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| GENERAL ASSEMBLY | LUDOLF BULKMANS
MISSIONARY | GROWING INTO THE CONGREGATION
| ‘WALK WITH GOD’ | VINCENTIAN INSPIRATION |

content
column FROM THE
CONCERNING
BROTHER andreas
SUPERIOR GENERAL 4 5
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.
Colofon
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: Mr. Rien Vissers (editor in chief),
Br. Edward Gresnigt, Br. Ad de Kok, Br. Lawrence
Obiko, Br. Ronald Randang, Br. Jan Smits, Mr. Peter
van Zoest (executive editor)
Translation: Mr. Bas van Alphen, Br. Edward
Gresnigt, Mr. Peter Huybers, Fr. Jan van
der Kaa AA, Mr. Tony Verhallen
Original design and layout: Heldergroen
www.heldergroen.nl
Printing:
Contact:
E-mail:
Website:
Franciscan Kolbe Press, Limuru,
Kenya, press@ofmconvkenya.org
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 Brothers CMM Tilburg.
For international transfer, please use:
IBAN: NL30INGB0001068517
BIC: INGBNL2A
The Prodigal Son, Rembrandt.
Photograph cover: The Kenyan Brothers Richard Sure
and Zaccheaus Oonje (read more on page 7, photo:
Brother Lawrence Obiko).
Photograph back cover: Sculpture in Oberammergau,
Germany (photo: Brother Ad de Kok).
2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY 6 BROTHER LUDOLF BULKMANS MISSIONARY 8 NEWS IN BRIEF 11
editorial
The heartwarming, personal contacts when the
copy for the magazine is collected are a happy
circumstance in publishing Brothers CMM.
From Kenya came a contribution from three
first-year novices, put together by Brother Daniel
Nyakundi Nchoga, superior of the novitiate
in Sigona (see p. 13-14). “We are truly grateful
for the congregational magazine”, he writes. “In it
we find the ‘real’ face of CMM: who we are and
what we do in the various services for our
neighbours.” The brother from Kenya also
reflects briefly on the General Assembly of the
Congregation in Yogyakarta, which was held
from October 1-16, 2011 (p. 6-7). Brother Daniel
was present there in his capacity as a formation
leader. “This meeting made a deep impression
on me and challenges all of us to share our
experiences with others.”
Brother Daniel Nyakundi Nchoga is not the only
one in his idea about the role which the magazine
Brothers CMM plays in communicating what
is taking place within the Congregation.
The participants of the General Assembly were
unanimous in their praise for the way in which
Brothers CMM has developed during the past
couple of years into a professional magazine;
first by a drastic restyling of the page layout in
2005, and secondly by another overhaul in 2010.
It became more compact; it appeared in full
colour and with more room for pictures.
GROWING INTO THE CONGREGATION
VINCENTIAN
INSPIRATION
18
‘WALK WITH GOD’
NEWS IN BRIEF
In Memoriam
13
15
19
Thanks to the cooperation of the brothers
from all corners of the world, the magazine
can only get better!
SOURCES
23
3

Column
FROM THE SUPERIOR GENERAL
Former politician Wim Deetman, president of the so called ‘Deetman Commission’, presented
last December the findings of the investigation conducted by this commission dealing with the
sexual abuse in the Catholic Church during the period from 1945 till the present. Deetman did
this during an impressive press conference in the Hague, where he explained in detail all what
went wrong.
He stated that though the abuse in the Church was
not worse than in the society at large, we are dealing
with many victims and offenders. The reading of this
extensive report was not a pleasant matter. I was
aware that also in our Congregation a substantial
number of brothers had made serious mistakes. I have
been confronted with this for the past two years.
At the same time it was shocking to deal with it
all over again.
The extensive report, the ever recurring articles in the
press about sexual abuse - including what is happening
nów - and the personal accounts of the victims which
I received these past years have made me realize more
clearly than ever how vulnerable people are. Victims of
abuse, of sexual abuse, but this is equally true for all
forms of abuse of power, are truly assaulted in their
vulnerability. A minor is so much more vulnerable
since he is to a great extent dependent on adults.
Not all people are equally vulnerable. Perpetrators
of all kinds of abuse know uncannily how to find the
most vulnerable ones. All of us have the responsibility
to be aware of the vulnerability of children, but equally
of every one who is dependent on us.
However, there is another aspect: áll of us are
vulnerable people. And the question is: do I dare to
admit to myself that I am vulnerable too? To speak
for myself and the confrontation with sexual abuse
committed in the past by my fellow-brothers, I realize
more clearly my own vulnerability and that of my
position. As someone who fulfils an executive function
I have a certain responsibility and more than ever I
realize that it makes a difference in what I do or fail
to do. I believe that in the final analysis only an
attitude in which there is room for vulnerability can
be wholesome. As one who bears responsibility I have
a certain ‘position of power’.
How do I deal with that in the right way? Do I dare
to be vulnerable? The acceptance of my vulnerability
seems to me to be a good starting point. It might very
well be true that when we leave that vulnerability
unexamined it will lead to ‘compensation’ in the form
of abuse of power.
Brother Broer Huitema
4

