Magazine Brothers CMM 2015/2 by CMM Brothers

BROTHERS CMM 2/15

CONTENTS

CONVERSATION WITH

THE SUPERIOR GENERAL

CONCERNING BROTHER ANDREAS

Mission statement

COLOPHON

Mercy belongs to all times and places.

Brothers CMM {formerly Ontmoetingen (Encounters)} is a quarterly publication of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy (Brothers CMM). A subscription is free of charge (available on request at the address below). ISSN 1877-6256

Mercy is at the centre of all world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The movement of mercy has left traces throughout history.

Editorial Board: Mr. Rien Vissers (editor in chief), Br. Edward Gresnigt, Br. Ad de Kok, Ms. Nathalie Bastiaansen, Mr. Peter van Zoest (executive editor)

The various forms in which mercy appears, are expressions of the society in which it arose, and of the spirituality that carries it.

Translation: Br. Edward Gresnigt, Mr. Peter Huybers, Fr. Jan van der Kaa AA, Mr. Tony Verhallen

The Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, is rooted in Christian mercy.

Original design and layout: Heldergroen (www.heldergroen.nl) Printing: Franciscan Kolbe Press, Limuru, Kenya, press@ofmconvkenya.org Contact: E-mail: Website:

Brothers CMM, Rhapta Road, P.O.Box 14916 Nairobi, Westlands 00800, Kenya magazine@cmmbrothers.nl www.cmmbrothers.org

A voluntary contribution to meet the costs of the magazine is appreciated: ING Bank Account 106 85 17 for Fraters CMM Tilburg. For international transfer, please use: IBAN: NL30INGB0001068517 BIC: INGBNL2A

Photograph front cover: The superior general with postulants in Manado. See pages 8-10.

The Prodigal Son, Rembrandt

Photograph back cover: Building of the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Nationale Nederlandenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Rotterdam (photo: Brother Ad de Kok).

VINCENT DE PAUL HERE AND NOW

VISITATION TO INDONESIA

FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD This summer issue of Brothers CMM pays much attention to the province of Indonesia. From March 22 until April 12, 2015 the entire general board paid a visitation to the province which has the greatest number of brothers in the Congregation. The country counted 133 Brothers CMM on January 1, 2015. On that date the provinces of Kenya and the Netherlands had 52 and 38 brothers respectively. The regions of East Timor, Brazil, and Namibia numbered respectively 15, 13, and 10 brothers. When we include the 18 brothers in the two communities that belong to the general board, the total amount of brothers on January 1 came to 279. In a conversation with Rien Vissers the Superior General, Brother Lawrence Obiko, reflected on the visitation to Indonesia. Three pages in this issue present a report in pictures. The first brothers left the Netherlands for Indonesia in 1923. Until the 1960s brothers of Dutch origin comprised the majority. Now almost all brothers have their roots in Indonesia. A special commemoration of the Dutch brothers’ commitment to the Congregation’s work in Indonesia took place in Balige during which the mortal remains of five brothers were reinterred. Brother Franciscus Linus offers us a report. The brothers’ work continues to be fruitful, which is evident in the short account about the first temporary vows taken by eleven Indonesian brothers in Pematang Siantar in North Sumatra. It also shows in the festivities at the schools in Tarakan around the feast day of Don Bosco, the patron saint of the brothers in Indonesia.

BEHIND THE SCENES

SYMBOLS

NEW FINAL RESTING PLACE

NEWS IN BRIEF

IN MEMORIAM

‘HIS GRACE IS NEAR’

LOOKING BACK

EAST-WEST CHURCH DIALOGUE

CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERIOR GENERAL

All members of the general board paid a working visit to the brothers in the province of Indonesia from March 22 till April 12, 2015. The conversations we had with the provincial board and with the brothers individually remained with me as the highlights of my experiences there. The meeting of the provincial board with the entire general board was a first. A meeting like that had never yet taken place in the Congregation’s history. Looking back on it I find that the visitation was a special and encouraging experience.

During the previous board period in 2009, I participated in a meeting in Brazil with the general board and the provincial and regional boards. There we discussed the theme of ‘servant leadership’ and probed deeper into its meaning. We addressed a central issue of how one becomes a leader through service. How do you serve your fellow brothers following in imitation of Jesus Christ? The process we initiated at that time starts to bear fruit. Yet, the way in which one lives in servant leadership in the reality of every day certainly needs ongoing implementation. As a general board we definitely want to support this process. In the talks we had I tried to provide an atmosphere in which the brothers felt comfortable to express themselves freely. Everything starts with the individual person, with the question as to how each brother lives his own life. An issue kept coming back in these discussions. How can we step up our service to the poor and at the same time optimize our income? After all, we must be able to fund our service to the poor. It is important to find the right balance. This is not only an issue for the general and provincial boards. Communities and brothers personally must strive to find that balance as well.

