brothers CMM

others CMM
4/10
| PREMIERE: BROTHER ANDREAS MASS | PREPARATION
PROFESSION FOR LIFE | CALLED BY THE POOR |
| REDISCOVERING OUR SPIRITUALITY |
| SOME TRACES OF COLA DEBROT
1

contents
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 she appears,
are expressions of the society in which she arose,
and of the spirituality that carries her.
The Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady,
Mother of Mercy, is rooted in Christian mercy.
COLOPHON
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: Franciscan Kolbe Press, Limuru, Kenya,
press@ofmconvkenya.org
Contact: Rhapta Road, P.O.Box 14916
Nairobi, Westlands 00800, Kenya
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 cover: Newly professed brothers in Kenya
cut the cake. From left to right: the Brothers Martin
Okoth Odide, Johannes Mateus, Zachaeus Odiambo.
The Prodigal Son, Rembrandt
Photograph back cover: Bridge across the Seine
in Paris (photo: Brother Ad de Kok).
2

PREMIERE: BROTHER ANDREAS MASS
6
SHORT NEWS
8
FROM THE
EDITORIAL BOARD
At the end of the first volume of Brothers CMM
in the new, full color format, the editorial board
can look back on a successful start up again.
Positive reactions from the readership confirm
that the choice for restyling the magazine was
the correct one. It has been decided therefore
to continue on the same path. The English and
Indonesian editions have also been well received.
In the meantime the congregational website
too has been restyled along the same lines
as the Brothers CMM. More about this can be
read at ‘Short News’ on page 19. There is no
shortage of material, as evidenced by the great
variety in this edition. A special contribution
comes from Mr. Paul Overman, who adds beauty
to the weekly Eucharistic Celebration with his
organ play. He composed the ‘Frater Andreasmis’
(Brother Andreas Mass). It was sung for the first
time on August 29, in the chapel of residential
care facility Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg. Also
remarkable are the personal impressions from
two Indonesian Brothers CMM and one Sister
SCMM from the Philippines, who participated
last summer in an intensive five-week program
as preparation for their profession for life. The
group made a pilgrimage from August 9 to 22
to places in France that were significant in the
life of Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac.
“The Vincentian pilgrimage set my heart on fire!”,
writes Sister Julia Bantian. “It was the most
inspiring and enriching experience I ever had.”
The editorial board looks forward to more such
inspiring contributions.
PREPARATION
PROFESSION FOR LIFE
SHORT NEWS
10
CALLED BY
THE POOR
REDISCOVERING OUR SPIRITUALITY
18
TRACES OF
COLA DEBROT
16
14
20
IN MEMORIAM
22
SOURCES 23
3

Column
FROM THE SUPERIOR GENERAL
On Thursday, October 14, a quinquennial congress was held in our reflection centre ‘ZIN’ in Vught, as part of
celebrating its ten years existence. Together with about one hundred guests I listened to presenters who spoke
about the great challenges we currently face in our society. The worldwide economic and financial crisis, the
continuing conflicts, the growing chasm between poor and rich and the depletion of our physical resources
evoke all kinds of questions about the way to a better future and about the new leadership that it requires.
These questions are not so easy to answer. And I did
not receive any readymade answers at the congress.
The attempt to find answers touched upon the
achievements of science and upon age-old ‘wisdom’.
Science has given us much new knowledge and many
new insights. Sometimes we used it well and sometimes
we used it badly. Wisdom always concerns concepts
such as love, attention, compassion, mercy and
community. And then I ask myself: what can I do now?
What can we do as a Congregation? On the big world
stage we play but a very modest role. As our Rule of
Life indicates: modesty is appropriate for us. We would
accomplish a lot if we just concentrate on working with
the acquired wisdom of the ages. And in just doing that
we would indeed have our hands full.
I write this column while I am on my way to Namibia. A
Dutch couple, together with Brother Emeric Goossens,
started in 1990 a project for street children in
Usakos, a little town in the middle of the desert. The
Congregation took over that project on October 23. The
new and younger generation of Namibian brothers will
lead it and expand it. I will ask them to do it with the
wisdom of the ages: help the children on their way with
love, attention and compassion. But also to approach
the co-workers with the same love, attention and
compassion and jointly with them support the project.
At the congress one also talked about the importance
of a ‘servant leadership’. I will ask that too of these
brothers: that they will be servant leaders! They can do
that with all the means at their disposal and all insights
that science has given us. With today’s technology
and the most advanced pedagogical methods and
techniques. But without the ancient wisdom they will
not succeed. We need to cherish those age-old values
and remind ourselves of them time and time again. If
not, things will go wrong in matters great and small,
with individuals as well as with organizations. The
Brothers Richard, Johannes and Gerard started in
Usakos on October 23. If they proceed with wisdom, a
better future will get just a little bit closer!
Brother Broer Huitema
4

CONCERNING BROTHER ANDREAS
DO NOT REACT
In the time of Brother Andreas too, a vocation was not self-evident. The person who chose religious life had
to explain why and met with lack of understanding from many people. There were always doubts about the
choice of this kind of life. Certain pamphlets and chronicles described religious life enthusiastically but never
quite succeeded in removing all misgivings.
In the case of Brother Andreas, his immediate family
appreciated his choice. ‘Our John’ had always been a
little odd. As somebody who liked to study, he did not
fit well on a farm. But did they really understand what
he was looking for in a religious community? Did they
understand his fervour and quiet asceticism? Probably not,
but these questions did not need to be answered. The
lack of understanding did not stand in the way of a cordial
relationship.
It was in the classroom that the teaching brothers most
frequently encountered misunderstanding. Respect for
authority had been drilled into the pupils. But the moment
they had an opportunity, the boys let it be known that
they wondered about the religious lifestyle. In the case of
Brother Andreas they got that opportunity almost every
period, because he did not have much discipline in his
class. He must have suffered under the worldly cruelty
and amusing mockery of his pupils. But he did find a way
to cope with it: he did not react. He kept on going and
remained unperturbed friendly and dutiful.
been looking at him angrily, all the way to Oss… Brother
Andreas stated that he never had seen anybody look that
angry and he did not understand how that traveller could
keep it up for that long.” The brothers who were listening
did not understand how he had put up with sitting
across this man for so long. Why didn’t he find another
compartment? “O yes, I could have done that”, Andreas
answered cheerily. But he had not done it.
Charles van Leeuwen
Brother Andreas did not have intensive contact with
the outside world. With the parents of his pupils he was
polite but rather formal and distant. Fellow-brothers
found him sometimes a bit too shy. Was he afraid of the
world? Or was it the others who feared his conscientious
attitude and avoided him? An anecdote from the life of
Brother Andreas shows that it was not always easy for
the brothers to interact with people. Brother Nicetas
relates: “In or around 1900 in Oss we were visited by
Brother Andreas, who arrived from Zwolle. About his trip
he told us that he was seated across a man, who had
Interior of Brother Andreas’ parental home.
5

THE NETHERLANDS
PREMIERE:
BROTHER
ANDREAS MASS
On Sunday August 29, in the chapel of the residential care facility Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg, the ‘Brother
Andreas Mass’ was sung for the first time. This happened at a Eucharistic Celebration on the occasion of the
jubilees of six brothers from Joannes Zwijsen, two from the Generalate, and of Brother Ad Hems from Indonesia.
Mr. Paul Overman, who embellishes the weekly Eucharistic Celebration at the Generalate with his organ music,
composed this Mass. He tells us here how he set up the structure.
During the yearly pilgrimage to the tomb of Brother
Andreas I played now and then a song in his honour, but
there was no complete Mass. This astonished me and I
decided at the start of this year to compose a special
Mass for him. With the functionality of the Mass in
mind I chose immediately for a Mass sung by the people
Mr. Paul Overman behind the organ
during the Brother Andreas Mass.
in addition to a cantor and organ. Concerning the voice
leading and range the Mass should not be too high or
too low, and with the composed melody lines I tried
to be as original as possible although you can’t quite
escape that some melodic turns sound ‘familiar’ to
the ear.
Praying while singing
Then there was the search for a theme. The songs had
to be connected to each other to produce a unity.
Brother Andreas himself gave me the best suggestion.
The initials of his name form in music a special theme:
F - A - D – B (Frater Andreas van Den Boer). The organ
prelude to the Lord have mercy exhibits this theme and
at the same time it serves also as an interlude between
the Christ have mercy and the repetition of Lord have
mercy. Thus the faithful, singing together with Brother
Andreas, pray for God’s mercy. Then follows the Glory
to God, written in Gregorian style, emphasizing the
singing of the prayer. This is the Gregorian music that
Brother Andreas in his time frequently sang for the
Sunday celebration but also for the liturgy of the hours.
In the organ accompaniment I return to the F – A
– D – B motif several times so that Brother Andreas
‘accompanies’ us in this song of praise. I deliberately
6

‘PRISONERS ARE PEOPLE TOO’
On the 11th of June the official opening took place of
the 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP in South Africa. Prior to
that a Church initiative took off in Africa to draw
attention to the hiv/aids awareness campaign by
printing the text ‘Red cards for Aids’ on soccer balls. In
solidarity with this campaign and supported by Kenyan
authorities, 32 football competitions were organized
by Brother Linus Schoutsen in eight prisons. Brother
Linus works in Kenya on setting up projects to assist
prisoners rehabilitate when they return to society. For
a whole month they were training with the utmost
fervour. The teams were given names such as ‘Spain’,
‘The Netherlands’ and ‘Germany’. It was most
remarkable that on the morning of the 11th of July
‘Spain’ beat ‘The Netherlands’ in the final, exactly as it
happened that same evening in South Africa. Most of
the players were prisoners with life sentences who for
10 years or more had not been outside the prison
gates. Now they played on a real football field, with
real turf and real spectators. They were very
enthusiastic and thankful. When ‘Spain’ received the
‘Red Cards Aids World Cup Trophy’ the prison wardens
danced just as spontaneously as their ‘brother
prisoners’. Brother Linus Schoutsen: “This event is a
true turning point in Kenyan prison management.
Never before have such events been organized on such
Kenyan prisoners.
a large scale, not to mention the fact they took place
outside prison walls. Only in such a climate can
rehabilitation take place.” At the opening and closing
of the games the players were wearing T-Shirts with
the motto ‘Prisoners are people too’ at the front – the
catch phrase with which Linus Schoutsen performs his
mission of service among the prisoners. At the back it
read ‘Red Cards for Aids’.
GOLDEN JUBILARIAN HONORED
Mayor Severijns pins the royal decorations of the
Knighthood of Oranje-Nassau onto Brother Ad Hems.
During his holidays in The Netherlands, from his mission
in Indonesia, Brother Ad Hems celebrated his golden
jubilee – 50 years a religious brother. On the 5th of
September during the family celebration of his jubilee in
Middelbeers, Mayor Ruud Severijns, handed him the royal
distinction: Knight in the Order of Oranje-Nassau. The
recipient has been working in Indonesia since 1969. With
due pride he remembers the launching of his ‘Credit
Union’ in 1985 on the Indonesian Island Nias, and the
way in which he accompanied the project. Right now it
has grown into a financial co-operative with 21 offices,
enabling fifty thousand members to put their money into
savings, to lend and to invest money. This enterprise with
micro credits allowed for a speedy recovery immediately
after the devastating tsunami – Boxing Day 2004 – and
the earthquake, the day after Easter 2005. In that way
Brother Ad Hems was able to play an important role in
the fight against poverty and underdevelopment in
Indonesia.
9

the netherlands
PREPARING FOR
PROFESSION
FOR LIFE
Last summer nine brothers spent five weeks in The Netherlands following an intensive programme in
preparation for their profession for life. The Brothers Benad Simbolon, Tarsisius Abi, Yasintus Seran, Nobertus
Dake and Wilfridus Bria from Indonesia, Martin Okoth and Zacheaus Odiambo from Kenya and Johannes
Mateus from Namibia arrived on 25 July. A week later they were joined by Brother Cosmas Atola from Tanzania.
He had experienced delays due to visa problems. Nine Sisters SCMM, from Indonesia, Brazil and the Philippines,
followed some parts of the preparation programme. Two brothers and one of the sisters share some of their
impressions in the next three pages.
During the first week of their stay in The Netherlands
the brothers visited their fellow-brothers in the
communities of Elim, Zonhoven and Joannes Zwijsen.
From their conversations the visiting brothers got
a fairly good idea of the life and apostolate of the
brothers in The Netherlands and in Belgium.
Vincentian pilgrimage
At the Generalate in Tilburg, Brother Harrie van Geene
presented a three-day workshop on the theme of the
religious vows. Brother Lawrence Obiko had prepared a
historical PowerPoint presentation: ‘The Charism of the
Brothers CMM: Past, Present and Future.
Preceding their pilgrimage – from 9 to 22 August – to
places in France that were important in the lives of
Vincent de Paul and Louise Marillac, they – together
with the sisters – spent four days of workshops on
Vincent. These workshops were organized by the
Brothers Broer Huitema, Martinus Lumbanraja, the
Sisters Mariana Situngkir, Ursula van de Ven and
Father Rafael Isharianto CM. During the Vincentian
pilgrimage, the three days of reflection in Dax-Le
Berceau, the birthplace of Vincent de Paul, impressed
the participants most. The journey also took them to
the places where Mary is venerated in a special way,
such as Lourdes, Chartres and Buglose.
Young brothers and sisters during a Eucharistic
Celebration in the chapel of the Generalate in Tilburg.
Interactive programme
Chartres is a pilgrimage shrine of Our Lady. There is
a black statue of Mary in the cathedral. Here, Louise
de Marillac dedicated her Daughters of Charity to Our
Lady. Buglose is also a centuries’ old shrine where
Vincent de Paul himself went on pilgrimage. There is a
miraculous statue of Our Lady.
Following the pilgrimage Brother Wim Verschuren
presented a three-day workshop on ‘Compassion’ at
the reflection centre ZIN in Vught. Mr. Charles van
Leeuwen, Secretary Spirituality of the Brothers CMM,
gave a two-day intensive and interactive programme
about Joannes Zwijsen, Brother Andreas van den Boer
and the early history of the Congregation.
10

Visiting Zonhoven. From left to right: the Brothers Wilfridus
Bria, Edward Gresnigt and Marcel Achten.
‘Enjoyable and
inspiring’
It was a splendid day for me. Accompanied by the
Brothers Edward Gresnigt and Martinus Lumbanraja we
visited the communities of the Brothers in Zonhoven,
Belgium. Driving there, I was amazed at the spacious
fields and meadows surrounding the farm houses. It was
quite different from Indonesia. I saw pigs, sheep, cows
and horses. Beautiful! The woods we traveled through,
they looked awesome too. After an hour and a half we
arrived at Zonhoven. We received a warm welcome from
the brothers. Sipping a cup of coffee we were given
the opportunity to introduce ourselves. The Belgian
brothers too introduced themselves with the Brothers
Edward and Martinus acting as translators. I found it
quite moving to listen to the life stories of our older
fellow-brothers. Many have given their very best to
the education of the blind and deaf, to parish ministry,
youth ministry and care for the elderly.
With my profession of life in front of me it is good to
reflect on my life as a brother. In this context it is quite
inspiring to listen to what my fellow-brothers have done
as religious brothers and what they have meant for
others, and how they embodied our spirituality. I can
easily take them as my role models.
Brother Yasintus Seran
Brothers and sisters admire the cathedral of Chartres.
‘Labyrinth symbol for
the spiritual journey’
For many centuries pilgrims went up to the splendid
French city of Chartres. The focus of the visit is the
beautiful medieval cathedral. Our group was lodged at a
hotel which was established in a monastery dating back
to the Middle Ages, it was preserved as much as possible
in the old style.
The cathedral with its magnificent stained-glass
windows is also a Marian Shrine. I have seen a cloak in
the church’s crypt, which, according to tradition has
been woven by Our Lady herself. The dark holy statue
which is venerated in the cathedral is found in the side
aisle of the cathedral. I said my prayers there and lit a
candle.
When you walk into the church through the main
entrance you find a labyrinth on the floor. Someone told
me it is a symbol of the spiritual journey people have to
go on. That would match my own experience. I too had
to find my way in life and sometimes I got stuck. The
labyrinth fascinated me for quite some time. To walk it
you have to cover 260 meters while the cathedral itself
is only 140 m long. It consists of 276 pebbles, about
the number of days the baby spends in its mother’s
womb. Going this spiritual journey apparently mirrors
something of a new birth. The cathedral has awesome
stained-glass windows – you just have to keep looking
11

the netherlands
at them. I am amazed that this building was made
possible through the contributions made by the citizens
of Chartres. Such an impressive community project! But
I also read that during the building money often ran out
and the work was interrupted frequently.
I am glad to have visited this beautiful cathedral. I
know now what the people of Chartres have done in
God’s honour. Much is asked of me, as a brother. But I
will accept it gladly inspired by the men and women of
Chartres who built their magnificent cathedral.
Brother Nobertus Dake
frater Nobertus Dake
spirituality of the Congregations in our countries. I
could also quench my spiritual thirst with the wisdom
of the older brothers and sisters in our Congregations.
They grow old in a charming manner because they
can look back with due satisfaction to what they have
contributed to their Congregations. One of them said:
“Your presence gives us the certainty that our charism
will continue, when we are no longer there.” When
I heard this I felt an enormous responsibility resting
on our shoulders, but I also realized that unavoidably
young people embody the hope of their elders. I thank
our older sisters for their trust in us. We will treasure
what you have handed on to us. I ask the young
brothers and sisters to keep on praying for one another
that the torch we carry will always be aflame and that
we – like those who went before us – may at the end
of our lives be left with good and happy memories.
May God make the work of our hands successful.
Sister Julia Bantian (Philippines)
Detail stained-glass
window in the cathedral.
‘Hearts aflame’
Statues in the cathedral
of Chartres.
The Vincentian pilgrimage has set my heart aflame! It
was the most inspiring and enriching experience I have
ever had. All the things I was presented with during my
period of formation now became visible and touchable.
I was able to experience in a very personal way the
charism and spirit of Vincent and Bishop Zwijsen. Every
step of the way, as I found myself at various locations of
the pilgrimage, I could feel the power of their works of
charity and compassion. It led me to reflect on my own
religious journey through life; did I live the virtue of
charity by being compassionate towards those who are
not loved; when did I fail to do so?
This pilgrimage has also brought home to me that the
number of vocations is going down. Each year the
number of sisters becomes less. We have to face the
facts and search for opportunities to allow our charism
to survive. It becomes increasingly urgent for us to
apply Vincent’s and Bishop Zwijsen’s successful method,
by approaching the rich and asking them to practice
works of charity for the benefit of the poor.
Another fruitful outcome of the pilgrimage is the
spirit of connectedness between the young brothers
and sisters. It resulted in comparing the different
cultures and the ways in which we put into practice the
From left to right: Brother Martin Okoth Odide, Sister
Melin Sinak-ey, Father Rafael Isharianto, Brother
Zacheaus Obhiambo, Sister Julia Bantian.
Young brothers and sisters in the museum of the
Sisters SCMM in Tilburg.
12

Brother Louis de Visser invites his younger fellowbrothers
to experience the silence of the woods.
‘Experiencing God
in nature’
‘Poppel’ is the name of a small village in Belgium. It is
surrounded by magnificent woods. Everything breathes
quiet and peace. From Tilburg it takes only half an hour
by car to get there. The Brothers Martinus Lumbanraja
and Louis de Visser took us to a small house in the midst
of the woods near Poppel. The family of one of the
brothers donated it to the Congregation. The cottage is
used as a meeting place for the brothers of the General
Board. The brothers can also use it for their retreat.
There is a meeting room, a kitchen, a bedroom, a toilet
and a bathroom. The meeting room looks out on a
garden decked with flowers.
After we had checked the house, Brother Louis asked
us to join him for a walk through the woods. Brother
Martinus was going to make a cup of coffee. The woods
are beautiful and are a long way away from the busy
city. It’s very quiet there – a good place to come to
calm reflection. We walked for about two hours through
the woods. We spotted a pond with ducks and marveled
at the variety of trees in the woods. There is a memorial
for some Dutchmen killed by the Germans in the woods
in 1942. Brother Louis invited us to listen to the rustling
of the wind in the trees and the calming sound of the
babbling stream. Truly splendid, awesome nature! The
birds were singing like they were happy to see us. Before
we knew we were back in the cottage having a cup of
coffee together.
The Poppel visit made it clear how important it is for me
as a brother to get away from my busy daily work on
a regular basis to search and find the silence of nature
and experience there God in my heart.
Brother Nobertus Dake
From left to right: the Brothers Nobertus Dake, Benad
Simbolon and Martinus Lumbanraja enjoying a cup of
coffee.
13

the netherlands
CALLED BY THE
POOR (3)
Brother Pieter-Jan van Lierop wrote an article about Vincent de Paul for the ecumenical spirituality magazine
‘Herademing’ (Refreshment). The article was titled ‘Called by the Poor’ and appeared this year in the March issue
of the quarterly edition. ‘Brothers CMM’ presents the article in three segments. This is segment three.
It takes a lot to build a relationship with poor and
marginalized people. If you become part of their
story, you also become part of their weakness and
powerlessness. You become truly poor with the poor.
For this reason Vincent advises us to reflect regularly
on why our dealings with the poor happen the way they
do. You have to meditate on this; otherwise you will
not see anything but greedy, unreliable, uncouth, dumb
and insolent poor people. While at the same time we
are asked to hold on to the words of the Gospel: “What
you did to the least of my brothers, you did unto Me”
(Matthew 25:40).
Affective and effective love
Vincentian meditation is much more a reflection on the
manner of our service to the poor than a contemplative
striving after inner, revealing emptiness, though Vincent
was not unfamiliar with this form of meditation. In
this way your love for the poor can grow. According
to Vincent not just love, but an affective and effective
love. With affective love he meant that it is all right to
be moved by the sufferings of the poor; that you are
touched by their plight; that you are affected and with
much empathy approach the poor. But this affective love
has to be complemented with effective love, aimed at
expertise, organization and results. A purely affective
relationship with the poor is sentimental; a purely
effective relationship is business-like; it does not give
due credit to the reality that the poor have feelings. It is
essential that both aspects of love form unity.
Vincentian Virtues
Simplicity had a special meaning for Vincent. He was
not concerned about material frugality – that virtue
was practiced anyway; he was concerned with the
motivation by which one served the poor. This had to
be free of selfishness, free of self-love, no show or an
opportunity to score. Under no circumstances should
the poor feel humiliated.
Humility is a virtue that teaches us that goodness,
expertise, and an attitude of service do not depend on
us, but that it is a gift from God. Anyone who presents
himself as a well educated, richly experienced and
important person will be unmasked by the poor. They
will pierce that inflated balloon rather quickly.
Meekness makes one patient and nonviolent. Reacting
with a ‘short fuse’ and quarrelling is unheard of. The
meek person understands why the poor often come
across as greedy and insolent. Not getting angry is the
answer to that, and finding, together with the poor,
ways to solve problems.
Self-sacrifice is a virtue by which you place your own
needs and passions on the back burner, for the poor
need you.
The ‘drive’ to save people makes the Vincentian a real
friend of people. Wherever there are people, there is
that perceptiveness, that sensitivity for what the poor
have to deal with, and that empathy becomes real in
concrete action.
14

Shrine of Vincent de Paul at the church of the Vincentians in the Rue de Sèvres in Paris.
Becoming merciful
Vincent has been very busy with the way in which his
followers should relate to the poor. He asked himself
what kind of people would be fit for service to the poor.
To this end he formulated five attention points, mostly
called Vincentian virtues: simplicity, humility, meekness,
self-sacrifice, and the drive to save people (see box on
page 14). It is the beauty of these five virtues, that if one
pays attention to óne, the others will be strengthened as
well. It is wonderful that as a result one becomes more
merciful; that the five virtues turn out to be paths to
becoming merciful. Someone who serves the poor for his
own glory and honour is not merciful, even less so if he
places his own goodness continually in the foreground.
How can you relate meaningfully to the poor if you are
often emotional and aggressive? And if you even quarrel
with the poor, because you are too dumb or too limited to
have feeling for their sense of self-worth and their needs?
If you do not love people, stay away from the poor, for
you only put them off.
Traces of God
To be merciful and to experience God are of the same
order. The Gospel clearly states: “Be merciful, as your
heavenly Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). Mercy, for
Vincent, was thé distinguishing characteristic of God.
Wherever one sensed mercy, Vincent saw the traces of
God’s presence. When he got to know poor people better
by relating to them as his brothers and sisters, he would
see more clearly how they sometimes were merciful to
each other, in other words, how God was present in them.
In our secular times one does not speak about being a
Christ-bearer for others. However, it is very encouraging
when you become aware of the reality that you can
be merciful and in that way present God to those who
suffer. And also that the poor person can be a source of
mercy, for he or she evoke it in us and sometimes can be
merciful himself. In this way we learn again to live by the
Gospel and to experience God in the reality of our daily
life. Thus we are called, just like Vincent, to mercy.
Brother Pieter Jan van Lierop
15

INDONESIA
REDISCOVERING
OUR SPIRITUALITY
To rediscover CMM spirituality, twenty-nine brothers from different nations participated in the ‘Summer School
Spirituality’ in Tomohon, Indonesia, from June 30 till July 15, 2010. The participants and the leaders experienced
the course as very enriching. The programme consisted of three parts: ‘A Spiritual Journey’, ‘Basic Attitudes
of CMM Spirituality’, and ‘Our Challenges Here and Now’. Indonesian Brother Anton Sipahutar wrote a report
about it.
The first part of the program started with a personal
reflection on the spiritual journey of each participant.
We looked for the events and experiences in our lives
which have encouraged our vocation. I was able to see
again that my vocation, including the spirituality of CMM,
community life and the international character of our
Congregation, are blessings which strengthen my life as
a brother. My life, however, is also filled with challenges.
It is not easy to grow beyond a selfish attitude, though
such an attitude is damaging for community life and my
service to the poor in the Vincentian spirit. Community
life is indeed richness, due to its diverse membership
and the desire to live as brothers together. But serious
tensions can develop due to immaturity on my part and
on the part of some fellow-brothers. I ask myself if I can
accept criticism and if I am open to improvement.
Brother Vinsent Bahan Tewelu (left) and CMM study
secretary spirituality Mr. Charles van Leeuwen.
‘Mansuete et Fortiter’
Tracing the spiritual journey of our ‘ancestors’ was very
encouraging. It was impressive to hear how Jesus became
the prophet of the Kingdom of God, especially for the
poor. This turn around was also made by our Founder
Joannes Zwijsen. His concern for the poor manifested
itself especially in the founding of the Congregations
SCMM and CMM. Guided by his motto as bishop
‘Mansuete et Fortiter’ (Gentleness and Strength), he tried
to make the Vincentian affective and effective love his
own. Vincent the Paul also experienced a radical personal
development. It was the poor who converted him to
become the apostle of the poor, after he had become
a priest in order to support his family. His approach to
the poor was so special because it rested on a merciful
attitude focused on the whóle person.
Mirror
After we saw how our spiritual ancestors did it, we were
ready to focus on the basic attitudes of our Congregation:
mercy, brotherhood, simplicity and confidence in divine
Providence. This part of the program was also for me
again a reason for personal reflection. A large mirror was
placed in front of me when mercy was portrayed as a
process of seeing, being moved and getting into action. I
asked myself how does this happen in my life and to what
degree do I make it a reality. The same happened when
brotherhood was spoken about. Then I thought for a long
time how I realized my brotherly lifestyle. The reflection
on simplicity brought me back to the motivations as to
why I try to do good things. Is it an ‘ego’-trip for me or
because I know myself to be a co-worker of God? Are
there ulterior motives or hidden agendas in my life as a
brother who tries to be of service?
16

From left to right: the Brothers Bruno Maing, Bertholomeus Sinulingga, Sr. Ancilla
Loe, the Brothers Tarcisius Maweikere, Bosco Wuarmanuk, Vinsent Bahan Tewelu.
In front: Brother Adriano van den Berg
(with the little hat) and Brother Wout
van den Hout.
Shining example
The reflections on confidence in divine Providence
were quite a relief for me. I often experience that what
happens in life is a gift, that my life is being guided and
that even my mistakes can turn into something good.
This enables me to live my life as a brother with peace
of mind, accepting that I may continue to grow and that
I do not have to reach the highest level of perfection
now. This enables me to accept the shortcomings in my
fellow-brothers and in my students. It sounded familiar
to hear again that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, can be
such a shining example for us brothers: an icon of mercy.
She also went through a long process to develop into thé
disciple of Jesus and thus become the Mother of Mercy,
just like I myself want to become a ‘brother of mercy’.
Challenges
Our life as brothers rests on three pillars: prayer,
community, and mission. There we meet our challenges.
It is difficult to live a life of prayer in our times. There is
tension between our prayer life and our service to people,
in which prayer often gets at the short end. I realize
however, that without a regular prayer life our mercy
shrivels up and that we turn from religious servants into
civil servants of social action. That is not enough for a
brother. As brothers we cannot do without community.
It is the home base for our life of service; our practice
field to be brothers of mercy. It is also the place to grow
as a human being, not only individually, but especially by
complimenting in each other in the community, so that
as community members we grow together. I have been
lucky to experience that when this occurs the community
becomes for ourselves and for those around us very
attractive, a witness to the Reign of God. It was a joy to
hear that being a brother is not determined by our work.
What we do as a brother is not as important as what we
do as a merciful brother. It is our mission to be merciful
brothers and to invite others to join us in order to create
a movement of merciful brothers and sisters. The dream
of a worldwide merciful brotherhood is very dear to me.
Happy weeks
The two weeks that we were privileged to journey
rediscovering our spirituality with 29 brothers were
glorious weeks for me. I am proud to be a brother. In spite
of our brokenness, the errors and mistakes we make, it is
an awesome vocation and I really want to go for it! This
sense of pride was strengthened during the enjoyable
meals and times of recreation, the fun trips to our CMM
communities in the neighbourhood, to the island of
Bunaken, Lake Tondano, Bukit Kasih and the celebration
we participated in of the silver jubilee of the Brothers
Bruno Welerubun and Marius Korebima.
Brother Antonius Sipahutar
17

short news
PROFESSION FOR LIFE
In the postulate community of Nakuru, Kenya, on
September 11, three brothers made their profession for
life in the presence of the Superior General, Brother
Broer Huitema. “As Superior General I accept your
profession”, he said. “I declare that you have been
accepted for your entire life in our community, the
Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of
Mercy.” In his speech the Superior General noted: “I
hope also that you can see your fellow-brothers as a
gift from God. All of us are brothers of Christ; all of
us are brothers to one another. We are called to live
as brothers with each other, as brother of one another
and as brothers in Christ. Jesus calls us to follow in his
footsteps.
He called you to be merciful brothers of one another,
to be merciful brothers of the people you serve and
to be a brother of Jesus himself. I hope and pray that
you will build up our community for the wellbeing of
our Congregation and the people whom we serve”.
The newly professed members are the Brothers Martin
Okoth Odide, Zacheaus Odhiambo and Johannes
Mateus. Brother Martin is the coordinator of St.
Justino Secondary School in Soweto, Nairobi. Brother
Zacheaus is the formation leader in the postulate
community in Nakuru. Brother Johannes, who is from
Namibia, is active in the Children’s Education Centre in
Usakos, Namibia.
The newly professed brothers cut the cake. From left to right: the Brothers Martin Okoth
Odide, Johannes Mateus, Zacheaus Odiambo.
‘AMBASSADORS’ TO MADRID
Preparations are under way in Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya, Namibia, The Netherlands, Tanzania and East Timor for a new
international encounter of the ‘ambassadors of worldwide brotherhood’. The Congregation started this ambassador
project in the build-up to the Catholic World Youth Days in Sydney (15-21 July, 2008) to make young people
enthusiastic dedicating themselves for a global ‘movement of mercy and brotherhood’. The preparatory meeting took
place in Tomohon, on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, in 2008. This time the ambassadors will meet in Tilburg on
the threshold of the World Youth Day in Madrid from 16 to 21 August 2011. The theme of the preparatory course of
the ambassadors is: ‘Jesus our compass, our way to compassion’. This theme will be deepened in two ways. During five
introductory days the ambassadors prepare themselves in their native countries with reflections on biblical stories,
sponsored by the Brothers CMM. Then the ambassadors meet each other in Tilburg and a week is spent on the theme.
Two issues are formulated: ‘Take the road’ and ‘On the go, at the well’. Thereafter the group leaves for Madrid. For more
information see: www.worldwidebrotherhood.com.
18

CLOSURE
VINCENT YEAR
About eighty laypeople and religious, whose lives
Vincent de Paul and Louise de Marillac inspired,
gathered on September 28 at the provincialate of the
Sisters SCMM in Tilburg, The Netherlands. They met
to formally conclude the year, which commemorated
the 350 anniversary of their passing, presided over
by Brother Ad de Kok. The steering committee, which
arranges activities for the Vincentian Family, had put
together a program of prayer, reflection, presentations,
and workshops. Frans Bomers, a Vincentian, spoke
about Vincent. Brother Jan Koppens presented
highlights in the life of Louise de Marillac. Sister
Augusta de Groot (Sisters of the Choorstraat) related
some of the impressions of the Vincentian pilgrimage.
The vice-chairman of the Vincent de Paul Society of
The Netherlands, Paul Monchen, described Frédéric
Ozanam as founder and source of inspiration of the
Vincent de Paul Societies. Participants could select
from six workshops in the afternoon. Brother Wout
van den Hout conducted the workshop ‘Zingend bij
de armen’ (Singing among the Poor) and Brother Ad
de Kok developed the theme ‘Een vluchteling aan
het woord’ (An Exile Tells His Story). A prayer service
ended the day.
The steering committee of the Vincentian Family. Left
to right: Wiel Bellemakers CM, Ad de Kok CMM (vicechairman),
Wim Luiten FIC, Sister Renée Geurts SCMM.
Frans Bomers CM delivering his talk about St. Vincent.
TOTALLY RENOVATED CMM WEBSITE
The totally renovated CMM website went online in
early October. Its new style harmonizes with the layout
of the quarterly Brothers CMM. Some components
for the website still undergo further development
and expansion. The English and Dutch versions have
been completed. The designers expect to complete
the Indonesian and Portuguese sections by the end
of 2010. The site opens with a mission statement,
inspirational citations, and the latest news. Other links
give information about the history of the Congregation,
CMM spirituality, and the areas where the brothers
live and work. One can click on links such as ‘media’,
‘publications’, ‘links to other websites’, ‘contact’, and
‘join’. The last two are links to support the brothers’
work and make personal contacts. The site’s address is
www.cmmbrothers.org.
19

the netherlands
SOME TRACES
OF COLA
DEBROT
The first issue of ‘Fraters CMM’ (2005) contained a
contribution by Rien Vissers, CMM archivist, with the
title: ‘Brothers and authors of Curaçao’. The brothers
had taught, among others, the Antillean authors Tip
Marugg, Jules de Palm, and Frank Martinus Arion. These
writers occasionally refer to the brothers in their books
and interviews. Tip Marugg, who had a Protestant
background, spoke with great admiration of the
instruction he had received from Brother Franciscus van
Dieten. Recently the archivist made a special ‘literary’
discovery. A report of his findings follows.
Cola Debrot’s portrait.
Recently I found a fine little box, tucked away
somewhere in the vast archives of the brothers. It
contained an engraved silver cup. Upon opening the
box I initially could only read: ‘Curaçao 1916 N. Debrot’.
I immediately thought of the well-known author and
diplomat Cola Debrot, founder of the Antillean-Dutch
literature movement. I then read the entire inscription:
Recuerdo à mi appreciable
maestro fr. Herman
Curaçao 1916
N. Debrot
(‘A memento to my esteemed teacher Br. Herman’. Cola
signed with the letter of his first name: Nicolaas.)
The Antillean affiliation of the brothers with the authors
went much further back than I had realized in 2005.
Cola Debrot (1902-1981) hailed from a rich Antillean
plantation family. His father’s family had a Protestant-
Swiss background, his mother a Catholic-Venezuelan
heritage. His father spoke mostly Papiamento, his mother
Spanish. The family held liberal views on religious issues.
Still, they had good reasons to send the young Cola to
St. Thomas College of Willemstad, Curaçao, because it
had a great reputation. J.J. Oversteegen writes this in
the first part of the biography In het schuim van grauwe
wolken: het leven van Cola Debrot tot 1948 (In the Froth
of Grey Clouds: Cola Debrot’s Life until 1948). Most of the
details in this article are taken from this book, published
in 1994.
20

Class picture taken during the first years after 1910. Cola Debrot: first row, second from the right.
The Antillean language debate
Debrot took Dutch literature classes with Brother
Herman Walboomers (1883-1967) during his last two
years at St. Thomas College. They covered the period
from 1914 through 1916. Brother Herman had arrived
at Curaçao in 1914 and lived on the island until 1919.
After his stay in Curaçao he taught Dutch for some
decades at the Diocesan Teacher Training College in
’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. Brother Herman
used strict discipline in his classes and managed to
make Dutch the language all students would be able to
handle comfortably (before his arrival only the students
in the more advanced classes managed to use the
language adequately). He became intensely involved in
the Antillean debate about language usage. The brothers
promoted the Dutch language in the Dutch Antilles
as well as in Surinam. They did this because, among
others, the students would have better opportunities in
their pursuit of higher education. Pastors showed more
interest in the local languages since that would help
them to remain closer to the people in their pastoral
care.
Top of the class
Brother Herman, who completed his Master’s in Dutch
literature in 1911, had an intense interest in poetry, as
Brother Franciscus van Dieten did later. Brother Herman
inspired Cola Debrot. It kindled the latter’s admiration
of the Flemish poet Gezelle for the rest of his life. In
the years at the college this boy, who belonged to the
Antillean upper class, had many conversations with the
brother. After his finals the boy went to The Netherlands
to pursue higher education in Nijmegen. As token of
appreciation he presented this beautiful cup to Brother
Herman. The archives also contain two portraits he gave
his former teacher. Debrot wrote his name on one class
picture. It shows Brother Herman on the veranda in the
background. Oversteegen incorporated this picture in
his biography. The brother continued to take pride in his
alumnus and admired him as his best pupil who had such
outstanding achievements in the Dutch language.
First publication
Cola Debrot published his famous first work in 1935
Mijn zuster de negerin (My Black Sister), a beautiful,
tightly constructed novella, which imitated the style
of his friend and author E. du Perron and the literary
periodical Forum. He was a well-known author, became
a physician, and served as governor of The Netherlands
Antilles for some years. It remains odd that Cola Debrot,
who had gained such perfect command of Dutch under
the guidance of Brother Herman, presented a cup with
a Spanish inscription to express his gratitude. Or had his
mother commissioned the engraving?
Rien Vissers
21

in memoriam
brother
Maximiliaan (A.M.J.)
van Litsenburg
brother
Patrick (P.) Kapteijns
He was born in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, on
July 31, 1920 and entered the Congregation of the
Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, in Tilburg,
The Netherlands, on September 8, 1937. He made
his profession for life on August 15, 1942. He passed
away on June 26, 2010 in the brotherhouse of
Zonhoven, Belgium, and was buried at the cemetery of
Zonhoven-Centrum.
In 1959 Brother Maximiliaan became a group leader at
the Koninklijk Instituut voor Doven en Spraakgestoorden
(KIDS) (Royal Institute for the Deaf and the Speech
Impaired) in Hasselt, Belgium. Earlier, from 1938 until
1950 he worked at the printing house of the Roman
Catholic Boys’ Orphanage in Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Later, he took on the task of group leader at the boarding
school of the brothers in Goirle, The Netherlands. When
Brother Max started his work at KIDS he found there a
brand new, but extremely poorly equipped building. With
his numerous talents, he substantially improved and
embellished it. He guided the community in Hasselt as
superior and deputy superior. After the brotherhouse in
Hasselt closed in 1955, he moved to Zonhoven. Brother
Max was a cordial man who loved to be around people,
an entertaining talker with a great sense of humour who
showed sociable sensitivity in his readiness to serve
others. In many ways he could be compared to the
Italian congenial saint of the sixteenth century, Philip
Neri. Just like Philip, Brother Max had talents to help
others feel good and happy in many different ways and
bring them closer to God. He was well equipped for that
task. He brought thousands of people joy and happiness
with his skills as magician, illusionist, calligrapher, artist,
and composer of poems to celebrate special occasions.
Brother Max’ talents were an integral part of his religious
life. They gave a unique touch to his life as a brother.
He was born in Sint-Michielsgestel, The Netherlands,
on July 21, 1933 and entered the Congregation of the
Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, in Tilburg,
The Netherlands, on March 19, 1950. He made his
profession for life on August 15, 1955. He passed away
on September 26, 2010 in St. Elisabeth Hospital in
Tilburg and was buried at the brothers’ cemetery at the
Estate Steenwijk in Vught, The Netherlands.
Brother Patrick was a typical representative of the
Congregation. He loved the brothers with whom he lived in
community and the youth who were entrusted to his care.
He lived in Tilburg from 1961 until 1966 and taught there
at St. Stefanus Secondary School. He studied biology,
botany, and geology at the University of Cork, Ireland to
prepare for his work in Kenya where the Congregation
sent him in 1970. He started teaching in Kenya at the
Teacher Training College in Asumbi. After that, he taught
at Cardinal Otunga High School in Mosocho. The twenty
years he lived in Asumbi and Mosocho were for him the
best years of his life. In his spare time he collected rocks,
enjoyed the exotic flora, and developed his artistic talents.
He moved to the community in Sikri in 1993, and in 1996
to the brotherhouse in Nairobi-Umoja. He returned to
The Netherlands in 2006 and took up residence at the
Joannes Zwijsen community in Tilburg. He radiated a
special presence among his fellow-brothers, which found
its expression in the stories he shared, his encyclopedic
knowledge, cheerfulness, and sense of humour. His sudden
death in the hospital jolted the community, his family, and
his friends. We entrust him now to the Risen Lord.
22

sources
‘LOVE WITHOUT
SELF-LOVE’
A winged word from Zwijsen
Zwijsen gave his sisters the motto: ‘Love without self-love’. That was not a call to be dissatisfied
with yourself, think negatively about yourself, or belittle yourself. Rather, the call to ‘love
without self-love is a plea for authenticity!
‘Love without self-love’ is an appeal to accept yourself
and be unselfish in your love for others. Because there is
love that actually does not deserve to be called love. You
can be charitable with all kinds of ulterior motives. You
can do noble work, yet pursue only your own personal
satisfaction. You can be impressively committed, while
constantly looking for applause of others. You can do a
lot of good work, and still systematically draw attention
to yourself.
St. Paul wrote about this ‘love without self-love’ in his
Canticle of Love (1 Cor. 13). He says: “Love is not pompous.
It is not inflated; it does not seek its own interest.
It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
and endures all things.” ‘Loving without self-love’ also
implies that for evangelical love you have to be a little
foolish and calculation should not enter into it.
Brother Harrie van Geene
23

AS BROTHERS, WE STRIVE TO
ACCOMPANY ALL THOSE WHOM
WE MEET ON THEIR WAY TO A
FUTURE, CHARACTERIZED FOR ALL BY
UNCERTAINTY AND HOPE.
(from the Rule of Life of the Brothers CMM)
Magazine of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy
24