brothers CMM

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.
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