IN MEMORIAM
DEVELOPMENTS AT SPARRENHOF The Estate Sparrenhof in Tilburg will become an educational meeting place for and by youth from Tilburg and the region. The Congregation of Brothers CMM, owner of the estate, will work together with six organizations for this purpose: the Foundation Estate Sparrenhof, the Municipality of Tilburg, T-PrimaiR, Portvolio, ContourdeTwern and Fontys University of Applied Sciences. The common goal is to create a promising and an inclusive environment at Sparrenhof, where children and young people can work together on broad talent development. Since 1921 the Brothers CMM have been the owner of the estate and the buildings. Until the early 1980s the brothers used it as a farm for their communities. After that they made the estate available for children and young people in disadvantaged situations, for recreation and for vacations during the summer months. The brothers are happy with the new developments. Looking at the future they lack the manpower and financial resources to continue the management and organization of activities on the estate. It is one of the last apostolic activities left in the Dutch Province and in this way, they would like to remain involved in society. Cooperation with other organizations makes this possible.
Ambassadors of a Worldwide Brotherhood at Sparrenhof, 2016.
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BROTHER
Frans (F.M.A.E.) van de Meulengraaf Frans was born in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, on March 8, 1940, and joined the Congregation of the Brothers CMM in Tilburg on August 29, 1957. He died on February 12, 2022, at de residential care facility Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg. On February 17 his fellow brothers, family members and friends paid their final respects to him in a Eucharistic Celebration. Afterwards he was buried among his deceased fellow brothers at the Estate Steenwijk in Vught. Brother Frans received his teacher certification in 1960 and started his career as an educator in Oss. In 1967 he was sent to Cork (Ireland) to pursue his studies. Subsequently he left for Namibia where he would stay till 1996. From 1984 till 1990 he was a member of the Regional Board of Namibia. He taught in Döbra and lived for several years in Katutura in response to the call to be present among the poor. Upon his return to The Netherlands, he lived in the Elim Group. He was responsible for the finances of the house and took care of the digital transformation of the community library and the library at the Generalate. For many years he served as the secretary and archivist of the Provincial Board of the brothers in The Netherlands. He appreciated peace and silence but was available for people whenever necessary. While at the Elim Group he enjoyed making berry preserves and he picked the berries himself. At that time many people received a jar of preserves from him. In 2011 he moved to the residential care facility Joannes Zwijsen. His final years were marked by ever increasing dependency and the need to increasingly greater surrender. May God, the Merciful One, welcome Brother Frans in the glory of the Risen Lord.
