BROTHERS CMM 1/17
| INVENTORY CMM-HERITAGE | FORGIVENESS | FOUNDATION DON BOSCO MANADO | CENTENARY BROTHER ANDREAS’ DEATH
CONTENTS
CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERIOR GENERAL
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CONCERNING BROTHER ANDREAS
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COLOPHON Mission statement Mercy belongs to all times and places. Mercy is at the centre of all world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The movement of mercy has left traces throughout history. The various forms in which mercy appears, are expressions of the society in which it arose, and of the spirituality that carries it. The Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, is rooted in Christian mercy.
The Prodigal Son, Rembrandt.
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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 Editorial Board: Nathalie Bastiaansen (chief editor), Br. Edward Gresnigt, Br. Ad de Kok, Mr. Peter van Zoest (executive editor) Translation: Br. Edward Gresnigt, Mr. Peter Huybers, Fr. Jan van der Kaa AA, Mr. Tony Verhallen Original design and layout: Heldergroen (www.heldergroen.nl) Printing: Franciscan Kolbe Press, Limuru, Kenya, press@kenyafriars.org Contact: Brothers CMM, Rhapta Road, P.O.Box 14916 Nairobi, Westlands 00800, Kenya. Email: Brother Leo van de Weijer: brotherleo42@gmail.com Contact: Brothers CMM, P.O.Box 89, Windhoek, Namibia. E-mail: Brother Athanasius Onyoni: atonyoni@gmail.com E-mail: magazine@cmmbrothers.nl Website: 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: Prayer card (front) produced at the occasion of the centenary of the death of the Venerable Servant Brother Andreas van den Boer. The card is widely distributed in four languages (Dutch, English, Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese) and is available free of charge at: Office Brother Andreas: Gasthuisring 54, 5041 DT Tilburg, the Netherlands, e-mail: w.spann@outlook.com (photo: Peter van Zoest). Photograph back cover: Statue Vincent de Paul, Lourdes (photo: Brother Ad de Kok).
INVENTORY CMM-HERITAGE
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FORGIVENESS
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FOUNDATION DON BOSCO MANADO
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FROM THE EDITORIAL BOARD In 2017 the Congregation commemorates the centenary year of the death of candidateBlessed Brother Andreas van den Boer. This edition of Brothers CMM presents a first overview of activities worldwide. More on the commemoration will be presented in following two issues of this year. As was announced already in the publication at the end of 2016, from now on Brothers CMM will appear three times a year instead of four and the number of pages will be reduced from 24 to 20. It is for the Congregation necessary to cut expenses in order to be futureproof. With that purpose in mind a lighter type of paper has been selected, thus saving on forwarding-charges. These changes make it possible to continue with the magazine in order to provide the circle of stakeholders and interested parties with information on what lives in the Congregation. The new year continues familiar features and starts a new section under the title ‘See my people’. This is the title of the congregational song written by Henk Jongerius and put to music by Jan Raas at the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Congregation in 1994. At a number of occasions it is sung in Dutch, English, Indonesian or Portuguese. The section is about how brothers express in everyday life their mercy and brotherhood, the two key concepts in the charism of the Brothers CMM. The way the Kenyan Brother Elijah Agilo does it, comes to the fore in the first issue, which is summarized as follows: ‘Let us be close to our people’.
IMAGES OF APOSTOLATE
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CENTENARY BROTHER ANDREAS’ DEATH
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NEWS IN BRIEF
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IN MEMORIAM
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‘SEE MY PEOPLE’
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CONVERSATION WITH THE SUPERIOR GENERAL
“Collaboration is not a goal, but a way of living.” This is a quote from a meeting of the worldwide Vincentian Family Executive Committee I attended Philadelphia, USA, in January this year. Our Congregation has two patron saints: Mary and Vincent de Paul. We are blessed, because from 8 December 2015 till and including 20 November 2016 we celebrated the ‘Year of Mercy’, for us intimately connected with Mary, Mother of Mercy. And this year we celebrate ‘400 Years of Vincentian Charism’. I look at it as Divine Providence. In 1617 Vincent de Paul met a person in spiritual need and came into contact with the poor and the sick. These events frame the start of his spiritual appearance. The result was a sequence of collaboration. The Ladies of Charity, The Vincentians, the Daughters of Charity: each in their own manner dedicated themselves to guide people spiritually and assist the poor. In order to function you need hands, feet, eyes, ears and more. The Vincentian Family is like a body, and every branch is a part of that body. This year of jubilee invites us to pause at our place in this body. Who am I? When I am the eyes: what and who do I see? When I am the feet: to whom do I go? When I am the hands: how can I tackle the situation?
