but it was still under the direction of the White Fathers. The Provincial wrote to Fr. Juvent: “Thanks to your strong personality, we think you are well capable to deal with the problems of the students”. Octave fulfilled this job until the end of the academic year of 1972. In March 1971, he waselected Provincial Councillor and for a number of months he was involved in the promotion of ‘Vivant Univers’ in Namur.

On the 13th April, Fr. Juvent was appointed Assistant Provincial of Belgium and began work on the 1st July. Octave was a delegate to the Chapter of 1974. It was a difficult period for the Province as many confreres were leaving. Outside of his duties, Octave was working with the Pontifical Mission Societies on the national level. This involved a lot of travel and many contacts with Parish Priests. He was also a member of the missionary promotion team and helped edit ‘Église et Mission’.

After completing his second period as Assistant Provincial in the Province, Octave took up residence in Rue du Prevot. He wanted to do parish work but he continued his work with the national PMS and in the Diocese of Tournai. He resigned from the national PMS in August 1982. For a period, he experimented with living outside of community as curate in the Parish of St. Martin in Genly-Noirchain. However, in November 1983, he joined the community in Thy-le-Chateau. He worked again in missionary promotion, but remained attached to the PMS of his native diocese. He resigned at the end of 1985. Bishop Jean Huard, Bishop of Tournai, said of him: “Because of his great missionary experience, he knew how to create, in his team, a real spirit of openness to all aspects of the evangelising mission of the Church.

Fr. Juvent was now free for work in the Province and the authorities took advantage of this. In December 1985, he was appointed Superior of Heusy. In September 1987, he returned to Thy-le-Chateau as Superior, formator and secretary. In September 1989, he was appointed to La Plante where he gave a helping hand to the Superior and did some ministry. While living in Namur, he became chaplain to the Foyer Ste. Elisabeth in Saint-Ghislain. In December 2001, he was finding it difficult to drive and he took up residence with the “Servantes du Sacre-Coeur de Jesus” at Bossu. In 2008, he was made an honorary citizen of Bossu.

He was getting old but his spirit remained lively. He continued to read three books at a time, on theology, spirituality and general culture. He was still the charming and pleasant confrere with a ready wit and a caustic sense of humour. After a lengthy stay in hospital, he was admitted to Foyer Ste-Élisabeth on the 27th January 2012. On the 6th April he celebrated 70 years of priesthood. He died quietly in the nursing home on the 15th June 2012.

The funeral took place on Thursday 21st June 2012 in the Church of Saint-Gery at Bossu followed by burial in the family vault in Hornu.

Jef Vleugels

Father Charles Lohest

1925 - - 2012

Charles was born on the 24th June 1925 in Tournai, Belgium. He did his secondary school studies in the College of St. Pierre at Uccle, near Brussels. He entered the White Fathers in Thy-le-Chateau in October 1944. He did his novitiate at Varsenare and his theological studies at Heverlee where he took the missionary oath on the 22nd July 1950. He was ordained priest in the Parish Church of Terbank on the 24th March 1951. Those in charge of his formation made remarks about him: “He is friendly, obliging, and accommodating”. “He has a good heart”. “He is nervous and a bit anxious”. “A man you can rely on and a very hard worker”. “He is demanding on himself and on others”. “He is a complicated character”. “It happens regularly that his opinions are different from everybody else”. “His health is not the best”.

Charles did six months study in the Catholic University of Louvain as part of his military service before taking the plane for Congo on the 18th March 1952. He was appointed to the Vicariate of Costermansville which was a great deal bigger than the actual Archdiocese of Bukavu. He began by teaching French in a school for nurses run by the University of Louvain (Formulac) at Katana Hospital. He also began studying Kiswahili. In January 1954, he was asked to teach Maths and Latin in the Junior Seminary of Mungombe.

He was Prefect of Studies and Bursar in the Junior Seminary of Mugeri in 1957. In 1959, he was a temporary inspector of Catholic Schools in Bukavu. Charles visited the families of the students during the school holidays in order to see for himself what their background was.