concerning Brother andreas
GREETINGS
TO MY FATHER
It was crowded around the deathbed of Brother Andreas in the summer of 1917. Many fellow-brothers
wanted to say farewell. Many entrusted their feelings of this last visit to paper. It was clearly an important
experience for them.
February 2, 1968: the relics of Brother
Andreas are transferred from the
cemetery to the Motherhouse Chapel of
the Brothers CMM in Tilburg.
Brother Andreas was seriously ill and did not look
forward to the end. However, he was grateful for
all those visits and received his fellow-brothers with
kindness and attentiveness. The conversation with
the elderly, sick brother once in a while took a
wonderful turn. Brother Leobertus asked him:
“Brother Andreas would you, with God’s permission,
pass along the greetings to my blessed father?”
That was a friendly, but not so seriously meant
question. Maybe Brother Leobertus wanted to ease
the moment. Would it not be easier to die while
looking for a personal acquaintance?
But Brother Andreas took the question seriously.
He muttered: “What was your father’s name and
how did he look like?” Obviously he took the question
at face value. But he also realized that it would be
difficult to find someone among the heavenly host.
The brothers surrounding his bed were surprised
by his response. Afterwards one of them wrote:
“Brother Andreas had a vivid image of heaven.”
And another one: “He wanted to keep his word
even after his death.”
Brother Leobertus himself had another interpretation.
“Brother Andreas probably noticed some of the
sadness in my question. He asked about my father
in order to be able to share in my sadness.”
Charles van Leeuwen
5

international
GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN YOGYAKARTA
THE FORMATION OF
A MERCIFUL BROTHER
From 1-16 October 2011, the second General Assembly of the Congregation was held in Yogyakarta. It was
during the board period of the General Board that was elected by the General Chapter in 2008. The meeting
took place in the reflection centre ‘Syantikara’ of the Sisters of Carolus Borromeus. The participants were the
members of the General Board of the Brothers CMM, the provincial and regional superiors and all formation
leaders. This last group was invited since the CMM formation programme was a special item on the agenda.
In his word of welcome Brother Broer Huitema, the
Superior General, encouraged all the participants
of the eight different nations to study and discuss
carefully all the positive experiences, the good
examples, and the challenges of the CMM formation
against the background of the search for and the
witness to the unity which ties the worldwide CMM
brotherhood together. He argued that the leaders
are in the front lines, also to witness to worldwide
brotherhood. Good leadership is indispensable in the
formation of candidates in order to become merciful
brothers. “And in all honesty, it must be said, this is
not a simple task”, Brother Broer Huitema emphasized.
Presentations
The Superior General, who chaired the meeting,
General Board-member Brother Lawrence Obiko,
Brother Wim Verschuren and CMM’s study secretary
Charles van Leeuwen had prepared a programme of
two weeks. They presented their work as starting
points for discussions in the entire group. At the
beginning of the meeting the superior general
indicated that whatever was presented in the
introduction and in the reflection, the insights and
experiences of the participating brothers would be
the most important source of information.
Inner garden of the reflection centre ‘Syantikara’ of the
Sisters of Carolus Borromeus in Yogyakarta, where
the General Assembly took place.
The interpreters Ancilla Loe and Marist Father
Peter Westerman.
6

Photo left: The participants of the General Assembly. Photo right: The Kenyan Brothers Richard Sure (left; Superior of
Mosocho) and Zaccheaus Oonje (Superior of Nakuru), both responsible for the formation in Kenya, during a trip to the
famous Buddhist sanctuary Borobudur, 40 kilometres northwest of Yogyakarta.
‘The Good Shepherd’
The first day of the General Assembly was completely
devoted to prayer and reflection centred around
the theme of ‘The Good Shepherd’, introduced in a
PowerPoint presentation by Charles van Leeuwen.
He emphasized how important it is that all who are
involved in formation are good role models for those
who participate in the formation programme.
The study secretary clarified the image of ‘The Good
Shepherd’ in the context of the Jewish tradition, in
which several aspects of being a good shepherd come
up for discussion: providing leadership, correcting and
being merciful. From the very beginning the image of
‘The Good Shepherd’ was the archetype for the Church
of good leadership, not only for priests but for all who
render leadership and instruction.
Mansuete et fortiter
The subsequent days centred on the responsibility
the congregational leaders have in the formation of
merciful brothers, according to the motto: ‘Mansuete
et Fortiter’ (Gentle and Strong), of the Founder
of the Congregation, Joannes Zwijsen. Brother
Wim Verschuren discussed in his presentation the
themes ‘Merciful Father’ and ‘Mercy in the Parables’.
From his twelve years of experience as the postulantmaster
and novice-master Brother Lawrence Obiko
presented the other topics: ‘Celibacy in the Formation
Programme’ and ‘The Appropriate Lifestyle for a
Brother CMM’. His introductions gave an overview
of the developments in the lifestyle of the brothers
and their involvement in youth formation over the
last 50 years. The superior general presented a
number of concepts for reflection and discussion in
his introductions ‘Learning to Talk with each other’
and ‘Learning to Obey’. Questions from the floor came
up, such as: Which specific problems do brothers
who provide leadership experience in reference to
obedience? What inspiration do the Constitutions
provide in the area of ‘listening’, ‘speaking’, ‘hearing’,
and ‘obeying’?
Protocols
Brother Broer Huitema gave special attention to the
developments which took place in The Netherlands
and in the Congregation relating to the revelation
of a large number of sexual abuses. The participants
asked him to indicate the best way to prevent future
incidents of sexual abuse by the brothers. Brother
Broer Huitema dwelt on the importance of a correct
selection of candidates and a solid basic formation
programme. Candidates must go also in their
emotional development through a balanced process
of maturation. Essential in this area is a warm,
mutually supportive community life, and an open,
transparent contact between leader and candidate.
Several protocols will be developed in this area;
they will come into force in the near future.
Rien Vissers
7

