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| ‘HERE I AM LORD’ | FOUNDATION BONDGENOOT
PARTNER | BROTHERS HALF A CENTURY IN BRAZIL |
ACQUISITION CHILDREN’S VILLAGE namibia |
REMEMBERING THE HAGUE | CONNECTEDNESS
1

contents
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.
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The Prodigal Son, Rembrandt
COLUMN FROM THE CONCERNING
SUPERIOR GENERAL 4 BROTHER ANDREAS 5
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: Brothers CMM, 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: Children at the ‘Children’s Education
Centre’ in Usakos, Namibia (photo: Brother Broer Huitema).
Photograph back cover: Alhambra, Granada, Spain
(photo: Brother Ad de Kok).

‘HERE I AM LORD’ SHORT NEWS
6 8
FROM THE
EDITORIAL BOARD
The Superior General of the Brothers CMM
spends many hours a year in planes visiting the
Congregation’s provinces and regions who are
labouring on the road of mercy. That is again
evident in this edition. On October 23, he was in
Usakos, Namibia, where the brothers officially
assumed the leadership of the ‘Children’s
Education Centre’ for disadvantaged children.
On November 25, four brothers in Manado,
Indonesia, made their profession for life in his
presence. On December 12, a brother in Brazil
made his profession for life in the presence of
the Superior General. Four days earlier Brother
Broer Huitema celebrated with brothers and
invited guests the arrival of the Congregation, a
half century ago, in that Latin-American country.
He was also present on March 5, at the official
opening of the ‘Saint Vincent Primary School’ in
Mosocho, Kenya, which was acquired by the
brothers. While travelling he encounters much
joy and confidence in the future. But the
congregational medal also has a flip side.
Brothers CMM also reports the suppression of
the CMM Region California, which was founded
in 1963. The last brothers returned to The
Netherlands on February 17. And then there is the
sexual abuse scandal that is ravaging the Church
and Congregation. “A black page in our history!”,
writes Brother Broer Huitema in his column. He is
especially affected by what has happened to the
victims: “At this moment we are asked to share to
some extent in their suffering. Thát way to be
merciful is now open to us.”
CONNECTEDNESS!
IN MEMORIAM
FOUNDATION
BONDGENOOT PARTNER
BROTHERS HALF A CENTURY IN BRAZIL
ACQUISITION CHILDREN’S VILLAGA NAMIBIA
SHORT
NEWS
16
21
REMEMBERING
THE HAGUE
SOURCES
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12
14
18
23
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Slowly we are gaining a better insight into what
went wrong. But the story is far from finished. In the
meantime I have spoken with some 20 victims with
often disturbing stories. Not just about the abuse but
also about the effects of the abuse later in their lives.
Not everybody has experienced lasting damage, but
many have. Every victim has a different story. Listening
to their story, taking them serious and offering
apologies is of course important. The sometimes
deep wounds that the abuser inflicted on the life of
the victim can however never be undone. Sometimes
victims take further measures and make a report to
the Church sponsored organization ‘Hulp en Recht’
(Assistance and Justice), to obtain via this organization
recognition and satisfaction. Many have contacted
the ‘Commission Deetman’. The path to reconciliation
and healing is still a long road. But I hope from the
bottom of my heart that everybody will be able to
travel that road.
We cannot hide behind the fact that this happens
everywhere, that it has been so long ago and that it
only concerns a small minority. The victims are coming
forward now, and want our attention now. The only
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Column
FROM THE SUPERIOR GENERAL
It has been about one year since the first reports of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in The Netherlands
became public. The first news led to a wave of reactions. In almost all cases it concerned sexual abuse that took
place a long time ago: sometimes more than 60 years! We were shocked by the reports that reached us.
Dozens of victims of abuse by brothers came forward. Sometimes brothers were identified by name in the
media. A black page in our history! We realize of course that most brothers have done good work. We know
of course that only a small percentage of brothers have committed sexual abuse and other forms of abuse
of authority. But still: we were shocked by the magnitude.
road we can and must travel is the road of openness
and serious attention to each story. The only way is to
admit that mistakes were made in the past and that
individual brothers abused their authority. The only
way is to apologize for what happened to the victims
at the hands of a number of our fellow-brothers. By
offering help, satisfaction, openness and transparency
we can regain our credibility. By focusing worldwide
attention on this problem we can help to prevent
abuse in the future. Victims have suffered and are still
suffering. At this moment we are asked to share to
some extent in their suffering. Thát way to be merciful
is now open to us.
Brother Broer Huitema

CONCERNING BROTHER ANDREAS
BROTHER Maria
Andreas
Most of the time we call him Brother Andreas, but his real name is ‘Brother Maria Andreas’. He was very
conscious of that. On November 1, 1860, he expressed the first words of his temporary profession “I, Brother
Maria Andreas, promise to God Almighty… ”
It was a curious custom of the Congregation that all
brothers had the name of Maria as their first name.
It is unclear how meaningful it was for them. For most
it was more than just the abbreviation M. in their name.
For Brother Andreas the reverence for the Holy Virgin
was so great and intense, that the abbreviation M.
was not sufficient and Maria had to be written in full.
The century he lived in manifested an ever growing
devotion to Mary. The official declaration of the dogma of
the Immaculate Conception in 1854 was for the thirteen
year old Andreas the first high point he experienced in
his life. Whether this inspired his choice we do not know,
but a year later he chose for a life with the brothers and
enrolled in the Preparatory Teacher Training College.
Immediately after his arrival he started every morning
and every evening with praying three Hail Mary’s in
Brothers pray at the Lourdes grotto in the garden
of Ruwenberg.
honour of the purity of Mary. During his teacher training
in 1858 he heard about the special apparitions in Lourdes.
All his life he would gather extensive documentation
about all miracles involving Mary. “At the Lourdes grotto
in the garden he could often be seen kneeling in prayer”,
according to his fellow-brother Amatus.
Brother Amatus has documented in detail the devotions
of Brother Andreas. For example he prayed each day
“with exceptional respect” the Office of the Blessed Virgin
Mary. He also prayed three times a day the Angelus
“with great piety”. With “great esteem” he wore the
special Mary Medal of the Holy Scapular.
He prayed the daily Rosary “with fervour” and repeated
this prayer “multiple times” on Sundays, feast days and
days of recollection. The most important Marian feast
days he celebrated with “with special spiritual joy” and
prepared for them with a novena. Often he contemplated
the special role of Mary at the Incarnation and meditated
on her virtues and privileges.
The spirituality of Brother Andreas was strongly coloured
by his passionate love for the Mother of God. A number of
aspects of his personality can be understood only in the
context of her intercession that he asked for and obtained:
his gentleness, his loyalty and his boundless confidence
in God’s goodness. Brother Andreas could pray “long and
with pleasure” to the Mother of God. According to his
friend Amatus, he had her name on his lips at all times.
Charles van Leeuwen
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‘ HERE I AM
LORD’
“I wanted to be like Brother Emilio, who was my teacher
for two years”, he told us regarding his personal calling.
“I did not particularly want to be a teacher, no, I wanted
to be a brother and I had a vague idea, that this had
something to do with God. The vocation was of course
still far from mature. It was the early beginning.”
Apart from Brother Emilio van Berkel and Karel de Beer,
rector of the novitiate, the Brothers Alfred Smits and
Rumoldus van der Krabben also played a major role in
the growth of his religious life: “These people and more
have affirmed me on the path of my vocation.”
Recruitment campaign
Brother van Pinxteren next discussed how the vocation
ministry of the Congregation that started in 1996 got
its form when the new provincial board took office.
It received the mission from Superior General Brother
Harrie van Geene, to explore ‘pathways to the future’.
With this in mind the ‘Working group Association,
Vocations and Presentation’ was created. One of
the first achievements of the working group was a
remarkable recruitment campaign. In a number of
newspapers, the Congregation placed advertisements
with the header: ‘We are looking for people (m) with
a heart who dare to become a brother.’ Frans van
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THE NETHERLANDS
The annual meeting of all brothers and associate members of the Dutch Province was held on November 26, in
the residential care facility Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg. The theme of this ‘Province Afternoon’ was ‘Vocation’.
The main speaker was Brother Frans van Pinxteren. He highlighted the rapid development of the congregational
vocation ministry in the last fifteen years.
Brother Frans van Pinxteren discusses the vocation
ministry of the Congregation.
Pinxteren: “For a while the Brothers of Tilburg were
world news. Many responses were received: more
than 150. Ultimately it produced few brothers. But the
possibility to join us had caught a lot of attention.”
Another advertisement asked for ‘Allies in the Movement
of Mercy’; people who are attracted by the motivation

of the Brothers CMM. Some meetings were held that
drew hundreds of interested people. Out of this came
the independent foundation of the ‘Movement of Mercy’
with about fifteen hundred sympathizers, closely
associate with the Brothers CMM.
Project Groups
“Association too, was given constant attention”, so says
Brother van Pinxteren. The Congregation has now six
associate members: Frits Aarts, Betty Karhof, Lex van
der Poel, Nelleke Verstijnen and Christianne and Henk
van der Wal. “Looking back, we can’t be dissatisfied”, he
concluded. The working group was disbanded in 2008.
In its place came the project working groups: ‘Vocation’
and ‘Association’. The first presented the brochure
Fraters (Brothers) in 2009 to awaken interest in the life
of a brother.
The second was aimed at offering further depth to
associate members and the care for the increase of the
number of associates. This was done by offering a series
of study seminars called ‘Committed life in Church and
world’. “This really became a success”, asserted Brother
van Pinxteren. “We had counted on twelve participants,
however, twenty-five signed up. In the meantime a
decision was made to repeat the course because there
are still candidates.” He concluded with a footnote
about guiding the newcomers: “If somebody shows up
we have to keep in mind that the eventual candidate
will have a lot to learn. They are people of our time:
knowledge about our religion is often very minimal.
We will have to be patient and not set the bar too high.
We need to give them the chance to grow into our
community to assimilate our spirituality. Only then can
they say ‘Here I am Lord, to do your will is my joy’.
Let us pray for that daily.”
Peter van Zoest
The mother of Brother Niek Hanckmann, Han (left), in
conversation with associate member Christianne van de
Wal during the Province Afternoon.
At the end of the Province Afternoon CMM archivist Rien
Vissers gave a PowerPoint presentation on several portraits
of the Founder of the Congregation Joannes Zwijsen.
The Brothers Ben Westerburger (left) and Jan Smits raise
their glass at the end of the Province Afternoon.
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PROFESSION FOR
LIFE IN BRAZIL
The Brazilian Brother Alan Robert Aparecido Benevenuto made his profession for life on December 12, during
the Eucharistic Celebration at the Padre Eustáquio parish church in Belo Horizonte. Brother Craudeci Moreira
renewed his temporary profession at the same celebration. In his address the Superior General Brother Broer
Huitema said that it was courageous of this brother to take this step because there are no candidates right now
in Brazil. He let it be known that he recognized the situation: “When I made my profession for life there were few
candidates in The Netherlands. It was not easy for me. Still I chose to become a brother, convinced that He called
me to become a member of the Congregation. I found happiness there and fruitful collaboration. That happiness
and fruitful work in the apostolic ministry I wish for you too: as a brother you will be able to lead a joyful and
rich religious life. Making a reference to his recent trips to Indonesia, Kenya and East-Timor, where altogether
eight brothers made their profession for life, he underscored: “Brother Alan, with you that makes a total of nine
Brothers CMM. Within the Congregation you are not alone. You can count on the support of your fellow-brothers
who have gone before you in what you have undertaken today. Today they pray for you.”
CMM REGION CALIFORNIA
SUPPRESSSED
The CMM Region California has been suppressed. The
region was founded in 1963 during the tenure of
Superior General Brother Novatus Vinckx. Brother
Emeric Goossens assumed the position of the first
superior of the community. Many brothers performed
educational work from the communities in Los Angeles
and Oxnard. The present Regional Superior, Brother
John Grever, was one of the five brothers who started
in California. He returned back to The Netherlands with
Brother Richard van Rooij on February 17. Both have
taken up residence in the community Joannes Zwijsen
in Tilburg, where they were reunited with the Brothers
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SHORT kort nieuws NEWS
Brother Alan Robert Aparecido
Benevenuto with his parents after
making his profession for life.
William Verheijen, Godfried Kanen and Louis de Visser,
who also lived and worked in California. Brother Grever
succeeds Brother de Visser as General Bursar. The latter
had expressed the desire to lay down this task due to
his age (75). In a letter to the brothers and associate
members Brother Broer Huitema wrote about Brother
Louis de Visser: “Even though he was no bursar by
training, he rapidly acquired the requisite knowledge
and executed his task as bursar with great skill and
diligence. As general bursar he has served the
Congregation for fifteen years with loyalty and
great devotion to duty.

SCRYPTION
CLOSES ITS
DOORS
Museum Scryption in Tilburg closed its doors last January 10.
The museum for written communication and social media
has insufficient funds to keep its doors open to the public.
On Sunday, January 9, the museum was opened for the last
time and there was no entrance fee. Scryption blames
Tilburg City Council which decided to discontinue its
€ 200.000,- subsidy. As of March 1, all twelve people
working at the museum have been dismissed.
Meanwhile the collection has been stored with a
benevolent organization. Scryption has existed some
22 years and exhibited the history of writing and its
application in the office. Visitors found typewriters,
fountain pens, pencils, ballpoints, crown pens, copy
machines, stencil machines, word processors and office
furniture. Writer Willem Frederik Hermans – who died in
1995 – left his entire collection of about 200 typewriters
to the museum. Scryption attracted more than 20.000
visitors each year. The knowledge and experience gained so
far are transferred to a new organization named ‘Npuntnu’
(N-dot-zero). They will closely follow and make known the
development of communications and social media.
Npuntnul will develop such activities as exhibitions, media
installations, lectures and debates, social media and
education projects.
The museum collection once started as a hobby collection
by the teacher Brother Ferrerius van den Berg. Shortly after
WWII he began his study for the diploma Calligraphy (M.O.
= Secondary Education). At the same time he began to
collect all kinds of objects and instruments that bore a
relation to writing. This was the birth of a unique collection
that grew into the ‘Schrift- en Schrijfmachinemuseum’
(Museum for Writing and Typewriters), which was initially
Museum visitors at the time of the closing day.
housed at the attic of the Generalate of the Brothers CMM
at the Gasthuisring in Tilburg. The ever growing collection
moved from place to place and eventually found a
permanent home in the former Technical School, at the
Spoorlaan, next to the North Brabant Nature Museum.
The Tilburg City Council arranged the necessary alterations
to the building and businesses with an interest in the
collection provided the interior design. And so the museum
with its world famous collection came into being.
Sculpture of Brother Ferrerius van den
Berg at Scryption Museum. Museum Scryption at the Spoorlaan, Tilburg.
9

Elisabeth Riphagen and Brother Jan Koppens
with some contact persons.
WORK OF THE FOUNDATION
BONDGENOOT PARTNER
INDONESIA
Indonesië
The ‘Foundation Bondgenoot Partner’ devotes itself to the plight of the less fortunate in Indonesia, both children
and adults. Work is being done through educational and social projects. Brother Jan Koppens, Provincial
Superior of the Brothers CMM in The Netherlands, together with Gerrit and Elisabeth Riphagen visited, on
behalf of the foundation, some projects between October 16 and November 13. Brother Jan worked in Indonesia
between 1970 and 1996, as novice-master and as provincial superior. The following is a brief look back at
the origin of the foundation and his working visit.
In the 60’s and 70’s Gerrit and Elisabeth Riphagen
worked in Rantepao (Sulawesi) for the Protestant
mission. They got involved in a senior secondary
technical school and in an orphanage. After many
years they returned to The Netherlands, but Elisabeth
remained actively involved in the orphanage. In 1999
the couple went back to Sulawesi after an absence of
27 years. Right then a disaster struck: the most
expensive part of the technical school was destroyed by
a fire. Was this the end of the school? The couple felt
called to rebuild the school with the help of sponsors.
With the utmost effort and many working visits they
succeeded. A beautiful new technical school arose at
the edge of Rantepao City. Gerrit Riphagen then started
to visit and guide new school projects. To support these
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initiatives the ‘Foundation Bondgenoot Partner’ was
established. I was invited to become a board-member.
Gerrit and Elisabeth kept on urging me to join them
some time on a working visit. It happened on October
16. For the next four weeks we would visit projects in
Sumatra and Sulawesi.
Water Shortage
The flight to Medan (Sumatra) went very well. To me it
was like a homecoming. We were welcomed by Brother
Aris Payung and our contact person in Sumatra, Pak
Samosir. Gerrit and Elisabeth then left straight away for
Pematang Siantar. I remained for two days in Medan.
I visited a place for the mentally handicapped. Sister
Kristiana (Sisters KFSL, an independent branch of the

Franciscan Sisters of Bennebroek) gave me a guided
tour. Her immense involvement with the children, their
development and future was palpable. The single biggest
problem they often face is water shortage. One needs to
drill deeper boreholes to provide sufficient water for the
60 children. Perhaps Bondgenoot Partner could give a
helping hand.
In Pematang Siantar profound discussions took place
with the administration of three senior secondary
technical schools. For two years the foundation had
been able to provide various workshops for teachers
(theory and practice) and for the administration.
We discussed the progress made in the practice
department. A secondary domestic school in Pemantang
Siantar, managed by the Sisters KYM (an independent
branch of the Sisters of Mercy, Schijndel) has in recent
years received through Bondgenoot Partner a new
computer room and a good library. That project was
completed during our visit.
Library
Like at other working visits to Pematang Siantar we
stayed in the brotherhouse at the Jalan Nias, a good and
hospitable house where Brother Bosco Wuarmanuk is in
charge as novice-master. One afternoon I made
Brother Jan Koppens in a workshop hall of
the technical school in Pematang Siantar. .
The orphans in Rantepao with their new guitars.
a presentation to some 30 novices (sisters and brothers)
of four congregations who are following a joint
programme. I wholeheartedly hope that I was able
to touch them deep down, so that their personal
vocation as persons and as religious can further grow
and develop.
In Balige we stayed with the brothers at Soposurung.
Brother Florentinus Halawa is the director of the
secondary school ‘Bintang Timur’. The school has a very
good name in the area and is the owner of a splendid
library and a well trained librarian. Known for her
thorough attitude in setting up libraries in Indonesia,
Elisabeth has every right to be proud of this one. There
were also some rather personal conversations in Balige
between Gerrit, Elisabeth and myself. We spoke about
faith, ecumenism, brotherhood, religious vows, about
the mission and the future of the foundation. Great to
feel so at home with one another.
Contact Persons
In the brotherhouse at Makassar, Sulawesi, Brother
Martin Rukka offered us space to conduct some
lengthy conversations with our three contact persons in
Indonesia. Without the commitment of these partners –
all working pro deo – the work of the foundation might
well have been headed for extinction. The consultation
that took place on October 30 highlighted how we share
the same vision and passion. Exactly two months later,
on December 30, three young people were approached
in The Netherlands to become members of the board
of the foundation. They responded with enthusiasm.
Thus the board was strengthened with three fresh
new people looking at a bright future under the joint
inspiration of our three contact persons in Indonesia.
Happy Faces
In Sulawesi, where we spent two weeks, we visited quite
a few school projects either still under construction
or completed. I want to pause for a moment at ‘Panti
Asuhan’, the orphanage in Rantepao. Through an
anonymous donation we were able to buy in Makassar
books, several musical instruments and games for
the children. It was like Christmas had come early.
Happy faces all around. I spoke for some time with
an older girl now going to secondary school. Later
than planned our journey ended in The Netherlands on
November 13. At Schiphol I said goodbye to Elisabeth.
Gerrit was to remain for another month in Indonesia.
He still had Flores on his agenda. I am so happy to be
a small cog in the wheel within the Foundation
Bondgenoot Partner.
Brother Jan Koppens
11

Brazil
BROTHERS HALF A
CENTURY IN BRAZIL
On December 8, 2010, the Brothers CMM commemorated the day when 50 years ago the first brothers arrived
in Brazil. They were Sjaak Staats, Leonis Puts, Ignatio Beijers, Cristino Gemen and Jo Huiskamp. One of them,
the Regional Superior, Brother Cristino Gemen still lives in Belo Horizonte, where they established themselves
half a century ago. Brother Nicácio Huiskamp tells us about the celebration of the jubilee.
The Superior General, Brother Broer Huitema, arrived
on December 5 in Belo Horizonte to commemorate
the historical event with the brothers. On Wednesday,
December 8, at 10 AM on the Solemnity of the Immaculate
Conception of Our Lady, the solemn celebration of the
Eucharist took place in the overcrowded Padre Eustáquio
parish church. The main celebrant was Cardinal Serafim
Fernandes de Araújo, Archbishop Emeritus of Belo
Horizonte. Concelebrating were Bishop Emeritus of Itabira-
Coronel Fabriciano, Lellis Lara, and 18 priests of the
dioceses where the brothers have been working.
The front pews were reserved for the thirteen brothers who
were present. Singing was provided by a choir which was
assembled for the occasion from the personnel of Padre
Eustáquio College, conducted by Brother Cristino Gemen.
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The crowded parish church of Padre Eustáquio.
Appreciation
In his homily the Cardinal made it clear how the brothers
are involved in the various pastoral areas where the
church needs them most. That way they realize the CMM
charism of ‘Brotherhood and Mercy’. He was Auxiliary
Bishop of Belo Horizonte when the brothers arrived
there in 1960. The archbishop emeritus expressed his
joy, appreciation and gratitude, on behalf also of the
archdiocese.
Bishop Lellis Lara did not miss the opportunity to say
something on behalf of the Diocese of Itabira-Coronel
Fabriciano, where the brothers have dedicated themselves
in particular to ‘Cidade do Menor’ (Children’s City).
During the celebration pupils of Padre Eustáquio College
presented the brothers with a small token of appreciation.

The Superior General and Brother Alan Robert
Aparecido Benevenuto at the start of the Eucharist.
The four keywords of CMM spirituality.
The Regional Superior Brother Cristino Gemen
expressing a word of gratitude.
They brought in a painting of Mary, Mother of Mercy, a
picture of the CMM Founder Archbishop Joannes Zwijsen
and plaques with the motto of the movement of mercy:
VER (seeing), COMOVER-SE (being moved), MOVER-SE
(getting into action) and PROMOVER (promoting people).
Hope
The offertory procession consisted of representatives
of the pastoral activities and movements the brothers
are involved in: the parish, education (Colégio Padre
Eustáquio), formation and training, a recollection centre,
religious and groups of the movement of mercy. There
were people from e.g. Igarapé, São Joaquim de Bicas,
Itabira, Coronel Fabriciano, Ipatinga, Lagoa Santa,
Janaúba and Belo Horizonte.
Brother Broer Huitema addressed the regional board and
all the brothers with words of appreciation and gratitude.
He recalled the names of the pioneer brothers: those still
alive, Brother Sjaak Staats and Brother Cristino Gemen,
and those who died, Brother Jo Huiskamp and Brother
Leonis Puts, and all the brothers who for the past 50
years have given and still are giving their very best.
With special feeling he honoured the recently deceased
Brothers Servano Leijten and Leopoldo Remans.
He expressed joy and hope for the future with reference
to the profession for life pronounced by Brother Alan
Robert Aparecido Benevenuto.
Memorial plaque
At the end of the celebration a memorial plaque was
presented to Brother Cristino Gemen out of gratitude
for his work and the work of all the brothers who have
dedicated themselves for the good of the Brazilian people
and in particular for the youth of the country. After the
celebration of the Eucharist there was an opportunity to
congratulate the brothers in the ‘Centro Comunitário’ of
the parish, next to the church. At the covered playground
of Padre Eustáquio College a meal was served for more
than 400 invited guests.
The Brothers Sjaak Staats and Misaël van den Borne
who live in the community of Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg
had worked for respectively 21 and 30 years in Brazil.
On December 8 they received from the general board a
festive bouquet of flowers to enable them to somehow
join their brothers in Brazil in the jubilee festivities.
Brother Nicácio Huiskamp
13

ACQUISITION
CHILDREN’S
VILLAGE NAMIBIA
The Congregation assumed the responsibility for the
Children’s Education Centre (CEC) in Usakos, Namibia,
on October 23. During a ceremony Frits Koopmans, the
founder and the director, turned over the statutes of
the ‘Children’s Village Foundation Usakos’ to Brother
Broer Huitema, Superior General of the Brothers CMM.
A large group had gathered in the great hall of the
complex, which is located in the desert northwest of
Windhoek, the Namibian capital. Many people thanked
Frits and Hanneke Koopmans for their commitment.
They started the project in 1991 which initially provided
housing to eight street children and has developed into
a centre for forty children. ‘He who saves a child, saves
the world’, is their motto. Located next to CEC is ‘Plot
65’, where five former residents, who in the meantime
have become adults, can continue to live. They work
in the children’s village, in the garden, at the adjacent
school, and at the company connected with the school,
where bricks are produced from the desert sand.
Homage
Several speakers from the Namibian society gave
speeches. However, it was the children who let
themselves be heard. In song and dance they
paid homage to the Koopmans couple. They were
accompanied by an Indonesian orchestra with Kolintang
instruments. Among those present were many
supporters of the project, including the Ambassador
of Indonesia who gave a speech.
The Superior General, Brother Broer Huitema, recalled
the early days of the centre. Back in 1991 there were
already ties of friendship between the family Koopmans
and the brothers. Brother Emeric Goossens, who was the
Regional Superior in Namibia at the time assisted in the
formulation of the statutes of CEC. Nearly twenty years
later, thanks to the increasing number of vocations
in Namibia, the brothers will be able to take over the
responsibility from Frits and Hanneke Koopmans, who
now will be able to enjoy their retirement. The superior
14
Children of CEC.
Namibia
general wished great success to the Brothers Rikardus
Rumangun and Johannes Mateus, who will assume
the daily running of the centre. Together with Brother
Gerard Mopeli Sehlabo they form a small community,
known as ‘St. Vincent the Paul’, in the house where
the family Koopmans has lived for many years. It is
an international community: the three brothers are
respectively from Indonesia, Namibia and Lesotho.
Heritage
Brother Broer Huitema thanked Frits and Hanneke
Koopmans on behalf of the Congregation: “for
everything you have done, for your dedication, your
great efforts on behalf of the disadvantaged children”.
He made it clear that he realized that it was not easy to
say goodbye, but he gave them the assurance “that we
will cherish this project as your heritage”. The superior
general did not come with empty hands. The General
Board of the Brothers CMM had decided to donate

2000 Euros to the centre for the purchase of sports
equipment and instruments for music education.
The superior general had also brought along for the
new community in Namibia a relic of St. Vincent, from
one of the former brother communities in Tilburg.
He expressed the hope that it would find a proper place
in the chapel, which was created in one of the rooms
of the home of the Koopmans family.
Support Foundation
The centre in Usakos functions thanks to the generous
support from The Netherlands, among others from
‘De Wilde Ganzen’, Mensen in Nood (People in Need),
the Ministry of Development, and numerous individuals.
A support foundation assists the project. For more
information, visit www.usakos.nl.
Peter van Zoest
The community of Usakos,
from left to right the
Brothers Gerard Mopeli
Sehlabo, Rikardus Rumangun,
Johannes Mateus.
Frits Koopmans presents the statutes of the
‘Children’s Village Usakos’ to Brother Broer Huitema.
15

SERVANT LEADERSHIP:
A PASSION FOR HUMANITY
The organization of brother congregations held a
meeting at the training centre of the Vincentian
Fathers in Prigen (East Java, Indonesia) from November
11 to 14. The topic of the discussion was how to
exercise leadership which is more in harmony with
the leadership of Jesus, the great example of religious
leaders. Father Anthony Sad Budiono spoke about it
in a few presentations. The Vincentian stressed that a
leader must be prepared to serve the ones he leads, the
community at large, and the poor. This form of ‘servant
leadership’ will in turn make those served into servants.
Generosity is an important quality in this form of
leadership. A servant leader must renounce manipulative
self-interest. The participants had plenty of opportunity
‘Saint Vincent Primary School’ in Mosocho.
OPENING SCHOOL IN KENYA
A school which was acquired by the Brothers CMM in
Mosocho, Kenya, started in January with 80 students.
The school consists of the grades five and six of the
primary school. The official opening of the ‘Saint
Vincent Primary School’ took place on March 5, 2011.
Brother Broer Huitema, the Superior General, and
Brother Lawrence Obiko, a member of the general board,
were present. The school building has been substantially
16
SHORT NEWS
to share their leadership experiences with each other.
The question was raised: ‘What to do with a member
of the Congregation whose life is at odds with the
Constitutions?’ The CMM participants were the Brothers
Martinus Leni (Provincial Superior of Indonesia),
Martinus Mangundap (Provincial Board-member),
Nikodemus Tala Lamak (Provincial Board-member),
Julius Kadang (Director CMM Business Manado) and
Cyrillus Kaparang. Together with about thirty other
brothers from various congregations, they may look
back on an inspiring encounter.
Brother Niko Tala Lamak
renovated. Originally it had been a primary and
secondary school for girls, known as the Mosocho Girls
Academy. The Congregation is also closely connected
to the Cardinal Otunga High School in Mosocho, one
of the historical places where the CMM mission in Kenya
started, not long after the arrival of the brothers in 1958.
In the next edition of Brothers CMM we will give some
more attention to the official opening of the school.

TILBURG PARISH HAS ADVENT
ACTION FOR OIP
The Advent action of the Brother Andreas Parish in Tilburg centred on the Oyugis Integrated Project, which
was founded by the Brothers CMM in Kenya. Seven hundred leaflets were distributed and the associate
members Henk and Christianne van de Wal gave a PowerPoint presentation on the goals and activities of
the project, which are aimed at the support and care of people with HIV/Aids. Both are associated members
of the Brothers CMM and committed to OIP, also by publishing a newsletter. For more information, visit
wwwoip-nederland.nl.
FOUR BROTHERS IN MANADO
MAKE THEIR PROFESSION FOR LIFE
The Brothers Yulius Sole, Thadeus Haki, Nathaniel Kupa,
and Kasianus Leseman made their profession for life
in the presence of the Superior General, Brother Broer
Huitema, in Manado, Indonesia on November 25.
This took place during a Eucharistic celebration presided
over by Father Chris Santi MSC. Five other priests
concelebrated. In his homily Father Santi praised the
young men who in a time of globalization, internet,
and cell phones wanted to give themselves completely
to God. He challenged the students of Don Bosco
High School, who were present: “Do you dare to become
a brother, a sister or a priest?” Brother Broer Huitema
accepted the profession for life of the four brothers
with the words: “I declare that you have been accepted
in our community, the Congregation of the Brothers
of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, for your whole life.”
The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Brother
Edward Gresnigt, several members of the provincial
board, and most of the brothers of the four communities
in Manado and Tomohon.
The brothers after they made their profession for life. Left to right: Yulius Sole, Nathaniel Kupa,
Kasianus Leseman, Thadeus Haki.
17

In 1970 I went to The Hague after having lived in
Amsterdam for four years. My vocation had become
stronger there. I had no time to question my vocation or
to feel that it was ‘in crisis’. The supportive and positive
atmosphere of the community saw to that. So did the
absorbing and demanding work for the needy students
who attended the school the brothers operated at the
Nieuwe Leliestraat in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam.
That is worth noting because many young brothers left
the Congregation at the time. Together with several
fellow-brothers I had started studying MO-theology (a
certificate for instructors at the high school level) at the
Catholic University at the Keizersgracht in Amsterdam.
The main purpose of this study for me was to enrich and
strengthen the spiritual grounding of my life as a brother.
It turned out to be very beneficial for the growth of my
vocation as a brother and for the work I did afterward.
18
THE NETHERLANDS
A party at the Scheveningen community. Left to right: Brother Pieter-Jan van Lierop, Jos Dullaert, Brother Gérard Verstijnen.
REMEMBERING THE HAGUE
Brother Pieter-Jan van Lierop lived and worked in The Hague from 1970 till 1979. He looks back on those years
with appreciation. At the time the Congregation made significant contributions to the life of the Church in the
nation’s capital. The work of several remarkable brothers and their projects enriched the local church community.
They impressed him in his early religious life with their commitment and dedication to the disadvantaged.
Below are some reflections on this rich period.
‘The Leggelo’
Four brothers, – Guus Waijers from Leeuwarden,
The Netherlands, Sjef van Ierland and Frans van Pinxteren
from The Hague, and I from Amsterdam – came together
in Scheveningen, to establish a new community there.
We lived for some months in the brotherhouse on Leggelo
Street, often called ‘the Leggelo’, before we moved into
the house for the community in Scheveningen.
The Leggelo made a big impression on me. Joop van
Dooremaal, a cordial brother with an open mind, guided
the community. He always supported the brothers of
Scheveningen. That support was not always understood
or appreciated. Several fellow-brothers interpreted the
foundation of the new community as an elitist move.
Brother Joop had been a teacher at an elementary
school and now became director of the Saints Antonius
(Anthony) and Lodewijk (Louis) parish. I greatly admired

how he accepted the challenges that came with this
change in work. He became an appreciated member
of the Diaconal Council of The Hague. Brother Rogier
van Belkom had a room close to mine. His welcoming
openness made for easy contact and conversation.
He had ended his career as MAVO-instructor (teacher
at a high school) and now prepared himself to join the
brothers in Kenya to support their work. He showed
how to be a brother! I had conversations with Quirinus
de Veer, Jan Santegoets, Piet Baas, Henk Sliphorst and
Lucidius Pijnenburg, brothers who had attained great
accomplishments in education, youth work, and liturgy
in the parish. I immensely enjoyed the choirs Brother
Theo Klessens conducted. Jaaneke Wouters brought
conviviality into the community in a special way.
I came to know many parish members who collaborated
with the brothers to build up the parish and give it its
unique identity. It became clear to me how important
influence of the Brothers CMM had been in the districts
of Moerwijk and Morgenstond and how the spacious hall
of the brotherhouse at the Nienoordstraat played a role
in that.
The Scheveningen Community
The new brothers’ community received a warm welcome
at the Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Scheveningen.
People were impressed with the brothers’ hospitality,
they called their home the ‘open house’, and the manner
in which they participated in parish activities and
programs. I became district catechist and was involved
with the youth and the parish council. Jan Bol (MSC)
became youth pastor. Guus Waijers was the sacristan
and took care of the elderly. Meanwhile, the schools, run
by Sjef van Ierland and Frans van Pinxteren, flourished.
Children of poorer parents in The Hague attended
Frans’ school, a ‘LEAO-LMO’ (a school for academically
challenged students). Frans managed to create an
atmosphere where behaviour problems were treated more
effectively. The result was that virtually all the students
received their diploma. A group of them went to MAVO
Moerwijk (a college-preparatory school in Moerwijk)
where I taught. They worked hard and in one year
received they MAVO-diploma; some even made it to the
HAVO-level (honours program) at Thomas More College.
Teachers who worked at these schools were enthusiastic
idealists and considered it an honour to provide
opportunities for these underprivileged pupils. I felt proud
that the Brothers CMM played such an important role
in this process and that so many colleagues voiced their
enthusiasm for it.
Ad de Kok and Ad van Dun, meanwhile, had expanded the
community. They worked in special, remedial education.
Again, the brothers participated in the difficult and
demanding work for the underprivileged.
Gérard Verstijnen was the scholar of the community.
He had studied in Paris and worked at The Nederlands
Katholiek Schoolbureau (Dutch Catholic School Office),
and umbrella organization of the Catholic school boards
in The Netherlands. Gérard often had to travel abroad
because of his work. As a result we frequently would
welcome into our community prominent leaders in
Dutch Catholic education.
The brotherhouse in Scheveningen (with step-gable).
Sister Elisabeth van de Mast and Brother Piet
Rijkers at the shelter for the homeless that was to
be demolished.
19

Brother Piet Rijkers did social work in the early eighties at the Schildersbuurt in The Hague.
Some monuments
The brothers in the Congregation are not in the habit of
erecting monuments for their fellow-brothers. I decided
to violate that custom. It concerns two brothers who
have made a lasting impression on me: Brother Kees
Verspeek and Brother Piet Rijkers.
Kees Verspeek lived at the Leggelo Street and taught
Mathematics at the MTS (Secondary Technical School).
He became troubled by the poverty and hopelessness
he saw among the people who lived in the economically
depressed district of The Hague known as the
Schilderswijk. He left the beautiful and comfortable
‘Leggelo’ and founded, together with a few sisters and
priests, the Jacob Maris Groep (Jacob Maris Group),
named after the Jacob Maris Street where the group
was housed. The team members attempted to participate
in the lives of those who lived in the ‘Schilderswijk’ as
closely as possible. They distributed magazines and did
technical chores for people who needed them. A shared
life with the poor developed and Kees felt at home there,
like a fish in the water. I looked up to Kees Verspeek and
took great pride in calling him my fellow-brother.
Our community house in Scheveningen regularly needed
20
nederland
repair work. The Construction Office sent Brother Piet
Rijkers to take care of odd jobs. At one such occasion he
met Sister Elisabeth van de Mast, who managed a house
for severely unadjusted homeless. She asked Piet to come
over and take care of some chores. He saw the living
conditions in that house and realized how important
it was to have a male co-worker permanently present
there. He decided to move and for many years he lived
in that house, where he worked together with Sister Van
de Mast. That was quite an achievement in itself; sister
did not make it easy to work with her. I saw Piet finding
his true vocation: he moved from being carpenter in
Brother Theodulphus’ workshop to become the servant
of the poorest people in The Hague, together with Sister
Elisabeth van de Mast. He showed what CMM stands for.
Enthusiasm
In 1979 I was sent to Indonesia. Once there, I came
to realize even more how much vision, richness, and
enthusiasm my fellow-brothers in The Hague had instilled
in me. Truly, I have good memories of The Hague.
Brother Pieter-Jan van Lierop

Connectedness during
a boat trip.
CONNECTEDNESS!
“I drove the ‘Journey through History’ for the first time
on Friday, August 13. The following day we departed
with brothers from various parts of the world under
the leadership of the Brothers Leo van de Weijer
and Guillaume Caubergh. We travelled to France for
the ‘Pèlerinage de St. Vincent de Paul’ (Vincentian
pilgrimage). I hope to make the trip for the tenth time
now. All the specifics of it I know to the smallest detail.
And, in spite of my Protestant background, I feel more
and more united with the brothers. I sometimes say that
after all these years I have become more Roman Catholic
than Protestant. No matter what, we all believe in the
same God who did work through Vincent de Paul and
Louise de Marillac. I increasingly admire them for what
they have done. You truly see their achievements when
you visit the places where they worked and lived.”
Inspired
“A connection grows with the brothers and sisters
who come from different cultures and you relate to
one another as brother and sister. You experience that
intensely. This was very evident at the places where
we stayed. I felt that quite strongly with the sisters at
THE NETHERLANDS
“It started in 2004. My employer at the time told me: ‘you may not go on vacation in August. You have to
go to France with the brothers for thirteen days’. I did not quite know what brothers were, I’m a Protestant,
but now I definitely do know.” This is Piet Prinse, the bus driver, speaking. Annually he conducts the tour
to various places in The Netherlands that remind of Joannes Zwijsen and drives the participants of the
Vincentian pilgrimage also every year.
Château L’Évêque and at Le Berceau (Dax). That feeling
of connectedness became stronger; I did not see myself
as the bus driver; I felt one with the group.
And so, at several prayer services I participated by
reading the Scriptures. At times people ask: ‘Don’t you
ever get tired?’ And I answer ‘of course not’, all the things
“I sometimes say that after all these years I am
more Roman Catholic than Protestant.”
21

I hear and see inspire me.” “The connectedness became
quite evident in December 2009 when I witnessed a
profession for life ceremony at the sisters in Indonesia.
It deeply moved me. The two weeks I spent with Brother
Ad Hems from Balige were of great significance for me.
He had arranged things so I could visit parishes and schools.
At those venues one sees concretely the mercy, the love,
and the feeling of unity as it is lived. The experience
deepened in meaning when I met the brothers and
sisters who had participated in one of the pilgrimages.
In Balige I was invited to participate in the celebration of
a jubilee. Pastor Father Sybrandes van Rossum had founded
the parish and the school there 75 years ago. The road
to the school bears his name. During the celebration
I stood between two bishops and representatives of
the district of Toba, Indonesia, where Balige is located.
About 6000 faithful attended the powerful celebration
of the Eucharist on the soccer field. Repeatedly people
called me ‘pastor’, so I explained to them who I am and
what I do. I found it a great honour to be present at that
celebration. This journey to Indonesia became a very
unique experience which I would not have liked to miss.”
Trust
“At the New Year’s celebration with the sisters of de
Oude Dijk in Tilburg, The Netherlands, I sensed this
connectedness quite strongly again especially when I
met some of the sisters who had participated in the
Vincentian pilgrimages in the past years. I experience
this feeling of kinship also when I visit the sisters and
brothers at their various communities.”
“I passed my medical examination with flying colours and
am allowed to drive for another five years, God willing.
After all, I’ll turn 70 this year. I greatly appreciate that
people place their trust in me to join them as their driver
and companion. I am thankful that I may do this work
and thank God for giving me the strength and health to
do it. And to all sisters and brothers, wherever they are in
the world, I hope that they too will receive the strength
to continue their important work.”
Piet Prinse
22
Piet Prinse at the wheel.
brother
Louis (J.) Holtackers
in memoriam
He was born in Maasbree, The Netherlands, on
March 21, 1928 and entered the Congregation of
the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, in Tilburg,
The Netherlands, on August 29, 1947. He made his
profession for life on August 15, 1952. He passed
away at the age of 82 on October 19, 2010 in the
community of Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg and was
buried at the brothers’ cemetery at the Estate
Steenwijk in Vught, The Netherlands.
Primary education, school counselling, and religious
formation were tasks that filled Brother Louis’ life
abundantly. All his life he continued to work on
improving his professionalism. He gave shape to the
mission of the Congregation by the way he lived. He took
care of the children’s needs. Brother Louis worked in
Surinam, Curaçao, and especially, for a long time, in
The Netherlands. His time as school counsellor in
Eindhoven, The Netherlands, was the high point of
his career in education. Brother Louis stayed closely
connected with the Congregation, whether he lived in
one of the communities or when he lived on his own
in Best, The Netherlands. The last half year of his life
he was in the Joannes Zwijsen community. He faced a
serious illness. Fond of what was beautiful, elegant and
perfect, he now had to face suffering, which became a
harsh teacher for him. His faith in God and the care and
friendship many extended to him gave him the strength
to live his life to the fullest and, as a thankful man, bring
it to beautiful completion.
Brother Louis, you walked with your God and were
blessed to do it for 82 years. When your life turned to
utter suffering, the Lord called you to Himself.

‘ESPECIALLY THE POOR’
A prophetic word of Zwijsen
“Especially the poor.” That is the wisdom of Israel and
of Jesus. “Be mindful of the foreigners, the widows and the
orphan”, the prophets say. “Tend to the sick and
the abandoned”, Vincent de Paul repeats. “Do not forget the
vulnerable children and the frail elderly”,
Joannes Zwijsen states explicitly.
“Especially the poor.” Yes, but there is more. Vincent had
many contacts with rich women. Zwijsen had many special
contacts, even with the royal family. Both of them lived
in a world of people with power, money and prestige.
Yet both Vincent and Zwijsen were explicit advocates of
the option for the poor.
It is not about sentimentality or a passing fancy. Ultimately
it is a passion for the one human family, for the universal
brotherhood and sisterhood of all people: the so-called
‘family of God’. And experience teaches us that if no special
attention and care is shown for the weakest links in our
midst, no viable society is realized. “Also the poor” does
not seem to be sufficient. Without “especially the poor”
it appears that there is no future possible. Not for
a congregation, not for a Church and not for a world.
Brother Harrie van Geene
Bronnen
On what people should we focus our special attention in life? Zwijsen clearly answers:
“I say, especially the poor; the Church does not entirely exclude the wealthy from your care,
but the majority, the greater number of those committed to your charge must be the poor.
And, if it ever should happen that the rich under your care exceed the poor in number, one could
say with truth, that the Congregation had lost its primitive spirit.” (‘Familiar Discourses’, p. 74)
23

WE ACCEPT THE INVITATION
TO WITHDRAW INTO OURSELVES
AND TO PRAY TO THE FATHER
IN SECRET.
(from the Rule of Life
of the Brothers CMM)
Magazine of the Congregation of the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy
24