He did some parish work in Bagira and he was then appointed as Inspector of Diocesan Schools in October 1961. In 1963, the post of Provincial Secretary of Catholic Schools was added to his workload. Charles went on home leave in 1966 and on his return, he took on the job as accountant in the office of the Diocesan Treasurer (Bukavu). The following year, he was made Treasurer General par interim. The mercenaries of Schramme attacked Bukavu in August 1967 and Charles with practically all the other Europeans found themselves under house arrest in Kigali, Rwanda. From there he went to Brussels.

However, he returned in October 1967 to help out in the Junior Seminary of Rwesero in Rwanda as teacher of Latin and Greek. In March 1968, he returned to Katana as chaplain to the hospital and a teacher in the Mugeri Secondary School.

In September 1968, he studied Mashi in CELA, Bukavu, and six months later, he was appointed curate of Katana Parish. He did a brief spell in Nyantende Parish before being appointed Parish Priest of Bagira in July 1970. He left on home leave in 1971. After a medical check up, he was diagnosed as suffering from chronic depression. He was still having nightmares about the events of 1967. He underwent a period of lengthy treatment and was not able to return to Africa.

He was sent to rest at Heusy but he soon began to give a helping hand to the fund raiser of the house and he took a liking for this work. By June 1972, he was installed in Thy-le-Chateau as bursar. Two years later, he was appointed to rue de Linthout, in Brussels, as the last official fund raiser for the French speaking areas of Belgium. He wrote in 2001: “29 years ago, I received a list of 2,000 persons to be visited, but now, I only have 150 people”. Charles threw himself into the work of collecting funds. “I feel the need to keep in contact with these people and I also feel that I am a representative of the Society for them.” He devoted two working days each week for this work, but he got help from volunteers. It should be noted that he underwent an operation on his heart caused, in the opinion of the doctors, by stress.

If his work as a fund raiser helped him to flourish, it was his discovery of PHR which cured him. He began to follow some sessions in 1974, out of curiosity. He said: “PHR gave me a confidence in myself that I had never had before and also gave me the possibility of feeling free before God”. He became an authority in relationships with the help of PHR and was able to help people by accompanying them using this method. This meant that he had to follow several sessions himself as part of the upskilling process. On this subject, he wrote: “I can talk of my charism in helping relationships as a particular sacrament of my priesthood today. It is not the advice that I give, it is the raising of consciousness that I lead them to make, in the regular methodical interviews, only going as far as the client wishes and as long as I feel that I am in a position to help”. Many people came to him for counselling. In addition, over a period of 15 years, he helped in the Church of St. Nicolas and was part of a team of ‘listerners’ for Tele Accueil (Samaritans).

In June 2006, the Provincial suggested to Charles that he join the confreres at the Nursing Home of St Joseph in Liege where the first places had become available. The first signs of mental confusion appeared in August 2009 but thanks to medication, his health more or less stabilised. 15 days before he died, he had to be hospitalised in the Citadel Clinic at Liege where he died on the 20th May 2012.

The funeral took place on the 25th May in the Church of St. Foy, Liege, near to St. Joseph’s Home where our confreres live. At his request, Charles was buried in the cemetery of Soheit-Tinlot (Liege Diocese) in the same vault as his great uncle, Louis Lohest, priest and co founder of the Congregation of Aumôniers du Travail (devoted to helping workers).

Jef Vleugels

Father Père Ivan Page

1938 - - 2012

Brother Fr. Ivan Page died on the 7th September 2012 in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, at the age of 74 years. He was the only surviving member of the Society from Australia.

Ivan Jones Page was born on the 17th February 1938 in the Parish of Scone, Diocese of Maitland, New South Wales, Australia. His Father was the manager of a large sheep station and was an Anglican. His mother was a Catholic. There was one other child in the family, a sister. He was brought up in the Catholic Faith. He was baptised on the 24th February 1938 in the parish church and was confirmed on the 21st November 1948 in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sale. He was educated in Catholic Schools before enrolling in Melbourne University in 1954 and graduated in 1956 with a B.A. in French and History.

After graduation, he joined the civil service and eventually found his way into library work and was appointed to the National Library of Australia. He was put in charge of the Rare Books Section. He was appointed to Europe as the European Liaison Librarian for the National Library of Australia. He specialised in the purchase of old and rare books. He was based in London.

This appointment meant that he had to do a lot of travelling and he took the opportunity to visit Africa on a number of occasions. It was on one of these trips that he came in contact with the Missionaries of Africa. In January 1977, he found himself in Tamale, Northern Ghana, without a place to spend the night so he went to the mission. He was not particularly well received but he was given a bed for the night and a lift to the lorry park the next morning. As he said himself in his Silver Jubilee, ‘he was intrigued by this institute founded for the evangelisation of Africa’. Back in London, he made contact with the White Fathers and he joined the 1st Cycle in London in 1979.

Before doing that, Ivan had to return to Australia to wind up his affairs and inform his shocked parents. He was supported by his sister. At 41 years of age, he entered the White Fathers and did a somewhat shortened formation course but including a stage of two years in Burkina Faso. This experience confirmed his vocation. In their report on the stage, his superiors remarked that he was very organised and that he had a solid spiritual life and real apostolic zeal. He was appreciated by both his confreres and by the local clergy. Ivan took the oath on 12th October 1985 in Toulouse and he was ordained priest in St. Christopher’s Cathedral, Canberra, Australia, on 30th August 1986 by Archbishop Francis P. Carroll.

Ivan returned to Burkina and was appointed curate in Barsalogho, Diocese of Kaya. He was to work in Burkina Faso for 10 years serving in Barsalogho, Pissila and Tema-Bokin. In March 1987, he had a serious accident on his motor bike and had to go to France for treatment. However, he had only a very limited use of his left arm for the rest of his life. Nevertheless, he was back in Barsalogho in November 1987. He was elected Provincial Councillor in December 1993. At his Silver Jubilee celebrations, he spoke of this period: ‘I loved the land, I loved the people, and I loved the work. But it was not always easy. There were periods of political instability and the climate was harsh.’

When Fr. Francis Renault, the Society’s historian and archivist died unexpectedly in 1996, Ivan was invited to replace him. During his time in Rome, he was called upon to help some Dioceses in Burkina to organise their archives. In 1998, he was the English Secretary for the General Chapter. While he sometimes felt frustrated by being in Rome and having a limited pastoral ministry, he nevertheless brought his professionalism to the task the Society had entrusted to him. He appreciated the contact he made with the 800 or so researchers who came annually to consult the archives.

As he approached 70 years of age, he decided that he would like to finish his days in Australia. The General Council gave permission to live outside of community. A contract was signed between the Diocese of Sandhurst and the Society for him to work on a semi- retired basis. He took up residence in Quarry Hill, Bendigo. He helped in the Cathedral and other Parishes and began to work on the history of the Diocese and, of course, in its archives. He was well accepted by priests and people. A colleague visited him in March 2012 and he seemed to be content with his life. His little house was full of books. He had resumed his contacts with the academic world and was delighted to become an Adjunct Research Fellow of Monash University, Melbourne, in 2009.

On the 7th September 2012, Bishop Les Tomlinson informed the Superior General of Fr. Ivan’s death. He had gone to Melbourne for his annual retreat. On Septem­ber 3rd, he felt unwell, and he was transported to hospital. He had suffered a massive stroke and he was on a life support machine. On Thursday, the doctors said that there was no hope of recovery and it was agreed that the machine be turned off. The last rites were administered by Bishop Tomlin­son. He died five hours later, surrounded by his sister Sylvia, his Spiritual Director, some close friends and priests, and a seminarian from the Diocese.

At the prayer vigil before the funeral, his Spiritual Director spoke of Ivan’s sense of wonder. He was reflecting on his life with gratitude and delight and of the many friendships he had. At the funeral, his niece spoke of his kindness to her on her visit to Rome. On 9th October, at a Memorial Mass in the Generalate for Ivan, Fr. Francois Richard, who was Ivan’s Rector in Toulouse, spoke of his searching for a new challenge, a commitment to a way of life that would contribute to change in the world. He became a missionary priest. He combined all this with a great love of books.

More than 500 people came to Ivan’s funeral Mass, on Septem­ber 14th 2012, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bendigo. The Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Les Tomlinson and many priests of Sandhurst Diocese. At his wish, he was cremated.

A quotation from Ps 116 sums up his life as a missionary: ‘What return can I make to the Lord for all his goodness to me?’

Ian Buckmaster

Condoléances que nous avons reçues de son évêque (En anglais)
The letter of condolence we have received from his Bishop

9th October 2012 : Memorial Mass at the Generalate, in Rome, for Ivan Page at 18.15

. .

Dans la chapelle François Richard, ancien Supérieur Général, a présidé cette messe avec Richard Baawobr, Supérieur Général. Etaient présents : la communauté, les Smnda, les Sœurs d Œuvre et des personnes de Rome ayant connu Ivan

 

Father Gabriele Pirazzo

1940 - - 2012

Gabriele was the last born in a family of 10 children (5 boys and 5 girls) from Padua in the Venetian region, on the 29th November 1940. His father was a labourer and his mother a homemaker.

The simple and solid faith of the social and family milieu deeply marked Gabriele and his brothers and sisters. He was 10 years old when he met Fr. Giovanni Varotto who was visiting the parishes of the region for missionary promotion work. In the course of an interview, Gabriele said: “When I was an altar boy, I listened with great interest to the sermons of Fr. Giovanni Varotto. I told my mother of my wish to enter the seminary but she replied that it was just a childish dream”.

However, Gabriele was not discouraged and at the age of 14 years, he wrote to the superior of the seminary saying: “I would have liked to enter the seminary last year with my brother Giancarlo but I only knew about his departure a few days beforehand. One night, I said to my mother that I preferred to become a missionary rather than a diocesan priest. She replied that she would not let me go as I was too skinny and that in Africa one did not have enough to eat and the food was no good. However, when I heard of my brother’s departure, my wish became more fervent and so I have decided to ask to be admitted next year.”

In September 1955, he joined the junior seminary at Treviglio and then the senior seminary of Parella (1959-1960). In September 1960, he left to do his novitiate in Gap (France), before joining Heverlee (Belgium) for his theological studies (1960 to 1964). He was a happy and open person who took his studies seriously. He had a deep faith and being unassuming and serious, his missionary vocation matured.
With his brothers, Giancarlo and Romeo, he took his missionary Oath on the 16th August 1964 followed a few days later by ordination to the diaconate in Heverlee. He was ordained priest, with his brother Giancarlo, on the 29th June 1965 in Padua.

He spent two years on the staff of the junior seminary of Treviglio before being appointed to Burkina Faso (then Upper Volta) where he was to spend the 35 years of his missionary life in Africa. He studied Mooré at CELA in Guilongou and showed a great interest in the language and the customs of the people. In Burkina, he worked as curate in Gounghin, Zorgo, and Dori and for the last three years in Jean XXIII Parish in Ouagadougou. He also worked in Italy in Ciriè, Marano (1975-1977) at Treviglio and Castelfranco (1999-2003).

Wherever he went, whether it was in Burkina or Italy, Gabriele was a confrere of great good will, an agreeable character and happy in community ready to listen and to be helped by the confreres.
In Burkina, he took learning the language very seriously and he studied the customs of the people because he liked to meet the village people and pass some time with them when he was on safari. He also took an interest in the organisation of the young people of the JAC (Young Christian Farmers).

Gabriele showed himself to be a man of simple faith but which was deep, sincere and strong. It was a faith that sought union with God and he was happy to be with Him in his personal and community prayer. By temperament he was joyful, open, and frank and but he also had a good and clear judgement. Whether it was in Burkina or Italy, he was able to accept difficult moments with courage, perseverance and in a balanced way.

In 2011, the Italian Sector asked him to return home in order to look after the community of Castelfranco. Gabriele had already signalled his intention of returning definitively to Italy as he was experiencing health problems notably a persistent tiredness.

In April 2012 he returned home very tired. At the airport he could hardly walk and seemed a bit lost. A total rest of at least two months was prescribed before he took up the appointment at Castelfranco as superior and responsibility for missionary promotion in the surrounding parishes. On the first Sunday of August he was in Cortina d’Am­prezzo for a day of missionary promotion. He preached four homilies during the masses. He seemed to have recovered his health and was ready to take up his new appointment.

On Friday 17th August, in the morning, he felt a very bad pain in the kidney area. Medical examination, including a scan, only showed an infection. The doctor prescribed appropriate medication. On Sunday 26th August, in the morning, Gabriele went out to celebrate Mass in a parish. He seemed to be getting better although he still had some pain. In the afternoon, he received some visitors in the house. Before the evening meal, he told the bursar that he would not be there; however at the last minute he came down. He joined his confreres at the table. After taking his soup, he prepared to take his medication when he leaned on the shoulder of the confrere on his right. He was dead. The doctor arrived a few minutes later but could do nothing other than pronounce him dead. It was probably due to a heart attack.

The funeral took place at the Parish of the Pieve of Castelfranco where the missionaries of Africa live. His body was interred in the chapel reserved for the White Fathers in a suburb of Castelfranco.

Thank you Lord for the life of Gabriele and for welcoming him close to You. Thank you as well, Gabriele, for all that you were for the confreres and for all those who crossed your path in Burkina and Italy. Rest in the peace of the One whom you loved and looked for throughout your life.

Vittorio Bonfanti

 

Father Josef Dresselhaus

1916 - - 2012

Looking back at the 37 years he spent as a missionary in Malawi, Josef Dresselhaus said: “I went there with great expectations. I have learnt a lot, I was able to help people and these years were not in vain. Hence I left with great satisfaction.”

Josef was born on the 6th August 1916 in Liemke, a small village in the Archdiocese of Paderborn, Germany. His father Clemens died during the last year of the First World War. Later, his mother married again. From her two marriages she had seven boys and four girls. Three of her children died of lung disease in 1924.

From 1922 until 1930, Josef attended primary school in his home village. In 1930, he moved to the school of the White Fathers in Rietberg, which was only 10 kilometers from his home. He completed his secondary education in Grosskrotzenburg in 1937. After doing some months of National Service, he began his studies of philosophy with the White Fathers in Trier.

He completed his studies in Trier, but he was not able to continue with theology, because he was drafted into the German army. He was moved to France and later to Poland from where he was sent to the front in Russia. The cruelty of the war caused him great suffering. “I had to go through the battle of Stalingrad. It was terrible”, he later remarked. In April 1945, he became a prisoner of war in Russia. He did not speak often about the sufferings of that time. In May 1949, he was released and returned to Germany. Soon after his return, he got his first malaria. He had contracted it in Russia. Although the Provincial of the White Fathers had originally given him only two weeks of holidays, he then was allowed to stay at home for four months.

In September 1949, he continued with his missionary formation doing novitiate and theology in s’Heerenberg. One of the most cherished experiences of his life was the fraternal reception and the peaceful community living with the confreres there, who, after all, belonged to nations that were enemies during the war. In s’Heerenberg, he took his Missionary Oath on the 22nd of July 1953. After one more year of studies in Monteviot/Scotland, he was ordained a priest on the 10th of June 1954 in Galashiels.

On the 28th of September 1954, he climbed into an airplane that took him to Malawi in ten days via Rome, Malta, Cairo, Tabora and Mbeya. He spent all his missionary life in the diocese of Mzuzu. He lived and worked in the parishes of Nkhamenya, Nkhata Bay, Mzambazi and Mzimba. After his years as a curate, he became Parish Priest in Mzuzu in 1964, and later in Chilumba, Katete, Rumphi and Karonga. All together, he worked in more than 15 parishes.

His bishop moved him often, because Josef built up the structures of his parishes. He constructed schools, outstations and dispensaries. At the same time, he was a zealous pastor. He was close to his people to whom he preached the Gospel which he himself lived in an exemplary way. Josef was full of energy and zeal. He was an attentive listener, who took time to attend to the problems of people. He found it difficult to say “No” to a request.

Perhaps he overstrained himself. He suffered stomach troubles and, at the end of 1970, he had a perforated ulcere. A doctor in Mzuzu saved his life by performing an emergency operation. In order to recuperate, he travelled to Germany. There a second operation relieved him of problems of the stomach for the rest of his life. He took time to recover in Germany, but he also accepted pastoral duties in his home parish. After one year in Germany, Josef returned to Malawi refreshed and full of zeal.

He continued his missionary work with great devotion. He might have been a bit old-fashioned and paternalistic, but that did not harm his popularity. Josef was also liked by his confreres. They enjoyed living with him. He could express his opinion clearly, but he always was polite and ready to help. He regularly participated in all spiritual exercises. He liked punctuality, but he also appreciated that in Malawi the day was not ruled by the clock. He spent his last years in Malawi as a curate in the parish of Mzimba.
In September 1991, he decided to return to Germany for good. His Regional wrote: “Fr. Dresselhaus has decided to return to the German Province. He is now 75 years of age, and he would like to offer some more years to the Province. He has done very good work in Malawi, and the Diocese of Mzuzu is very much indebted to him. In community, he has always been a very good confrere. We are losing a very good man.”

In fact, Josef adapted very well to life in Hörstel. He remained fit doing a lot of exercise and being active. He looked after the chicken, worked in the garden and collected postal stamps. Above all, he was involved in pastoral work until shortly before his death. In their obituary, the Catholic Parish of St. Reinhildis wrote: “Since his return to Germany, we appreciated Fr. Dresselhaus as a zealous pastor in all sections of our parish community. He was a man of dialogue; he accompanied prayer groups and promoted the African Mission.”

Josef never returned to Malawi but, deep in his heart, he remained in communion with people and missionary work in this country. His special birthdays became occasions to collect donations for various projects in Malawi.

His strength began to fail only a few weeks before his death. After a stay in hospital, he entered a care home in Puesselbueren. After a few days, he died there on 23rd of October 2012 at the age of 96 years. He was buried in our cemetery in Hörstel on the 26th of October 2012.

Josef commented about his many years in Malawi: “This was the happiest time of my life.” He loved God and the people he was sent to. He had the courage to let go of Malawi at the age of 75, because – as he explained - he did not want to be a burden to anyone there. He kept Malawi in his heart and at the same time was able to spend good and fruitful years in Germany. Wherever he worked as a priest and missionary, he was rooted in Jesus Christ. He now has gone home to Him.

Rolf Wigger

Farher Juan Vargas Moreno

1925 - - 2012

On the 16th March 2012, Fr. Juan Vargas died from respiratory problems while he was being taken urgently to hospital in Granada (Spain). He was 86 years old.

Juan was born on the 12th October 1925. While he was still very young, he felt a desire to consecrate his life to the poorest people. This led him to the San Cecilio Seminary of Granada. However he found that the boundaries were too narrow for him. In February 1946, while he was in his third year of philosophical studies, he demanded to be admitted to the White Fathers. The following year, he entered the novitiate in Maison-Carrée. A year later, he finished his theological studies in Tunisia. He took the missionary Oath in Thibar on the 26th June 1951 and he was ordained priest on the 12th April 1952.

Rwanda was his first missionary country. In December 1952, he was appointed to Kabgayi, where for six months, he studied Kinyarwanda. From the very beginning of his stay until his return to Spain in March 1970, Fr. Juan gave of his best in preaching the Gospel in the very difficult circumstances that the country was experiencing at the time.

He lived very close to the serious tensions and the fratricidal struggles between parishioners, Hutus and Tutsis. He lived the words of St. Theresa: “At the end of the day, I will be judged by love”. As an impartial witness, he maintained relations with all, seeking the way of reconciliation and a life for all. He lived through the genocides perpetrated by one side or the other. He was not a passive observer. Thanks to a meeting with the, then, President Gregoire Kayibanda, he saved the lives of 700 Tutsis at Christmas 1966. The following year, he succeeded in getting the release of 90 people condemned to death.

Many of his confreres give their testimony: “We have very good memories of Fr. Jean Vargas. He was simple and poor. He spoke easily with people and they listened to him. He was a good confrere”. - “Fr. Juan lived in Rwanda in an era of social, political and religious change. His friendliness, his simplicity, and his joy impressed me very much. His kindness was never in doubt. He embraced poverty, his commitment to the mission and his love for the Lord Jesus and the poor, was lived without any ostentation. He fought against injustice and its origins. It was something he carried in his heart and was a part of the way in which he lived his priesthood and served the Lord Jesus and the people to whom he had been sent.”

I have read some of his letters in which he informed the authorities of the country of the serious injustices and potential massacres. He demanded that they do something to prevent irreversible damage. He was well known for the many representations in the courts in favour of those who had been unjustly accused.

He covered, on foot, the many hill parishes where he worked in order to meet people in their huts or houses. He spent many hours talking to them, taking an interest in their lives and bringing them the Gospel and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. His meetings with the confreres were always interesting because he loved to reflect out loud and he discussed readily the problems he had met. He liked to exchange ideas on religious, social and political subjects. Many people still remember him with love and gratitude.

Fr. Emilio Galindo, who was born in the same village as Juan and was a friend from childhood, described him as a: “faithful friend, a man of God, and friend of the poor”. He finished his testimony by warning St. Peter: “Make sure that the door of heaven is securely locked because Juan could escape and return to earth to defend the poor”.

In 1970, Juan returned to Spain. He was appointed for missionary promotion in the community of Seville. In 1972, he was obliged to look after his aged and sick parents. With the agreement of the Provincial, he got an appointment from the Archbishop of Granada as curate in the parish of Santa Fe, near to his home village. He refused to be incardinated into the Diocese as he wanted to remain a White Father.

He came to Santa Fe with the desire to share his aspirations and anxiety for a Church that would be less humdrum and more committed to the poor. His energy was evident in the sermons he gave in a loud voice even shouting sometimes. He was well accepted by the people because of his cheerfulness, by his desire for change and for his commitment for the poor. They called him the ‘Red Parish Priest’. Some people took advantage of his goodness and it sometimes embarrassed the authorities.

His new mission in Granada did not mean that he had forgotten Rwanda. He was always anxious about what was happening and sent part of his meagre resources there. He read all the news concerning this country and he wrote letters to his old confreres. He joined the NGO ‘Granada Acoge’ (for welcoming immigrants) and this helped him to keep in contact with African problems.

After his obligatory retirement, Fr. Juan lived his retirement with a family who affectionately called him ‘Uncle Juan’. They looked after him, especially during the last eight years of his life during which he suffered from cancer of the prostate and colon.

For 40 years, Fr. Juan gave everything of himself in the Parish of Santa Fe. He was always welcoming and ready to be of service right up to the end, even when he could no longer move around. It was from here that he left for the house of the Father on the 16th March 2012.

The funeral took place in the parish church of Santa Fe and was presided over by the Vicar General of the Archdiocese, who represented the Archbishop, with 21 priests concelebrating. His ashes are now in this city.

Dear Juan, rest in peace, close to the Lord Jesus and the Father who called you to a mission that you served with so much love.

José Morales