Indonesia
Brother Ludolf Bulkmans as
a young missionary.
Manado. Brothers and pupils on a walk along the beach.
BROTHER
LUDOLF BULKMANS
MISSIONARY
When we talk about ‘Mission’, many think it’s about ‘catching souls’. This was never part of the Brothers CMM
tradition. When a school child, its parent or any other person wanted to explore the Catholic faith one could
readily count on a brother willing to assist. Frequently, but not always, such contact would end up in baptism.
One of the brothers who through all of his missionary life has been involved in accompanying people who
showed an interest in the faith, was Brother Ludolf Bulkmans (1907-2000), missionary in Manado, Indonesia.
Brother Ludolf was 22 years of age when he arrived
in Manado. He was appointed straight away as
teacher of the brothers’ primary school of grade 1
with 56 children! Most of them were followers of the
traditional Chinese people’s religion as it was a school
for the Chinese with Dutch as the spoken language. It
soon came to the brother’s attention that the sparkling
life loving, happy children suffered very little under the
burden of paganism which he was supposed to combat.
He kept his eyes wide open and soon concluded that he
had not really been prepared for the work in Manado.
He had grown up in a good Catholic family, studied
at the teachers’ training college of the brothers and
received his religious formation in the twenties of last
century. The formation of the brothers was somewhat
remote from the ‘world’, shielded from non-Catholics,
simply preparing the brothers to promote and support
the Catholic faith.
Respect
Initially Brother Ludolf thought he knew everything
while his pupils knew nothing; he thought that as
pagans his pupils were completely on the wrong track
and that christening would be their only salvation.
Slowly but surely, while communicating with them
he learned that hidden underneath the ‘dust’ of their
paganism, were precious elements. One might even talk
of ‘latent Christianity’. Thus Ludolf who ‘knew it all’
became himself a student with genuine respect for the
rich Chinese religion and culture. He did not corner his
pupils with Christian dogmas, with do’s and don’ts.
He never spoke with disapproval or condemnation about
the Chinese religion and he knew that they would never
completely break with their religious past. To Brother
Ludolf there was no need to do so. A total break would
have isolated them from their Chinese community
which would have made them very unhappy.
8

Parade
It happened sometimes that a catechumen gave up and
no longer came to Brother Ludolf for lessons. At such
times he would not show any disappointment and he
would pride himself that the student in question felt
entirely free. When a student had decided to become
a Roman Catholic, i.e. to become a catechumen, he
would pray in the Catholic church and hardly ever
again in the temple. Home rituals related to ancestor
worship could be adhered to as usual. They were
allowed to enjoy their ‘Tjap Go Meh’ the carnivallike
spectacular parade held two weeks after Chinese
New Year, but they were forbidden to participate in
them in a religious manner. Brother Ludolf himself
enjoyed the parade very much. He wrote about it:
“The whole Chinese community would be swept up in
the excitement. You can’t imagine how everyone was
busily involved; the participants getting dressed up,
the sparkling enthusiasm, the dragon, the giant drum,
the men in trance beating themselves with swords and
not feeling the pain, the fireworks going off for hours
like an endless bombardment, the funny clown-like
figures, it would turn the most straight-faced nerd
into an animated partygoer.” Belief in ghosts, spirits,
omens and predicting the future continued to play a
role in the life of most of the baptized.
Confucius
The religion of the Chinese is also called ‘Confucianism’
after the most famous Chinese philosopher Confucius
(551-479 BC). Brother Ludolf liked him a great deal.
Together with most Chinese he did not see him as a
founder of a religion, but as a philosopher and social
reformer who strove after true harmony in society.
You can almost hear the brother talk to his students
when he writes: “To achieve true harmony in society
you need: sincerity, justice, honesty in thought, word
and deed. He summed up his teaching with: when the
sables have rusted away and the shovels are shining;
when the steps to the temple are worn out by the feet
of the faithful; when grass grows in the courtyards
of the courthouses; when prisons are empty and the
granaries full; when doctors are walking and the bakers
are driving... then the empire is well governed. Then
the ‘tao’, the perfect harmony is lived.” The word ‘tao’
must have made Brother Ludolf think of God’s Kingdom
and the vision of Isaiah, where swords are turned into
ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks (Is. 2:4).
Ancestor worship
Exploring the Chinese religion and talking with Chinese
friends Brother Ludolf discovered many similarities
with the Christian faith. He learned that the existence
of one God was no problem to the Chinese, although
they would not give it much thought. In Chinese
temples you often find statues of figures that are more
like saints rather than gods. They are given so much
attention that the ‘divinity’ fades away somewhat.
Among Catholics you come across something similar
when e.g. the veneration of Mary outshines the liturgy.
Concepts like heaven and hell, sin and life after death,
they too appear in the Chinese religion. Ancestor
worship features strongly in all this. Most Chinese
houses have some kind of a house altar where rituals
are performed to honour the ancestors. In early April
they have a Chinese Memorial Day, called ‘Tjing Bing’,
which means ‘pure and immaculate’. On that day
Chinese families are often found in their cemeteries.
They clean the graves of their loved ones, place
incense sticks, candles and food. The deceased is
invited to eat and the family prays and incenses the
grave. Afterwards they have a shared meal on the
grave. Usually there is a lot of food left over which is
Newly baptized boys with
Palm Sunday palm branches in
their hands.
9

