LPère Henri Fouché est né le 21 juillet 1919 à Olivet, un petit village rural aux confins de la Bretagne, France. Henri est le dixième d’une famille de 11 enfants. Le père, cantonnier municipal, est responsable, selon les méthodes de l’époque, de l’entretien d’une partie des routes communales.

On ne plaisantait pas avec la religion chez les Fouché. L’honnêteté, la rigueur et 1’attention aux pauvres étaient des valeurs réellement vécues. Très tôt, Henri affirme son désir d’être prêtre. En 1932, il est admis au collège de l’Immaculée-Conception à Laval où le diocèse s’est aménagé une section petit séminaire. Il fera quatre années de théologie au grand séminaire diocésain où il est ordonné diacre en 1943 et prêtre le 27 février 1944 par Monseigneur Paul Richaud.

C’est au cours du grand séminaire qu’il exprime son désir d’entrer dans la Société des Missionnaires d’Afrique. Mais il appartient au diocèse de Laval, dont il a été boursier au lycée. L’évêque le met en condition de mûrir son projet en lui imposant quelques années au service de son diocèse d’origine.

En 1947, il peut enfin rejoindre le noviciat de Maison-Carrée. En 1948, il est admis à poursuivre son expérience missionnaire avec les Pères Blancs. Il est nommé en Haute Volta, à la Préfecture de Ouahigouya, comme il l’a souhaité. Monseigneur Bretault, premier préfet apostolique, le nomme à Yako, une Mission qui sort à peine du statut de “fondation”. Henri y accomplit une seconde année de noviciat au terme de laquelle il fera son Serment missionnaire, à Koumi, le 1er octobre 1949.

Il n’est plus tout jeune et l’apprentissage de la langue est laborieux. Il éprouve aussi de fréquents maux de gorge qui provoquent des quintes de toux fréquentes et bruyantes. Son évêque le ramène avec lui à Koudougou pour un temps de repos. Il le nomme ensuite à Réo, la troisième Mission “Pères Blancs” de Haute Volta. Il va devoir s’adapter à une autre manière de faire la mission et apprendre une deuxième langue, particulièrement difficile, le lyèlé.

Il est à l’aise dans sa nouvelle communauté et il apprécie les Gourounsi. Mais Réo est une grande paroisse, avec un immense territoire et une chrétienté importante. Le Père, dont la santé reste fragile, se fatigue vite au cours de tournées fréquentes et de longue durée.

À cette époque, la circonscription de Ouahigouya crée une nouvelle paroisse chaque année, dont Imansgho en 1954. C’est une paroisse où mossi et gourounsi cohabitent. Henri, le bilingue du diocèse, va rejoindre le Père Clou pour accompagner la communauté chrétienne naissante. Il se dépense sans compter dans cette nouvelle paroisse.

Son Régional, qui le trouve fatigué et souffrant de jaunisses à répétition, le confie au Père Docteur Goarnisson. Après des examens radiologiques et une petite intervention chirurgicale, Henri se dit “beaucoup mieux” et en mesure d’aller jusqu’au bout de son premier séjour en Haute Volta.

En 1956, le programme de son premier congé en France est chargé. Ses passages successifs en famille et au pays natal sont entrecoupés de multiples voyages et obligations. Il accepte de prêter main-forte aux Pères de la Procure de Bordeaux pour l’animation missionnaire sur les champs de foires et sur les plages. Il participe à une session de formation à Mours et y fait sa grande retraite quelque temps plus tard.

En mars 1957, il repart en Afrique. Il va d’abord à Didyr, un poste qui a de sérieux problèmes de personnel. En 1958, il rejoint Koudougou. Il est heureux de trouver une communauté à laquelle il offre ses dons de conteur. Les activités pastorales y sont bien partagées et les tournées bien programmées. En 1960, il va rejoindre Léo, une nouvelle fondation, dans une sous-ethnie gourounsi très différente des autres, ce qui lui impose l’étude d’une troisième langue. Les catéchistes, très peu nombreux, viennent d’ailleurs et les quelques chrétiens du dimanche sont des fonctionnaires du Centre administratif.

Les problèmes de santé persistent. Henri n’en finit pas avec ses jaunisses et ses fatigues anormales. Un deuxième congé, en décembre 1962, arrive à point. Sur avis des médecins, il va rester en France une année entière au cours de laquelle alterneront des périodes de repos et de nombreuses journées de prédication dans les paroisses de France.

En février 1963, les médecins lui permettent de retourner en Afrique. Une nouvelle nomination l’attend à son arrivée à Koudougou. Il est nommé à Yako pour y résider et, de là, desservir la paroisse de La Toden, fermée depuis plusieurs années. Cela lui convient parfaitement. Il estime lui-même que sa santé s’est améliorée.
Lorsque le poste de La Toden est en mesure d’être réouvert, en 1966, Henri reçoit une lettre de ses supérieurs qui le nomment curé de Temnaoré, une paroisse fondée en 1951, en pays mossi. Il accepte sans discuter. C’est peut-être là sa principale originalité. Il est connu partout, à l’aise avec tous les catéchistes du diocèse et se montre particulièrement attentif aux malades et aux plus pauvres.

Le 1er janvier 1967, il retrouve Léo, puis, en 1968, Ténado, comme vicaire puis comme curé, avant de revenir, le 1er septembre 1972, à Koudougou, à la paroisse d’abord, puis à la procure pour servir à l’hôpital et à la prison de la ville.

Il connaît sans cesse des périodes de grandes fatigues. Il va devoir se résoudre à rentrer en France pour un temps indéterminé et des soins extraordinaires. Il quitte Koudougou le 1er mars 1974, sans billet de retour. Sa santé ne s’améliorant guère, ce sera un retour définitif. Henri s’engage comme aumônier à l’hôpital de Meaux. Il se donne totalement à ce nouveau ministère. Ne pouvant plus retourner en Afrique, c’est à Meaux et dans les hôpitaux parisiens qu’il va continuer ce service pendant 10 ans. En 1985, nous le retrouvons à Maisons Alfort. Il se réadapte à la vie commune et continue ses visites dans les maisons Pères Blancs de Paris et dans les hôpitaux.

En 1991, il fait un séjour de trois mois à Jérusalem. En 1993, il prend la place d’un confrère qui s’est désisté pour une session “senior” à Rome. À son retour, il se résout à prendre place dans le Foyer de retraite de Bry-sur-Marne. Il n’arrête pas pour autant ses activités auprès des Africains et des malades. C’est avec la communauté africaine qu’il célèbre, en 1994, son jubilé de 50 ans de sacerdoce.

Henri a besoin d’une canne, puis d’un déambulateur, et enfin d’un fauteuil roulant. Devenu “dépendant”, il doit rejoindre un établissement médicalisé, la Maison de retraite de Cachan d’abord, puis celle de Chevilly-Larue d’où il est évacué vers l’hôpital d’Ivry à la suite d’un coma. C’est là qu’il décède le 17 février 2012, à l’âge de 92 ans. Une longue vie, donnée sans réserve au Seigneur, au service des plus petits et des malades, ses frères, souvent en compagnie de deux grandes compagnes appelées “Fatigue et Maladie”.

Ses obsèques ont eu lieu le 23 février, à la chapelle de la maison des Pères Blancs de Bry-sur-Marne.
Ses neveux, nièces, cousins et cousines sont venus nombreux lui dire “au revoir”. Il avait choisi lui-même les passages de l’Écriture pour la dernière cérémonie à l’église. Avec Job, il nous a fait redire : “Je sais que mon libérateur est vivant.” Avec saint Jean : “Dans la maison de mon Père, il y a beaucoup de demeures.”

Justin Louvard

Père Jo van Osch

1923 - - 2012

Jo est né à Rosmalen, Pays- Bas, le 19 novembre 1923. Il reçoit sa formation missionnaire à Sterksel, St. Charles près de Boxtel, et à ‘s-Heerenberg où il prononce son Serment missionnaire le 9 avril 1948 et où il est ordonné le 11 juin 1949.

Jo est un grand travailleur ayant de la persévérance et un bon jugement. Il est bon, toujours prêt à rendre un service et on peut compter sur lui. Il n’a pas une forte santé. Il est parfois nerveux et enclin à la mélancolie. Il aime travailler vite et bien.

Après son ordination et quelques mois de vacances, il commence à enseigner dans notre maison de philosophie, d’abord à s’Heerenbergh puis à St- Charles près de Boxtel. Il enseigne l’histoire de la philosophie, l’anglais, la missiologie et la liturgie. Ses classes sont soigneusement préparées, mais un peu “sèches”.

En septembre 1954, il part en Tanzanie enseigner la philosophie au grand séminaire de Kipalapala. Il dessert aussi une petite paroisse rattachée au séminaire en vue d’initier les étudiants à la pastorale. Il préfère ce travail pastoral à ses tâches au séminaire. En décembre 1959, son Supérieur régional le décrit comme étant “une personnalité calme, capable de réaliser une grande activité.”

En février 1961, il retourne en Hollande, épuisé. Il a été tellement heureux à Kipalapala qu’il y retourne en octobre 1962, après une longue période de repos. En octobre 1965, le philosophat est déplacé à Ntungamo, près de Bukoba et Jo part enseigner là-bas.

En octobre 1968, Jo retourne définitivement en Hollande, malade. Il devient le recteur des deux hôpitaux à Winterswijk, l’un pour personnes âgées, l’autre étant une clinique. C’est en cette période qu’il commence à publier des articles dans des magazines de spiritualité.

En 1973, Jo écrit six pages concernant la vocation comme un don spirituel dans “Emmaüs, un magazine pour ceux qui veulent marcher avec le Christ”. Il insiste sur l’importance et l’entretien de la dimension spirituelle de la vocation. Il écrit : “Avec la psychologie et la sociologie seules, nous ne résoudrons jamais la crise générale des vocations.” Cela vaut aussi pour la crise personnelle de vocation.

En 1974, il écrit dans “Interior Life” neuf pages sur “Rempli d’émerveillement et d’amour”. Jo cite beaucoup de textes bibliques dans ses articles, en particulier du Nouveau Testament. Entre autres, celui où Jésus dit : “Demeurez en mon amour.” (Jn 15, 9)

Fin 1977, la Province organise une enquête parmi les confrères concernant la vie en petites communautés. Jo pense que c’est un excellent projet qui aurait dû commencer plus tôt. “Si cela avait été possible auparavant, je l’aurais certainement choisi à mon retour en Hollande (1968). Maintenant, les choses se sont développées d’une autre façon et je suis dans une situation qui, pour diverses raisons, ne me permet pas de changer.”

En septembre 1980, Jo est nommé aumônier à temps partiel de l’hôpital Élisabeth et de l’hôpital général à Winterswijk. En août 1982, il se déplace à Maastricht et devient directeur de l’hôpital St- Annadal, de son staff et des 775 patients. Il trouve cette tâche intensive et lourde et se demande s’il pourra la réaliser. Il l’accomplit pendant environ trois ans.

Pendant cette période, il écrit un article de 17 pages : “Apprendre à connaître l’amour”, dans “Vie intérieure”. Cet article situe Jésus dans une place centrale. Tous ses articles montrent un souci pastoral qui cherche une croissance humaine depuis l’intériorité. Jo travaille joyeusement au renouveau de la communauté selon le second Concile du Vatican, dans un cadre traditionnel. C’est ainsi qu’il est préoccupé quand la Province hollandaise joint le “Mouvement du 8 mai” qui demande une plus grande ouverture. Il se sent à l’aise avec le mouvement charismatique. Il écrit un article en réaction à un texte écrit par Bill Dyer dans le Petit Écho. Il est convaincu que le renouveau de notre Société doit se réaliser en Église et que la force motrice doit en être l’Esprit Saint.

Jo écrit un article de 24 pages sur “Rencontrant Jésus dans les psaumes” pour la revue “Vie intérieure” en 1988. Il rejoint la communauté “The Kommel” à Maastricht et continue à vivre dans sa maison. Le Centre évangélique catholique est fondé à la demande de Mgr Joannes Gijsen, évêque de Roermond, avec le mandat d’établir une nouvelle communauté pour des sœurs et des frères vivant un état de consacrés.

En 1990, cette “Communauté de l’amour crucifié et ressuscité” est reconnue comme une association particulière de catholiques avec un statut légal. En 1998, Mgr Frans Wiertz, alors évêque de Roermond, la reconnaît officiellement.

En plus des prières communes, chaque membre s’engage à une adoration quotidienne d’une heure et demie, et la branche contemplative, de trois heures. La communauté charismatique et apostolique tient une place croissante dans la vie de Jo.

Jo est décédé paisiblement à la maison le 13 avril 2012. Les funérailles eurent lieu à la chapelle de la communauté “The Kommel” à Maastricht le 18 avril. L’un des membres présida à la manière que Jo aimait. Notre Délégué, Jan Mol, le Vicaire diocésain pour les prêtres âgés et quelques confrères étaient présents ainsi que la communauté locale et des personnes de Winterswijk où Jo avait été recteur. Jan Mol présida l’absoute, souhaitant à Jo “kwa heri, ya kuonana” (au revoir, nous nous reverrons) dans la langue de Tanzanie où Jo avait vécu. L’enterrement eut lieu dans notre cimetière de Heythuysen.

Marien van den Eijnden

Père Lambert van Laarhoven

1930 - - 2012

Lambert, nous l’appelions Bart, est né à Geldrop, Pays-Bas, le 4 septembre 1930. Il reçoit sa formation missionnaire à Sterksel, St-Charles près de Boxtel, ‘s-Heerenberg, et une année à Carthage. Il fait son Serment missionnaire le 2 mai 1957 et est ordonné prêtre le 3 février 1958.

Il est très intelligent, travailleur, non pas rapide mais régulier et, ainsi, il réalise beaucoup. Il est un peu timide, très sensible mais n’aime pas le montrer. Il est persévérant, méthodique et méticuleux. Il a un bon jugement, plus pratique que théorique et il est doué pour les langues. Pendant son temps de formation, ses supérieurs l’invitent à être plus spontané, moins réservé, afin de mieux être en relation avec les autres. Ils notent un progrès certain mais, plus tard, Bart aura le même problème périodiquement ; généralement, il est plutôt jovial. Pour lui-même aussi, cela n’est pas facile.

À la fin 1958, il va au Burkina Faso, au diocèse de Koudougou. Il commence à la paroisse de Reo, la plus grande du diocèse, afin d’apprendre la langue et la culture. Il s’y trouve “complètement à la maison”. Après deux ans, il est nommé pour enseigner au petit séminaire situé à Koudougou et qui dessert trois diocèses ; il y deviendra l’économe. Il écrit : “Une cloche d’église m’appelle davantage que celle d’un séminaire.” En plus de donner des leçons d’anglais et de chant, il est aussi engagé dans la construction d’une chapelle, commence un grand jardin potager, le garage, la menuiserie et creuse des puits. Ses mains deviennent ainsi passablement calleuses, écrit-il !

De 1965 à 1973, Bart travaille en paroisse, d’abord à Imansgho, puis à Temnaore. Début 1966, il demande le “Guide pastoral hollandais” pour conformer son approche pastorale aux changements du concile Vatican II. En mai 1967, il se demande s’il ne devrait pas, ainsi que tous les autres missionnaires, se recycler dans l’une ou l’autre profession en vue d’offrir ensuite leurs services aux pays en voie de développement. C’est la grande discussion du moment : ou bien le travail de développement ou bien l’approfondissement spirituel. Bart ressent cette lutte très personnellement et cela lui cause un problème de conscience. Cinq ans plus tard, il écrit : “Je suis Missionnaire d’Afrique et heureux de l’être, malgré tous les soucis, les souffrances et les incertitudes. En ces jours, cela ne fait-il pas partie de l’être prêtre et religieux ?”
De février à novembre 1971, il est en Hollande, en congé de maladie. Il peut retourner au travail paroissial à Temnaore en novembre et, six ans plus tard, son Supérieur régional écrit que Bart est à l’aise dans le diocèse et dans son travail ; il est heureux dans sa vocation de prêtre et, bien que passablement occupé par le travail de développement, il aide dans la pastorale chaque dimanche si nécessaire. Une fois par mois, il va célébrer l’eucharistie à Fara, faisant 110 km sur de mauvaises routes, puis il revient !

Selon le Supérieur régional, Bart serait plus heureux en une communauté où l’on réfléchit ensemble sur le travail pastoral, échange des points de vue au sujet de livres et d’articles, et partage aussi au sujet de la vie de prière ; il est un intellectuel qui aime aller plus profond dans les motivations des activités, au plan personnel et pastoral. Il ajoute : “C’est très bien, si l’on n’exagère pas.”

En 1973, il devient le coordinateur des projets diocésains et réside dans la ville de Koudougou. Deux ans plus tard, il écrit qu’il est si occupé qu’il souhaiterait avoir besoin d’une période de repos tous les deux jours. C’est le début des petites communautés chrétiennes. Il propose des projets de développement basés sur la nécessité ou l’utilité. Il s’assure que les fonds alloués sont utilisés correctement.

En cette période, il lance une coopérative pour catéchistes avec une contribution mensuelle. On peut ainsi demander un âne avec charrette, ou bien du fil de fer pour une clôture de jardin potager, etc., et payer par versement annuel. Un confrère se rappelle avoir fourni à Bart des centaines de rouleaux de fil de fer pour les catéchistes. Il construit le Centre Unitas, un endroit splendide pour des rencontres et des retraites, avec chambres à coucher pour les personnes engagées dans le diocèse. C’est dirigé par des Sœurs. Il construit un atelier muni de bulldozers, camions, outils et équipements. Une équipe construit aussi des barrages de retenue des eaux de pluies, plus d’une centaine en plusieurs diocèses.

En mai 1984, il est nommé Économe du diocèse, un poste de confiance. En 1986, il devient le Directeur assistant de l’Office national de l’Église pour la coordination des projets ; il en est le co-fondateur et en avait pris l’initiative. Le directeur est un laïque burkinabé. Bart aime ce travail, ainsi que la formation et l’organisation qu’il suppose. Le Supérieur régional note qu’il réussit à garder du temps pour ses exercices spirituels quotidiens. Pendant la récréation, il aime réparer radios et photocopieurs et il le fait très bien. Cette année-là, il reçoit la décoration de l’Ordre des Chevaliers d’Orange Nassau.

Il est vraiment préoccupé par les pauvres. Il s’en occupe par les projets de son bureau aussi bien qu’en prenant soin, de façon personnelle, de l’un ou l’autre en difficulté. Par exemple : une mère incapable de payer le médecin pour elle-même ou son enfant ; un père de famille incapable de payer des nouveaux pneus pour son vélo en vue d’aller à son travail ; un petit entrepreneur pour surmonter un moment difficile, etc.

En 1991-1992, Bart passe un moment difficile, pour diverses raisons. Son frère et ses sœurs, plusieurs confrères, l’aident comme ils peuvent. En 1993, il devient Économe régional, de nouveau un service de confiance. En 1999, son Supérieur régional écrit qu’il l’a accompli avec beaucoup de dévouement et de capacité. De février 1994 jusqu’à son départ en 2002, il est membre du Conseil régional. Quand le Provincial des Pays-Bas est à Tassy, il rencontre quelques anciens du Burkina qui sont pleins d’éloges pour Bart.

À la fin de 2001, Bart, ayant 71 ans, initie son successeur et retourne pour de bon en Hollande le 22 mars 2002. Il s’établit à Heythuysen. Il y aide dans l’administration, rend service aux confrères et pense qu’il pourrait en faire encore davantage. Le problème est qu’il commence à oublier. “J’ai toujours aimé jouer au bridge avec les confrères et c’est ce que je fais ici aussi.” C’est ainsi que nous aimons nous en rappeler.
En novembre 2006, il est jugé préférable de le conduire en clinique ; on choisit celle de Geldrop qui est proche de sa famille. Il y célèbre son jubilé d’or le 9 février 2008. Bart concélèbre à l’autel et l’aumônier l’aide à lire une partie de la prière eucharistique. En août 2011, sa santé se détériore sérieusement. Il décède le 1er juin 2012.

Ensemble avec sa famille, connaissances et confrères, nous l’avons enterré à Heythuysen le 6 juin 2012. Jan Mol a présidé l’Eucharistie et relevé combien Bart avait vécu et travaillé pour le développement de toute la personne, à construire des cieux nouveaux et une terre nouvelle en commençant ici et maintenant, autour de nous, ensemble. Le frère de Bart a parlé au nom de sa famille ; une personne qui avait commencé avec lui une école technique à Reo et l’avait dirigée pendant quatre ans a aussi exprimé sa gratitude.

Que notre confrère, intendant fidèle et avisé, repose maintenant en paix.

Marien van den Eijnden

Père Julien Martens

1923 - - 2012

Julien est né le 6 juin 1923 à Dudzele, dans le diocèse de Bruges, Belgique. Il est le petit dernier d’une famille d’agriculteurs profondément chrétienne. Sa sœur aînée était déjà entrée en religion avant la guerre de 1914. Après l’école primaire à Dudzele, Julien fait ses études secondaires au collège Saint-Louis à Bruges. Entre-temps, ses parents ont acquis une ferme plus grande à Oostkerke près de Damme.

En septembre 1941, Julien entre chez les Pères Blancs à Boechout. Il se signale d’emblée par sa connaissance des langues et par sa grande culture littéraire. On remarque également son originalité. Suivent alors le noviciat à Ste-Croix près de Bruges (1943-1944) et le scolasticat à Heverlee et Marienthal (1944-1948).

Il prononce son serment missionnaire le 6 avril 1947, à Heverlee, où il est ordonné prêtre le 29 mars 1948. Malgré sa grande intelligence et “l’étendue de ses connaissances en tout genre”, le staff du scolasticat est d’avis que Julien, à cause de sa santé défaillante, ne pourra entreprendre des études universitaires. Après son ordination, il est envoyé se reposer à Montana, en Suisse. Deux de ses frères étaient déjà morts de tuberculose.

En septembre 1949, il est nommé professeur à Thy-le-Château, maison de philosophie pour les Belges francophones. Il y travaillera jusqu’à la fin de l’année scolaire 1953. Sa santé continue à lui causer de sérieux ennuis. Le 17 août 1953, ayant finalement reçu le feu vert, Julien part pour le Congo. Quelques jours plus tard, le voilà professeur de sciences naturelles au grand séminaire de ce qui s’appelait à l’époque Baudouinville. Il est également chargé des conférences dites de formation générale. Julien est le type de l’autodidacte de haut niveau. Mgr Morlion lui confie aussi la Légion de Marie de la partie sud du vicariat.

Début 1961, Julien vient en congé ; il suit la grande retraite à Villa Cavaletti et se documente sur l’enseignement de la catéchèse et de la Bible.

Dès le premier juillet 1963, il reprend sa tâche de professeur, cette fois-ci au grand séminaire de Murhesa dans l’archidiocèse de Bukavu. On se ressentait encore des suites du passage mouvementé vers l’indépendance. En réaction aux rumeurs colportées qui insinuaient que les missionnaires étaient déçus ou découragés, Julien écrit : “Nous ne sommes pas venus au Congo parce que cela allait bien ou mal. L’engagement d’un missionnaire se base sur d’autres raisons, transcendantales celles-là.”

Après Vatican II, les évêques lui demandent de s’occuper plus particulièrement du renouvellement de la catéchèse. Ainsi, Julien sera-t-il, de 1964 à 1975, au service du Secrétariat de la Conférence épiscopale du Kivu. Il a donné d’innombrables sessions dans les six diocèses du Kivu. Il résidait à la Maison régionale de Bukavu.

En 1975, il termine son service à la Conférence épiscopale. Il est dorénavant à la disposition de la Région du Sud-Est-Zaïre. Yvo Guisson, Régional, témoigne : “Julien fait ici du très beau travail dans le domaine de la formation permanente des confrères, spécialement dans le domaine de la formation biblique.”

Fin 1978, Julien suit divers cours à Paris (au Centre Sèvres, à l’Institut catholique, au Sidic) : exégèse de l’Ancien et du Nouveau Testament, hébreu biblique, théologie de l’Eucharistie, etc. De retour à Bukavu, il enseigne, de 1981 à 1988, les sciences bibliques à notre premier cycle de la Ruzizi. Il est fort apprécié par nos candidats. Julien avait l’art d’expliquer simplement l’Écriture à partir de la vie réelle. Il s’acquittera de cette tâche jusqu’à l’arrivée de Hans-Otto Wienen (+ 2011), fraîchement diplômé en sciences bibliques. Il donnait également des sessions bibliques et prêchait des retraites aux prêtres, religieuses et laïcs de Bukavu.

Julien ne souhaitait qu’une chose : pouvoir continuer ce travail. Il rêvait de publier des brochures pour aider des groupes de laïcs à mieux comprendre et à méditer l’Écriture. Mais l’évêque s’y est opposé. Lors des obsèques à Varsenare, le prédicateur le formulera ainsi : “Comme Jésus, il fut soupçonné, parce que son interprétation de la Parole de Dieu ne coïncidait pas exactement avec celle des Grands Prêtres et des Scribes. Cela aussi peut faire partie de l’engagement missionnaire.”

Le Régional et son conseil étaient bien obligés de mettre Julien devant un choix : ou bien quitter le pays ou bien accepter sur place un tout autre travail qui n’avait plus rien à voir avec ce qui avait animé toute sa vie. Il décide alors de rentrer en Belgique. Il a le sentiment d’avoir été mis à la porte. Il n’a que 64 ans. Nous sommes le 29 juillet 1988. Le 10 juin 1988, il avait écrit au Père Huybrechts : “Aujourd’hui, j’ai donné mon dernier cours et je m’engage maintenant dans un tunnel dont je ne connais pas la sortie, mais le Seigneur la connaît et cela sera bien suffisant.” La session retraite à Jérusalem l’aidera à digérer le coup.

Débute alors pour Julien un long séjour à Varsenare. À Bruges et dans les environs, il prêche des retraites, donne des récollections, va prêter main-forte les week-ends dans les paroisses de Westkapelle, de Dudzele et ailleurs où il est demandé, mais sans se lier, sans engagement fixe. Sa Volkswagen lui permet de rendre service et de se promener où il veut. En communauté, il reste un homme à part. Il ne se sent pas à l’aise dans des structures rigides, où son originalité dérange. Grâce à lui, toute la maison est agrémentée de fleurs et de plantes. Bricoleur, il fait de petites réparations à gauche et à droite et dispose pour cela d’un atelier bien équipé dans la cave du château.

Les deux dernières années, Julien est accueilli à Avondrust, où il jouit avec gratitude des soins prodigués. Le minuscule balcon de sa chambre s’est transformé en jardinet, où les oiseaux du ciel viennent picorer les grains qu’il leur prépare. Ses proches, neveux et nièces, le visitent souvent. Il affectionne sa famille, et elle le rend bien à cet oncle ou grand-oncle, dernier de sa génération.

Début février 2012, sans que l’on s’y attende, son état s’empira en quelques jours et il entra dans un coma irréversible. Il s’éteignit le vendredi 17 février 2012. Le vendredi 24, la liturgie d’adieu, en présence de sa famille et de nombreux confrères, eut lieu dans notre chapelle de Varsenare. Il est enterré dans notre cimetière.

Jef Vleugels

PROFILES

Father Luciano Fontana

1938 - - 2012

Fr. Luciano Fontana was born on the 22nd October 1938 at Valdobbiadene, a village surrounded by vineyards, in the region of Venice, Italy. After finishing his primary school at Valdobbiadene, he joined the White Fathers Seminary at Parella, near Turin and then at Treviglio, near Bergamo.

Luciano did his novitiate in Gap, France from 1959 to 1960 and then went to Heverlee, Belgium from 1960 to 1964 for his Theology. He took the Missionary Oath in Heverlee on the 28th June 1963 and he was ordained priest on the 4th July 1964 in his home parish of Valdobbiadene. He was appointed to the minor seminary in Treviglio. He was much appreciated by the young students for his lack of pretension and his goodness. A past pupil testified ‘with his calm character, never pushy, Fr. Luciano was not only an example for us but also a friend.’ Two years later, we find him in Castelfranco for Missionary Promotion and Vocation work with Fr. Albino Dalpiaz. It was only in September 1970 that he was able to leave for Rwanda.

This period was a positive experience for him. However, on the eve of his departure, in a letter to the Provincial, Luciano could not conceal a certain disillusionment because many candidates for the seminary withdrew at the last minute.

After the language course at CELA in Kigali, Luciano joined the Parish of Kaduha, in the Diocese of Butare where he stayed until May 1979. He was then recalled to Italy for Missionary Promotion work. He obeyed reluctantly because he loved Africa and Rwanda in particular. However, he was also convinced of the importance of Vocation work in Europe. Courageously, he took over from Fr. Albino Dalpiaz. He developed contacts especially with the past students of the White Fathers.

In October 1984, at the age of 47 years, he returned to Rwanda. He was appointed curate at Mushaka in the Diocese of Cyangugu. He had serious problems with his eyes. With the encouragement of his confreres, he courageously underwent an operation. This eye operation deepened his experience of suffering.
In 1987, he accepted an appointment as Parish Priest of Nyamirambo in the suburbs of Kigali. He would have preferred to stay with the simple people of Kaduha or Mushaka and he found it difficult to leave the countryside for the city. In the meantime, the situation in Rwanda was deteriorating, and the arrival of many refugees from Burundi as well as attacks on the villages near the Ugandan border, made people fear the worst.

Being close to the people and sensitive to their misfortunes, he suffered from the uncertainty and insecurity of the situation. He accepted it with faith; he wrote from Nyamirambo ‘May the Lord keep us and make us willing to welcome the difficulties and sufferings, thanks to which, we grow as disciples of Jesus, who died for us on the Cross.’

In November 1991, he was appointed to Ruhuha, where he again finds the bush, peace and a contemplative ambience, which he missed at Nyamirambo. He wrote ‘It seems to me that I have regained my strength and I am feeling much better from the point of view of my health.’
However, the situation in Rwanda was getting worse. Attacks from Uganda were on the increase giving rise to fears that a massive offensive by Tutsi militants, supported by the Ugandan army, was imminent. The tragedy exploded in the genocide of April 1994 and Luciano was evacuated to Europe with other confreres.

Luciano now found himself once again in Italy, but at Comiso in Sicily where he again worked at promoting Missionary Vocations and awareness. However it was not for very long. In August 1995, he is to be found at Verona as Superior of the 1st Cycle. At Comiso and Verona, people remember him especially for his gentleness, his availability, and his prayer life.

Not at all discouraged, he again left for Rwanda in November 1999 and worked firstly at Nyamirambo and then as bursar of the Regional House. Once again, he is a witness to the physical, psychological and spiritual sufferings of the Rwandan people. However, he was able to see signs of hope for the future, well aware that this would take time.

In August 2007, he was appointed back to Italy as Superior of the house of Castelfranco Veneto. He was very attentive to the elder confreres of the community; nevertheless, he continued his missionary promotion work in the neighbouring dioceses and took part in the activities of the Diocesan Missionary Centres. Simple, generous, a man of prayer having a deep missionary spirit, Fr. Luciano was close to people and confreres while keeping personal contacts with past students of the White Fathers in Italy.

For the past few years, some health problems were wearing him out and dampened his spirit. A short time before his death, he took part at the Sector Council meeting. He had a cold but nothing to indicate anything more serious. He returned to Castlelfranco and made an appointment with the doctor. Having shared lunch with his confreres, he went to his room for his siesta. However at three o’clock, the confrere, who was to have gone with him to the doctor, found him dead in bed.

The funeral took place on the 13th February 2012 in his native village of Valdobbiadene in the presence of many confreres, numerous priests of the region, past students of the White Fathers and a large crowd of people. It is there, that he rests at the foot of these beautiful mountains.

Fr. Luciano was a peace loving man, non violent, serene; his calmness very much helped the confreres during the difficult days of war in Rwanda. Luciano had a first hand experience of these events which included the murder of his confrere, Andre Caloone, who was killed in cold blood by a soldier in the sitting room of the house.

He loved Africa whose joys and sufferings he shared. He loved the Missionaries of Africa and courageously threw himself into the work of promoting Missionary vocations and awareness.

Vittorio Bonfanti

Faher Cor van den Brand

1932 - - 2012

Cor was born at Gemert, Netherlands, on the 1st April 1932. He received his missionary education and training in Sterksel, St.Charles near Boxtel,‘s-Heerenberg and Heverlee (Belgium). He took his Missionary Oath on the 7th July 1956. He was ordained a priest on the 21st April 1957.

Cor had a sound judgment, saw what had to be done and organised that well. He worked hard and persevered, he was someone you could rely on. He was level-headed and realistic, always ready to render a service. He exercised leadership tactfully and had the talent to explain something clearly.

In August 1957, he started teaching in our minor seminary at Sterksel. He was also the assistant Dean. He later became the Dean. The following year, he went to the University of Amsterdam to study Latin and Greek, but after one year he was recalled as he was needed again in Sterksel. At the end of 7 years, his provincial wrote: “An excellent Dean, having an eye for the main lines and paying attention to the details, for the whole group and for each individual”.

In December 1964, he left for the Congo, to the Archdiocese of Bukavu, where he studied the language and the culture of the region. In July 1965, he was appointed to the parish of Mutesa, a vast area with 110.000 inhabitants, of which 30.000 were Catholics. For supplementary income, they had a large vegetable garden with some 15 labourers. In addition to pastoral work, Cor was in charge of the finances of the parish.

In July 1966, he moved to the minor seminary at Mugeri. He became the vice-rector and teacher of Greek, English, Mathematics and Physical Exercises. On some Sundays, every month, he went to a church in a village 30 km away. The political unrest in the region was getting closer, and in July 1967, he was advised to leave.

In March 1968, he was able to return and he became the parish priest of Nyantende. In September, he was appointed Assistant Regional. In that capacity, he visited the confreres as often as he could. He continued to do this when he was appointed to Goma in 1970. It was at this time that President Mobutu insisted on “authenticity”. Cor wrote in April 1972: “In this whole crisis … there are very many good aspects too. Because of it, we are forced to look for African forms and ideas, in order to make a truly local church possible”.

In March 1973, he returned to Holland and at the end of that year he became the Provincial’s Secretary. At the beginning of 1975, he was appointed Provincial. He opened his door and heart to the confreres, went out to visit them, presided at their funerals and gave a good homily appreciated by the people. To the confreres in Africa he wrote cordial letters, and received them warmly on their home leave. He started the bi-monthly “Regio Meetings” for all ex-confreres, who lived close to some central communities. The care for the aged began to play an ever more important part of his work. In addition to the renovated St.Charles near Boxtel for a large community, from 1975 to 1979, the Provincial Council set up small groups in existing homes for the elderly for those who wished to live close to their relatives.

For a specifically missionary outreach in the Netherlands, preparations were made for the setting up of the “Karibu” community in Nijmegen in August 1977. The aim of the community was the raising of mission awareness. A community of three White Fathers would share their life with young men who wished to live their lives in accordance with Gospel values. Another initiative was the setting up of “Group4”; a think tank composed of the Major Superiors of Missionary Institutes. Cor was the driving force behind it.

He handed over to his successor on the 1st July 1982, and on the 15th December 1982 he was appointed by Bishop Bluijssen of ‘s-Hertogenbosh to be the Director of the Diocesan Missionary Centre. He was commissioned: “To achieve, with dialogue, a clarification and a fitting interpretation of the concept of “mission”, both for developing the Church in our own diocese, and for the developing countries”. Cor had 6 part-time co-operators for the 379 parishes, and fulfilled that function for 15 years with his known dedication.

It was the time of new missionary insights and approaches. Original Catholic organisations such as Memisa, People in Distress, Pax Christi joined forces with humanitarian action groups such as Refugee Agency, Solidaridad, Third World Shops, Max Havelaar. All this to be done on a reciprocal basis: they learn from us, we learn from them. The White Fathers launched, in 1985, a “field post” in The Hague in a poor quarter with many immigrants; Cor accompanied this project on behalf of the Province. In 1989 he was elected to the Provincial Council, and was re-elected for 4 terms. In 2001, he was appointed as Assistant Provincial. In 1997, on his 65th birthday, he tendered his resignation as Director of the Diocesan Missionary Centre. The Bishop thanked him profusely for the: “dedication and enthusiasm, collaboration and the great amount of work well done”.

In 1998, he was appointed the contact person and coordinator of JPIC for the White Fathers in the Province. He fulfilled this function not only as a member of the Provincial Council but by becoming a member of various organisations involved in JPIC work. He served also as Chairman of the Commission for Education and Formation of the Dutch Missionary Council and on its Africa Platform. He was also the delegate of the Dutch White Fathers to the Chapter.

He launched, on the 8th December 1999, the Task Group of our province for JPIC; he became the chairman with a representative from each community. In May 2000, he became a member of the Supervisory Committee of the Week for the Dutch Missionary, and in December, a member of the General Council of the Dutch Missionary Council. In the course of 2003, he started the JPIC newsletter as an insert in the WF Provincial link, and also in the AEN newsletter destined for a wider public and disseminated by e-mail.

In 2006 he was pleased to be invited to go to the Congo as an observer of the Presidential elections. He was in the same region where he had lived and worked for years. At his Golden Jubilee in 2007 he said: “What appealed most to me in Jesus of Nazareth was his wish that we may have life, and have it in abundance. By that objective, I too have lived and worked”.

At the end of November 2010, he was told that he suffered from a serious illness. In January 2011, his physicians decided to apply radiotherapy. Cor wrote: “My aim now: to appreciate the time I still have and to leave its duration up to the Master of Life”. He remained closely involved in the activities of the AEN, and kept working faithfully for its Newsletter. Early in 2012, he was getting tired very easily. His confreres arranged a room for him downstairs. On the 18th of May he was admitted to a hospice and he died there peacefully on the 21st May 2012.

His funeral Mass was celebrated in the Parish Church of Heythuysen on the 26th May 2012. Fr. Jan Mol presided and he was assisted by the Bishop of ‘s-Hertogenbosh. Cor was buried in our cemetery in St. Charles.

Marien van den Eijnden

Father George Eeckhout

1926 - - 2012

George was born at Ledeberg, Belgium, on the 31st July 1926. He entered the White Fathers at Boechout in September 1946. He did his novitiate in Varsenare in 1949. He went to Canada to study Theology in Eastview. There, he took his Missionary Oath on the 26th June 1952. He did his final year of Theology in Monteviot, Scotland. In the presence of his family, he was ordained priest on the 11th June 1953 by Archbishop Gordon Joseph Gray. Those in charge of his formation described him as devoted, pleasant, considerate in community, open and inquisitive, a very hard worker, and an excellent organiser.

After the obligatory course of six months at the Louvain Inter-Faculty Colonial Institute, George boarded a ship at Marseilles on the 30th June 1954, en route for Mbarara, Uganda. He began in the language school and then spent a year in the parish of Makiro, before being appointed to the Junior Seminary of Kitabi for a period of three years.

In October 1958, George was appointed to the United States, where he would work for ten years in Missionary Promotion. Based in Los Angeles, he gave talks and showed films in parishes and schools. He visited Colleges and Universities, etc. He did more than 50,000 km a year by car. He collected an awesome amount of money for the Society and for the missions. During his holidays in 1964, he travelled through many countries in Africa and he attended the Canonisation of the Martyrs of Uganda in Rome. During his second tour in the United States, he was officially appointed Vocation Director.

George was appointed once again to Uganda in 1968. He returned to Belgium passing by Mexico, Washington, New York, Boston, Ireland and London. In March 1969, he took the plane to Uganda. He spent some time at the language school at Mushanga. He was never very happy in Runyankole , which did not prevent him from having easy contacts with many people from different social classes. In April 1969, he was appointed to the Parish of Rwera. He was present when Pope Paul VI visited Uganda and ordained the Most Rev. John Baptist Kikubi as the new Bishop of Mbarara. Georges became his Secretary in November 1970. He was also a member of the Regional Council. Georges also gave courses in Latin in the Minor Seminary and was also chaplain to the Poor Clare Sisters at Nyamitanga and the YCS at Mary Hill.

On the 27th April 1973, Georges was officially appointed as the 1st Assistant Provincial of Belgium much to the regret of Bishop Kikubi and of Fr. Robert Gay, Provincial. In October 1974, George represented Uganda at the General Chapter of the Society. It was after the Chapter that he took up his new post as assistant to Fr. Lucien Van Wielendaele. Georges became involved with the Pontifical Missionary Society, the National Mission Council and the Committee of Missionary Institutes. He was to serve a second mandate as Assistant Provincial. He also helped out in the Parish of St. Albert and was active in Prayer Groups.

In 1979, he followed a renewal course at l’Arbresle and the Session/Retreat at Jerusalem. In October 1979, he left for Uganda. he was very happy to return to Mba­rara. He was appointed to the Social Services Office and the Diocesan Development Office (Caritas/Development). In May 1980, he guided his Bishop on a visit to many European countries that were helping the Diocese. In November, he again attended the General Chapter in Rome. At Caritas/Development, Georges was to exploit all his talents as an organiser.

Uganda, after nine years of Idi Amin’s rule, was in a chaotic state. Under Obote’s regime, there was the problem of refugees expelled from Rwanda. At the request of the UNHCR, Georges took charge of the refugee camps stretched all along Rwanda’s border, about 24,000 people in all. Georges took this generous initiative without consulting his Bishop which led to a cooling of relations between them, as the Bishop was afraid that there might be political implications for the Church.

In order to make his Office more effective, George established a lot of contacts with many organisations working for aid and development. A huge number of boys and girls got study scholarships because of his efforts. Again, thanks to him, a number of rural and vocational schools, social centres, dispensaries, were built not to mention the great number of grinding mills and books supplied.

After four years, he found a successor, but he stayed at Nyamitanga. He became the Episcopal Vicar for Religious in the Diocese. He gave courses to novices of some Congregations, was a chaplain to a large Girls School as well as giving retreats. He read widely and always kept up to date. On the 15th September 1993, he was appointed Assistant and Secretary to the Regional and he transferred to Kampala (Lourdel House).

In 1996, he was happy to return to Mbarara. The Bishop put him in charge of Caritas/Development. He was replaced in June 2002. He remained at the disposition of priests, religious and lay people for Spiritual Direction and Formation.

In 2003, at his Golden Jubilee of priesthood, George gave this witness; ‘Its the love that we show for our brothers and sisters in Uganda which is the source and heart of our apostolate. Love changes the heart of everyone. Love transforms the conditions of life, the injustices, the misfortunes, as well as encouraging and supporting those who suffer, who are orphans and who are poor.’

In 2007, very much against his will, he agreed to return to Belgium. He helped at the reception at Rue Linthout, but shortly afterwards, he went to retire at Evere. He was several times admitted to hospital. He got steadily weaker and often repeated that he had had a great life. He passed away on Saturday 11th February 2012.That same night, the Catholic Radio of Mbarara announced his death.

On Tuesday the 14th February, a Memorial Eucharist was celebrated in Mbarara Cathedral. A thanksgiving Requiem Mass took place on the 17th February in the Church of Saint-Vincent at Evere. He was laid to rest with his confreres in our cemetery at Varsenare.

Jef Vleugels

Father Henri Fouché

1919 - - 2012

Father Henri Fouché was born on the 21st July 1919 at Olivet, a small rural village in Brittany, France. Henry was the 10th child in a family of 11 children. His father worked as the municipal road mender and was responsible for the maintenance of the local roads.

One did not joke about religion in the Fouché household. Honesty, strictness, and looking after the poor were values that were really lived in the family. From an early age, Henri declared his wish to be a priest. In 1932, he entered the College of the Immaculate Con­ception in Laval where the Diocese had a section for minor seminarians. He then did four years of Theology at the Diocesan Major Seminary where he was ordained deacon in 1943. He was ordained to the priesthood on the 27th February 1944 by Bishop Paul Richaud.

It was during his time at the Major Seminary that he expressed a wish to join the Missionaries of Africa. However, he belonged to the Diocese of Laval which had given him a scholarship to study at secondary school. The Bishop made it a condition that he spend some years in the Diocese to allow his plan to mature.

In 1947, he was able to join the novitiate at Maison-Carrée. In 1948, he was appointed to Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) to the Prefecture of Ouahigouya.. Bishop Bretault, the first Apostolic Prefect, appointed him to Yako, a mission post that had just started. Here, Henri completed the second year of his novitiate and on the 1st October 1949, he took his Missionary Oath at Koumi.

He was no longer all that young and he found learning the language difficult. He also had serious difficulties with his health. Frequent sore throats provoked loud coughing fits and the Bishop brought him back with him to Koudougou for a period of rest. Subsequently, he was appointed to Réo, which was the third White Father’s Mission in Upper Volta. He had to adapt himself to another way of doing mission and he had to learn another, particularly difficult, language; lyele.

He felt at ease in his new community and he liked the Gourounsi people. However, Reo was a very big mission, with a huge territory and an important Christian population and Fr. Henri, whose health was still fragile, got tired very easily after the long and frequent pastoral trips.

At this time, the district of Ouahigouya started a new parish every year. In 1954, the Parish of Imansgho was founded. It was a parish where Mossi and Gourounsi lived together. Fr. Fouché, who spoke both languages, went to join Fr. Clou to guide the new Christian Community. He gave himself wholeheartedly to this new parish. His Regional, who found that he was very tired and suffered from frequent jaundices, referred him to Father also Doctor Goarnission. After some X-Rays and a small operation, he professed himself to be much better and well able to complete his first term in Upper Volta, which he did in 1956.

He had a very busy programme during his first home leave in France. His frequent visits to his family and home country were interspersed with many journeys and commitments. He agreed to lend a hand at the Bordeaux Procure for Missionary Promotion on the beaches and fairgrounds. He took part in an ongoing formation session at Mours and did his Long Retreat there a short time later.

In March 1957, Henri returned to Africa. He went, first of all, on a temporary basis to Didyr to look after a mission which was very short of personnel. In 1958, he went back to Koudougou and he was very happy to find a community ready to appreciate his skills as a storyteller. Pastoral activities were well shared out and the pastoral visits well planned. In 1960, he went to a new post at Léo, to a sub tribe of the Gourounsi. This meant that he had to learn a third language. The catechists, who came from elsewhere, were few in number and the Christians who came on Sunday were Civil Servants of the Central Administration.

However, Henri’s problems with his health persisted. At his second home leave, in December 1962, on the advice of the doctors, he was to stay one whole year in France, alternating between periods of rest and doing mission appeals in many parishes in France.

In February 1963, the doctors gave him the all clear to return to Africa. A new appointment awaited him on his arrival at Koudougou. He was sent to Yako, to reside there and from there to serve the Parish of La Toden which had been closed provisionally a number of years previously. This suited him perfectly and he felt that his health had also improved.

When the Parish of La Toden was ready to be reopened in 1966, Henri received a letter from his Superiors which appointed him as Parish Priest of Temnaoré, a mission, founded in 1951, in Mossi country. He accepted without question. This was perhaps his greatest characteristic. He was known everywhere. He was at ease with all the catechists of the Diocese and he was particularly attentive to the sick and the poorest of the poor.

On the 1st January 1967, he went back to Léo, and in 1968, he was appointed to Ténado as a curate and then as Parish Priest. On the 1st September 1972, he was to find himself again at Koudougou firstly in the parish and then at the procure to look after the hospital and the prison in the city.

However, he constantly had bouts of abnormal tiredness. In these circumstances, he had to make up his mind to return to France for an indefinite period and to get appropriate care. Therefore, on the 1st March 1974, he left Koudougou on a one way ticket. His health barely improved, and he was forced to admit that an apostolate in France might be better for him. He took up a chaplaincy in the hospital at Meaux. He gave himself totally to this new ministry for which he had an obvious predisposition. As he could not return to Africa, it was at Meaux and in other Parisian hospitals that he served as chaplain for 10 years. In 1985,

Henri finds himself once again getting used to community life in Maisons Alfort. He found this re-adaptation very difficult but continued, more than ever, to visit hospitals and the White Father houses in the Paris area.
In 1991, Henri spent three months in Jerusalem. In 1993, he participated to the Seniors Session in Rome. On his return, he made up his mind to take his place in our Retirement Home at Bry sur Marne. He did not, however, completely give up his activities with the African community and with the sick. It was with the African community that he celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 1994.

Henri needed a walking stick, then a ‘Zimmer’ and finally a wheel chair. He became very dependent and had to be admitted to a nursing home, firstly at Cachan and then at Chevilly-Larue After he fell into a coma, he was admitted urgently to Ivry Hospital and it was there that he died on the 17th February 2012, at the age of 92 years. It was a long life completely devoted to the Lord, at the service of the poor and lowly, his brothers. It was often accompanied by his two great companions ‘Fatigue and Illness’ His funeral took place on the 23rd February in the chapel of the White Fathers in Bry-sur-Marne. Very many of his nephews, nieces and cousins came to wish him ‘au revoir.’ He had himself chosen the passages from Scripture to be read at his funeral; With Job, he reminded us,’ I know that my Redeemer lives’ and with St. John; ‘In my Father’s house, there are many mansions’

Justin Louvard

 

Father Jo van Osch

1923 - - 2012

Jo was born at Rosmalen on the 19th of November 1923. In view of becoming a missionary, he received his formation in Sterksel, St.Charles near Boxtel, ‘s-Heerenberg, where he took his Missionary Oath on the 9th of April 1948, and where he was ordained on the 11th of June 1949.

Jo was a hard worker, with perseverance and sound judgment. He was kind and ever ready to render a service, someone we could rely on. His health was not too strong, he was somewhat nervous, and inclined to melancholy. He liked to work fast but well.

After his ordination and some months of holiday, he had in September 1949 to start teaching in our Philosophy Formation House, initially in ‘s-Heerenberg and later in St.Charles, near Boxtel. Weekly, he taught five periods of History of Philosophy, four English, two Missiology and one Liturgy. His lessons were thoroughly prepared; but they were considered rather dry.

In September 1954, he was able to go to Kipalapala Major Seminary Tanzania, to teach Philosophy. In addition, he was the pastor of a small parish attached to the seminary, in order to initiate the students in pastoral work. This pastoral work he preferred to his tasks in the seminary. His Regional Superior characterised him in December 1959 as, ‘A calm personality who is able to accomplish a great amount of work.’

In February 1961, he had to return to Holland, exhausted. He was so happy in Kipalapala that after a long period of rest, he returned to it in October 1962. In October 1965, the philosophy seminary moved to Ntungamo, near Bukoba, and Jo moved with it to go and teach there.

In October 1968, he returned to Holland ill; this proved to be for good. In February 1969, he became the Rector at Winterswijk: the two hospitals, the old-age homes, and one nursing home. At that time, he started publishing articles in spiritual magazines.

Thus, in 1973, he wrote in “Emmaus, a Magazine for those who want to walk with Christ” six pages about “Vocation as a spiritual gift”. In it, he promoted paying attention to the spiritual dimension of a vocation and to foster it. He wrote, ‘With psychology and sociology alone we shall never solve the general vocation crisis.’ This obviously holds too for a personal vocation crisis. In 1974, he wrote in “Interior Life”, nine pages about “Being filled with Wonder and Love”. In all his articles, he quoted many Bible texts, particularly from the New Testament. Among them, Jesus said: “Stay in my love”, John 15:9.

At the end of 1977, the Dutch MAfr Province organised an enquiry among confreres about forming small communities. Jo thought this an excellent project, which ought to have been started far earlier. ‘If this possibility had existed when I returned to Holland (1968) I would most certainly have opted for that. Now things have developed in another direction and I am in a situation from which, for various reasons, I cannot remove myself’.

In September 1980, Jo was appointed part-time pastor of the Elisabeth Hospital and the General Hospital at Winterswijk. In August 1982, he moved to Maastricht and became Director of the St. Annadal Hospital for its 775 patients and staff. Jo found this to be an intensive and heavy task, and started wondering whether he would be able to manage. Yet he carried on for almost 3 years.

In that period, he wrote in “Interior Life” 17 pages about “To learn to know Love”. In it, he put Jesus in a very central place. All his articles show a genuinely pastoral concern for growth from within, the interior development of the person. He gladly worked for the renewal of the Church community according to the Second Vatican Council, within its traditional setting. Consequently, when the Dutch Province joined the so-called ‘8th May Movement’, which stood for a greater openness, Jo was quite concerned. He felt a stronger affinity with the Charismatic Movement. He wrote an article about it in reaction to the article of Bill Dyer in the Petit Echo. He was convinced that the renewal of our Society ought to take place within and by the “Church”, and that the driving force ought to be the Holy Spirit.

In 1988, he wrote a long article of 24 pages in “Interior Life” about ‘Meeting Jesus in the Psalms’. Later on, Jo joined the ‘Kommel’ community at Maastricht, while he continued living in the house he was in. This Catholic Evangelical Centre was founded at the request of Bishop Gijssen of Roermond, with the commission to found a new community for sisters and brothers living with vows. In 1990, this ‘Community of the Crucified and Risen Love’ was recognised as a Private Association of Catholics with legal status, and in 1998 Bishop Wiertz, the current bishop of Roermond, officially renewed its recognition. In addition to common prayers, each member commits her/himself to a daily adoration of an hour and a half, and the contemplative branch up to 3 hours. This charismatic and apostolic community had an ever-growing importance for Jo.

Jo died peacefully at home on the 13th of April 2012. The funeral was held in the chapel of the Kommel Community at Maastricht on the 18th of April. One of them presided in the style Jo liked; our Delegate Jan Mol, the Diocesan Vicar for elderly priests and some confreres attended, with the local community and people from Winterswijk, where Jo had been the Rector. Jan Mol presided the absolution and farewell, wishing Jo a “Kwa heri, ya kuonana” (goodbye, see you again) in the language of Tanzania, where Jo had been.

Then Jo was brought to Heythuysen, where we buried him in our cemetery.

Marien van den Eijnden

 

Father Lambert van Laarhoven

1930 - - 2012

Lambert, we called him Bart, was born at Geldrop on the 4th September 1930. In view of becoming a missionary he received his formation in Sterksel, St.Charles near Boxtel, ‘s-Heerenberg, and one year in Carthage. He took the oath on the 2nd May 1957, and was ordained priest on the 3rd February 1958.

He was quite intelligent, worked hard, not fast but steady, and in that way he could manage quite a lot. He was a bit timid, over-sensitive but did not like to show this. He was persevering, methodical and meticulous. He had a sound judgment, more practical than theoretical, and he was gifted for languages.

During his time of formation, his superiors wished him to become more spontaneous, less reserved, so that he could relate better to people. They noticed he made remarkable progress; but later there were periods when the problem returned even though he kept a jovial face. This must have been difficult for him.

At the end of 1958 he went to Burkina Faso, to the Diocese of Koudougou. He began in Reo Parish, the largest of the diocese, to learn the language and the culture. There he felt “totally at home”. After 2 years he was appointed to teach in the minor seminary of Koudougou which served 3 dioceses. He later became its bursar. He did write: “A church bell does appeal more to me than a seminary bell”. In addition to giving English and singing lessons, he was engaged in building a chapel, starting a “large vegetable garden”, the garage, the carpentry and digging water wells, so that he wrote ‘his hands were becoming quite calloused!’

From 1965 to 1973 Bart did parish work, first in Imansgho then in Temnaore. In the beginning of 1966 he requested the Dutch “Pastorale Gids”(Guide for the Pastorate) in order to bring his pastoral approach in line with the changes of the 2nd Vatican Council. In May 1967, he let it be known that he was wondering whether or not all missionaries, including himself, ought to retrain themselves as experts in one or other profession and thus offer their services to developing countries. It was the either-or discussion of that time: either spiritual uplifting or development work. Bart experienced this struggle very personally, and it caused him heartache. Five years later he wrote: “I, myself, am fully WF and happy to be so, notwithstanding all the cares and even sufferings and uncertainties (…). Is this, these days, not part and parcel of being a religious and a priest?” He was cheerful yet despondent.

From February until November 1971 he came to Holland for sick leave. In November he was able to return to parish work in Temnaore. Six years later, his regional superior wrote that Bart was quite at ease both within the diocese and in his work. He was happy in his vocation as a priest. He would help in the parish, if need be, every Sunday, even though he was quite occupied with development work. Once a month he would drive to celebrate the Eucharist, 110 km away in Fara over bad roads, and 110 km back!

According to the regional superior, Bart was happier in a community where one could reflect together about their pastoral work, exchange views about books and articles, and share about their prayer life. He would always be the intellectual who loved to go deeper into the motivations for activities, both personal and pastoral. He did add: ‘That is all right, provided one does not exaggerate.’
In 1973, he became the Coordinator of the Diocesan Projects, while being stationed in Koudougou Town.

Two years later, he writes, that he is so busy (“in 4th gear”) that he wished all he needed was only one period of sleep in 2 days! It was the time that Small Christian Communities were introduced. He proposed development projects based on necessity or usefulness. He ensured that the allotted funds were used correctly.

At that time, he launched a cooperative for Catechists with a monthly contribution. One could then apply for a donkey and cart, wire for a fence for a vegetable garden, etc. The loan was paid back by yearly instalments. One confrere remembers that he fetched, at Bart’s store, hundreds of rolls of wiring for Catechists. He built the Unitas Centre, a splendid place for meetings and retreats. It was run by Sisters. He built a workshop, with bulldozers, lorries, tools and equipment, and a team to build and maintain dams to catch rain water. There were more than a hundred dams in the various dioceses. In May 1984, he became the Treasurer of the Diocese..

In 1986, he became the assistant director of the National Church Office to coordinate projects. Bart loved this work, because of the formation and organisation it involved. Moreover, his regional superior noted that he did manage to keep to his everyday spiritual exercises. For relaxation he enjoyed repairing instruments such as radios and photocopiers. That year he received the Dutch decoration of Knight in the Order of Orange Nassau.

He was really concerned about the poor. Structurally he tackled poverty through his Projects Office, while he took care of the individual who got into temporary difficulties. In his own words, this meant a mother unable to pay the doctor for herself or for a child, a family man unable to buy new bicycle tyres to go to his work, or to help a small entrepreneur bridge a difficult period and so on.

The years 1991 and 1992 were a tough time for Bart for various reasons. Several confreres, but especially his brother and sisters, did all they could to help him through this period. In July 1993 Bart became Regional Treasurer; once again a position of trust, and his Regional Superior was to write, in 1999, that he fulfilled this job with a lot of expertise and dedication.

From February 1994 until his departure in 2002 he was a member of the Regional Council. When the Provincial of the Netherlands was in Tassy, he met some “anciens” from Burkina, who were full of praise for Bart. At the end of 2001, as he was 71, he initiated his successor. He returned to Holland for good on the 22nd March 2002, and settled in Heythuysen. He gave a helping hand in administration work, rendered services to the confreres, and thought that he could do even more. However he began to get forgetful. “I have always loved to play bridge with confreres, and that is what I am doing here too” he said. That is how we like to remember him today.

In November 2006, he was admitted at the nursing home in Geldrop, close to his relatives. He celebrated his Golden Jubilee there on the 9th February 2008. Bart concelebrated at the altar, helped by the local pastor to read a part of the Eucharistic prayer. In August 2011, his health got worse. He died peacefully on the 1st June 2012.

With his relatives, acquaintances and confreres, we buried him in Heythuysen on the 6th June 2012. Fr.Jan Mol, the Sector Superior, presided and emphasised how Bart lived and worked for the development of the whole person. He said that our mission is to build the new heaven and earth, beginning in the here and now around us, and including everybody. Bart’s brother spoke in the name of the relatives. Someone, who had started a technical school in Reo, with Bart, and ran it for 4 years, expressed his gratitude.

Marien van den Eijnden

Farher Julien Martens

1923 - - 2012

Julien was born on the 6th June 1923 at Dudzele, in the Diocese of Bruges, Belgium. He was the loved last child of a large farming family. His eldest sister had already entered a convent before the Great War of 1914. After primary school in Dudzele, Julien went to the St Louis College in Bruges for his secondary studies. Meanwhile, his parents had bought a larger farm at Oostkerke, near Damme.

In September 1941, Julien joined the White Fathers at Boechout. Straightaway, he distinguished himself because of his linguistic skills and being exceptionally well read. It was also noticed that he was a bit of a character. He did his novitiate at Ste-Croix, near Bruges, followed by theological studies at Heverlee and Marienthal (1944-1948). He took his Missionary Oath on the 6th April 1947 at Heverlee, where he was also ordained priest on the 29th March 1948. Despite his superior intelligence and the breadth of his general knowledge, the scholasticate staff were of the opinion that Julien, because of his poor health, would not be able for university studies. Indeed after his ordination, he was sent to Montana, in Switzerland for a rest. Two of his brothers had already died from tuberculoses.

In September 1949, Julien was appointed to teach at Thy-le-Château, the Philosophy house for French speaking Belgians. He worked there until the end of the academic year of 1953. His health had continued to cause him serious problems, but he eventually got the green light to leave for Africa. He left for the Congo on the 17th August 1953. A few days later, he began teaching natural science at the Major Seminary of what was then called Baudouinville (Diocese of Kalemie-Kirungu). He was also had the task of giving updating talks. Julien was self taught to the highest level. The Bishop also gave him responsibility for the Legion of Mary in the southern part of the Vicariate. At the beginning of 1961, Julien went on home leave. He followed the Long Retreat at Villa Cavaletti and did research on the Bible and on the teaching of Catechetics.

From the 1st July 1963, Julien resumed his job of teaching, this time at the Major Seminary of Murhesa in the Archdiocese of Bukavu. The effects of the turbulent events towards independence were still being felt. In reaction to the rumours peddled about which implied that the missionaries were disappointed or discouraged, Julien wrote that: ‘I am able to confirm before everybody that we did not come to the Congo because things go well or badly. The missionary commitment is based on other reasons, more transcendental.’ After Vatican II, the Bishops asked him to undertake the task of revising the teaching of Catechetics. Therefore, Julien worked at the Secretariat of the Episopal Conference of Kivu from 1964 to 1975. He gave innumerable courses in the six dioceses of Kivu. He stayed at the Regional House in Bukavu.

In 1975, Julien finished his service at the Episcopal Conference. From now on he was at the disposal of the Region of South East Zaire. Yvo Guisson, the Regional, testified: ‘Julien did great work here in the area of ongoing formation especially in the domain of Biblical studies.’ At the end of 1978, Julien followed different courses in Paris (at the Sevres Centre, at the Institut Catholique and at Sidic in the areas of exegesis of the Old and New Testamaent, Biblical Hebrew, Eucharistic Theology etc. On his return to Bukavu, he taught Biblical Studies at our 1st Cycle house at Ruzizi, from 1981 to 1987. He was greatly appreciated by our students. He had the gift of explaining the Sacred Scriptures in simple language based on everyday life. He carried out this work until the arrival Hans-Otto Wienen (+2011), who was newly qualified in the Biblical Sciences. He also gave biblical sessions and preached retreats to the priests, religious and laypeople of Bukavu.

Julien only wanted one thing; to be able to continue this work. He dreamed of publishing leaflets to help groups of lay people to understand better and meditate on the Scriptures. However the Bishop was unwilling to allow him to do this. At his funeral in Varse­nare, the preacher put it this way; ‘Like Jesus, he was suspected, because his interpretation of the Word of God did not tally exactly with that of the High Priests and the Scribes. That is also part of the Missionary commitment’.

The Regional and his council were obliged to make Julien choose between leaving the country or to accept a completely different work which would have nothing to do with what had driven him all his life. He decided, therefore, to return to Belgium. He felt that he was being expelled. He was only 64 years of age.

On the 10th June 1988, Julien wrote to Fr. Huybrechts :’ Today I gave my very last class and I am now entering a tunnel without knowing the exit, but the Lord knows this and that is good enough.’ He did the Session/Retreat in Jerusalem and this helped him to come to terms with the situation. He left for home on the 29th July 1988.

So, Julien began his long residence at Varsenare. In Bruges and the surrounding areas, he preached retreats, gave days of recollection, lent a hand at the week end in the Parishes of Westkapelle and Dudzele and anywhere else he was asked to go.

He never took on a definite commitment. His Volkswagen allowed him to be of service to people and he could go for a drive wherever he wished. He stayed a bit apart from the community. He was not at ease in rigid structures where his eccentric character upset people. However, thanks to him, the whole house was brightened up with flowers and plants. Being a handy man, he did little repair jobs all over the house and, for that; he had a well equipped workshop in the cellar of the Varsenare chateau.

Julien spent the last two years of his life at Avondrust where he greatly appreciated the devoted care. The tiny balcony of his room was transformed into a small garden where the birds of the sky came to nibble at the grains he had put out for them. His closest relatives, nephews and nieces visited him often. He was particularly fond of his family and they felt exactly the same for this uncle and grand uncle, the last of his generation.

At the beginning of February 2012, quite unexpectedly, his health got suddenly worse and he fell into an irreversible coma. He died on the 17th February 2012. The Funeral Mass took place in the presence of his family and of many confreres in our chapel at Varsenare. He is buried in our cemetery.

Jef Vleugels