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Once we realize that we are óne body, we also know that we really need each other. In being concerned about the poor, looking for being close, offering a helping hand, listening to their stories, and speaking on behalf of those who have been silenced, thus we are united in that large body which we call Christ. Look at the world we live in, with refugees, homeless, political unrest and poverty. As a Vincentian Family we need to be close to people and give a voice to those who are not being heard. And we also need to address those who have the power. It is not enough to feed the hungry when we do not change the system that causes poverty. Together we look at who is best in bringing about those changes. Vincent said that we have to help the poor in all sorts of ways, personally and with the help of others. A similar idea is to be found in our Constitutions: “Compared with the great needs all around us, what we can do as a small community is but little. However, we see it as our task to work courageously together with others towards a better future” (Const. I, 184, 187). Brother Lawrence Obiko in an interview with Nathalie Bastiaansen
CONCERNING BROTHER ANDREAS
THE WEAKEST LINK Some children always felt lost in a large boarding school like Ruwenberg. What could a teacher or supervisor do about that? He would be able to do something: he could give them his personal attention. Brother Andreas was one of the teachers who did that in a concrete way. Ruwenberg: on the far right we see Brother Andreas who does not look at the camera; he looks at his students.
Small things help build a human atmosphere in a boarding school. When you read what the students remembered it is noteworthy to see how often they refer to those small things. Brother Andreas was always there and showed his care when they felt lost. Together with his fellow brother Amatus, who taught in the classroom next to his, he always kept in mind “… children miss a lot in a boarding school, especially the younger children. We cannot and may not replace their mother. We must try to come close to take on their father’s role.” Brother Andreas tried this by being close to the boys and was always friendly and welcoming. The children had numerous reasons to be fearful and insecure. They felt alone and misunderstood; they struggled to keep their own in their group; they struggled with academic studies; they had problems with a specific teacher; they felt unfairly treated … Brother Andreas always listened patiently to their stories and tried to reassure and encourage them. He was very strict when it came to rules but very generous in giving personal attention. It’s noteworthy that this vigorous approach to provide human concern and attention came from a man who himself was a weak link in the whole structure of the
school business. At times his colleagues complained that he was a soft teacher and failed to keep order in his class. Brother Paschasius remarked: “Someone might say in those days: ‘Brother Andreas is a holy man, but it wouldn’t be good if we had too many saints like him around. Things would really get messed up if we did.’” Most of the teachers, and the students as well, paid attention to the strongest and the best. They won the awards, received kudos, and were highly regarded. Brother Andreas did not quite fit that pattern; he had attention for the weakest. He embodied the belief that a boarding school’s quality is measured by the degree in which the most vulnerable children get attention. The principle of having attention for the weakest link in society remained a strong value in the Congregation. It was not something that exclusively applied to Brother Andreas, all the brothers learned its importance. The ‘Movement of Mercy’, founded in 2000 made it one of its slogans: ‘One can determine the quality of a society by the way that society pays attention to the weakest link’. Charles van Leeuwen 5
THE NETHERLANDS
INVENTORY CMM-HERITAGE In 2016 an inventory was taken of the Congregation’s heritage at the Generalate of the Brothers CMM and the Joannes Zwijsen residential care center in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The general board had commissioned the Museum Catharijneconvent of Utrecht, the Netherlands, to take this inventory. Anticipating future developments, such inventory would make clear what should, and what should not be preserved. In addition, such inventory underlines the importance of its scientific registration into the database of the museum. Joost van Hest made the inventory. He presents his report.