The plenary meeting between the provincial board and the general board gave each of the participants a beautiful opportunity to share their understanding of the ideals, goals, mission, and tasks in the Congregation. As I said, everything starts with the individual brother. Servant leadership aims to expand the concrete potentials of brothers and communities. We have to keep on working at this so that in the action of every day we make progress where we can. The general board wishes to work as a team. The general chapter saw that also as part of our mission. If we wish to be credible, we ourselves must give concrete form to servant leadership. We wish to promote it as concretely as we can in the contacts we have within the Congregation and in a special way at the time of our visitations. Our leadership intends to deepen our spirituality and expand our service to the poor. We do well to realize that the brothers experience their ideals first and foremost in the community. Their communities ought to be ‘schools of mercy’. Brother Lawrence Obiko in an interview with Rien Vissers

CONCERNING BROTHER ANDREAS

THE BROTHERS’ FARMER The estate ‘Huize Ruwenberg’ had a big farm on its terrain. It had always belonged to the castle, but later it served the brothers’ boarding school rather well. At the very beginning, while the castle was still being remodelled, the brothers used it as residence for their community. Very soon already the farm became an effective business in support of the boarding school.

The Ruwenberg farm. Twelve cows always provided fresh milk for the students. Because of the chickens, the students could count on fresh eggs. Horses in the stables served for the school’s carriages and worked the land. In one of the annexes the brothers started a bakery. Ruwenberg became famous for its delicious bread. Brother Judocus van den Hurk, a strong and proud farmer’s son, was in charge of the Ruwenberg farm for more than a half century (1831-1906). His sister, Longina, had entered the Sisters of Charity (SCMM). Judocus resolutely determined not to follow her example. “They won’t trick me into doing something like that”, he often said. Yet, he followed his vocation, even though later in life. Judocus entered the noviciate at the age of 32. A short time later one could find him every morning and every evening among the brothers’ cows. The farm belonged to one of the features that gave the boarding school its own unique atmosphere. During the summer the students tarried among the apple trees. They did their best to pick a few apples without brother-farmer noticing. In the winter the farm became much more interesting. When it started

to freeze, Brother Judocus allowed a small meadow to get flooded. When the ice was hard enough he allowed the schoolchildren to skate on it. Every afternoon Brother Judocus himself also shuffled around on skates to teach the smallest children how to skate. Brother Judocus was quick-witted and could reason with precision. He always had cheerful discussions with the brothers who were teachers. Some were convinced that Ruwenberg bailed out the farm, but Brother Judocus held that it was the other way around. The brothers better be happy to have a farm around that made up for the school’s financial shortfalls. The Brothers Andreas and Judocus worked together at Ruwenberg for almost fifty years. They got along well. Both were farmers’ sons and they shared a wonderfully keen sense for the richness of time. Brother Judocus’ memorial card read: “He grew into an exemplary religious: hard working, caring, intelligent, punctual and uncompromising in his philosophy of life.” The same words were heard several years later to commemorate Brother Andreas. Charles van Leeuwen

INTERNATIONAL

VINCENT DE PAUL HERE AND NOW Brothers live according to the way of life exemplified by Vincent de Paul. The founder of the Congregation, Joannes Zwijsen (1794-1877), was inspired by what this French saint, better known as ‘St. Vincent’, promoted and lived: to rise to the defense of the poor and marginalized. Every year on September 27, the day of Vincent’s death, the communities of the Brothers CMM reflect on this Vincentian task in order to make it more and more a reality each and every day, as is illustrated by the following overview of the memorial celebrations of 2014.

Brother Jan Koppens, provincial superior of the Brothers CMM in the Netherlands, presented a reflection during the Eucharistic celebration in the chapel of the community of Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg. A segment of this reflection follows: “The time period in which Vincent de Paul lived, the 17th century, is known in the Netherlands as the Golden Age. However, both in France and the Netherlands not everything that glittered was gold. The nobility, the aristocracy, the powerful merchants and landowners might well have enjoyed a life of luxury. But it was different for many members of the lower classes of society: the simple farmers, the poor labourers, the refugees and people struck by some cruel or disabling disease. They had little or nothing to cheer about, their lives were harsh, with little security. The material and spiritual poverty of the poor near the hamlet of Folleville inspired Vincent to his personal calling. He saw the necessity of evangelization and charity. There was a tremendous need in both areas. Vincent organized religious parish missions, he founded congregations of brothers and sisters to help the poor, the sick, and the needy. It is remarkable that 200 years after his death several founders of active congregations, among them Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg, were inspired by his example. Now in 2014 we see that the brothers are still being motivated by Vincent de Paul. The approach of ‘seeing – being moved – and getting into action’, which is very Vincentian, can be perceived in our communities and also in the commitment of the brothers and associates in church and society. If

you are a keen observer you may see many beautiful examples. Indeed our mission goes on!”

