brothers CMM

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.
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