Since 2012 the department for museums ‘Erfgoed in Kerken en Kloosters’ (‘Heritage of Churches and Cloisters’) registers the cultural heritage of Dutch churches and cloisters. By taking on this task it succeeded Stichting Kerkelijk Kunstbezit in Nederland (Foundation Ecclesiastical Art Treasures in the Netherlands). The staff charted this heritage and shares its thoughts on how to give it new significance.
Criteria Various valuation criteria are applied when staff members ask for assistance to chart religious objects. After all, it is important to have the right standards by which to determine which items are important enough to be preserved. The document Handreiking roerend religieus erfgoed (2011) (Handbook on Movable Religious Heritage {2011}) lists those criteria. One can establish the objects’ actual value for instance. This means that experiential and emotional significance is central: what does an object mean for the religious community itself? When we look for the historical value we look for its importance in general history, church history, and art history. Does an object tell something about the history of a cloister, a parish, or brotherhood? What is its artistic importance? We also have to see if the object is rare or whether it belongs to an ensemble. For example, we want to determine if we see here a Gesamtkunstwerk (work of art part of a larger whole), like we see in an unblemished neo-Gothic interior, or if we deal with a later ensemble that came together in the course of history. 6
Core collection Assigned values determine a final score. The most important objects then make up the core collection. It is important to keep them in their place of origin or, if they belong to the cloister heritage, to give them new meaning within the religious order or congregation. When appropriate, items may become part of a collection of a museum or be transferred to a heritage center. In the Netherlands one may know such centers like the Katholiek Documentatie Centrum (Center for Catholic Documentation) in Nijmegen, or the Erfgoedcentrum Nederlands Kloosterleven (Heritage Center for Dutch Religious Life) in Sint Agatha. Less important pieces that radiate an ‘ecclesiastical character’ or sacred status can be placed on the museum’s website, Vraag en Aanbod Religieuze Voorwerpen (Supply and Demand Religious Objects). Church institutions only have access to it; the site has become very successful. In spite of the fact that many churches have been closed, about ninety percent of the objects find a new place in Vraag en Aanbod. The objects also get imported into the database of the Catharijneconvent (Museum Catharijnecovent). Church administrators and heritage owners can use the online registration system. The registration makes it possible to reach responsible choices and preserves the knowledge of the history of art and culture. The diversity of cloisters and monasteries and various orders and congregations becomes quite visible in that way. The culture of the Jesuits proves to be quite different from that of the brothers for example.
‘Change of address notice’, about 1935.
Exploration The assessors of the brothers’ cultural heritage found many objects that came from the mother house and the associated brother houses. In the Generalate they explored common areas like the chapel, chapter room, and corridors. Their search also included the garden and the section in the Joannes Zwijsen residential care facility where the brothers live. The Generalate’s attic holds an abundance of superfluous historical objects. The surveyors could already start to prioritize and determine what items proved to be important. By that process articles with relatively low cultural historical value like censers, processional crosses, or boards with the text of the canon of the Mass got dropped.
Cloister culture The drawing from around 1935 served as a ‘change of address notice’. It may appear not to be very significant at first. Leo van Grinsven signed the drawing. It shows some brothers with bedding and pots and pans on their way to a new brother house.
The artist was illustrator for the ‘Drukkerij van het R. K. Jongensweeshuis’ (‘Printing House of the Roman Catholic Boys Orphanage’) that the brothers had founded. Because of that we may assign cultural historical value to it. Its value gains in significance because the drawing playfully reflects the time between the First and Second World War, and gives some insight in the cloister culture of those years. It even has some value as a rarity because of that. Even though the examiners could not ascertain which brother house was connected to this event, the object still remains a document of some importance. They considered that convincing enough to include it in the core collection. If they do exclude it they may consider transferring it to Erfgoedcentrum Nederlands Kloosterleven in Sint Agatha.
Zwijsen In the attic the researchers found Joannes Zwijsen’s possessions left and right. They are of greater importance. The Congregation has various 7
THE Internationaal NETHERLANDS
portraits and busts of its founder. Assessors came upon various items from the room Zwijsen had in the now demolished mother house. They included objects that commemorate the bishop’s festive welcome in 1863 when he stayed in the mother house after the assassination attempt at Huize Gerra (the Gerra House). He also owned the four lithographs, which visualize the story of Denis-Auguste Affre, Archbishop of Paris. This socially committed cleric died during the 1848 revolution. At first the examiners thought that they
were dealing with some lithographs that often can be found on room and corridor walls in a cloister. Their research made it clear that they hung in Zwijsen’s room. The theme that runs through them helps us understand what motivated Zwijsen. The Parisian bishop obviously inspired him greatly. The prints also made an important contribution to the historiography of the Catholic emancipation in the Netherlands in which Zwijsen played a pivotal role. Initially these items did not appear to be very important but it became clear that they are worth saving. Joost van Hest
Lithograph illustrating a scene from the life of Denis-Auguste Affre, Archbishop of Paris.
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KENYA
FORGIVENESS Man is created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). That does not mean that we humans are perfect. We have many possibilities, but we also make mistakes. In his relationship to his brothers and sisters, man at times can be sour, unfriendly or hostile. Because of this we grow apart. But we really need each other in order to become who we really are.
From time to time there will be disagreements or quarrels in a community, that is inevitable. But one should never cherish hatred or wallow in hurt feelings. “Be angry but do not sin. Do not let the sun set on your anger. … No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. … Forgive one another as God has forgiven you in Christ” (Ephesians 4:26-32). “Bear with one another and forgive one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection” (Colossians 3:13-14). And “bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them” (Romans 12:14).
Forgiveness keeps us together in good and bad times and enables us to grow in mutual love. It is in community life that we best can experience freedom and where we best can fully develop it. “Always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (Const. I, 182-183). Even though it is sometimes a challenge, let us do our best to live together in a way that Jesus would like to see. Brother Videlis Ong’Ombe Minyega
Act of love Jesus really wants us to love our enemies, to treat them well and mention them in our prayers. That is much more than what we normally understand by forgiveness. When we pray the Our Father we ask for forgiveness, “as we forgive those who trespass against us”. If we cannot forgive our fellow brothers, we will also not be able to receive the forgiveness from God. When we forgive others, God makes our heart free from anger, bitterness, resentment and pain that kept us captive. In Christianity, forgiveness is an act of love. By love and friendship you can destroy your enemies, that is, you make your enemy into a friend. Community life is not possible without the willingness to forgive (see also Matthew 18:19-35).
Brother Videlis Ong’Ombe Minyega.
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INDONESIA
Brother Lukas Mandagi, chairman of the Don Bosco Manado Foundation.
THE WORK OF THE DON BOSCO MANADO FOUNDATION For many years the Brothers CMM in Indonesia have worked in education. The Don Bosco Manado Foundation is an umbrella organization founded by the Brothers CMM in the 1950’s comprising all the brothers’ schools in Indonesia. The most important goal is to serve people through good education. In our day and age this is not always easy because of competition among schools and the interference of the government which does not offer much support to private schools.
Since 14 May 2009 the foundation has been certified by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in Jakarta. The foundation now covers thirteen schools: three infant schools, (Taman Kanak-Kanak), three primary schools (Sekolah Dasar), three junior high schools (Sekolah Menengah Pertama) and four senior high schools (Sekolah Menengah Atas). The foundation also manages four boarding schools.
Motto The motto of the Don Bosco Manado Foundation is: ‘Fides, Scientia et Fraternitas’, ‘Faith, knowledge and brotherhood’. With these the charism and the values of the spirituality of the Congregation are being held in high esteem. The Church asks of Catholic schools to proclaim to the students the presence of God’s Kingdom and the redemption. Every Catholic school
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needs to be a ‘community of love and brotherhood’ where pupils, teachers and staff can experience the Gospel values in their lives.
Identity The quality of Catholic schools comes to the fore in the attention for faith formation, spirituality and the presentation of knowledge. This holistic approach of pedagogy and education enables the student to develop into a complete person. The Don Bosco Manado Foundation offers programs for a development which is as broad as possible, including: mind, body, spirit and soul, emotion, morality and culture. Thus the students will be able to mold their own future, to live a good life and to cope with the challenges of society. The foundation also tries to integrate the values and the spirituality of the Congregation into their academic
program. In this way the brothers share the wealth of their faith and spirituality with others. These values determine the identity of education at the brothers’ schools and this also constitutes the most important difference between state schools and Catholic schools.
Administrative functions As the Indonesian government introduced a new legislation for foundations’, the Don Bosco Manado Foundation is, from a juridical point of view, independent of the Congregation both in the areas of administration and of finances. The relationship between the foundation and the Congregation of the Brothers CMM, however, is captured in the way the administrative functions are filled. Every foundation has a mentor, a manager and a supervisor. The provincial superior is the highest authority, the mentor. The functions of manager and supervisor are filled by the members of the provincial board. The functions of supervisor and school principal are in many places taken on by brothers, but they are also available to lay personnel. The main office of the foundation is in Manado and there are four sections: in Manado, Banjarmasin, Tarakan and Lembata.
Challenge At this moment in time Catholic schools are facing a huge challenge. The foundations that are run by dioceses and congregations are increasingly working
together to assist one another in this cause. Public schools have more access to government facilities than private schools. Public schools offer scholarships and even free education. As a result Catholic schools are struggling with a lower intake of students. Government regulations also cause problems in education at Catholic schools. The government can appoint non-Catholic teachers of Religion to Catholic schools to teach Religion to non-Catholic students. The government also keeps an eye on the financial administration of private institutions and removes teachers from Catholic schools to teach at public schools.
Resolute Education cannot walk away from the challenges and changes the present time brings along. And in order to reach her prime goal, forming young people to become complete human beings, education needs to remain constantly in a state of ongoing development. It takes courage to adapt our work to the demands of the time. The Don Bosco Manado Foundation is resolute to offer high quality education. Education which is inspired by the values and spirituality of the Congregation and the charism given us by the founder Joannes Zwijsen, while closely matching the demands of the present time. Brother Daniel Telaumbanua
Brother Agustinus Abi, bursar of the Don Bosco Manado Foundation.
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IMAGES OF APOSTOLATE
One of the pupils in the weaving program receives a certificate.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING FOR THE BLIND AND THE DEAF IN KENIA Worldwide the Congregation is being confronted with all sorts of material and spiritual needs. The brothers, together with others, are trying to alleviate these. The sixth issue of this feature showcases the professional training for the blind and the deaf in Sikri, Kenya. In 1970 the Brothers CMM started a specialized educational institute for the blind in Sikri. This form of education was still very rare in Kenya. On offer was a professional agricultural training facility for the visually handicapped, and since 1976 also for the deaf, giving them the opportunity to provide for their own living. With this in mind the brothers also set up a large farm next to the school. In 1988 the educational facilities were extended with instructions in woodwork and weaving. The education has now been handed over to the government, but the brothers are still involved. Right now Brother Peter Chiori works as a volunteer at the ‘Sikri Technical Training Institute’, as it is being called. Teaching the handicapped is still hard to get off the ground in Kenya. It is crucially important to give it greater publicity, not only to recruit more pupils but also to create a greater acceptance of the handicapped in Kenyan society.
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Poster of the institute at a professional trade fair.
Sports activities are part of the program. Two deaf soccer players putting on their soccer boots.
Two deaf-and-blind pupils taking part in a sports activity.
Brother Peter Chiori during a demonstration in weaving.
Pupils during a practice lesson.
Deaf pupils removing weeds from among the pineapple.
One of the deaf pupils with a shawl he himself made.
Brother Peter Chiori addressing the pupils at World Sight Day.
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IMAGES OF APOSTOLATE
A blind pupil and Brother Peter Chiori at professional trade fair.
A pupil pulling out weeds.
Deaf pupils may keep the ball after a soccer match they won.
Brother Peter Chiori with three pupils. 14
Working in the field.
Brother Peter Chiori teaching weaving.
INTERNATIONAL
CENTENARY OF BROTHER ANDREAS’ DEATH Front prayer card depicting Brother Andreas (painting at the Generalate, artist unknown) In 2017 the Congregation commemorates the one hundredth year of the death of candidate-Blessed Brother Andreas van den Boer. On 24 November 1841 he was born in Udenhout, the Netherlands. He died in Tilburg on August 3, 1917. During his lifetime he was called ‘the holy brother’ and shortly after his death there was already the first pilgrimage to his place of burial. In 2003, for his final resting place and in his honour, the ‘Brother Andreas Chapel’ was built onto the chapel of the Generalate. Every year on the first Sunday of August a solemn Eucharist is celebrated at the chapel of the Generalate and on the first Monday of each month there is a prayer service at the tomb of Brother Andreas. In a variety of ways the Congregation adds luster to this jubilee year. An overview. - Especially for the jubilee year new prayer cards are issued in four languages with the new Brother Andreas Prayer from the congregational prayer book Icons of Mercy. The brothers in Zonhoven, Belgium, and at the Generalate pray the Brother Andreas Prayer at Vespers. - On the occasion of the jubilee year, Charles van Leeuwen, the CMM study secretary spirituality and history, is bringing together his contributions ‘Concerning Brother Andreas’ in the magazine Brothers CMM, into a book. - For the brothers who celebrate their birthday in the Dutch province this year a birthday card has been designed on which Brother Andreas and Saint Vincent are shown, with the caption ‘Attention to the other’. - In some Dutch communities one or more days of recollection are focused on the relationship between Brother Andreas, the Rule of Life and personal experience. - In Kenya / Tanzania the spirituality committee has organized for all communities for February, May and July three days of recollection centered around characteristics of Brother Andreas: ‘Brother Andreas: meek and humble of heart’, ‘Brother Andreas: the Merciful Brother without frills’ and ‘Brother Andreas: doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way’. The Brother Andrew Prayer is prayed in all communities several times a week. - In Brazil, several activities have been undertaken. For all the brothers and associate members they coined a
Congregational anniversary medal. jubilee medal. At their retreat center ‘Retiro Vicente de Paulo’ in Igarapé the brothers built a chapel in commemoration of Brother Andreas. At Colégio Padre Eustáquio, the school of the brothers in Belo Horizonte, a statue of Brother Andreas was placed. At the school’s Eucharistic celebrations one prays regularly for his beatification. - The communities in Namibia pray every night the Brother Andreas Prayer and at the community in Windhoek-Abtstreet, a dozen people from the neighbourhood come together every Thursday for prayer, and the Brother Andreas Prayer is an integral part of it. - In Udenhout, the village where Brother Andreas was born, a book about him, written by the ‘Writers Team of Heem Center ’t Schoor UdenhoutBiezenmortel’ will be published on June 30. A video about him will also be available. Brother Edward Gresnigt 15
NEWS IN BRIEF
‘400 YEARS VINCENTIAN CHARISM’ In 2017 the worldwide Vincentian Family commemorates two events in the life of Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) which for him would mean a turning point. Four hundred years ago they took place in the French places of Folleville and Châtillon. Vincent worked in Folleville as a spiritual director. In his contact with the people there, he became aware of the real importance of spiritual guidance. Vincent realized that he could not do this alone and that there was a need for well-trained priests who would dedicate themselves to the salvation of people. This led to the foundation of the Congregation of Mission, the Vincentians. Not long afterwards Vincent was appointed pastor of Châtillon. Here he came in a very direct way into contact with the poor and the sick. That led to the founding of organizations that could help the needy. Eventually from this developed the Daughters of Charity. This year the Vincentian Family commemorates these important
events in a variety of ways. In May, in co-operation with the Brothers CMM, a pilgrimage is organized to France. It includes the places where Vincent de Paul lived and worked. The brothers in the province of the Netherlands publish each month a meditation card. Also in the other provinces and regions of the Congregation attention will be given to this Vincentian year of jubilee.
BURSARS MEET IN ROME From 25 to 27 November 2016, general board member Brother Benyamin Tunggu (procurator) and Brother John H. Grever (general bursar) participated in an international symposium for bursars of religious institutes in Rome. Both concluded that a number of themes that were part of the international meeting ‘Accountable Brothers – Good Stewardship in CMM’, organized by the Brothers CMM in Vught in October 2016, such as ‘transparency’ and ‘good stewardship’, were also on the agenda of this gathering.
Brother Benyamin Tunggu together with João Cardinal Bráz de Aviz, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Religious 16
A MEETING WITH POPE FRANCIS From 23 till 25 November 2016, Superior General Brother Lawrence Obiko attended the biannual assembly of the Union of Superiors General (USG) in Rome. Approximately 140 superiors general attended. Six presenters spoke on a variety of aspects of the theme ‘Prophesy’. This was followed by group discussions. On Friday, November 26, they were invited to the Vatican for a papal audience. “The Pope generously took the time to answer questions”, according to Brother Lawrence Obiko. “His simplicity, openness and sense of humour inspired the participants. At the time of the intermission, the Pope accompanied the participants to the cafeteria for some refreshments and there too he was very accessible for some conversation. At the close of the audience, at leaving the hall, he took again all sorts of time to shake hands with everybody.”
Brother Lawrence Obiko shakes hands with Pope Francis.
DON BOSCO CELEBRATION IN TARAKAN In January 2017, the Foundation Don Bosco in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, Indonesia, organized a variety of activities to celebrate the feast day of Giovanni (Don) Bosco, the patron saint of the foundation. At the same time the 10-years’ presence of the Brothers CMM in Tarakan was celebrated. On January 20, a long walk was part of the program. The participants were brothers and pupils of the schools that are managed by the Foundation Don Bosco. Before the walk an opening ceremony took place, conducted by the Provincial Superior of the Brothers CMM in Indonesia, Brother Martinus Mangundap. On 21 and 22 January there was a festival for all the schools in North Kalimantan. This was also attended by the inhabitants of Tarakan. On 30 January, a Eucharistic celebration took place in honour of the feast day of Don Bosco (31 January), presided over by Yustinus Harjosusanto MSF, Archbishop of
Samarinda, East Kalimantan. A number of priests of the Diocese of Tanjung Selor concelebrated.
Archbishop Yustinus Harjosusanto at the time of the Eucharist.
PORTRAIT BROTHER BROER HUITEMA UNVEILED At the time of the New Year’s reception, on 3 January 2017, the portrait of the thirteenth Superior General (2002-2014), Brother Broer Huitema, was hung and added to the portrait gallery at the Generalate of the Brothers CMM in Tilburg. The portrait was painted by Corry Koekkoek. Brother Broer Huitema applauds after the painting was hung. 17
IN MEMORIAM
BROTHER
BROTHER
Simon (S.J.M.) van den Broek
Jan (J.H.J.) Verheijen
He was born in Nistelrode, the Netherlands, on May 14, 1936 and entered the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy in Tilburg, the Netherlands, on August 29, 1954. He made his profession for life on August 15, 1960. He passed away on December 19, 2016 in the community of Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg. He was buried at the brothers’ cemetery at the estate Steenwijk in Vught, the Netherlands.
He was born in Goirle, the Netherlands, on October 28, 1931 and entered the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy in Tilburg, the Netherlands, on August 29 1948. He made his profession for life on August 15, 1953. He passed away on December 23, 2016 in the community of Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg. He was buried at the brothers’ cemetery at the estate Steenwijk in Vught, the Netherlands.
He was the second child of the large family Van den Broek-Smits. At the farm of his father he learned what it is to work hard and how to get along with animals. His love for horses remained throughout his life. The life of Brother Simon as a brother, that started in 1954, was especially characterized by his dedication to others, especially young people who, for whatever reason, experienced difficult times. He specialized in work with youth and was active in places such as Tilburg and Leeuwarden. He was also in charge of ‘De Vuurhaard’, the crisis reception center for refugees, in Udenhout. Besides that he was a cook at the communities of ’s-Hertogenbosch and Leeuwarden and for six years he was the superior of the community of Udenhout. On account of his heart problems it was necessary for him to join the community of Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg. From there he kept up good contacts with his family and friends. On 19 December he was invited to meet his God. Thus a well-spent life ended. God certainly waited for Brother Simon and welcomed him into his merciful love which knows no end.
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He was one of the children of the family VerheijenVan Hulst and attended primary school in Goirle, the Netherlands, which was managed by the Brothers CMM. He was taken with the example of a number of brothers and entered the Congregation. After graduating from the Teachers’ Training College he started teaching in ’s-Hertogenbosch. In 1960 he was asked to join the new foundation of the brothers in Brazil. On account of illness, however, he taught again in Tilburg. In 1969 he was invited to work in ‘South-West Africa’, present-day Namibia. In Döbra, where Brother Jan lived, he presented Africans with a good education to become teachers. During his 22-years’ presence in Namibia he also functioned as community superior and regional superior. Unfortunately a stroke forced him to repatriate to the Netherlands in 1991. He was not spared suffering during his life. He kept his humour, even though he could not function independently any longer. Just before Christmas 2016 Brother Jan gently entered into the presence of his Lord in whom he believed, also during its dark periods. We know that he is home now, freed from all pain and discomfort.
‘SEE MY PEOPLE’
‘LET US BE CLOSE TO OUR PEOPLE’ Mercy and brotherhood are two key concepts in the charism of the Brothers CMM. Beautiful words. But what happens in the reality of the everyday life of the brothers? That’s what is highlighted in this feature ‘See my people’ (cf. Matthew 9:35-38).
Brother Elijah Agilo is an impressive figure. Tall, muscular and distinguished. He looks more like a bodyguard of one or another famous personality, than as a merciful brother. Yet, the last is precisely what he is and what he wants to be. Brother Elijah works as a teacher at St. Vincent de Paul Boys Primary School in Mosocho, Kenya. In his
relationship with his pupils he is stern yet fair, but at the same time he tries to be close to them. On account of the fact that he is so tall, he sometimes has to bend his knees in order to hear what his pupils are saying. Fortunately he is not too proud to kneel down before them. At the time of a meeting with his fellow brothers from all over the world in Vught, the Netherlands, in October 2016, he spoke about his role as teacher and leader. To illustrate his story he had taken along a small carved statue. In the conference hall he showed it to his fellow brothers and said: “This little carving I received from one of my students at school. Can you tell something about the shape and the texture?” A couple of brothers attempted to answer his question. Elijah held it up and continued: “From where you are sitting you really cannot see it, can you? May I invite one of you to describe this stone in greater detail? That’s only possible when you come up close.” He handed the little statue to one of the brothers, who only then from up-close saw the refined craftwork the pupil had made. He expressed his admiration. “Exactly, as a teacher and leader we have to get close to our people. When I work with people and want to guide or teach them, I have to know who they are and what they are capable of, have a keen eye for their weaknesses and their capabilities. Therefore, let us be close to our people.”
Brother Elijah Agilo. Nathalie Bastiaansen
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OUR FOUNDER JOANNES ZWIJSEN WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE VULNERABLE AND UNDERPRIVILEGED. HE ALSO SAW THE LACK OF FAITH AT THAT TIME. HE WANTED HIS FOLLOWERS, WITH VINCENT DE PAUL AS EXAMPLE, TO SERVE GOD IN HIS FELLOWMEN AND THUS BRING THEM TO GOD. (from the Rule of Life of the Brothers CMM)
Magazine of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy