A André est né à Mettet, le 26 avril 1930. Son père était agriculteur et signaleur aux Chemins de Fer. Il est le deuxième de cinq enfants. Après ses études secondaires à Tamines et au petit séminaire de Floreffe, il entre en septembre 1950 chez les Pères Blancs à Thy-le-Château. Après le noviciat à Varsenare, il rejoint le scolasticat de Heverlee, où il prononce son serment missionnaire le 7 juillet 1956 et est ordonné prêtre le 21 avril 1957. Il avait pu faire ses premières expériences catéchétiques dans une école de jeunes handicapés et, pendant les vacances, il s’engageait dans des camps de jeunes démunis. Ses formateurs le décrivent comme un homme intelligent, à l’imagination brillante, disant facilement ce qu’il pense, très catégorique dans ses affirmations (‘un petit air dominateur’), travailleur méthodique, très débrouillard, caractère un peu rude mais dynamique, généreux et serviable.

En septembre 1958, il s’envole pour le Rwanda. Il s’initie à la langue à la paroisse de Nyanza et devient responsable des écoles primaires et des mouvements de jeunesse, les Xaveris et l’UGA (JOC). Après un court passage au petit séminaire de Kansi, André devient, en 1961, aumônier national des Xaveris. Il s’investit beaucoup dans la formation des cadres laïcs et des aumôniers. En août 1966, il est nommé vicaire à la paroisse de Save et participe avec enthousiasme à la pastorale postconciliaire. Une année plus tard, certains confrères le jugeant trop moderne, André est envoyé à Nyamiyaga, une paroisse en fondation. “Ce fut une de mes meilleures expériences de travail en équipe : discernement communautaire, partage, pastorale de concertation avec des laïcs responsables”. Suit un long congé de maladie à cause d’asthme. Il en profite pour prendre une licence en catéchèse et pastorale à Lumen Vitae à Bruxelles.

De retour au Rwanda, fin mars 1979, André est nommé curé à Rutongo, paroisse ‘de pointe’ avec de nombreuses communautés ecclésiales de base, l’école diocésaine de catéchistes, etc. Début 1981, les évêques décident de transformer l’école de catéchistes en ‘propédeutique’ préparatoire au grand séminaire, et les Pères Blancs quittent la paroisse. André, souffrant de la ‘maladie des montagnes’, est envoyé en congé sanitaire.

À son retour, il est nommé à l’Institut Catéchétique Africain de Butare, où il devient professeur de catéchèse, directeur de stages, professeur de sciences humaines, préfet des études et gérant du home masculin. L’Institut, dont les diplômes sont agréés par Lumen Vitae, est aussi fréquenté par de nombreux aspirants de congrégations masculines et féminines. André y connut sans conteste la période la plus fructueuse de sa vie africaine. Il y avait tant à faire à l’Institut et André trouvait toujours une solution. Mais il s’engageait aussi ailleurs. Il participa activement à la création et au développement d’une école secondaire privée, créée par une ‘Association de Parents pour l’Éducation et la Formation’ (APEF). Il construit un centre d’accueil et de formation professionnelle des jeunes, patronné par la même association de parents et pour lequel il obtient le cofinancement du gouvernement belge.

Le génocide met brutalement fin à tout cela. Le 15 avril 1994, jour où débutait ‘la chasse aux Belges’ à Butare, André quitte le pays. En septembre, quelques confrères retournent au Rwanda, mais André apprend qu’il est “indésirable, complice du génocide, pour avoir fait partie d’une association de parents génocidaires (l’APEF). Deuxième accusation : “J’aurais organisé un trafic d’armes : je les commandais en Belgique, les réceptionnais à Kigali avec la complicité de douaniers, tandis qu’à Butare, mes jeunes les distribuaient aux miliciens en vue du génocide”. - “Il est à noter que ces accusations ont été formulées par des réfugiés rwandais venus du Burundi et qui occupent le Centre des Jeunes que j’ai construit. Non seulement tout cela est faux, mais je n’ai jamais fait de discrimination entre les Rwandais.”

André est nommé à Namur, à la communauté de la rue Namèche, chargée de l’animation missionnaire. Il fait partie du Comité des OPM, collabore avec VOLENS, rédige le journal des Amis du Tiers-Monde...

Engagements divers mais finalement peu satisfaisants. Aussi est-il heureux, en décembre 1998, de rejoindre l’équipe PB de Dongelberg, où il est nommé curé de Saint-Remy-Geest (prononcez : Gé). Il y appliquait, disait-il, les ‘méthodes des Missionnaires d’Afrique’ : être près des gens, partager leurs joies, leurs problèmes, les aider à s’en sortir, prier pour eux et avec eux. Il relance le Conseil paroissial. Une fois l’an, il visite chaque famille, il anime la retraite préparatoire à la Profession de Foi, il prépare sur ordinateur les livrets pour les catéchumènes et pour les chorales… Il enseigne aux catéchistes à se servir d’un ordinateur…

Le cœur en peine, il prend congé de ses paroissiens en août 2002, quand les Pères Blancs quittent Dongelberg, faute de personnel. André rejoint la communauté de La Plante. Il assurera un temps la rédaction de ‘Famille-Mission’. Il aide plusieurs communautés et confrères en informatique. Début 2009, il s’installe dans la communauté de Salzinnes. En septembre 2014, il vient à Evere, car il a de plus en plus besoin de soins. Transporté d’urgence à l’hôpital de Schaerbeek, il y décède le lendemain, le 8 avril 2015, d’une hémorragie cérébrale.

Les dernières années furent difficiles pour André, car la maladie le minait et il se révoltait farouchement. Lors des obsèques, le 13 avril, en la chapelle du home St-Joseph à Evere, un confrère a témoigné de son long mûrissement et comment, de “malade exécrable”, André s’était transformé et était devenu rayonnant...
André nous a laissé ses mémoires : 130 pages A4, bien remplies, intitulées “Ma Ligne de Vie”. Elles se terminent ainsi, en guise de signature : “Père André Pirmez, heureux missionnaire d’Afrique partout où Jésus m’a envoyé”.

Jef Vleugels

Père Jacques Maltais

1937 - - 2015

Jacques est né à Jonquière, Canada, le 13 octobre 1937. Après sept années d’études primaires à l’Académie St-Michel, il fait son cours classique au séminaire de Chicoutimi où il obtient son baccalauréat ès Arts avec le grade de ‘magna cum laude’. Le 6 août 1958, il entre au noviciat St-Martin (Laval) où il se fait remarquer par ses talents sportifs et une santé robuste. Il a une forte volonté et aime commander. Il se montre cependant zélé à suivre le règlement et généreux dans les tâches qu’on lui confie.

Pour ses études théologiques, Jacques se retrouve au scolasticat d’Eastview, ON, de 1959 à 1963. Dans la grande communauté internationale, il est à l’aise avec ses confrères qui l’estiment pour son caractère agréable. Homme d’initiative, il ne se fait pas prier pour les travaux manuels. Il se montre obéissant et s’efforce de maîtriser son tempérament de chef et d’acquérir plus de diplomatie et de souplesse. Ses professeurs reconnaissent qu’il est solidement attaché à sa vocation missionnaire. Il fait son serment missionnaire le 23 juin 1962 et il reçoit le sacerdoce le 29 juin 1963.

Jacques exprime clairement son choix pour un pays d’Afrique : “D’après les derniers examens médicaux, j’ai une santé de fer ! Aussi, j’aimerais un pays où je peux faire un travail qui exige beaucoup d’esprit d’initiative, une considérable dépense d’énergie physique et qui comporte des difficultés spéciales. Je pense en particulier au Mozambique, pays auquel je me suis intéressé spécialement pendant mes années au scolasticat. Je n’aimerais pas cependant faire des études spécialisées avant mon départ pour les missions”.

Après un séjour de six mois au Portugal, pour y apprendre le portugais, le Père Maltais part pour le Mozambique le 2 juillet 1964. Il est nommé à Lundo où il apprend la langue locale et fait du ministère paroissial pendant sept ans. Et voilà que le 25 mai 1971, les missionnaires Pères Blancs doivent quitter le Mozambique. Ils se retirent tous pour protester contre la collusion entre l’Église et le régime colonial portugais qui ne permet pas aux missionnaires de se faire “Mozambicains” avec les gens du pays.

Un mois plus tard, Jacques reçoit sa nomination pour la Haute Volta (Burkina Faso). Le 20 juin 1971, écrivant, depuis Paris, au Père régional, il lui indique le genre d’apostolat qu’il aimerait exercer. Dans cette lettre, nous reconnaissons la générosité de notre confrère, son sens de la pauvreté et son amour pour sa vocation missionnaire : “Pour le travail là-bas (Haute Volta), je suis à l’entière disposition de votre Conseil régional évidemment, bien que j’aie une préférence pour une activité pastorale en brousse. Si je pouvais choisir, je choisirais le poste le plus pauvre, le moins avancé et le plus éloigné. Cependant, c’est à vous de choisir. J’ai déjà appris quatre langues africaines au Mozambique et j’ai été successivement vicaire et curé de paroisse. J’ai une très bonne santé… Bref, peu m’importe où je serai, ce qui compte pour moi, c’est de pouvoir être missionnaire en Afrique”.

Quelques jours plus tard, Jacques se trouve dans la paroisse de Dissin, au sud-ouest du Burkina, soudainement transplanté dans un autre pays, en présence d’une culture et d’une langue différentes, avec des méthodes pastorales distinctes de celles qu’il avait connues au Mozambique. En effet, son expérience pastorale antérieure était d’un type bien différent de qu’il découvre dans cette paroisse. À Dissin, l’organisation de l’apostolat le désoriente. Il ne restera qu’un an et demi dans ce pays, étant donné les difficultés d’adaptation qu’il rencontre.

Le Père Maltais désire être missionnaire dans un pays où il peut parler un dialecte qui se rapproche de ceux qu’il a appris au Mozambique, et où il y a de grands espaces et, si possible, peu de chrétiens. Il est nommé en Zambie, dans le diocèse de Chipata, où il reste dix ans. Nommé curé de Lundazi et de Kanyanga, Jacques se donne généreusement à son ministère pastoral qui lui demande de parcourir souvent de longues distances. Il ne ménage pas ses forces. Aussi ressent-il bientôt des problèmes d’épuisement.
Sur les conseils du Régional, Jacques accepte de retourner au Canada en 1982. Après un temps de repos, il fait partie d’une équipe d’animation missionnaire, en résidant à notre maison St-Hubert de Montréal. Un rythme de travail plus décontracté, des responsabilités moins lourdes, et notamment la solidarité, qui existent dans l’équipe d’animation lui permettent de se refaire une santé physique et spirituelle pendant les deux années de ce ministère auprès des jeunes.

En 1984, le Père Maltais accepte d’être envoyé au Brésil. Iil fait partie de l’équipe fondatrice de notre présence dans ce pays lusophone. La paroisse où les Pères Blancs vont s’établir se situe dans le sud-est du Brésil, à Curitiba, une ville d’un million et demi d’habitants. Les défis à relever sont nombreux : s’intégrer dans la pastorale du diocèse, apprendre à bien connaître les gens et leurs coutumes, faire le lien entre les Églises africaines et brésilienne… Dans une de ses lettres au Provinial du Canada, il se dit heureux dans cette nouvelle étape de sa vie missionnaire : “Je vais cheminer avec les jeunes de Curitiba que je rencontre très souvent, je fais aussi partie d’une communauté de base et, avec mes deux confrères, nous formons une équipe unie et dynamique, bâtie sur la prière et l’amour fraternel”.

Jacques revient définitivement au Québec en 1998. À Montréal, il s’insère dans la pastorale des itinérants. Quelques années plus tard, Jacques éprouve de sérieux problèmes de santé qui nécessitent un encadrement médical et des soins appropriés. C’est pourquoi, en 2006, le Père Maltais est nommé à notre communauté de Sherbrooke. C’est là, le 28 février 2015, qu’il est décédé.

La messe des funérailles a lieu en présence de la dépouille à la chapelle des Missionnaires d’Afrique de Sherbrooke. Il sera ensuite incinéré et ses cendres seront déposées au cimetière St-Antoine.
Dans sa vie missionnaire, Jacques a connu l’expulsion et les difficultés de réadaptation dans divers pays. Que le Seigneur lui donne maintenant le repos éternel!

Michel Carbonneau

PROFILES

Father Robert Kaggwa

1959 - - 2015

Father Robert was born on 9th May 1959 in Nsambya Parish, Kampala Archdiocese, Uganda. He is survived by his parents, Mr John Chrysostom Kazibwe and Mrs Immaculate Namakula. He was the fourth of eleven children. He was baptised on 17th May 1959 at Ggaba Parish.

In 1972, Robert entered Nyenga Minor Seminary. From there he continued his education at Kitovu St. Henry’s College until 1978.

In 1978, Robert entered Katigondo Major Seminary and remained there until 1981. At the end of his studies, he received a Diploma from Katigondo in Philosophy and Religious Studies, and a Licenciate in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University of Rome. During the three years at Katigondo, he had a great interest in the Missionaries of Africa and indeed was accepted as an aspirant during this time.

In 1981, Robert entered Mapeera Seminary of the Missionaries of Africa, located in Kisubi Parish. Here he spent a few months in order to prepare himself to go on to the Novitiate in Fribourg, Switzerland. (1981-1982). From Fribourg Robert did a year at the Missionaries of Africa House of Studies at Toulouse, France, following a course of studies at the Institut Catholique de Toulouse (1982-1983).
Then followed two year’s of Pastoral Experience in Burkina Faso, in the Parish of Niangoloko, Diocese of Bobo-Dioulasso. This period included three months at Faladye in Mali, to learn the Bambara language. Robert was then given three months in a parish in order to translate what he knew of Bambara into Jula.

Robert returned to Toulouse in 1985 to continue his studies and at the end of this period he attained a Masters Degree in Theology. He took his Missionary Oath on the 25th April 1987. The same year, he returned to Uganda for his ordination to the Priesthood at Ggaba Parish, on the 29th August 1987.Writing on the occasion of his priestly Ordination, he said: “I always wanted to become a priest. Even while I was still young, I thought about going to other countries to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ. I have always admired the White Fathers and their courage when faced with the hard times which my own country, Uganda, has experienced in recent years. They stayed on there! Now I am leaving my own country, having been sent to Burkina Faso”.

Robert returned to Burkina Faso where he was appointed to Konadougou Parish, in the Diocese of Bobo-Dioulasso. He remained in that country until 1991, to go to Rome for further studies. At the end of his studies (1995), he received a Doctorate in Theology. In his Thesis, he emphasised that “the pastoral priority of Small Christian Communities is very important as the locus for a theology of fellowship or communion.”

With all these studies behind him, Robert was appointed in 1996 to lecture at the Missionary Institute of London. He was also involved in the training of future missionaries at St. Edward’s College. Before taking up his teaching post, he followed the course offered at St. Anselm’s Institute in Margate, Kent. Father Gotthard advised him to “use the remaining time at St. Anselm’s to read a lot on the theme of counselling and spiritual direction.”

Robert was to remain at St. Edward’s until 2002. He was a popular teacher who combined intellectual rigour with a lively lecturing style. He was then offered the post of Chaplain at Digby Stuart College and at the same time, Chaplain to Roehampton University, South-West London, and Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies. Writing in The Tablet on the occasion of Robert’s Obituary, Tina Beattie (Professor of Catholic Studies at Roehampton), said: “As a university chaplain and lecturer, Robert had two indispensable qualities: he was a fine theologian and he was a dedicated and sensitive pastor. As a lecturer in theology and religious studies, he guided and encouraged many students irrespective of their religious backgrounds. His commitment to interfaith dialogue and to creating inclusive communities made the Digby Stuart chaplaincy a hub of social and spiritual activity… A man of prayer with a profound personal faith, Robert celebrated Masses that were informal but never lacking in dignity.”

By way of external pastoral activity, Robert was a founding member and trustee of the organisation, Catholics for Aids Prevention and Support, and he was actively involved with “The Passage”, the charity founded by the late Cardinal Hume, Archbishop of Westminster, that provides support to homeless people.

In recent years, unknown to many people, Robert had suffered from heart problems which were good enough reasons for him to retire early. However, he did not complain at all and he remained to the end committed to his ministry in all its aspects. On 9th January 2015, news reached the Missionaries of Africa that Robert had collapsed and died suddenly in Roehampton. He died in the fullness of life, eagerly looking forward to the challenges of a new term.

Father Robert’s Funeral Mass was celebrated in Ealing Abbey Church, West London, in the presence of his father and mother, and other members of his family who had managed to obtain visas to enter Great Britain. There was a huge congregation present in the Abbey Church, testimony to the high respect Robert was held in by so many people. The Mass was presided by the Delegate Superior, Father Terry Madden, assisted by a number of Missionaries of Africa. In his homily, Father Bruno Ssenyundo M.Afr., said: “Robert was fully convinced that the God he served was a merciful and loving Father in whom there is no segregation among people…Robert lived his life for the service of all”.

And then Father Bruno shared with the congregation a few thoughts expressed by Robert’s parents to him: “Son, the Lord gave us Robert as a gift. We too accepted to give him back to God as a gift. Robert has done his best. We have no regrets. We thank God for enabling him to use his talents for the good of others”.

Father Robert Kaggwa was buried in the Missionaries of Africa section of Kensal Green Cemetery. On 23rd April 2015, a Memorial Service was held in Roehampton University to recall the life and work of a dedicated missionary priest.

Richard Calcutt

Father Piet Tibax

1925 - - 2015

Piet Tibax was born on the 18th July 1925 in the charming village of Lier (Lierre) in the Diocese of Antwerp. His father was a military outfitter. The three children of the family all entered religious life. His brother, René joined the Passionists and served as a missionary in the Congo. His sister, Jeanne joined a local congregation of sisters known as the Hospitalières de Lier. Piet did his secondary schooling in the College of Saint-Gommaire in his native village.

He entered the White Fathers in Boechout in September 1943. The novitiate in Varsenare followed and he studied theology in Heverlee. He took his Missionary Oath there on the 21st July 1949 and was ordained priest on the 23rd July 1950. His teachers considered him as a relaxed but steady worker, a man of duty, levelheaded and with a sound judgement. He was pious and good-humoured and got on well with everybody. He did seem to be rather shy.

Piet took the Sobelair flight to the Congo on the 16th March 1951. He was appointed to Kivu then known as the ‘Vicariat of Costermansville.’ He arrived in the Parish of Kashofu on the island of Ijwi at the end of March. He learnt Mashi first and foremost but also Swahili. In February 1954, he was appointed to the postulancy of the Frères Serviteurs de Jésus-Christ in Mugeri.

A year later, we find him in Walungu as curate before becoming Parish Priest of Burhale in 1957. He went on home leave in 1959 and on his return; he worked for some months at Katana and then again in Walungu. In August 1961, Piet founded Ciherano and two years later, he was made Dean and Parish Priest of Burhale, a parish he had rejuvenated. He ended this term of missionary service as Parish Priest of Nyantende.

In 1966, Piet is Parish Priest of Bagira. A witness remembers: “I was still a little girl. I was attending catechism lessons and it was Fr. Tibax who was instructing us. We liked him a lot because he had his own way of teaching us and how to pray and love God.” During the rebellion of 1967, the mercenaries of Jacques Schramme occupied the village. When the Congolese troops retook the place, Piet was only saved from the firing squad by a sergeant major who knew him. He said later, “These events made us poor in the spirit of Jesus and his Gospel.”

Piet spent some months in Kadutu in 1968, returned as Parish Priest of Nyantende, and came back once again to Kadutu. He was appointed as the Diocesan Chaplain to the Young Christian Workers. He founded the Parish of Cimpunda in 1972.

Piet was never a great one for theories but he knew how to put them into practice. “The Church, people of God” of Vatican II cleared the way for the setting up of Basic Christian Communities. He trained leaders and he respected their initiatives later on. He loved his parishioners and they loved him in return. The tragic events he experienced never damaged his joy of life. When the then President Mobutu forbade ‘imported’ baptism names, the Christians gave him the Mashi name of ‘Mushagalusa’ which means the man who makes people laugh, a sower of joy!

Appointments followed one another. Piet returned to Kadutu in 1978. After doing the session/retreat in Jerusalem, he was asked to make a radical change. He was sent to St. Charles Lwanga Parish in Katuba in the Archdiocese of Lubumbashi. He helped in other parishes but in September 1981, he took up an appointment as Superior of Bagira in the Archdiocese of Bukavu. At the same time, he was elected Regional Councillor.

Appointments followed on a regular basis, 1983, curate at Kadutu, 1986, Parish Priest at Burhiba, 1989 appointed to Belgium as superior of the procure in Antwerp. He admitted that he spent a long time on his knees before the crucifix before accepting. It was his 20th appointment in 40 years of missionary life. However, the Antwerp community was an important one as it not only facilitated the despatch of much needed materials to Africa, it also welcomed confreres who came for treatment at the Tropical Institute. Piet was always a sensitive and attentive confrere and did good work there. He only did one mandate of three years before he was off again. He was urgently needed at Katana, a community that welcomed ill and exhausted confreres. Two communities of sisters and the personnel of the famous La Formulac Hospital were also waiting for appropriate spiritual leadership. He arrived at the beginning of January 1994 and stayed until October 1997. As was his habit, he launched himself with more than usual zeal into a round of visiting the sick, giving recollections to the Legion of May, preaching retreats to the Sisters and giving spiritual direction to many people and much more.

In 1997, Piet came to Rome for the Seniors Session. A few months later, back in Bukavu, he was appointed as General Chaplain to the Inter-Diocesan Congregation of the Daughters of Mary, Queen of Apostles as well as superior of the St. Paul community. On the 3rd September 2000, he was back in his hometown of Lierre to celebrate, with his brother René, his Golden Jubilee of ordination.

From 2003 onwards (he was now 78 years old) he did not have any official function. He continued to do some ministry in Bukavu until his definitive return to Belgium in 2005. He asked to go to Heusy as he dreamed of doing some ministry with the pilgrims coming to the Marian shrine of Banneux. He was especially appreciated as a tireless confessor. He did the 70+ Session in Rome although he was a valiant 80 in 2005. He joined the Antwerp community in 2008 and was always ready to be of service with a sense of joy and deep faith. In his spiritual notes, he wrote, “Joy? It is to know one is loved by God, it is the opposite of taking oneself seriously.” In his spiritual testament, he said, “I hope to be able to die in gratitude, in peace and with deep joy. All is grace. Alleluia!”

Worn out by a four month stay in hospital with pulmonary and kidney problems, Piet died peacefully on the 16th March 2015. The farewell Eucharist took place in the Church of Saint Charles Borromeo in Antwerp.

Jef Vleugels

Father Roland Prescott

1931 - - 2015

Roland was born on the 24th June 1931 in St-Boniface, Manitoba Province, Canada. It was a big family and poor economically speaking. He did his primary schooling in the Provencher Elementary School in St-Boniface and followed the traditional secondary school studies at the College of St-Boniface from 1946 to 1953. He was of average intelligence and he had to make a big effort to pass his exams.

The Rector of the College noted that Roland suffered some financial embarrassment and from shyness which prevented him from being more outgoing. However, Roland got on well with the other students and never refused to offer his services when he was asked. He had a solid piety which he showed by his commitment to the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin. All during his secondary school studies, Roland showed great generosity and perseverance by working during his summer holidays to defray the expenses of his schooling.

Fr. Roger Audet (+1994) then Vocation Director at St-Boniface, recognised that Roland had a “solid missionary vocation.” He encouraged him to write to the Master of Novices at St-Martin asking to be admitted to the novitiate. In his letter, dated 30th March 1953, Roland reveals his great desire to become a missionary in Africa: “Since my earliest childhood, the idea of becoming a missionary priest and especially a White Father has remained intact and alive. After nine difficult, even miserable, years of studies due to my relative poverty, I feel ready, with your approval, most reverend Father, to realise my dream of consecrating my life to the service of the missions... I am a young person from Manitoba who is responding to the call of the Master.”

Roland entered the St-Martin Novitiate, near Montreal, on the 6th August 1953. During this spiritual year, he stood out by his devotion and his obedience. He had a nervous and touchy temperament. He got on well with the confreres, showed himself to be resourceful and great at manual work. He was regular in his pious exercises and showed a great attachment to his missionary vocation.

Roland began his theological studies at the Eastview Scholasticate, near Ottawa on the 1st September 1954. Despite his rather fragile health, he liked manual work. His professors underlined that Roland was always very polite and open with them. He was charitable and pleasant with the confreres, discreet with all and did not want to cause pain to anyone. He was always ready to be of service and he brought joy to the community by his kindness and gentleness.

Roland was full of good will and showed a lot of courage in achieving his vocation. His piety, sometimes bordering on sentimentality, was apparent in his devotional exercises and his observance of the rule of the Scholasticate. His professors were of the opinion that Roland would be a loyal collaborator in Africa in the framework of a pastoral team. He would do well in down to earth parish ministry. In any case, he was considered to have the necessary qualities to be a zealous and enthusiastic missionary. He would be an asset in the apostolate because of his sound judgement, his willingness to listen to remarks and take advice and his solid spirituality. His professors voted unanimously to accept him for the oath and ordination. He took his Missionary Oath on the 22nd June 1957 and he was ordained priest on the 2nd February 1958 at La Morennerie in the Diocese of St-Boniface, Manitoba, Canada.

After completing his training, Fr. Prescott asked to go to Tanzania, mentioning in particular the Diocese of Tabora, for his missionary apostolate. He wrote that he wanted to work in close collaboration with the African clergy. However after a four month stay in England, Roland was appointed to the Diocese of Navrongo in Ghana. He spent the first five years of his missionary life at the seminary of St. Anthony in Bawku from December 1958 to March 1963. In March 1963, he was appointed curate in the Parish of Walewale. A year later, he returned to Canada for his first home leave. He returned to Walewale in August 1964 as Parish Priest. He visited many outstations and especially the schools and he seemed to have a good influence on the teachers.

Roland returned to Canada in December 1968. He was appointed to missionary promotion work and pastoral ministry in St-Boniface and the Provinces of Western Canada. He was to do this work until 2008. He did the Session/Retreat in Jerusalem in 1994. He moved to the ‘Residence des Pines’ from our house in St-Boniface with the other confreres. He suffered from heart problems and needed open-heart surgery in October 2008. From that time, Fr. Prescott saw his health deteriorate until the moment when his physical and mental state was cause for great concern. In fact, the ‘Residence des Pines’ could not care for him any longer as he needed much more specialised care for his condition.

Fr. Roland Prescott died on the 18th April 2015 at the Health Sciences Centre Hospital in Winnipeg. He was 83 years old of which 57 years of missionary life in Ghana and Canada. The religious service was held on the 22nd April 2015 in the Cathedral of St-Boniface presided over by our confrere, Bishop Albert Thévenot, Bishop of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan Province. He is buried in the cemetery of the Cathedral. May the Lord grant rest and eternal peace to his faithful servant.

Michel Carbonneau

Father André Pirmez

1930 - - 2015

André was born on the 26th April 1930 in Mettet, Namur Province, Belgium. He was the second of five children. His father was a farmer and signalman for the railways. André did his secondary school studies in Tamines and the junior seminary of Floreffe and entered the White Fathers at Thy-le-Chateau in September 1950. He did his novitiate at Varsenare and his theological studies in Heverlee. He took his Missionary Oath there on the 7th July 1956 followed by ordination on the 21st April 1957.

During his training, he taught catechism in a school for young handicapped children and during his holidays, he worked in a camp for poor young people. His professors described him as intelligent with a fertile imagination, not afraid to say what he thought and he could be quite categorical in his statements (‘a little air of superiority’). He was a methodical worker and very resourceful. He had a somewhat rough character but was dynamic, generous and obliging.

André took the plane for Rwanda in 1958. He learnt the language in Nyanza Parish. He was given charge of the primary schools and the various youth movements such as the Xaverians and Young Christian Workers. He spent a short time in the junior seminary of Kansi. In 1961, he became the national chaplain for the Xaverians. He put a lot of work into training chaplains and laypeople. In August 1966, he was appointed to the Parish of Save as curate. He committed himself enthusiastically to the new methods of pastoral work demanded by Vatican II. A year later, some confreres objected that he was too ‘modern.’

He was sent to the newly created Parish of Nyamiyaga. He said, “It was one of my best experiences of team work, including community discernment, sharing, and dialogue with responsible laypeople.” He returned home for a prolonged medical leave because of asthma. He took the opportunity to obtain a Licentiate in Catechesis and Pastoral Work in Lumen Vitae in Brussels.

André returned to Rwanda at the end of March 1979. He was appointed Parish Priest of Rutongo, a go-ahead Parish with many Small Christian Communities and the Diocesan School for Catechists. At the beginning of 1981, the Bishops decided to close the Catechists school and set up a preparatory year for the Senior Seminary. The White Fathers left the parish. André had to return home for medical reasons.

When André returned to Rwanda, he was appointed to the Institut Catéchétique Africain in Butare. He took on a number of responsibilities including the teaching of Catechetics and Social Sciences. He was Dean of Studies and the supervisor of pastoral work and managed a home for men. Many aspirants from male and female congregations attended the Institute, whose diplomas were certified by Lumen Vitae.

André considered this the most fruitful period of his live in Africa. He had many things to do at the Institute but always found a way to find solutions. He was also committed in other areas. He helped to set up and develop a private secondary school with the help of an organisation ‘Association de Parents pour l’Education et la Formation’ (APEF). With the same group, he built a reception and vocational training centre and managed to get co-financing from the Belgian Government.

The genocide of 1994 brutally put an end to these projects. On the 15th April 1994, ‘the day of hunting the Belgians,’ André left the country. Some confreres returned in September, but André learnt that he was an undesirable, “as I was implicated with an association of parents in favour of the genocide (APEF)”. A second accusation, “I had organised arms trafficking: I ordered the arms in Belgium, and got them through customs in Kigali with the complicity of the customs officers and the youth distributed them to the militias with the genocide in view. It should be noted that Rwandan refugees coming from Burundi made these accusations and they were occupying the Centre that I had built. Not only is all this false but I have never discriminated against any Rwandan.”

André was appointed to the community in rue Namèche, Namur. He was in charge of Missionary Promotion. He was a member of the committee of the Pontifical Mission Society and an NGO involved in development work called VOLENS. He edited the Amis du Tiers-Monde magazine. He had many commitments but none of them was very satisfactory. Therefore, he was very happy to receive an appointment to join the White Fathers’ team in Dongelberg in December 1998. He was made Parish Priest of Saint-Remy-Geest. He said he used the work practices of the Missionaries of Africa in the parish: get close to the people, share their joys and sorrows, and pray with them and for them. He re-established the Parish Council and tried to visit each family once a year. He preached retreats to the young preparing for their Profession of Faith. He used his computer skills to produce leaflets for instructing catechumens and for the choirs. He also taught the catechists how to use computers.

When the White Fathers left Dongelberg because of lack of personnel in August 2002, André took leave of his parishioners with a heavy heart. He went to the community of La Plante in Namur. He edited the ‘Famille-Mission’ magazine for a while, and helped many communities and confreres improve their computing skills. At the beginning of 2009, he joined the community of Salzinnes. He arrived in Evere in September 2014, because he needed more and more care. He was transferred urgently to the hospital in Schaerbeek on the 7th April and he died there the following day, 8th April, from a brain haemorrhage.

André’s final years were difficult for him as his health got worse. He found it difficult to accept illness. During his funeral on the 13th April in the Chapel of St-Joseph in Evere, a confrere testified of André’s long maturing and how through his final terrible illness, he was transformed and became joyful and died a worthy death.

André left us his memoires, 130 well-filled A4 pages under the title “Ma Ligne de Vie.” He signed off with the words: “Fr. André Pirmez, a happy Missionary of Africa, everywhere Jesus sent him.”

Jef Vleugels

 

Father Jacques Maltais

1937 - - 2015

Jacques was born in Jonquière, Province of Québec, Canada on the 13th October 1937. After seven years of primary schooling in the Académie St-Michel, he received a classical secondary school education in the Seminary of Chicoutimi. He obtained his Baccalaureat in Arts ‘magna cum laude.’ He entered the novitiate of St-Martin (Laval) on the 6th August 1958. His sporting talents were quickly noticed and he enjoyed good health. He was strong willed and liked to command. Nevertheless, he observed the rules zealously and faithfully carried out any job that was assigned to him.

For his theological studies, Jacques found himself in Eastview, Ontario from 1959 to 1963. He was at ease with his confreres in this big international community. He was appreciated for his pleasant character. He was full of initiative and did not need to be coaxed to do manual work. He was obedient and tried to keep his bossy temperament under control and to be more diplomatic and flexible. His professors recognised his attachment to his missionary vocation and did not hesitate to recommend him for the Missionary Oath (23rd June 1962) and the priesthood (29th June 1963).

When the time came for expressing his preference for his first appointment to Africa, Jacques was quite clear: “According to my last medical examination, I have an iron constitution! Therefore, I would like a country when the work demands a lot of initiative, a considerable amount of physial energy and has particular problems. I was thinking of Mozambique. I have been interested in this country since my student days. However, I would not like anything in the way of specialised studies before I leave for the missions.”
Jacques spent six months learning Portuguese in Portugal. He left for Mozambique in July 1964. He was appointed to Lundo, learnt the local language, and spent seven years in ministry there. Then on the 25th May 1971, the White Fathers were forced to leave Mozambique because they protested against the collusion between the Church and the Portuguese colonial administration, which prevented the missionaries from becoming “Mozambican” with the people of the country.

A month later, Jacques received an appointment to Upper Volta (Burkina Faso). He wrote to the Regional from Paris in a letter indicating the work he would like to do. In this letter, we can recognise Jacques’ generosity, his sense of poverty and his love for his missionary vocation: “Regarding the work down there, (Upper Volta), I am at the complete disposition of your Regional Council. I do have a special liking for pastoral work in the bush. If I could choose, I would like to work in the poorest, the least developed, and the most remote mission. However, it is up to you to decide. I have already learnt four African languages in Mozambique and I have served as curate and Parish Priest. I enjoy very good health. Briefly, it does not really matter where I will be, what is important is to be able to be a missionary in Africa.”

Some days later, Jacques found himself in Dissin in South West Burkina Faso. He now found himself suddenly transplanted into another country with a very different culture, different languages and, above all, different pastoral methods to those he was used to in Mozambique. In fact, his previous pastoral experience did not stand to him at all in his new parish. The way the apostolate was organised in Dissin disoriented him completely. He only stayed one and half years in this country because of the problems of adaptation he encountered.

Fr. Maltais wanted a change. He wanted to be a missionary in a country where he could speak a dialect that was close to the language he had learned in Mozambique, where there were wide open spaces and if possible, few Christians. He was appointed to the Diocese of Chipata in Zambia. He was to stay there for 10 years. He became Parish Priest of Lundazi and then Kanyanga. He gave himself generously to pastoral work, which often meant covering long distances. He did not spare himself, which meant that he soon suffered from exhaustion.

On the advice of the Regional, Jacques accepted a return to Canada in 1982. After a period of rest, he joined the missionary promotion team based in our house on Rue St-Hubert, Montreal. He found a more relaxed way of working, fewer responsibilities and above all, solidarity between the confreres working on the promotion team. This allowed him to recoup both his physical and spiritual health in his two years of this ministry close to young people.

In 1984, Jacques accepted an appointment to Brazil. With two confreres, he was part of the founding team of White Fathers in this Portuguese speaking country. The Parish where the White Fathers were to work was in the south east of the country, in Curitiba, a town of some 1½ million in habitants. They had to face a number of challenges: to integrate into the pastoral policy of the Diocese, to get to know the people and their customs, and to establish a link between the African and Brazilian Churches. In one of his letters to the Canadian Provincial, Jacques wrote: “I journey with the young people of Curitiba whom I meet quite often, I am also a member of a Basic Christian Community and with my brothers we form a united, dynamic team built on prayer, dialogue, and fraternal charity.”

Jacques returned to Canada for good in 1998. In Montreal, he got involved in the apostolate to the itinerants. A few years later, he began to have serious health problems, which meant a move to our community in Sherbrooke in 2006 where he could be given specialised and appropriate care. He died there on the 28th February 2015.

The funeral Mass took place in the presence of his earthly remains in the Chapel of the Missionaries of Africa in Sherbrooke. He was then cremated and his ashes buried in the Cemetery St-Antoine.
In his missionary life, Jacques suffered expulsion and problems of adaptation in different countries. May the Lord grant him eternal rest!

Michel Carbonneau