Jacques naquit, le 30 novembre 1921, à Neuilly-sur-Seine, (diocèse de Nanterre, France), dans une famille très chrétienne de 12 enfants. Son père, après avoir enseigné à Sainte-Croix de Neuilly, le fit plus tard en divers Instituts catholiques de la région de Rouen. Jacques resta toujours très attaché à sa famille, à ses nombreux neveux et nièces, vivant intensément leurs heurs et malheurs. Son frère aîné, Xavier, jésuite, ancien missionnaire en Chine, mourut en 1988 à Madagascar ; sa sœur Marguerite, décédée en 1981, était Sœur Missionnaire du Saint Esprit. Lui-même dit avoir pensé à la vocation dès l’âge de 8 ans.

Après avoir étudié à la maison sous la direction d’une de ses tantes, il entra à la maîtrise Saint-Évode de Rouen, puis à l’Institution Jouin-Lambert où il obtint le baccalauréat Latin-Grec et Mathématiques élémentaires. C’est alors qu’il demanda son admission à Kerlois pour la philosophie scolastique. En juin 1940, dans la débâcle générale, Kerlois ferma, mais l’on proposa aux étudiants, dès le mois d’août suivant, de passer en zone libre pour rejoindre Thibar, en Tunisie, et y faire la 2e année de philosophie. Ce que fit aussitôt Jacques.

Après quoi, ce fut l’Année spirituelle à partir du 1er octobre 1941, à Maison-Carrée. Se trouvant hospitalisé lors du débarquement allié, Jacques échappa aux chantiers de jeunesse et put gagner Thibar pour la théologie. Mais en 1943, il y fut requis pour le Service Obligatoire du Travail, puis, les Américains ayant envahi la Tunisie, il fut mobilisé et ce n’est que deux ans et demi plus tard qu’il put reprendre ses études. Il fit le Serment missionnaire le 31 janvier 1948 à Thibar et y reçut le Sacerdoce le 30 juin 1948.

Durant tout ce temps, ses formateurs louent sa bonne intelligence, sa piété profonde, son désir de toujours rendre service : très studieux, on l’aurait voulu moins tendu, car, de tempérament nerveux et sensible, il était trop minutieux, parfois jusqu’au scrupule. Mais on le voyait bien enseigner plus tard. Son vœu était d’aller au Mozambique ou en Afrique de l’Ouest.

Nommé pour le vicariat de Bobo-Dioulasso, le 20 mai 1949, il arriva à Tounouma, pour y apprendre le bobo-fing avant de rejoindre, le 10 septembre 1949, le petit séminaire de Nasso : il y enseigna les mathématiques, tout en assurant bientôt l’économat et, plus tard, le cours de philosophie : il se donnait à fond pour la bonne marche du séminaire, bien que sa nervosité agaçât parfois ses confrères. Malgré son trop court stage de langue, il aimait faire un peu de ministère au village, les dimanches.

À partir du 22 septembre 1961, il fit la Grande Retraite à la Villa Cavalletti. Après 14 ans à Nasso, - des années fructueuses de l’avis de son Supérieur régional, tant par son enseignement que par son zèle pour le développement du village où, habile de ses mains, il avait construit une chapelle, une école, des habitations pour les enseignants -, il devint, le 1er septembre 1964, Maître des Novices Frères, à Gap, une charge importante qu’il mena à bien durant 3 ans.

Le 1er octobre 1967, on le retrouve vicaire à Tounouma rural, mais le 1er septembre 1970, il fut rappelé au petit séminaire de Nasso. L’africanisation du corps professoral apportant trop de changements pour lui, une sérieuse fatigue nerveuse exigea son rapatriement en octobre 1977. Le 1er juillet 1978, bien reposé, de nouveau vicaire à Tounouma-rural, il se remit, vaille que vaille, mais heureux, à la langue et au ministère paroissial, grâce aux catéchistes qui l’aidaient à progresser petit à petit et pour lesquels il eut toujours grande admiration et affection.

Le 1er octobre 1980, il rejoignit, avec joie, la communauté de Kwentou. Mais comme il disait peiner à travailler intellectuellement, on retarda pour lui, en 1981, la Session-Retraite à Jérusalem dont il avait pourtant grande envie ; il se dévoua beaucoup pour les gens, mettant son argent dans les œuvres de la paroisse, s’occupant des constructions, parfois de façon quelque peu paternaliste. Le 11 juin 1986, il put faire enfin la Session-Retraite, avant de retrouver Kwentou, mais, dès le 14 décembre 1987, il dut prendre un congé médical pour subir l’opération de la prostate.

Et les ennuis de santé continuèrent : le 1er avril 1988, on l’opéra, cette fois, à l’œil gauche. De retour dès le 1er mai 1988 à Kwentou, il y resta quelque 10 ans et y fit un bon travail avec les Pères de Baillencourt, Le Blévec et Habarnau : grâce à des aides diverses ou jumelages avec des villes de France, Saint-Quentin, Cognac..., ils laisseraient une paroisse couverte d’écoles et de centres de santé ; Jacques et le P. de Baillencourt avaient “la maladie de la pierre”; Honoré Habarnau leur disait plaisamment “qu’ils faisaient les boîtes avant d’avoir les sardines”...

Le 1er avril 1989, Jacques subit une nouvelle opération à l’œil à Paris et, le 1er avril 1991, sa santé exigea encore un congé prolongé en Province, jusqu’en octobre. Le 1er juin 1994, il accepta le retour définitif. Pourtant, en faisant le cénotaphe à la mémoire du P. de Baillencourt, il ne lui aurait pas déplu, disait-il, d’y être déposé un jour à la manière bobo... Du moins souhaitait-il que les noms de tous les prêtres passés par Kwentou fussent inscrits dans la pierre.

Le 1er septembre 1994, on lui accorda une année sabbatique à Paris, rue Friant. Le 8 mars 1995, il alla faire, à Rome, la session des +70 ans. Le 8 avril suivant, on le nomma pour l’accueil à Paris, rue Friant. Le 1er octobre 1997, il rejoignit Verrières comme Socius à l’Aumônerie des SMNDA : il s’y donna, comme toujours, à bloc, et les Sœurs appréciaient ses homélies vibrantes.

Mais, au retour d’un bref séjour au Burkina Faso, lors du jumelage Kwentou-Le Puy-en-Velay, il tomba malade et dut se résoudre, le 15 mai 1998, à rejoindre la Résidence de Bry-sur-Marne, d’où il passa, le 1er février 2012, à celle de La Chauderaie, à Francheville, près de Lyon. Il y partit avec un tout petit bagage, laissant à Bry un bric-à-brac invraisemblable, car, habile en maints domaines, il stockait tout ce qui était susceptible de servir un jour.

Le mercredi 26 novembre 2014, quatre jours avant ses 93 ans, le Seigneur a rappelé à lui ce missionnaire ardent, vraiment méritant, toujours heureux dans sa vocation. Il fut inhumé le 1er décembre en la chapelle de la Chauderaie.

Armand Duval

Père Henri Ramart

1924 - - 2014

Henri naquit à Lille, France, le 11 mai 1924, dans une famille nombreuse et chrétienne ; une de ses sœurs se fit religieuse, son frère jumeau Lucien (+1996), fut chanoine à Lille, et Pierre (+2003), de 12 ans son aîné, devenu Père Blanc, fut missionnaire au Burundi ; en outre, 4 de leurs cousins furent prêtres eux aussi. Baptisé le 18 mai 1924, Henri fut confirmé le 23 avril 1934 au collège Saint-Joseph où il fit ses études secondaires. Il suivit ensuite le cours de philosophie au séminaire de Lille, de 1940 à 1942.

À partir du 25 septembre 1942, ce fut l’Année spirituelle à Maison-Carrée, puis le service militaire à Alger et Constantine. Après le serment missionnaire d’Henri à Thibar le 29 juin 1948, comme il parlait assez bien l’anglais, on l’envoya à ‘s-Heerenberg pour la dernière année de théologie, une expérience qu’il jugea intéressante, dans le contexte d’une autre culture nationale. Il y fut ordonné prêtre le 11 juin 1949.

D’aspect frêle, longiligne, il était pourtant résistant. Tous ses formateurs voyaient en lui un sujet doué de belles qualités pour la vie missionnaire et plus spécialement pour l’enseignement en grand séminaire. Nommé à Rome pour les études, il y étudia le Droit canonique du 24 septembre 1949 à juin 1952, à l’université grégorienne et au Studium du Tribunal de la Rote.

Comment résumer une vie qui compta 31 nominations ? “Tout changement était pour lui un appel de Dieu, dit un Père qui le connut bien. Totalement disponible, il ne se mettait jamais en avant. Très discret, on pouvait tout lui confier”. Suivons donc le curriculum vitæ écrit de sa main. D’abord nommé à Thibar, le 30 août 1952, pour l’enseignement du Droit Canon et de la Morale. Quand, le 10 septembre 1958, on dut fermer la maison, il passa à Carthage pour la même tâche, puis, le 21 juillet 1960, au séminaire de Koumi (Haute-Volta).

Mais, dès le 29 août 1962, les Sulpiciens prenant en charge ce séminaire, Henri, privé de cours, fut rappelé à Carthage pour en devenir le supérieur, tout en occupant la fonction de vice-official du diocèse : son calme, sa discrétion, sa porte ouverte à tous, sa gentillesse naturelle lui gagnaient partout la confiance des professeurs et des étudiants.

Quand le scolasticat quitta la Tunisie pour la France, Henri garda la charge de supérieur à Vals, à partir du 1er août 1963, et fut élu conseiller provincial, le 1er décembre 1965 : c’était une période de remises en question et il fallait maintenir le cap sur la formation missionnaire : un corps professoral uni, bien soutenu par un Provincial ouvert, sut le faire. Le 19 septembre 1969, Henri étant pressenti pour le Social Training Center, alors en construction à Nyegezi, en Tanzanie, on le nomma à Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon pour étudier l’Économie, la Sociologie et les Sciences Politiques à l’Université Catholique de Lyon.

Le 1er janvier 1972, il retrouva donc l’Afrique et le stage de swahili à Kipalapala. Il fut chargé, le 1er juin, de l’aumônerie du postulat et du noviciat des Sœurs africaines à Chala, dans le diocèse de Sumbawanga. Puis, le 1er janvier 1976, le Social Training Center étant opérationnel, il rejoignit Nyegezi, diocèse de Mwanza, pour y donner des cours aux sections Journalisme et Développement rural : expérience qu’il jugea intéressante en un pays où Nyerere avait introduit un socialisme à l’africaine. Son contrat achevé, il devint Secrétaire général à la Maison généralice de Rome, le 1er janvier 1979. Cela, dit-il, lui fournit la chance de participer à un Chapitre général, celui de 1980. Mais, conscient de ses limites pour la charge de Secrétaire, il souhaita bientôt retourner en Afrique.

Le 1er septembre 1982, il fut donc nommé au nouvel Institut Supérieur de Catéchèse et de Pédagogie Appliquée (ISCPA) du Rwanda, toujours pour y donner des cours en relation avec la formation reçue à la Catho de Lyon. En attendant l’ouverture de l’Institut, il étudia le kinyarwanda au CELA de Kigali, fit un court séjour à la paroisse de Save, et coopéra à l’Institut Catéchétique Africain (ICA) de Butare pour la formation d’agents pastoraux, prêtres, religieuses et laïcs. En 1984, il dut soigner un pré-diabète, un petit ulcère à l’estomac et une fatigue nerveuse. Mais de janvier 1985 à 1993, il œuvra dans le diocèse de Ruhengeri comme professeur à l’ISCPA situé à Nkumba : le but était d’y préparer des professeurs de catéchèse.

Durant cette période, sa santé se maintint ; il régnait une bonne entente entre Hutus et Tutsis, malgré l’invasion du FPR à partir de l’Ouganda et ses attaques sporadiques tout près de Nkumba ; les étudiants étaient motivés et s’intégraient bien à la vie chrétienne du Campus, jusqu’à ce que l’Institut fût fermé provisoirement pour l’élaboration d’un nouveau programme. Le 1er octobre 1992, on retrouva alors Henri professeur à l’ICA de Butare. Après un congé en Province du 29 juin 1993 au 28 septembre 1993, il rentra au Rwanda.

Lors des troubles graves de 1994, il fut évacué sur Lille ; il resta traumatisé par ces événements tragiques, évitant d’en parler, tant il avait connu de violences et de peurs. Mais, dès le 28 décembre 1994, il rejoignit Buhimba, près de Goma, au Zaïre, pour aider au lancement d’un Institut visant à une formation de deux ans des jeunes religieux et religieuses après leur noviciat. En octobre 1996, il put regagner le Rwanda pour contribuer à relancer l’ICA, à Butare.

Après un nouveau congé en Province de juillet à septembre 1997, il retrouva l’ICA, puis, début 1999, la maison régionale de Kigali pour la remise en état des archives et de la bibliothèque ; sa joie était de célébrer de temps à autre une messe en swahili dans une église de la ville. C’est durant un congé, le 9 octobre 2002, qu’un contrôle médical détecta une sténose à la carotide droite nécessitant un contrôle régulier. Henri accepta donc de rester en France et prit résidence à Bry-sur-Marne, le 1er septembre 2003, pour “vivre, disait-il, une nouvelle expérience, avec les richesses humaines et spirituelles d’une maison de retraite.” “Un mot pour finir, ajoutait-il, emprunté à une chanson bien connue : Je ne regrette rien”.

Il y aurait beaucoup plus à dire sur ce Père Blanc modèle, aussi modeste que zélé : tout ce qu’il fit, il s’efforça de bien le faire, dans la discrétion et la délicatesse. À Bry, outre quelques services dans la maison, il aidait ici et là, animant notamment le Mouvement spirituel des veuves. Jusqu’au bout, il fut le même homme affable et spirituel. Il rejoignit, le 1er juillet 2014, la maison de Billère où le Seigneur a rappelé à lui, dès le 14 septembre suivant, ce très fidèle serviteur.

Armand Duval

PROFILES

Brother Albert van der Pol

1925 - - 2014

Albert was born in St.Michielsgestel on the 7th September 1925. In view of becoming a missionary, he received his formation at St.Charles near Boxtel and ‘s-Heerenberg, where he took the Missionary Oath on the 17th September 1948 and the religious name of Lambertus.

Albert was happy and cheerful by temperament. He had a talent for striking up acquaintances and to maintaining relationships being very good at remembering personal details. He had a sound judgment, particularly of characters. He also had a flair for creating a homely atmosphere, and he took great care for the order and cleanliness of a house. He had a good eye for interior decoration and using things economically. When he noticed a problem he took it up with the one concerned or acted on it himself until a solution was found.

His health was not too good; initially his stomach and back caused him trouble and for that reason, a specialist in 1947 had already advised against any service in the tropics. He developed hearing trouble later on in life.

Albert was appointed to our minor seminary in Sterksel after taking his oath in 1948. He looked after the maintenance of the whole building. He did this to the satisfaction of all. In 1951, he moved to our procure in Rotterdam, initially to receive visitors and for maintenance work. However, in 1955, he took up Missionary promotion work and this would become his lifework. He was an excellent organiser; by 1961, he had more than 600 volunteers, and he visited each one at least once a year. He said, “That was a nice period as I stayed the night in the homes of many families.” Every two months he published a newsletter called “Mission post“ for them. He collected the contents of the collection boxes twice a year.

In 1962, Albert made a study tour of Uganda, Goma diocese in the Congo, and Tanzania. He met many confreres working there, and visited many schools, hospitals and churches built by them. It struck him that everywhere they were working so hard. He particularly enjoyed going on safari with a Canadian confrere to visit some outstations. He enjoyed eating in the home of a family and he wrote on the 18th August 1962, “Those were the nicest days of my stay in Africa.“

In 1970, the procures in Rotterdam and Sterksel were amalgamated and relocated to St. Charles near Boxtel and Albert moved there as well. Two years later, the procure moved to Hoogland and once again, Albert moved with it. The building had many rooms and could accommodate a number of elderly confreres. It had stood empty for months, so it needed a lot of repairs and refurbishing. Albert took care of that, and with the help of his numerous friends and acquaintances, he also succeeded in obtaining some classy furniture, which surprised many confreres Albert became the superior of the community, and all were happy.

In 1974, Albert went on a study tour of West Africa, similar to the one he undertook in 1962. His promotion work was mainly in the provinces of North and South Holland, so he returned to Rotterdam in 1975. The administration of the Promotion Office remained in Hoogland and was looked after by Frs.Gerard Kapteijns (†1.6.1993) and Leo Kurstjens (†13.10.1999).

In 1977, Albert was asked to co-found a new community in Nijmegen. A suitable house was found but it took 2 months to make it habitable again while adapting it to the needs of the community, and to find the necessary furniture. Albert took care of all that work and he also did promotion work in that part of the country. He moved to our minor seminary in Santpoort in August 1978 to do promotion work from there. He moved to Rotterdam again in March 1979 and in October 1981, he was appointed Superior of the community and responsible for all promotion work.

Over the course of the years, Albert maintained many contacts, conducted countless activities, and ran all sorts of campaigns, helped by hundreds of volunteers. He published the monthly “Mission post” from 1955-1989. He looked after the collection boxes, mission calendars, mission rosaries He ran fun-run campaigns with silver teaspoons with the image of cardinal Lavigerie, WF beer-glasses, badges with a series of six different animals of Africa. He was involved in organising film shows, slide shows and staffing a mission stand at various exhibitions. He hunted for advertisements for our Africa desk diary and did so much more. As a result, many people became interested in Africa, and quite a few committed themselves as volunteers or even joined the White Fathers.

In 1971, he started a club for former volunteers, called WP-71 (WF-71). They enjoyed meeting one another, remained interested in Africa and our work there, gave financial support, and for years organised an outing for elderly confreres.

A Provincial Superior described him: “In addition to being the man of MIVA (Mission Vehicle Action), the mission calendar, the volunteers, the collection boxes, the tireless visitor, he is also a member of our Provincial Council, the co-founder of Hoogland, Nijmegen, and Breda. Usually he does not wait until you call him, he is there already!”

He also had the talent to create a homely atmosphere. I still remember the Christmas day, watching the traditional concert on TV, and Albert would come and serve roasted chicken livers. Delicious. It was a tradition, and all loved it.

In April 1992, Albert moved to Boxtel as bursar of the Provincial house. He continued his promotion activities and got to know many people from all over the Netherlands. He moved to Heythuysen in September 1995. He continued to render little services for promotion work. He loved to visit his relatives.

In 2001, he was knighted in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Gradually walking became a problem. He enjoyed playing cards several evenings a week. He died suddenly on the 27th December 2014. He was buried in the White Father cemetery in Heythuysen on the 3rd January 2015 in the presence of many relatives and friends.

Marien van den Eijnden

Father Harry Franssen

1930 - - 2014

Harry was born in Veghel, Netherlands, on the 5th April 1930. He began his training to be a missionary in Sterksel, St. Charles, near Boxtel. He did his Spiritual Year in ‘s-Heerenberg, Netherlands, from 1951 to 1952. He studied Theology in Thibar, Tunisia, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 27th June 1955. He was ordained to the priesthood in Carthage on the 1st April 1956.

Harry had a sound judgment and an aptitude for languages. He was cheerful; nervy by temperament; a hard worker mainly concerned with the main features of a project. He was always ready to render a service. He was frank; knew what he wanted and got on with it.

On the 2nd November 1956, he left for Gouecke Parish, Nzerekore Diocese in Guinea, West Africa. He learned the language and culture and was soon involved in pastoral work. The Parish was founded in 1915 and was the oldest in the Diocese. Its main purpose was to generate income for the diocese through a cola nut plantation. When Harry arrived, it had been much neglected. In 1956, there were no real roads, so for 2 years, he went on foot with a porter to the 60 outstations of the Parish. He went from house to house with the local leaders and in the evening, they concluded with a prayer meeting. He wrote, “I started to love the language and the people.” He looked after the finances of the parish and of the dispensary, which treated some 2 to 3.000 people a month.

In 1958, Guinea became independent and a socialist regime, hostile to the Church, and African Traditional Religions, took over. Harry wrote, “Notwithstanding that, I lived and worked there happily, supported by the faith of the inhabitants.” In May 1967, all Western missionaries and volunteers were expelled. Only two diocesan priests remained in the whole diocese together with the Catechists. Catechist training continued and little by little, young men became priests, young women religious. Harry said later that the expulsions brought home to him the importance of building a self-reliant community.

After a good leave in Netherlands, he returned to Africa, to Zaba Parish, Nouna Diocese, in Burkina Faso. He had to learn a new culture and language. There too he made the rounds of the outstations. In November 1968, he moved to Tougan Parish. This meant learning another language. After 2 years, he became the PP and worked there for 12 years. He wrote, “Here too I enjoyed working with the Catechists. Among them there were real pastors, competent without much learning.”

In the beginning of the 70s, there was a drought and food shortages. The parish organised food assistance, and set up granaries with an eye to future shortages. It also was the time of pastoral renewal following the Vatican Council. It was a time when there was a special emphasis on making each village community autonomous and that together with other village communities they would form the parish community.
In October 1980, Harry moved to Solenzo Parish with its 100 outstations. He had to learn another language and in fact, there were another five in use in this huge parish. He became Parish Priest after two years.

The Africanisation of the Church grew steadily. Three parishes were already in the hands of Burkinabe diocesan priests, as well as the Catechists Training Centre and the minor seminary. In 1986, the first Burkinabé was appointed Vicar General of the Diocese. Harry was elected a member of the WF Regional Council.

In November 1987, Harry received the Order of Orange Nassau. He moved to Zaba Parish. 5,500 people were Catholics. The vast majority were Muslims but there was also a significant number of followers of African Traditional Religions. He called the catechists the “backbone of the parish.”
In August 1993, he returned to Solenzo. In 1995, he described his 40 years service as an Abraham experience, “... set in motion by what I experienced as God’s calling, towards the unknown. Not once, but several times”. Each change meant experiencing the powerlessness of a child as one had to learn a new language, new customs and adapt to new ways of living and working.

The area of Solenzo became a Province in 1998. The Governor was concerned about the youth and clean water. He asked the missionaries of help. A Belgian confrere committed himself to work for the youth and Harry promised the clean water. Some Muslim said, “those priests can readily do that because they have loads of money!” but others retorted, “they do not, but they are honest. People know they can trust them with the money.”

Harry got the money and the inhabitants contributed the work; they got a water tower, a pump, and pipes for eight taps. Handicapped people were put in charge of the taps. At the official opening in 2000, Harry received the order of Chevalier du Mérite Burkinabé.

In 2003, Harry returned for good to Netherlands. He said, “I am grateful for all the years I enjoyed the huge, huge hospitality and kindness of the population, their patience, and wisdom.” In 1968, the diocese had 10 parishes; all served by missionaries; at his departure the diocese was split in two with 17 parishes, only one served by the Missionaries of Africa. Harry commented: “The Gospel is lived more and more intensely in everyday life by helping the needy, support in court-cases, improving agriculture, conscientisation of women ...”

Harry took up residence in Sterksel for pastoral work. He wrote on the 14th April 2008, “After 50 years Africa I felt an alien, but was assisted exceptionally well. ... I thank God for a happy life in Africa and a peaceful final stage in Sterksel.” In September 2013, Sterksel was closed and Harry moved to Heythuysen. His lungs were only working at 37% capacity. He died on the 20th December 2014. The parishioners of Sterksel, his relatives and con-feres assisted at the funeral rites and he was buried in Heythuysen on the 27th December 2014.

Marien van den Eijnden

Father Raphaël Romand-Monnier

1921 - - 2014

Raphaël was born on the 26th February 1921 in Champagnole, France. There were 10 children in this Christian family. His father was one of four doctors in the town. One of his brothers became the Chief Medical Officer of the hospital of Lons-le-Saunier. He was baptised Jean-Raphaël on the 6th March 1921 and received Confirmation on the 18th June 1933. While he had a doubled barrelled first name, in the end the name of Raphaël prevailed.

He received his secondary education in the Junior Seminary of Vaux in the Jura. He studied Philosophy and did three years of Theology in the Major Seminary of Notre-Dame de Montciel in Lons-le-Saunier. During the 2nd World War, he served in a youth camp for eight months, then spent six months in the compulsory labour service, and spent some time with the French Resistance. During this time, he heard stories about the White Fathers in Tunisia from his brother, saw the film “Appel du Silence” and he read the biography of Fr. De Foucauld by Rene Bazin, which revived his childhood dreams of becoming a missionary. The Bishop eventually gave in to his request to join the White Fathers, as he had wanted to be a missionary since he was 12 years old.

Raphaël took the boat for Carthage on the 8th September 1946. He entered the Spiritual Year in Carthage on the following 25th September. There were nearly 150 candidates and many had just been demobilised after the war. The group was divided between Fr. Blin in Maison-Carrée and Fr. Gelot in Carthage. Raphael finished his Theological studies in Thibar. He took his Missionary Oath on the 28th September 1948 and was ordained priest the following 3rd October. Those in charge of his training considered him to be of good average intelligence and a solid piety. They were critical of his complicated character and his originality.

Raphaël was appointed to Tanzania but first had to follow a course in English language and culture in the dreaded Claughton Hall. He boarded the plane on the 15th January 1950, bound for the Diocese of Mbeya. He arrived in Gua and set about learning Swahili as well as doing the job of bursar. In October 1952, he was appointed to the Junior Seminary of Ujiji rather against his wishes as he felt that he had not got a vocation for teaching. This did not stop him being appointed Headmaster. He was happy to return to Gua in January 1957 followed by a stay in Igogwe soon afterwards. During his home leave in 1959, he did the Long Retreat in Mours. He was appointed to missionary promotion work in Ste-Foy-les-Lyon in October 1959. He greatly doubted his aptitude for such work but he applied himself generously under the guidance of Fr. Bon (+1979) whom he much admired. He was considered pleasant in community and serious about his spiritual life.

Raphaël returned to Tanzania in November 1961 as the Superior of the Junior Seminary, which had moved to Kaengesa. However, the responsibility of this big establishment with its 300 students and 17 teachers tired him out and he was very happy to return to the Diocese of Mbeya in May 1964. He spent, as he said himself, three incomparable years in Irambo. He was appointed superior of the mission station in Chunya in March 1969. In between times, he suffered a series of anxiety attacks over a period of months that led him to prolong his home leave in 1967-68. His mother had died four months before he returned home and this was probably the cause of these attacks. Bucked up by a good rest, he boarded the liner ‘Pacifque’ on the 8th October 1968 as he was bringing a car back with him to Tanzania.

At the end of 1972, Raphaël followed a renewal course at l’Arbresle, near Lyon. He was appointed as curate in Igogwe in 1974 and was made Superior three years later. He transferred to Chunya still in the Diocese of Mbeya and again as Parish Priest. He followed the Session/Retreat in Jerusalem in 1983. He was appointed Parish Priest in Igogwe in October 1992. He became chaplain to a big community of the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul in Mitundu in the Diocese of Singida in September 1994. Their motherhouse was in Innsbruck, Austria. The job also involved teaching Theology, Bible and Spirituality to the novices and postulants. He also looked after eight outstations in the Parish of Itingi. He was to pass nearly 17 years in this ministry.

Raphaël began thinking about his retirement and expressed a wish to go to Veyras in Switzerland, not far from his native Jura where most of his family lived. However, the house had no places available. He returned to France in October 2004 and was officially appointed there in May 2005. There is some confusion over his status over the next few years, as he seemed to have acquired the power of bilocation.

Even thought he was a member of the French Province, he returned to Mitundu in October 2005. This caused headaches to the French provincial as well as his Tanzanian counterpart not to mention the editor of the Personnel Book who did not know where to put him.

In October 2005 and much against the wishes of the Regional, Raphaël returned to his work as chaplain in Mitundu. He claimed that Cardinal Polycarp Pengo and Mother Marie Carmen had asked him to return. This irregular situation continued until he was officially appointed back to Tanzania in 2010 (PE 07 10). In the meantime, he took regular leaves and even underwent a successful hip operation in 2009. He wrote a 12-page exposé, which did not lack some pertinent observations on the “Evolution of the Church, an effort at understanding”.

However, at the end of 2010, he expressed an interest in taking up residence in the Retirement Home for priests in his home Diocese of Saint-Claude at Vannoz. The reason he gave was that he had already spent “16 years outside of community and had become a bit of a savage.” He took up residence in Mours in February 2012 but left five months later for the Retirement Home in Vannoz.

The Lord called him on the 2nd December 2014 in the hospital of Champagnole. The funeral took place on the 5th December 2014 in the Church of Saint-Cyr-et-Sainte-Julite in Champagnole.

Armand Duval

Father Jacques Compagnon

1921 - - 2014

Jacques was born on the 30th November 1921 in Neuilly-sur-Seine in the Diocese of Nanterre, France. There were a dozen children in this very Christian family. His father was a teacher in Sainte-Croix de Neuilly but later taught in various Catholic schools in the region of Rouen. Jacques was very attached to his family. His elder brother, Xavier was a Jesuit missionary in China. He died in Madagascar in 1988. His sister, Marguerite who died in 1981 was a Missionary Sister of the Holy Spirit.

Jacques admitted that he first thought about his vocation at the age of eight. Jacques received his early education at home under the direction of one of his Aunts before going to schools in Rouen for his secondary education. He obtained his Baccalaureate in Latin-Greek and Elementary Mathematics. He began to study Philosophy in Kerlois but in June 1940, in the general confusion of the German invasion, Kerlois was closed. The students were asked to pass through the free zone of France and make their way to Thibar to do their 2nd year of Philosophy beginning the following August. This is what Jacques did.

Jacques began his Spiritual Year in October 1941 in Maison-Carée. He avoided forced labour under the Vichy Government as he was in hospital. He was able to travel to Thibar and begin his Theological studies. However, in May 1943, he was conscripted into the Compulsory Work Service of the Vichy Government.

When the Americans invaded Tunisia, he was called up to serve in the Free French forces. This meant that he was not able to resume his studies until two and half years later. He took his Missionary Oath on the 31st January 1948 in Thibar followed by ordination to the priesthood on the 30th June 1948. During his time of training, the staff of the seminary praised his excellent intelligence, his deep piety, and his readiness to render a service. He was very intellectual and one would have liked a less nervy and over sensitive character. He was very meticulous to the point of scruples. However, he did teach well later on in life. He expressed a wish to go to Mozambique or West Africa.

Jacques’ first appointment was to the Vicariate of Bobo-Dioulasso. He arrived in Tounouma in May 1949 to learn Bobo-fing. However, by September 1949, he was teaching Mathematics and, later on, Philosophy at the Junior Seminary of Nasso. He was also the Bursar and did everything he could to make sure that things ran smoothly even if his nervousness sometimes exasperated his confreres.

Even though his language course had been cut short, he liked to do some ministry on Sundays in the village. In 1961, he did the Long Retreat in Villa Cavalletti near Rome. According to the Regional Superior, Jacques spent 14 fruitful years in Nasso. He was a good teacher and was zealous in promoting development of the village. He was good with his hands and he built a chapel, school, and houses for teachers. In September 1964, he was appointed as Novice Master for the Brothers in Gap. He undertook this important charge for three years.

Jacques returned to the rural part of Tounouma in October 1967 as curate. However, in September 1970, he was recalled to the Junior Seminary of Nasso. There had been many changes in the way things were done and it was too much for him. He had to return home because of nervous exhaustion in October 1977. After a good rest, he returned to rural Tounouma as curate in July 1978. He struggled with the language and parish ministry but thanks to the catechists, he made progress. He always had a great affection and admiration for the catechists.

Jacques was very happy to join the community of Kwentou in October 1980. As he said that he found intellectual work difficult, he put off doing the Session/Retreat in Jerusalem even though he was anxious to follow it. He devoted himself to the service of the people, putting his own money into parish works. He could be more than a bit paternalistic when it came to his own projects. He eventually did the Jerusalem session in 1986 and returned to Kwentou. However, he had to return to France for a prostate operation in December 1987.

Jacques’ health problems continued and in April 1988, he had to have an operation on his left eye. However, in the ten years or so of his stay in Kwentou, he made a great team with Frs. de Baillencourt (+1992), Le Blevec, (+1993) and Habarnau (+1990) thanks to diverse fund raising and twinning towns in France, such as Saint-Quentin and Cognac with the villages. They left a Parish covered with schools and health centres. Fr. Honoré Habarnau joked that Jacques and Fr. de Baillencourt were addicted to concrete and the boxes were ready before any fish were caught.

In April 1989, Jacques had to undergo another operation on his eye and continuing ill health meant an extended home leave in 1991. Finally, in 1994, he accepted it was time to return to France for good. He erected a monument to Fr. De Baillencourt and looking at it, he remarked that it would not have displeased him to be buried in the traditional Bobo way.

At least, he wanted the names of all the fathers who passed through Kwentou to be inscribed on the stone.
Jacques began a sabbatical year in September 1994, based in rue Friant, Paris. In March 1995, he followed the 70+ session in Rome and returned to rue Friant to work at the Reception desk. In October 1997, he moved to Verrieres as an assistant Chaplain to the White Sisters.

He gave himself totally to this work and the sisters appreciated his lively sermons. He went to Burkina Faso for a twinning ceremony between Kwentou and Le-Puy-en Veley but fell sick afterwards. As a result, he took up residence in Bry-sur-Marne in May 1998. In February 2012, he transferred to the Jesuit nursing home in La Chauderaie, near Lyon. He left with just a small amount of luggage but left an enormous amount of bric-a brac in Bry.

As he was a bit of a handyman, he kept a large stock of items that just might be useful...someday. On Wednesday 26th November 2014, just four days before his 93rd birthday, the Lord called this ardent praiseworthy and happy missionary to Himself. He was buried on the 1st December 2014 in the Chapel of La Chauderaie.

Armand Duval

 

Father Henri Ramart

1924 - - 2014

Fr. Henri was born in Lille, France on the 11th May 1924. His twin brother, Lucien, was a Canon in the Cathedral Chapter of Lille and his older brother Pierre (+2003) was a White Father who served in Burundi. One of his sisters also entered religious life. On top of all that, four cousins were also priests. Henri was baptised on the 18th May 1924. He received the sacrament of Confirmation on the 23rd April 1934. He studied Philosophy in the Senior Seminary of Lille from 1940 to 1942.

In September 1942, Henri entered the Spiritual Year at Maison-Carrée, Algiers. After which, he did his military service in Algiers and Constantine. He studied Theology in Thibar, Tunisia and took his Missionary Oath on the 29th June 1948. As he knew English quite well, he was sent to ‘s-Heerenberg for his last year of Theology. He found it an interesting experience as he was exposed to a completely different international culture. He was ordained priest there on the 11th June 1949.

Despite his rather frail and scarecrow appearance, he was stronger than he looked. All those in charge of his training thought of him as having excellent qualities for missionary life, more especially in the teaching area. He was appointed to Rome for studies in Canon Law at the Gregorian University from 1949 to 1952, which included in-house training with the Roman Rota.

Henri had 31 appointments in the course of his missionary life. A confrere who knew him well said, “Every change was for him a call from God. He was always available, he never pushed himself forward, he was discrete, and one could confide in him. We can follow his CV, which he wrote in his own hand. In August 1952, he was appointed to Thibar to teach Canon Law and Moral Theology.

When Thibar closed, he went to Carthage to teach the same subjects. In July 1960, he was appointed to the Senior Seminary at Koumi (Burkina Faso). However, in September 1962, the Sulpicien Fathers took over the running of the seminary and Henri was recalled to Carthage as Superior while at the same time becoming the Vicar General of the Diocese. His calm demeanour, his discretion, and his open door policy plus his natural gentleness won him the trust of the professors and students.

When the scholasticat left Thibar for Vals-près-le-Puy, France, in August 1963, Henri kept his job as Superior. He was elected to the Provincial Councillor in December 1965. It was a period of profound searching and at the same time keeping the focus on missionary formation. A united teaching staff, well supported by an open-minded Provincial, was able to keep things on an even keel. In September 1969,

Henri was appointed to Sainte-Foy-lès-Lyon for studies in Economics, Sociology, and Political Science at the Social Institute of the Catholic University of Lyon. This was in view of an appointment to the Social Training Centre in Nyegezi, Tanzania that was then under construction.

Henri returned to Africa in January 1972. He studied Swahili at the Language Centre in Kipalapala, Tanzania. He became chaplain to the postulants and novices of the MMMA Sisters of Chala in the Diocese of Sumbawanga. Then in January 1976, he joined the Social Training Centre in Nyegezi, Diocese of Mwanza as a teacher in Journalism and Rural Development. He found this interesting as it was taking place in the framework of African socialism introduced by Julius Nyerere. On the completion of his contract, he was appointed Secretary General in Rome in January 1979. This gave him the chance to participate at the 1980 Chapter. However, he found the demands of the job too much and he expressed a desire to return to Africa.

In September 1982, Henri was appointed to the new Institut Supérieur de Catéchèse et de Pédagogie Appliquée (ISCPA) of Rwanda. The plan was that he give lectures on the subjects he studied in Lyon. While he was waiting for the Institute to open, he studied Kinyarwanda at CELA in Kigali. He followed with a short stay in Save Parish and he also cooperated with the Institut Catéchétique Africain (ICA) of Butare, which trained priests, religious and laypeople following methods developed at Lumen Vitae and the Institute Catholique de Paris.

During his home leave of 1984, it was discovered that he was pre-diabetic and he also received treatment for a stomach ulcer and nervous exhaustion. He returned to Rwanda and worked in the Diocese of Ruhengeri from 1985 to 1993 as Professor of ISCPA in Nkumba. The aim was to train teachers of catechism.

Henri enjoyed good health at this time. There were good relationships between Hutus and Tutsis despite the invasion of the FPR from Uganda and sporadic attacks near Nkumba. The students were well motivated and well integrated into the Christian life on the campus. The Institute was closed temporarily in order to draw up a new programme.

Henri then returned to the ICA of Butare again as Professor. He took his home leave from June to September 1993 and returned to Rwanda. When the tragic events took place in 1994, he was evacuated to Lille. He was very traumatised by the violence and the fear surrounding these events and he avoided talking about them. However, in December 1994, he went to Buhimba, near Goma, to help with the setting up of an Institute to give further two years training to young religious after their novitiate. In October 1996, he was able to return to Rwanda, to relaunch the ICA at Butare.

He stayed in Butare until 1999 before being appointed to Kigali. He took on the job of putting order into the archives and the library. During his home leave of 2002, a medical examination revealed a narrowing of the right carotid artery, which would need constant monitoring.

Henri accepted to remain in France and took up residence in Bry-sur- Marne in September 2003. He said it was a new experience for him with all the human and spiritual riches of a retirement house. And borrowing a word from a well-known song, he added, “Je ne regrette rien” There is a lot more we could say about this model White Father who was as modest as he was zealous. He tried to do everything to the best of his ability with discretion and tactfulness.

In Bry, he performed many services in the house, but he was also involved in a spiritual support group for widows. He was always the same affable and spiritual man. He joined the house in Billère in July 2014 and the Lord called this faithful servant to Himself on the following 14th September 2014.

Armand Duval