Action On September 27, 2014 the former Superior General, Brother Broer Huitema, while in Chicago, attended a meeting of representatives of the Vincentian Family: Vincentians, Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Charity, Vincent De Paul Society, Vincentian lay missionaries and delegates of the De Paul University. He wrote: “Especially interesting was what two co-workers of De Paul University said. They spoke about homeless students of the university, students who literally ended up on the streets. One does not expect this to happen and yet we are talking about a substantial number of students. There is no structure in place to take care of these students and something has to be done! It was fascinating that immediately volunteers signed up to take care of that. Action was taken then and there!”

Providence The brothers of the residential care facility ‘Het Dorpvelt’ in Zonhoven, Belgium, held a memorial service with the sisters of the nearby care facility ‘St. Catharina’. The theme of the day was ‘Providence’. Vincent refers to this concept regularly in his letters and in his ‘familiar discourses’ with the Daughters of Charity. He emphasizes that this notion does not mean that you just leave everything up to God to take care of and that we do not have to lift a finger ourselves. On the contrary, Vincent points out that our God-given

Stained-glass windows of Vincent de Paul and Louise De Marillac, in the Vincent de Paul Center of the Daughters of Charity in Chicago. Together they founded the the Daughters of Charity as a society of apostolic life.

talents must be used in helping the poor. A similar idea about ‘Providence’ could be read in a comment on Facebook by the ‘Ambassadors of the Worldwide Brotherhood’, the youth organization of CMM, in Kenya. Ambassador David Mungai quotes Mother Teresa on Vincent’s anniversary: “When a poor person dies of hunger it does not mean that God did not care about him or her. It happened because you and I did not give the person what he or she needed.”

Humility At the reflection of September 27, in the brothers’ community of Lembata, Indonesia, Vincent’s humility is emphasized. “Because of his humility God could use Vincent as an instrument to sow the word ‘mercy’ in the world and to spread mercy among the poor. In this way Vincent was exalted by God and became a saint.” The brothers in Lembata hope that the spirituality and approach of Vincent will be an inspiration especially for young people and that they will pass God’s grace along to the people around them.

Youth In Indonesia Vincent was commemorated through many cultural activities, such as dance, performances, and choral singing. The novices in North Sulawesi organized a sports tournament which was held from

September 23 till September 26 in order to promote solidarity among brothers, novices, postulants, and seminarians. In Kenya too young people were involved at the commemoration. Several schools of the brothers had presentations remembering Vincent de Paul. Brother Leo van De Weijer gave a presentation at the Vincent de Paul Elementary School in Mosocho and Brother Vincent Odhiambo spoke to the students of Vincent de Paul Secondary School in Oyugis about Vincent’s life and work. Interesting questions were raised by the audience such as: Who was Vincent really and what kind of things did he do? What is his significance for us, and what can we learn from him? What can you do?

Today On September 27 Brother Nicodemus Orang’i Otundo put an inspiring message on Facebook in Kenya, in which he compared Vincent’s humility with a five pointed star, composed of simplicity, humility, friendliness, self-sacrifice and zeal. He added: “The question which we must raise today is whether the above mentioned virtues are still practiced in our society. Are there still ‘Vincents’ today?” Nathalie Bastiaansen

INDONESIA

The community of the provincialate in Yogyakarta with the general board.

VISITATION GENERAL BOARD TO INDONESIA All the members of the general board were in Indonesia for a visitation from March 22 till April 12, 2015. According to the general board members the nature of the visitation may be summed up in one word: ‘brotherhood’. For Brother Niek Hanckmann and the Superior General, Brother Lawrence Obiko, the nonIndonesian members of the general board, the visit provided a great opportunity to learn at the same time more about the life and the work of the Indonesian brothers as well. A photo report gives a good idea of the visit.

Brother Niek Hanckmann and Brother Rofinus Banunaek visited communities and schools in Ambon, Langgur, SoE, and Lembata. There were personal conversations with individual brothers. In Kupang they also had a meeting with a group of the youth movement of the Congregation, the ‘Ambassadors of a Worldwide Brotherhood’. Brother Lawrence Obiko and Brother Benyamin Tunggu paid a visit to the community and the house of the postulants in Manado and to the community and the novitiate in Tomohon. They visited Don Bosco school, the publishing house and print shop Andreas in Manado. In Tomohon they visited the Don Bosco school.

Special occasion During the final week of their visit the four members of the general board came together in Yogyakarta where they met with the members of the provincial board of the brothers of Indonesia. This was a special occasion since it was the first time that all the members of the general board and all the provincial board members met as one body. In Yogyakarta a meeting took place with the ‘Ambassadors of a Worldwide Brotherhood’ as well. Nathalie Bastiaansen

The entire general board and provincial board meets in Yogyakarta.