Indonesia
During a visitation of Superior General Brother Tharcisio Horsten (sitting, front row) to Manado in 1930.
for the poor, who are hiding behind hedges and gates
ready for their snacks. Brother Ludolf encouraged his
students to participate in the ancestral rituals at home
and at the cemetery. He called it obeying the fourth
commandment: ‘honour your father and your mother’.
For the dead who no longer have a family to perform
the rituals on the grave, they have the Tjio Ko
celebration, a commemoration of the most deserted
souls. In Chinese temples one also comes across a
statue of Kwan Yin, the goddess of mercy. It concerns
a Buddhist goddess who gained a place in Chinese
religion. This loving goddess is invoked by parents
who cannot get children, in family difficulties and in
illness. It was not difficult for Brother Ludolf to see
similarities between this goddess and our ‘Catholic’
Mary, Mother of Mercy.
Never has any pupil, Protestant, Buddhist, Chinese or
Muslim ever complained about being offended in their
faith conviction. And thus they were and remained our
friends. For 43 years I have had the privilege of doing
this work. A beautiful time! I often think of those kids!
I started off those early years with heavy artillery, but
as time went on, I realized more and more that the
yoke of Christ is easy and his burden light.”
Brother Pieter-Jan van Lierop
Newly baptized celebrating at table.
‘A beautiful time!’
What was important in Brother Ludolf Bulkmans’
missionary work shows up in the following quotations.
“I tried to convince my boys of a good, merciful God
who lovingly cares for each one of us; that all people
are called to eternal happiness and that they should
not be discouraged when they were aware of their
weaknesses and sins, because God is always ready to
forgive.” And: “We were not trying to catch their souls.
We offered all pupils from whatever denomination
equal attention and dedication.
10

news in brief
GOLDEN JUBILEE IN KENIA
On October 8, 2011, Cardinal Otunga High School in
Mosocho, Kenya, celebrated its 50 years of existence.
The school was erected on one of the historical places
where the CMM mission in Kenya started, shortly after
the arrival of the brothers in 1958. The educational
institution is named after Kenyan Maurice Michael
Cardinal Otunga (1923-2003), Bishop of Kisii from
1960 to 1969 and Archbishop of the Archdiocese
of Nairobi from 1971 till 1997. Thousands had been
invited for the celebration: students, their parents,
parishioners, brothers and government representatives.
The celebration lasted all day with a Eucharistic
celebration, speeches, an academic session and
sports events.
Kisii Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa blesses
students of Cardinal Otunga High School.
ASSOCIATED
MEMBER
Mr. Berry van den Brink signs his commitment,
witnessed by Superior General Brother Broer
Huitema (right) and Brother Jan Koppens.
Mr. Berry van den Brink made his commitment for life as an
Associated Member of the Brothers CMM on November 20, 2011,
in the chapel of the Joannes Zwijsen Residential Care Facility in
Tilburg, in the hands of the Superior General, Brother Broer Huitema.
Brother Jan Koppens, Provincial Superior of The Netherlands
and Brother Harrie van Geene, Superior of the Joannes Zwijsen
community acted as official witnesses. Berry van den Brink has
been a volunteer at the Joannes Zwijsen community since 1995.
DECORATION IN BRAZIL
On December 8, 2011, in the State of Minas Gerais,
the medal of honour ‘Desembargador Hélio Costa’
is awarded, on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, to
Brother Henrique Matos. The decoration was given
to the brother and the team of the prison chaplaincy,
where he was the driving force behind extraordinary
services in the area of humanizing the prison system
of the regional detention centre of Belo Horizonte, in
the municipality of São Joaquim de Bicas. Based on
Matthew 25:36, “I was in prison and you visited me”,
the prison chaplaincy launched in November 2009
the idea to visit the more than 500 prisoners in
the complex and to accompany them in their return
to society.
Brother Henrique Matos.
11

Kenya & NamibiA
‘United with God and neighbour’
We participate in very special courses for novices.
Various congregations organize and design them to
foster spiritual growth in our religious communities.
They are held three times a year: in February, May,
and October. A programme, which I recently took,
covered the topics: Dealing with Sexuality in Religious
Life, Liturgy and Eucharist, Living the Trinity as the
basis of Community Life, and St. Paul’s Writings.
In that programme I came to discover that being
a religious means: living in unity with God and
neighbour. To build an ideal community we must be
able and willing to take care of one another; no one
should be concerned with his or her own private needs
and interests. This is a huge challenge in the endeavour
to grow in our relationship with God and neighbour.
The programme provided the opportunity to talk with
our fellow-novices and discover the charisms each of
us represented. Jesus incessantly challenges us daily
in even the smallest actions and tasks we have to do,
in the temptations we have to overcome, and in the
services we have to render to the People of God.
The noviciate in Sigona, Kenya.
Brother Geoffrey Sinange
My experiences as a postulant
in Windhoek, Namibia
The desire to serve God and his people is at the core
of the call to religious life; by caring for the poor and
giving aid to people we discern God’s love. Yet, assisting
others is a call for all of us, and not just a distinctive
mark for those who are called to religious life and
become members of a religious community.
The unique core of religious life shows in the lifestyle
that harmonizes the vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience within a specific religious community.
A religious’ most essential service or task charges
him or her to give witness that all of us are called to
treat creation, people and ourselves with respect.
In reality, we might say that we not only belong to
God but also to the community at large. In my ideal,
which is characteristic for celibate and chaste religious
life, I strive to be close to all God’s children, especially
the most needy. In Namibia, the Congregation of the
Brothers CMM made this ideal a reality through its
work in education. I desire to follow that path.
The postulancy at Abtstreet in Windhoek, Namibia.
I take the opportunity to thank the General Board of
the Congregation, the Brothers Broer Huitema, Edward
Gresnigt, Ronald Randang, Martinus Lumbanraja,
Lawrence Obiko, Namibia’s Regional Superior, Brother
Hermenegildus Beris, and Formation Director Paul
Onyango Onyisi. They worked hard to assist me in my
internship as candidate in Namibia. I also thank all the
brothers who helped me to grow in faith and pray that
God will continue to bless you all.
John Kabalumpa
14

NETHERLANDS
‘GO SLOW WHEN
YOU HURRY AND
WALK WITH GOD’
In 2011 the annual ‘Vincentian Pilgrimage’ took place from August 26 through September 7, a pilgrimage to the
places in France where Vincent de Paul lived and worked. Saint Vincent had inspired Joannes Zwijsen to found
his congregations of sisters and brothers. Many other religious institutes view Vincent as the source of their
inspiration. Since 1998 the pilgrimage has been organized for religious and anyone who wishes to participate.
Sister Rosa Wigink, Superior General of the Daughters of Mary and Joseph (in The Netherlands known as
‘The Sisters of the Choorstraat’) travelled with them last year. What did the journey mean for her? At various
‘Vincentian Family’ gatherings she spoke of what this sojourn had done for her. Here follows a summary of her
reflections.
Yes, I did it. I went on a Vincentian Pilgrimage for
twelve days. You take time-out for yourself. You take
time to pray and meditate, but also to enjoy nature,
art, culture, and relaxation. You come to know the
life and work of Saint Vincent, Louise de Marillac, and
Frédérique Ozanam.
Five virtues
In addition to taking care of the poor and directing the
training of priests, Vincent championed five virtues
in his life: simplicity: be yourself from the depth of
your being; humility: adapt yourself and find your
place within the community; gentleness: be tough in
business, but loving and patient toward your fellow
human being; self denial: ignore your own desires to be
present to others; concern for the soul: having a bond
with others.
Louise de Marillac was a young outcast searching
for spiritual growth. She met Vincent. She became a
champion for a congregation of active sisters:
the Daughters of Charity. Many women joined them.
Together they conducted numerous unselfish works
of charity. A young student, Frédérique Ozanam,
a committed believer, became concerned about the
fate of so many in need and started the ‘St. Vincent
de Paul Society’ well over two hundred years after
Vincent lived. The society has spread throughout the
world. Frédérique Ozanam provided immediate help
and also tackled what he saw as the root causes of
the various needs.
Serving the poor
This pilgrimage did a lot for me. It brought Vincent
much closer to me. I rediscovered him: his simplicity,
his confidence, his faith in Providence, his stamina,
and his love of the poor. All this and much more
touched me and affected me. This pilgrimage invites
me to reflect on myself, the course of my life, and my
Group picture in Lussac, on the way to Paris. Sister Rosa Wigink stands exactly in the
centre of the second row.
15

NETHERLANDS
A plaza in France, named after Vincent de Paul.
The French village ‘Saint-Vincent-de-Paul’ (earlier
called ‘Le Pouy’), Vincent de Paul’s place of birth.
faith. Vincent dedicated his entire life to the poor.
His first work of charity started with groups of women,
but not women religious. Love for the poor took a
central place in Vincent’s life. Repeatedly he declared:
“The poor are your masters”. This gets to the core.
I must serve the poor. One assists the poor bringing
justice, not to express commiseration. What will I do
with this typical Vincentian spirituality? I will try to
recognize others, even when it is difficult to bring
them comfort, practice courtesy, and show respect.
Vincent also observed: “If you meet a poor person
ten times a day, you meet God ten times a day.
… Go to someone who is ill, you find God there. …
Visit one who is lonely or demented and God will
touch you there.”
Cordiality
For Vincent the poor were icons of Christ. Are they
for me as well? Vincent defined meekness as warm
humaneness in friendship and hospitality within the
human community. Harshness or a sour and surly
look prevents one from meeting others. Kindliness
comes straight from the heart. One doesn’t give an
explanation of what love is, one practices love.
How do I relate to it? I attempt to be attentive to
all who cross my path and make them, rich and poor
alike, feel welcome. I attempt to be a caring religious
woman. Vincent observed: “People in the world do not
go out without first looking into the mirror.” God asks
me that I too look into a mirror, the mirror of my soul.
That in my prayer – throughout the day – I find silence
and come home to myself and thus see and hear
what the Lord desires from me. I believe that Jesus is
continually present in my life. Vincent was a man of
prayer; he rose very early to pray and sanctify his day.
Prayer and simplicity belong together. Is that true for
me as well? Vincent’s road was a road of ‘vision’.
He teaches me to use my ‘eyes’ well.
Providence
We must travel a road on which we allow ourselves to
be touched, our hearts to be moved. It is a road that
calls for action. I too have to take action. My mission
continues even as I get older. It makes my life
meaningful. I have to make God’s merciful love visible,
audible, and tangible. Of course I think of serving, but
serving also means that I have to listen and learn to
say ‘thank you’. This also includes: be ready with a
friendly greeting, speak a kind word, avoid criticizing
someone who is not present, and make yourself totally
present to the community. Someone observed: “Let us,
like Vincent, be weavers in the Kingdom of God and
be attentive to people, whoever they are”. Vincent, a
charismatic man, constantly checked how the Gospel
related to the facts and realities of his time. He was
a great man. His passion to fight the cause for the
poor caught everyone’s attention. He was gentle,
patient, simple, and trusted God’s Providence. He was
amazingly gifted as a speaker and impressed people
with his resourcefulness. Vincent is often called a ‘Man
of Providence’. He believed in Providence as an active
force. All images of Vincent show him with a look of
peace and serenity. His eyes had seen immeasurable
distress, but also joy and thankfulness. He himself
went through a conversion experience and continued
his life in the footsteps of Jesus himself. Vincent’s
experience gave him the ability to instil enthusiasm
in others to follow his example.
16

A service in the church of Folleville, where Vincent de Paul delivered his first sermon.
Celebrating the Eucharist in Vincent de Paul’s
place of birth.
A service in Chartres. Brother Jan Koppens addresses
the pilgrims.
Marker in the chapel at Château-l’Evêque (near
Périgueux) where Vincent de Paul was ordained.
Example
For me Vincent is a saint who helps me to see better
my neighbour’s vulnerability. He has become a model
for me. Vincent was moved by what he saw. His vision
inspired him to develop works of charity and give
assistance which the society of his day could not
provide. He was known as a man of profuse activity
and deep religious compassion who faithfully spent
time in meditation. Even today’s society does not
have an answer to many of its problems. Through
his restless work and concern Vincent did become
an ‘ambassador of peace’. This pilgrimage affected
me intensely. I came to realize how much Vincent
has given us and see how many congregations have
adopted his spirituality.
Simplicity
In the silence that surrounds my prayer, I can pay
attention to the needs of many people in the world
and be welcoming to those who need my attention.
With a thankful heart I look back upon this pilgrimage
in which prayer, reflection, culture, and relaxation all
found their place. I recharged my ‘battery’ during this
journey. “Go slow when you hurry”, Vincent liked to
say. Put differently: “Keep going, be patient, and no
matter what, keep going.” Vincent remained amazingly
calm when he faced setbacks and simplicity became
the corner stone of his spirituality. He considered
simplicity the most significant virtue for his religious.
I wish to make this virtue my own: “One finds God
when one lives in simplicity”. “Go slow when you hurry,
but be sure to keep going.” I make this a heartfelt wish
for all the Vincentian pilgrimages. “Go slow when
you hurry and walk with God.”
Sister Rosa Wigink
17

INTERNATIONAL
VINCENTIAN
INSPIRATION
in Paris
Vincent de Paul, statue Generalate
Brothers CMM, Tilburg.
In the past few years, various brothers have taken a three-month course in Vincentian spirituality at the
International Formation Centre of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), an institution in Paris
founded by St. Vincent de Paul. The Indonesian Brother Benyamin Tunggu reported on it in the previous
edition of ‘Brothers CMM’. This time a retrospect by Brother John Karungai from Kenya on the programme
he followed in 2011.
The programme at the ‘Centre International de
Formation St. Vincent’ (CIF) has helped me to get a
better view on myself, St. Vincent, the history of the
Congregation, our Rule of Life and community life.
My stay in Paris also helped clarify my choice to be
a ‘Brother of Mercy’. It gave me renewed strength to
take on the challenges of my apostolate. The whole
programme of introductions, personal internalization
and Eucharistic celebrations returned me to the
spiritual source where I, as Brother of Mercy, could
refresh myself.
‘Thrown into the deep’
The travels to places in France where Vincent de Paul
lived and worked gave me a better picture of him. It is
now much clearer to me how he had enclosed the poor
in his heart. In them he saw Christ, whom he wanted
to serve with love and devotion. In a sense I have
been ‘thrown in the deep’, learned to examine my past
critically, draw conclusions from it and start anew
in the manner Vincent would have wanted.
The Founder of our Congregation, Joannes Zwijsen,
said: “If you want to accomplish something, you
simply have to start.” Our Constitutions state the
following about him: “He wanted that his followers
after the example of Vincent de Paul would serve God
and their fellowmen and thus bring him to God” (I,
208). The ‘return to the source’ has slaked my thirst,
and now it is my turn to slake the thirst of others as
Jesus did with the Samaritan woman (John 4:1-45).
I believe that I will be able to live in the spirit of our
Founder, with the help of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy
and Vincent, who practiced the virtues of simplicity,
humility, meekness, mortification and the zeal for
souls.
Brother John Karungai
18

news in brief
STORIES OF RELIGIOUS LIFE
CAPTURED ON FILM
On November 20, 2011, the premiere of the
documentary Schoonheid en pijn in het kloosterleven
(Beauty and Pain in Religious Life) took place in
Goirle at Jan van Besouw Cultural Centre, a former
brotherhouse of the Brothers CMM. The movie is a
production of Foundation Verhalis in Tilburg, which
gathers memories and stories to save them for
future generations (www.verhalis.nl).
The foundation has recorded eight ‘religious life stories’
from Tilburg before and added last year a second
series of seventeen, and combined them all in the new
documentary, in which religious men and women from
Brabant talk about their lives. The new series contains
the life story of former Brother Marius van den Boom.
An interesting detail is that it was filmed by his son
Andries. Together with his son he looks back at his years
as a brother. The films are created by eight novice film
makers, who under the auspices of Foundation Verhalis,
were given a chance to make two films each under the
guidance of documentary makers Carine van Vught
and Jeroen Neus.
Former Brother Marius van den Boom (middle) with his
son Andries and Superior General of the Brothers CMM,
Broer Huitema, at the premiere of the documentary
‘Schoonheid en pijn in het kloosterleven’ (Beauty and
Pain in Religious Life).
PROFESSION
FOR LIFE IN
INDONESIA AND
EAST TIMOR
On December 29, 2011, seven brothers in Medan
made their profession for life in the hands of
Superior General Brother Broer Huitema. They are
Leston Situmorang, Benad Simbolon, Yasintus
Seran, Wilfridus Bria, Markus Rindi, Petrus Lein and
Fransiskus Nahak. The profession took place at
St. Elisabeth Chapel, during a Eucharistic Celebration,
led by Archbishop Anicetus Sinaga OFMCap of
Medan, together with five other priests. Brother
Broer Huitema stressed in his address that being
a brother is a lifelong process during which it is
not always easy to be faithful to the vows. “That is
why it is so important to share with your superior
The seven Indonesian brothers, after making their
profession for life.
or spiritual director, in all openness, your joys and
your sorrows”, said the superior general. “Prayer and
community life support you on your life’s journey, to
keep you growing as a Brother of Mercy.” On January 7,
in Dili, East Timor, the Brothers Pedro Guterres and
Cancio da Costa Gama made their profession for life in
the hands of Superior General Brother Broer Huitema.
Bishop Alberto Ricardo da Sila from Dili presided over
the Eucharistic Celebration at the occasion of this
profession. In his sermon, he stressed the beauty
and meaningfulness of religious life and uttered
the hope that the brothers would pay special
attention to people in remote regions.
19

news in brief
COLLECTION SCRYPTION TILBURG
GOES UNDER THE HAMMER
The former Museum Scryption on the Spoorlaan
in Tilburg.
The collection of the former museum Scryption in
Tilburg will be sold. The Tilburg museum had to close
its doors in January, 2012, because of municipal
budget cuts. There was hope for a second chance in
Eindhoven, but also that city, did not want to support
Scryption financially either. The museum existed for
22 years and documented the history of script and
writing and its applications in the office. The visitors
saw typewriters, fountain pens, pencils, ballpoint
pens, dip pens, copy machines, stencil machines, word
processors, and office furniture. The in 1995 deceased
writer, Willem Frederik Hermans, left Scryption his
collection of about two hundred typewriters.
The museum attracted about 20,000 visitors per year.
The knowledge and experience will be utilized in a new
organization called Npuntnul. It will track and interpret
the development of communication and social media.
Npuntnul will organize activities such as exhibitions,
media-installations, lectures and debates, social
media projects and educational projects. The museum
collection started originally as a collection of educator
Brother Ferrerius van den Berg. Shortly after World
War II, he started his study for an M.O. (Secondary
Education) diploma in penmanship. At the same
time he started to collect various implements and
instruments related to writing. That became the start
of a unique collection which grew into the ‘Writing
and Typewriter Museum’, which was initially located
in the loft of the Generalate building of the
Brothers CMM on the Gasthuisring in Tilburg.
The expanding collection, after wandering through
Tilburg, found a home at the former Trade School
in the Spoorlaan, right next to the Noord-Brabants
Nature Museum. The city of Tilburg remodelled the
property and industry related companies took care
of the furnishings. Thus arose the museum with a
world-renowned collection.
LEADERS OF THE VINCENTIAN
FAMILY GATHER IN ROME
From January 13 to 15, Superior General Broer Huitema
and Deputy Brother Edward Gresnigt participated in
Rome in a gathering of the leaders of the Vincentian
Family. Like other participants, they shared how
the Congregation of Brothers CMM implements the
Vincentian charism in various congregational projects.
20
Leaders of the Vincentian Family in their meeting.
Middle row far right, Brother Edward Gresnigt.
Next to him: Brother Broer Huitema.

BROTHER MARCEL CENTENARIAN
The centenarian speaking
with the superior general.
On December
12, 2011, Brother
Marcel Achten
celebrated his
one hundredth
birthday in the
community of the
Brothers CMM in
Zonhoven, Belgium.
His Belgian Fellowbrother
Sibrand
Koenen reports for Brothers CMM: “Brother Marcel has
been a member of the Congregation for more than 83
years. After getting his Teaching Certificate in 1933
he was first assigned to the education of the deaf in
Maaseik and subsequently to the Koninklijk Instituut
voor Doven en Spraakgestoorden (Royal Institute for
the Deaf and Speech-impaired) in Hasselt, initially as
teacher and eventually as director. For forty-four years
– until his retirement – Brother Marcel worked fulltime
in the education for the deaf and for adult deaf former
students. In all those years he built up a rich trove of
experience, among others in the area of sign language.
He became a much appreciated counsellor in this field
of special education. After his retirement Brother Marcel
did not rest on his laurels! Twice he travelled to Kenya,
to share his rich experience in service to education for
the deaf in that country. Brother Marcel is a multifaceted
man who did not hide his talents under a
corn bushel. He shared his joy with countless others!
As photographer and film maker he closely followed
the daily life of the institute; he played the organ in
the chapel; as an accomplished calligrapher, Marcel
created beautiful texts; furthermore our centenarian
was a sportsman at heart. He coached sports such as
soccer, gymnastics, billiards, skating … From this short
summary it is clear that Brother Marcel did not eat the
bread of idleness!” But above all, our centenarian is a
religious man who for 83 years has lived to the fullest
the admonition that ‘our being in the world should be
characterized by merciful love’, as is written in our Rule
of Life (I, 50).” In a speech given at the celebration,
Brother René Segers, the Regional Superior of the
Belgian brothers, thanked the celebrating brother not
only for what he had done during his long life for the
deaf and speech-impaired, but especially for what he
has meant for so many of them. “Personally”, said the
Regional Superior, “I am glad that I had the privilege
of continuing for some time the life’s work of Brother
Marcel and especially, that in difficult periods I was
always able to call on his expertise and active help,
without any interference from him. I am also grateful
that for many years I had the privilege of being a
fellow-brother of him. He was always a part of the
community, despite his irregular and busy schedule.
For all of that and much more I want to thank you
and congratulate you again with your one hundredth
birthday, and now up to 12-12-12, as you said yourself.”
The celebration was attended by many brothers from
The Netherlands. The Superior General, Brother Broer
Huitema, praised Brother Marcel for his single-minded
dedication to the deaf and speech-impaired. Not
without reason did he call Brother Marcel “the sweetest
brother in the Congregation”.
TILBURG: A MERCIFUL CITY!?’
Statue of Joannes Zwijsen
at St. Dionysius Church,
popularly known as
‘Heikese kerk’.
Zwijsen was pastor here.
At the Generalate of the
Brothers CMM, the Regional
Movement of Mercy organized
a meeting on January 21,
2012, around the theme of:
‘Tilburg, a merciful City!?’ About
sixty interested participants
listened to representatives of
the ‘Vincentshop’, the Food
Bank, the crisis and refugee
relief centre, parishes and
religious institutions, including
the Brothers CMM and Sisters
SCMM. The Mayor of Tilburg, Peter Noordanus, pleaded
for a greater involvement of people with each other.
In a future vision for Tilburg, published on January 28,
in the regional newspaper Brabants Dagblad, Sister
Mariëtte Kinker SCMM asked what type of city Tilburg
wants to be. “Many people are thinking about this”,
she writes. “Looking back at our tradition, there are
plenty of reasons, right now, to make of Tilburg a
merciful city. There is a movement among groups
and people to work towards a society in which
there is room for everybody regardless of
differences, vulnerabilities and injustice. Maybe
Tilburg can and will lead and make mercy a high
21

in memoriam
priority again. In 1998 the nationwide Movement of
Mercy was founded in Tilburg. The movement has
now several hundred participants, with many from
Tilburg. Two years ago a Regional Movement of Mercy
was founded in Tilburg. It is not coincidental that
this just happened to be here. Pastor Zwijsen saw
in the beginning of the nineteenth century the sad
situation of the Tilburg population. There was lack
of good education and the sick were left to fend
for themselves. He saw that especially care at the
beginning and at the end of life fell far short of the
norm. He saw that it was especially the children,
the young, the sick and the elderly that suffered. It
affected him - he had to do something. He founded
the Congregations of the Sisters of Charity and the
Brothers of Mercy, both in Tilburg. A wave of mercy
was created, which soon reached beyond Tilburg.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society came about at the
same time. And now, in 2012, mercy is again a very
important topic. The reality of our human existence is
that nobody can avoid pain and sorrow. Sometimes we
meet up with powerlessness and bad will and we can’t
escape death. Our existence is fragile and vulnerable
and cannot be manufactured. There is only one answer
to this: mercy, compassion. It brings us back to a long
forgotten truth: that we are in the hands of others and
that we can make and break each other. People are at
the mercy of each other.”
JUBILEES OF BROTHERS IN 2012
75 years
March 19: Brother
Gerebernus van
der Zande
70 years
April 5: Brother Joseph
Tielemans
August 29: Brother Jan
Smits, Brother Pacianus
Verhoeven
65 years
August 29: Brother
Francesco Paijmans,
Brother Gustavus
Menheere, Brother
Patricio Smolders
60 years
August 29: Brother
Guillaume Caubergh,
Brother Louis de Visser,
Brother Nico Nijst
50 years
August 29: Brother
Jan Koppens, Brother
Pieter-Jan van Lierop
25 years
May 10: Brother
Lawrence Obiko
June 1: Brother Johannes
Sihombing, Brother
Martinus Lumbanraja
Brother
Jan (J.A.) Seelen
He was born in Gilze-Rijen, The Netherlands, on
January 11, 1923 and entered the Congregation of
the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy in Tilburg,
on August 29, 1940. He made his profession for life
on August 15, 1945. He died on October 9, 2011 in
the community of Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg and
was buried in the brothers’ cemetery at the Estate
Steenwijk’ in Vught, The Netherlands.
His life as brother was mostly spent in education,
where he felt very much at home because he loved
to use his talents and abilities to serve the youth
that was entrusted to his care. He earned diplomas
in French and English. His teaching career took him
to ’s-Hertogenbosch, Medemblik, Eindhoven en Tilburg.
Brother Jan did not hide the fact that his time of
glory was at the Stefanus Mavo in Tilburg, where
he was director for the remarkable span of eighteen
years. His enormous dedication and effort inside and
outside education did not remain unnoticed to the
city government of Tilburg. When he retired from ‘his’
school in 1984, he was honoured with the golden pin
of the city. Brother Jan was a man of the community.
He liked his fellow-brothers and was helpful when his
services were called upon; he was ready to serve as
superior, deputy superior or member of the board.
Also in the community of Joannes Zwijsen, where
he lived since 2006, he remained a man of the
community. Brother Jan was loved because he was
so pleasant in his relations with others. May Brother
Jan rest with the Lord, whom we know as a loving God.
22

sources
‘BRINGING
FELLOWMEN
TO GOD’
Attention to the whole person
In the footsteps of Vincent de Paul, Zwijsen focuses his attention on the whole person.
This point of view is – as we would say today – distinctly holistic. Zwijsen says: It is about
the material needs, but also about the spiritual needs of our fellowmen. Vincent spoke
about the harmony between affective and effective charity.
The activities of sisters and brothers will often be focused on the
corporal and material needs. In life it often comes down to the lack
of formation and education of the young and about the needs of
seriously ill and very elderly people. Vincent founded a society for
apostolic life. Remarkably, in 1834 Zwijsen spoke about his foundation
as a “Congregatio spiritualis”. Making society more humane was for
both of them “Serving God”, a question of Christian spirituality. God,
the origin and destiny of man, could for them never be put in brackets.
Attention to spiritual and material needs can take different forms.
It is dishonest towards people that live on the edge of survival (think
of the distressing African conditions), not to pay attention to eating
and drinking, to housing and health. Conversely, in situations of
material abundance (think of distressing situations in the western
world) it is incomprehensible if we don’t pay attention to people’s
spiritual poverty. Or speaking concretely: when we don’t have empathy
for people who suffer due to loneliness, lack of meaning in life and
lack of faith. It is always about the whole person.
Brothers and Sisters of Zwijsen are not foremost called to preach.
Performing corporal and spiritual works of mercy, that is their mission.
Service and hospitality characterize their lifestyle. Such behaviour
has for Vincent de Paul and Zwijsen an engaging power: it can put
our fellowmen on the track that leads to God, the ‘Merciful One.’
Brother Harrie van Geene
23

IN DEVOTING OURSELVES TO
THE SERVICE OF OTHERS WE
HAVE AN EXAMPLE IN THE
SERVANT OF THE LORD. HE WAS
THE MAN WHO FULFILLED GOD’S
PLAN COMPLETELY. WE WANT
TO FOLLOW HIM CLOSELY.
(from the Rule of Life of the Brothers CMM)
Magazine of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy