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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.