The brother house in Lembata.

Visit to Don Bosco school in Lembata.

Don Bosco school Tomohon. 9

INDONESIA

The community garden in Tomohon.

Novices, their formators and members of the general board in the garden of the noviciate in Tomohon.

Postulate in Manado.

Garden in the postulate in Manado.

The superior general with postulants in Manado.

Meeting with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ambassadorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Yogyakarta.

Excursion. 10

THE NETHERLANDS

The ‘Printing Press of the Roman Catholic Boys’ Orphanage’ had many craftsmen.

BEHIND THE SCENES OF A TEACHING CONGREGATION In 1844 Joannes Zwijsen founded the Brothers CMM to improve the educational system in the poor neighbourhoods in Tilburg. But he started the Congregation with a shoemaker, a coppersmith and a brewer who became his first brothers. At the moment of the foundation of the Congregation, the practical day-today elements of religious life still had to be developed. They needed a place to stay where the brothers could learn how to pray, meditate, do penance and respect religious discipline. A lot of practical activities needed to be completed before the religious could start teaching. What would Zwijsen have been able to do with three teachers?

Zwijsen entrusted his first novices to the Trappists who lived at that time in an old monastery of the Capuchins in Meerseldreef, Belgium. In 1846 the monks moved to the Achelse Kluis. The candidatebrother who was a brewer by trade should have felt quite at home because they had a brewery and most probably they were served a glass of beer every afternoon at the dinner table. The two other novices of course did not object to that glass of beer. At least, when they returned to Tilburg in 1845, they brought along this custom to the new foundation. This custom continued without interruption till World War II. The Belgian branch of the Brothers CMM has continued the beer tradition till today.

Craftsmen The membership in the Congregation of the Brothers CMM gradually increased in the nineteenth century and teaching brothers joined. Also clerics joined the new foundation. Next to them there were those brothers who did not have to hurry everyday to get to school and after getting home correct numerous papers and notebooks, or needed to study to receive more credentials in education, theology and philosophy. In the growing community of the Congregation there were people needed who took care of the daily activities in the house, who made sure that the table was set in time, that meals were prepared, brothers who could repair things big and small. In short: the ‘technical’ experts kept the institution going. And their work expanded. The ‘Drukkerij van het R. K. Jongensweeshuis’ 11

THE NETHERLANDS

The carpenter’s workshop. (Printing Press of the Roman Catholic Boys’ Orphanage) had many craftsmen who produced firstrate printing products. Over the years associated with the mother house in the Gasthuisstraat several businesses were started that were located mostly along a street named ‘Industriestraat’ (Industrial Road). There was a wellstocked carpentry shop. Those who remember the old neo-gothic chapel of the mother house (that was torn down in 1970-1971), should remember the beautiful pews that were made in the carpentry shop under the direction of Brother Theodulfus Verdonk. The cassocks of the brothers were made and repaired in the tailor shop. There were also very competent shoemakers, bakers, painters and electricians. In the year 1919, in addition to teacher training college that had been there since 1850, a special juniorate was started for boys that wanted to become experienced in technical skills to keep these shops going. The first director was Brother Richarius Venmans. The juniorate was therefore popularly known as the ‘Richariaat’. After him there were other directors and supervisors, such as Brother Ignatius Smeulders, who later on became director of the printing press and Brother Eucharius van Keulen, who was in charge of the bakery. The Brothers Severianus van de Laak and Faustus Verhoeven served as group leaders. The institute existed till 1929. In that year the juniors with job training moved to the teacher training college where they lived with the future teachers.

Theater decors After Brother Tharcisio Horsten was elected in 1926 as superior general, the institute of ‘Verenigde Vijverwerkers’ -VVW- (United Pond Workers) was started in the mother house that traveled to Sparrenhof to dig a pond. This work continued for about ten years. The VVW had its own statutes and the treasurer was Brother Maximus Streng, the sacristan of the mother house. Many of these technical brothers were members of the orchestra-band that performed at all feasts and ceremonies. One of the most well known conductors of this club was Brother Auxilius Brokken, who came from Den Bosch for the practices and performances. Later on Brother Godefridus Melis was the leader. The music in the mother house was

Church pews from the old mother house chapel. 12

quite professional. The choir of the brothers was directed and accompanied by competent musicians and gave beautiful performances especially during solemn Eucharistic celebrations and the Benedictions in the afternoon. Here also a large number of the technical brothers were members. We should also not forget that a lot of technicians were needed by the celebration of jubilees and the building of theatre decors. At a certain time there was a fixed group that almost had a fulltime job to build and maintain the theatre decors. Many magnificent plays were performed. What happened in the mother house in Tilburg on a large scale happened at other places in The Netherlands and outside on a smaller scale. Everywhere businesses were started. With the Dutch branch of the Congregation as a teaching institution losing ground, the framework that supported it, the technical division, also disappeared. What remains is a religious establishment that with the help of many outside sources can continue and keep the old spirit going, in spite of everything.

The cassocks of the brothers were manufactured and repaired at the tailorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shop.

Brother Godfried Kanen (appeared earlier in Brothers CMM, 1/2006)

The bakery.

YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE

LOOKING BACK The second instalment of the series ‘Joy!’ for the Year of Consecrated Life appeared in April with reflection material for the brothers and the associates of the Congregation. ‘Looking Back: The Joy of our Vocation’ is the title of this publication. This connects with the first goal of the year: ‘Look at the past with gratitude’. The two other goals are: ‘Live the present with passion’ and ‘Embrace the future with hope’.

quotations ‘a few questions for meditation and sharing’ are posed: “Vincent de Paul reminds his religious how joyful and fervent their calling was in the very beginning: that gave them the strength to give themselves radically. Think back to the starting point of your own vocation: what gave you then a feeling of joy? Vincent is realistic enough to be aware that the enthusiasm of a vocation can weaken. How about you? What can you do against that weakening? How do you keep the fire burning well? In the center of the publication are quotes from a circular letter of the Vatican Congregation of the Institutions of the Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life for the Religious concerning the Year of Consecrated Life. The title reads: Rejoice! The contents is based on the words of Pope Francis, taken from his speeches and writings. It contains the assignment to mention a number of joyful moments along the journey of your vocation.

Just like the first one, the April instalment of Joy! also opens with a few quotes. “In calling you God says to you: ‘You are important to me, I love you, I am counting on you’ (Pope Francis). You did not choose me, but I chose you (John 15:16). We believe that our whole life is carried by God. We receive our existence with all its cares and joys from his hand (Constitutions CMM I, 248-249).

Vincentian quotes Some quotes of Vincent de Paul are also included which form an important source of inspiration for the Congregation of the Brothers CMM. Once he told his sisters: “How fortunate you are, Sisters, to be called to a state of life so pleasing to God. … How many victories will you lose if you lose your vocation, since with it you can overcome the devil, the world, and the flesh, and at the same time enrich your soul with Christian perfection.” In the context of the Vincentian 14

The ‘Year of Consecrated Life’ is celebrated throughout the universal Catholic Church from November 29, 2014 till February 2, 2016. Pope Francis proclaimed this special year on November 29, 2013 during a meeting with religious in Rome. He calls upon orders and congregations to reflect during that time on their significance for Church and society. The Brothers CMM too pause this year to reflect on their vocation and mission.

The instalments of Joy! appear in Dutch, English, Indonesian and Portuguese and may be found under ‘news’ at www.cmmbrothers.org. Peter van Zoest

SYMBOLS

AN EMPTY PRESENCE During the General Chapter of 2014, all chapter members were asked to bring a symbol expressing their view on the future of the Congregation, their mission, or their personal religious life. This yielded a number of fascinating stories. ‘Brothers CMM’ will publish a selection of them. This edition presents the symbol of associate member Henk van de Wal.

My symbol is very traditional, but also very basic, fundamental in the proper sense of the word. It is the little cross I wear already for a couple of years. I wear this cross because I want to show what I stand for. I know a life of brotherhood and mercy does not depend on wearing a cross, nevertheless it is a way for me to let people see what my source is. People see my cross and they start a conversation. You can call it a kind of public relations. The cross is an awful sign. It reminds us how cruel and devastating we, people, can be. But we also know that the cross is a symbol of hope and life. It is the cross on which Jesus died and on which he stretched out his arms to embrace the world. We can look at the cross as a way to connect: vertically it connects heaven and earth, and horizontally it connects the people with each other. And the crossing is the point where everything comes together. There is where Jesus was killed, that is the place where they took him off the cross, and there is the point where we can take his place.

That is the reason why I find this cross so special. I bought it in Israel where you can purchase millions of crosses. However, I saw just one cross like this one: A cross where Jesus is not present anymore, where He is risen, but where it is clear that he was there. There he made room for us. He leaves us a place, a space that we are allowed to fill in ourselves, in our own way, with our own possibilities and talents. In this way the cross remains a sign of faith, of hope and of love. It’s a direction indicator, a compass, and an invitation to follow Jesus on the way of mercy, so that, after his example and spirit, we can become people as they are meant by our Creator.

Henk van de Wal

THE NETHERLANDS

View of the east wing of the generalate where the Foundation Communicantes is located.

EAST WEST CHURCH DIALOGUE IN THE GENERALATE Since the middle of January 2014 the Foundation Communicantes leases a part of the east wing of the CMM generalate at the Gasthuisring in Tilburg. The organization strives for better exchange between the Roman Catholic Church in the Netherlands and the churches and church communities of Central and Eastern Europe. The Communicantes organized a symposium in the generalate on April 4th titled: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Churches and the War in the Ukraine. What do Churches Contribute to Peace and Reconciliation?â&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Communicantes was founded by Father Jan Bakker SSS (1914-1982) from Nijmegen. In the early 1960s father became involved with the communist persecuted Church in Eastern Europe. More than 20 years Father Bakker dedicated himself to realize two goals, which are still being pursued by Communicantes at the present time: to establish contact and communication among Catholics who for whatever reason are not able to do that presently and to spread the insights of the Second Vatican Council.

The Ukraine The war in the Ukraine which has been going on for more than a year now, has divided the churches, while it at the same time has brought them together. For this reason it was good for Communicantes to explore what the major churches could contribute to peace and reconciliation. On the one hand we wanted to

study what the Netherlands can do for the Ukraine, e.g. through the peace organization PAX. On the other hand we wanted to get a view of the conciliatory potential of the Churches themselves, especially the two antagonists: the Roman Catholic Church which has a substantial number of parishes in the Ukraine and the Greek Catholic Church, which in spite of her Orthodox tradition recognizes the supremacy of the pope in Rome. Speakers from the Ukraine had been invited for this purpose. It was an informational and educational meeting which focused once again its attention on a serious and seemingly intractable conflict at the border of the European continent. For more information visit www.communicantes.nl. Frans Hoppenbrouwers, board member of the Foundation Communicantes

Participants of the symposium in the chapter hall of the generalate where the meeting took place.

Viewing modern Ukrainian icons in the chapel of the generalate during a break in the symposium.

Dr. Heleen Zorgdrager, professor Systemic Theology of the Protestant Theological University in Amsterdam and for many years a visiting professor at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, discussed the reconciliation potential of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.

Dr. Lidiya Lozova from Kiev (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the patriarchate of Moscow) spoke about small scale Ukrainian Orthodox peace initiatives. 17

INDONESIA

NEW FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR FIVE BROTHERS IN BALIGE On April 9, 2015 five deceased brothers were exhumed from their original burial sites in order to be reburied at the cemetery of the Brothers CMM in Balige. Medan is the capital of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra, where the Brothers CMM started their mission in 1927. A little to the south, in Balige, the brothers founded their community in 1950. The brothers who found here their final resting place are: Gonzaga Schoenmakers († December 24, 1953), Avitus de Rooij († June 17, 1979), Geroldus Smulders († May 2, 1980), David Fleerakkers († April 16, 1987) and Mario van Breemen († October 25, 1987). All these brothers died in Medan.

Pictures of the Brothers Gonzaga Schoenmakers, Avitus de Rooij, Geroldus Smulders, David Fleerakkers and Mario van Breemen at the interment ceremony.

Official transfer of the coffins.

The disinterment at the three cemeteries were preceded by a short prayer service conducted by Father Gabriel Main OFM. At two sites the graves were opened by Brother Paskalis Wangga, the superior of the brother house in Medan. Assisted by members of the Catholic community the remains were placed into smaller coffins and transferred to St. Diego church, a mission church of the Pasar Merah parish in Medan. A Requiem Mass was celebrated there by Father Gabriel. Present were the Sisters SCMM and FSE, as well as members of the mission station, who had prepared a communal meal for the brothers and their guests. At 5 o’clock in the afternoon the coffins with the remains were placed into the ambulance of the polyclinic of the brothers of Aek Tolang to be taken to Balige. After a trip of about 6 hours the group arrived at 11 pm and the five coffins were placed in the chapel of the brother house in Balige. A wake was kept of one day and two nights.

Father Arie van Diemen uses incense at the coffins.

Interment On April 11, at 10.30 am the ceremony of placing the coffins in the mausoleum began. Present were the brothers of North Sumatra, parish priests, sisters, teachers, students, former teachers and alumni of the Catholic schools in Balige, members of the Catholic community of Balige and representatives of the local authorities. The ceremony began with the official handing over of the five coffins by Brother Paskalis Wangga to Brother Amator Hems, who represented the community of Balige. The ceremony continued with a Requiem Mass celebrated by Father Arie van Diemen and Father Gabriel Main. At that point the five coffins were placed in the ‘tugu’, the mausoleum built in Batak style on the property of the brothers. After the ceremony there was a shared luncheon. The day was concluded with a word of thanks by Brother Franciscus Linus, the superior of Balige, who represented the provincial superior who could not be present, due to meetings with the general board in Yogyakarta.

Requiem Mass in the chapel of the brother house in Balige.

In a procession the coffins are taken to their final resting place.

Brother Franciscus Linus

Interment of the five coffins in the ‘tugu’. 19

NEWS IN BRIEF

AMBASSADORS IN NAMIBIA ORGANIZE ‘WALK WITH CHRIST 2015’ Every year in the period of Lent, the Namibian Ambassadors of a Worldwide Brotherhood, the international youth movement of the Brothers CMM, organize the pilgrimage ‘Walk with Christ’. This year it was held on March 14, with the theme: ‘We walk by faith, not by sight’ (2 Corinthians 5:7). The pilgrims started in Windhoek, and from there they walked to the Poor Clare Monastery in Brakwater. At the arrival in the monastery, around 10 a.m., there was a Eucharistic celebration presided over by His Grace Archbishop Liborius Nashenda, OMI. Lots of people, young and old, joined the call of the Ambassadors to walk together, ‘with Christ’.

NEW POSTULATOR BEATIFICATION PROCESS BROTHER ANDREAS In order to invigorate the process of beatification for the cause of Brother Andreas van den Boer, Brother Broer Huitema, the former Superior General of the Brothers CMM, made at the time of his sabbatical period in the United States (July 24-December 10, 2014) contact with the Superior General of the Vincentians Father Gregory Gay. As a member of the Vincentian Family and having the Vincentian spirituality, CMM asked for this canonization process a member of the Congregation of the Mission. Father Shijo Kanjirathamkunnel is a 39 year old Vincentian from India who is the Postulator General of the Congregation of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity of Vincent de Paul and works at present on 21 ‘causes’. He is very willing to take on the cause of Brother Andreas van den Boer. On February 17, 2015, after having received the approval of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and with the consent of the general board, Superior General Brother Lawrence Obiko appointed Father Shijo Kanjirathamkunnel as the postulator for the cause of the canonization of Venerable Andreas van den Boer. He succeeds Monsignor Jan Heeffer who represented the cause till 2014. Subsequently, on March 1, 2015 Father Shijo appointed Father Willem Spann, O.S.F.S. as vice-postulator of the cause. Father Spann has been 20

Father Shijo Kanjirathamkunnel during a meeting with Pope Francis. the coordinator of the Office of Brother Andreas since 2003 and has been active in the promotion of the cause of Brother Andreas by regularly presiding at a prayer services on the first Monday of every month at the Generalate. We would like to encourage our readers to pray frequently at the intercession of Brother Andreas for God’s grace and favours. It is important that when prayers have been answered, to pass this on to the coordinator!

NEWS IN BRIEF

DON BOSCO CELEBRATION

‘Working Group

IN TARAKAN

Dedicated Life’

The Brothers CMM in Indonesia selected the Italian Saint Giovanni Bosco, better known as ‘Don Bosco’, as the patron saint of their apostolate, because educational activities are an important element of their work. To commemorate the day of his death, on 31 January, 2015 all schools of the Don Bosco Foundation in Tarakan organized a variety of activities between January 10-31. The activities were meant to bring together in the spirit of brotherhood and mercy, teachers, students and those who work for the Don Bosco Foundation. Thus on January 10 a seminar was held in the hall of the Frater Don Bosco Senior High School in Tarakan. The speaker at the seminar was Mr. Fidelis Elisati Waruwu.

The first time that the ‘Working Group Dedicated Life’ of the Dutch province came together was on February 21, 2015. The group consists of four members: general board member Brother Niek Hanckmann, Brother Paul Damen, associate member Christianne van de Wal and pastoral minister Trees Versteegen. The group investigates how to guide those who want to become a brother, an associate member or who want to be connected in another way with the Congregation. Furthermore the group considers writing a new text for a prayer for vocations, meant for the Dutch province.

School children sing a song during the Don Bosco celebration in Tarakan. The theme of this seminar: ‘Developing Holistic Intelligence, Integrity and Role Model’. The subtitle ran: ‘Self-awareness of Human Identity (Spirituality, Morality, Relationship, Intelligence and Affection)’. On January 24, the schools of the Don Bosco Foundation in Tarakan held a ‘Long March’ together. The ceremony was opened with a prayer led by the chairman of Don Bosco Foundation, Brother Rikardus Rumangun. The theme for this activity was ‘Being faithful in servce is proof of my love to the Don Bosco Foundation’. From January 26-29 all sorts of activities took place to increase not only the skills in art and sports of the students and teachers, but also to increase their awareness for the environment. On January 31, in a ceremony concluding all the activities of that month, all the schools of the Don Bosco Foundation in Tarakan celebrated the commemoration of their patron saint. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Bishop Yustinus Harjosusanto, MSF, Archbishop of Samarinda, East Kalimantan. In his sermon, Bishop Yustinus asked the teachers, students and staff of the Don Bosco Foundation to take Don Bosco as their role model.

Don Bosco.

In Memoriam

FIRST TEMPORARY VOWS IN PEMATANG SIANTAR On April 25, 2015 eleven novices made their first temporary profession. The vows they take are renewed each year. The ceremony took place in the novitiate of the Brothers CMM in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra, Indonesia, where the secondyear novices have their year of formation. Present were the provincial superior of the Brothers CMM of Indonesia and other members of the provincial board, the brothers of North Sumatra, priests, sisters and members of the Catholic community. Out of the eleven professed brothers, six come from East Timor: the Brothers Domingos da Costa, Francisco Maia, Januario Terca Soares, Tome Fatimah, Pascoal Soares Madeira and Carlito Alves. From West Timor came Kornelis Seran, Karolus Neno Beti, Liberius Meko and Adrianus Mei. From Sumatra hails Brother Aron Dongoran Sihombing. The celebration of the temporary profession was presided over by Father Moaldus Banjarnahor OFM Cap, assisted by the parish priests, Laurentius Brindisi and Gregorius Main OFM. The professions were received on behalf of the Congregation by the Provincial Superior Brother Martinus Max Mangundap. The homily was held by Brother Lambertus Kato’o, the novice-master of the second-year novitiate. He emphasized that it would be expected of the brothers to be faithful with and to their fellow brothers in the community and participate in the activities of the community. After the Eucharist the program was continued in the garden of the novitiate.

Brothers professing their vows.

BROTHER

Albertus (A.B.) Fau He was born at Bawömataluo, Indonesia, on April 4, 1940 and entered the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy in 1964. He died on April 16, 2015 in the community of the brothers at Aek Tolang (Sumatra, Indonesia) and was buried at the brothers’ cemetery in Balige. Beli, as he was called, grew up within a close-knit community of the village Bawömataluo on the island Nias, in a truly Catholic atmosphere. Very soon already he proved to be a good student and left for Balige (Sumatra) for his secondary education at a school run by the brothers. Thus he got to know the brothers and experienced the call to share their life. In 1964 he entered the Congregation and was called Brother Albertus. After his first profession of vows he went to the teachers’ training college in Balige, also managed by the brothers. After obtaining his diploma he went to Gunung Sitoli (Nias) where the brothers had started a new foundation. Brother Albertus may be considered the Indonesian pioneer in the then-called region Sumatra. In 1971 he left for the community in Medan. There he obtained the qualification to teach at the secondary level and soon developed into an expert teacher. When needed he took on the position of superior or deputy superior. Through his religious commitment and dedication he had quite an influence on the younger members of the Congregation. When his health deteriorated, he continued as much as possible to participate in community life. The entire Congregation ought to be proud to have had such a fellow brother in their midst. We now entrust Brother Albertus to the Merciful One, Who certainly has taken him up already into His Love, a love that knows no end.

‘HIS GRACE IS NEAR’ (From the Rule of Life of the Brothers CMM)

THE WEAKEST LINK ‘The quality of society can be read from the degree of attention for the weakest link’. This according to the text of a poster of the Movement of Mercy. It had such an impact that we had it reprinted twice. Many people in positions of leadership have it hanging in their rooms.

You can keep it in general, far from the heart. But when you turn it into a concrete reality things become different. The quality of my family, my workplace, my school, you can measure it by the degree of attention that is given to those who are vulnerable. It becomes even more clear when you realize, that you yourself might be that most vulnerable link.

mercilessness in devious and monstrous forms appear to be gaining the upper hand. Jesus experienced this in person, yet he said: “A world in which the weakest link finds justice, that world will come.” Look around, then you can see that it is happening already. He asks us to follow him on his way. An endless line of seemingly ordinary people is doing so. They carry the world.

This text is all about mercy. It’s about giving preference to the person or group of people who are at the periphery: one of your children who finds life difficult, a fellow brother who is ill, a colleague who has lost his job, a refugee in your neighbourhood; the list is almost endless. And again and again it’s about the triple sequence: to see, being moved, and getting into action.

After her immense disappointment about the demise of her socialistic ideals Henriëtte Roland Holst (18691952) wrote:

Johan Huizinga (1872-1945), the greatest Dutch philosopher of culture, wrote already early in the twentieth century: “Even when a culture does not produce technical achievements or artistic sculptures, it may be called great, but not if it lacks compassion.” Much is at stake; one might even say the future of our world. That is the core message of the gospel: without merciful love the new world, a world of peace cannot be established. In Jesus’ time and equally in our own time we can get pessimistic. The waves of

Our Rule of Life states:

The gentle forces will certainly win in the end – I hear it as an intense whispering inside me: if it turned silent all light would go dark all warmth within petrify.

The realization of our insufficiency may not paralyse our energy. We see it as our task to work courageously together with others towards a better future. Brother Wim Verschuren

WHEREVER WE MAY BE WORKING, WE SHALL CONTINUALLY REFLECT ON THE DEEPER HUMAN AND EVANGELICAL MEANING OF OUR WORK. (from the Rule of Life of the Brothers CMM)

Magazine of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy