brothers CMM

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| FAREWELL TO SURINAM | HISTORICAL DAY
IN NAMIBIA | ‘ENORMOUS EXPERIENCE’ | PROTESTANT
GUESTS | STRIKING BUILDING DEMOLISHED | 50 YEARS
COLÉGIO PADRE EUSTÁQUIO

content
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 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.
Colofon
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:
Contact:
E-mail:
Website:
Franciscan Kolbe Press, Limuru,
Kenya, press@ofmconvkenya.org
Brothers CMM, Rhapta Road, P.O.Box
14916 Nairobi, Westlands 00800, Kenya
magazine@cmmbrothers.nl
www.cmmbrothers.org
2
The Prodigal Son, Rembrandt.
A voluntary contribution to meet the costs of
the magazine is appreciated: ING Bank Account
106 85 17 for Brothers CMM Tilburg.
For international transfer, please use:
IBAN: NL30INGB0001068517
BIC: INGBNL2A
Photo cover: Brother Laurenti Verhoeven
takes leave of one of his dear ones in Surinam.
Photo back cover: Statue of Mary at
the façade of the Music Academy of Utrecht, located
at Mariaplaats, established in the former St. Joannes
de Deo Hospital (photo: Peter van Zoest).

FAREWELL TO SURINAM
HISTORICAL DAY
6 IN NAMIBIA 10 NEWS IN BRIEF 12
editorial
Joy and sorrow sometimes come close together.
Everybody has experienced that. This is also
the case in the congregational life of the Brothers
CMM. This will be seen several times in this
edition of Brothers CMM. For example, there is
sadness about the brothers leaving Surinam.
Since 1902 there were 101 brothers who worked
there for longer or shorter periods. The farewell
took place on February 19, 2012, in the St. Peter
and Paul Cathedral of the capital Paramaribo.
Shortly afterwards on March 3, on the same
Latin-American continent, in the city of Belo
Horizonte, Brazil, the golden jubilee of the
elementary and secondary schools of the Colégio
Padre Eustáquio was celebrated with much joy.
Three days later a shadow was cast over the
festivities with the sudden passing of Brother
Sjaak Staats, the first director of this educational
institution. On the other hand a joyful occasion is
certainly the founding of a new community in
Suai, East Timor on February 11, 2012. However,
due to the death of Brother Aquiles Monteiro, the
brothers only took up residence there on March 1.
He died on February 9, at the age of 27. It was
just last year that he escorted the young people
from East Timor who were sent as ‘Ambassadors
of a Worldwide Brotherhood’ to attend formation
days in The Netherlands and the World Youth
Days in Madrid in 2011. After his return a serious
illness manifested itself, an illness that became
fatal. And then on April 21, there was again a day
full of happy events in Namibia. The CMM Region
there is unexpectedly flourishing and Brother
Hermenegildus Beris received an honorary papal
distinction. Sometimes only a thin line separates
joy from sorrow.
‘ENORMOUS
EXPERIENCE’
PROTESTANT
GUESTS
STRIKING BUILDING DEMOLISHED
50 YEARS COLÉGIO
PADRE EUSTÁQUIO
14
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IN MEMORIAM
SOURCES
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17
20
23
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ABOUT BROTHER ANDREAS
LIGHTNING PRAYER
The first Superior General of the Brothers, Franciscus Salesius de Beer, called monasteries
the “lightning rods of the devil”. They were beacons on the horizon, had an ‘elevated’
position in Church and society and constituted an outpost of heaven, where people
had a direct connection to God. But they were also places where Church and societal
conflicts became visible in all their intensity and where sometimes lightning struck.
Also religious themselves seemed like a walking
lightning rod because of their intense connection
to heaven. That is the way people felt about Brother
Andreas: “If you met him somewhere, you could not
think of anything else than: he’s occupied with God”,
said one of his pupils. The life of Brother Andreas was
anchored in silence and prayer.
That life of prayer had various aspects: there was the
‘Liturgy of the Hours’ which in that period filled many
hours per day. There was the ‘silent time’ which was
rigorously adhered to. There were the Stations of the
Cross and rosary prayers of which Brother Andreas
was a silent practitioner. But there was also a culture
of short quick prayers. At various moments a religious
would send an urgent message to heaven: when he
started something new, when he finished it, when he
met somebody who was having problems, or when
he became suddenly aware of the proximity of Christ
or Mary. These small prayers also were referred to as
‘lightning prayers’ and that explains the expression of
the monastery being a lightning rod. The prayers that
were the most popular with the brothers were: ‘My
Jesus Merciful’ and ‘St. Joseph take care of …’ filled
in with some prayer intention.
the boarding school where Brother Andreas worked.
After a few years it was dropped.
When, later in the century, the telegraph was invented,
the lightning rod metaphor went out of fashion. It was
replaced by something else: the antenna! Monasteries
were the places where heavenly signals were received
and transmitted. That too was a metaphor in which
we recognize Brother Andreas: because he was a silent
transmitter and receiver to and from God.
Charles van Leeuwen
Chapel of boarding school Ruwenberg in Sint-Michielsgestel,
where Brother Andreas taught for half a century.
In boarding schools short quick prayers were
increasingly cultivated, so that their uniqueness was
lost. From the Brothers of the Christian Schools the
brothers adopted the habit of exposing pupils to the
saying: ‘Vive Jésus dans nos coeurs’ (‘May Jesus live
in our hearts’). With that prayer every activity had to
start and finish. Also when rising in the morning this
prayer was sung in the dormitories. The boys were then
supposed to answer: ‘A jamais’ (‘Forever and ever’).
This did not become very popular at the Ruwenberg,
5

SURINAM
Brother Laurenti Verhoeven says goodbye to one of his dear ones.
Farewell
TO SURINAM
The CMM Region Surinam has been suppressed. Since 1902, 101 brothers have been active for shorter or longer
periods in this Latin-American country that, in 1975, gained independence from The Netherlands. They worked
mostly in education. They started an orphanage and that motivated them to start a printing business and
a construction company. On February 19, the well-attended, solemn farewell celebration took place
in the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral.
Bishop Wim de Bekker of Paramaribo celebrated
the Eucharist on this occasion. Among the attendees
were Bishop Aloys Zichem, Bishop Emeritus of
Paramaribo, the Superior General of the Brothers
CMM, Brother Broer Huitema, the three last brothers
in Surinam, Johannes van Berkel, Lambertus Berkers
and Laurenti Verhoeven, who performed their jobs
skillfully in Surinam for 44, 42 and 51 years, and
Brother Guillaume Caubergh, who after working for
24 years in Surinam, had already returned to Belgium.
Excellent Result
Bishop de Bekker, thanked the brothers during the
celebration for their great effort and added: “A task
has been completed and with nostalgia they look back,
but also with new renewed vigour, taking into account
their age, they look forward. They were very successful
in our country and now the local population has taken
over their work.” In connection with this he mentioned
the construction company Timin/Remas, the printing
business Leo Victor, the Christoforus Boarding Facility
6

From the left in the front row: the Brothers Broer Huitema,
Lambertus Berkers, Laurenti Verhoeven, Johannes Berchmans
van Berkel, Guillaume Caubergh.
Wim de Bekker, Bishop of Paramaribo,
during his address.
Picture of the well-attended farewell
celebration in the Cathedral of Paramaribo
with on the right in front Bishop Emeritus of
Paramaribo, Aloys Zichem.
and the Pedagogical Institute, an ecumenical training
program for educators.
During an address, Superior General, Brother Broer
Huitema looked back at 110 years of the Brothers CMM
in Surinam. “In December of 1910 the then Bishop
of Paramaribo, Bishop Wulfingh, asked the Superior
General of the Brothers CMM for personnel to staff
the boys’ orphanage. That request got a favourable
reception. The superior wrote a letter addressed to
all brothers in The Netherlands asking for volunteers
for this mission. Ninety brothers reacted and showed
interest, which was at that time about 10% of all the
brothers. This showed that from the beginning, there
was much interest in working in Surinam. Whether
all had pious motives or whether there were some
adventurers among them, the chronicler does not
say. Maybe it was a combination of both!” On August
31, 1902, the first five brothers arrived: Augustinus
van Dooren, Bertrandus Maane, Concordius van der
Zanden, Julius van Beek and Theobaldus Elings.
The last brother to leave for Surinam was Guillaume
Caubergh, “he was the first of the second hundred”,
said Brother Broer Huitema. “Unfortunately he
remained the only one!”
Mixed Feelings
“We look back with respect and reverence, with
admiration and appreciation at the brothers who
have worked in this beautiful land”, said the superior
general. “They have not worked for themselves;
no, they wanted to realize the mission of the
Congregation. As our Constitutions state: ‘Through
education and other forms of guidance, we want to
help them to find their way in the world of tomorrow.’
In gratitude we may look back at what we were
privileged to give ánd to receive in Surinam.
He did not deny having come to this farewell with
mixed feelings: “On the one hand, a feeling of
gratitude, on the other hand, a feeling of certain
sadness. Gratitude for 110 years of presence of the
Congregation in Surinam, sadness because we must
say goodbye to the people of Surinam. Soon the last
three brothers shall leave Surinam forever. It is a fact
that our brother community in The Netherlands has
dwindled; reinforcement from that side has already
been impossible for years. We have been forced
to live under that constraint, which has large
consequences. Unfortunately it was not to
be that young people in Surinam joined our
7

community. That means that our presence in Surinam
must come to an end. Soon the last three brothers
will be gone. As a community of brothers we are very
regretful that we can no longer offer our services to
the Church and the society of Surinam.”
Fertile
He continued: “Maybe we should not be too sad: the
seeds that were sown by the many brothers during
the last 110 years did bear fruit and are made fruitful
by others. It is also true that within the Church, the
laity has taken a more prominent place than in the
past. We trust, therefore, that the work of the brothers
has not been in vain, but bears fruit via the many
laypersons who are now active within the Church and
the community, also here in Surinam. Still it remains
a fact that we say goodbye with a certain amount
of sadness. It is not only leaving our work, it is also
leaving the numerous friends we have made. And that
is especially true for the three brothers who have been
in Surinam for so many years. But who knows: even
though they part physically with their many friends
here, they may enter the virtual world of the internet,
Facebook, Twitter and what else there is, and with
periodic ‘Googling’, maintain their contacts.
every Christian: building the Kingdom of God, building
the Reign of God, based on the Gospel. Share eyes
and ears, share hands and feet and so we offer each
other healing, in faith.”
Brother Broer Huitema concluded with thanking
the Surinam people, the attending Bishops Aloys
Zichem and Wim de Bekker, and the departing
Brothers Johannes van Berkel, Lambertus Berkers
and Laurenti Verhoeven.
Peter van Zoest
The brothers’ community, 1907 in Paramaribo.
Gratitude
“There is sadness, but that is outweighed by gratitude”,
Brother Huitema assured his listeners. “Gratitude, in
the first place to God who called many brothers to
practice the service of mercy for the Church and
the society of Surinam. For 110 years the brothers
were able and privileged to work for the benefit of
the people to whom they were sent. That applied
especially to the fields of instruction and education,
but also to the businesses founded by the brothers.”
“Naturally, not everything went well in those 110
years. We have fulfilled our mission with all the
limitations we had and with all our shortcomings.
For all those times we fell short we apologize.
We ask you forgiveness for the mistakes we made.
We are especially glad for the times that we did
succeed; that we were able to realize our mission
of mercy and brotherhood. And we hope that after
those 110 years we can leave behind something
good; something that you can build on. And maybe
we can say: our mission is complete and we have the
confidence that the present generation and the next
one, will follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, and
practice mercy and brotherhood. Our mission is indeed
not exclusive. Our mission is no different than that of
8

BELGIAN BROTHER GUILLAUME CAUBERGH
LOOKS BACK ON HIS FAREWELL TO SURINAM
“A message arrived in 2011 announcing that the
three remaining brothers would be leaving Surinam
in the beginning of 2012. I was invited by our superior
general to be present at this farewell as a former
Surinam missionary. It was an opportunity for me
to say good-bye to people with whom I had been
privileged to work or whom I had gotten to know
during my twenty-four years in Surinam. I was curious
about what and whom I would see again. Initially
many things appeared the same as in former days:
there were still the same gracious people who made
you feel at home with your fellow-brothers.
The climate demanded a longer time for adjustment.
It was a lot busier in the city and on the roads and
one got the impression that everyone had a car. I did
not care to be behind the wheel again in this kind of
traffic. I wondered about my old places of work and
about the people I would meet there. Taman Putro,
the boarding school for Javanese children, where
I worked the first two years, had been converted into
Asewa Otono, the formation centre for the diocese.
It still functions like it did ten years ago. A number
of facilities have been improved considerably.
At the farewell celebration in the cathedral a young
man greeted me; he had been a student at the
boarding school and treasured many good memories
of that time. The catechetical centre, where I had the
pleasure to work for five years, is now a subdivision of
the Service for Faith, Culture and Communication for
the Diocese of Paramaribo. Only two persons who are
there now employed worked then at the Catechetical
Centre. I was invited for a meeting with the board at
the Kennedy Foundation, the Institute for the Deaf,
where I was the general director for twelve years.
I spoke with people with whom I had been privileged
to work for many years. I was told that the school and
the boarding home are still running smoothly. I saw
many new staff-members during my tour of the school
and the boarding house, but also some old colleagues.
Many good memories surfaced at all the meetings with
former colleagues and acquaintances. I heard many
grateful words and many a time it was said what a pity
it was that the brothers were leaving Surinam. I left
again for Belgium, grateful that I had been privileged
to have lived and worked in Surinam.”
The old brotherhouse Saint Alphonsus
in the Wanicastraat, Paramaribo.
Photo above: Paramaribo, 1923: The community of the
brothers at the occasion of the visit by the Superior
General, Brother Eligius Eligh (centre, directly beneath
the Sacred Heart statue).
Photo left: Paramaribo, 1913: The brothers, in white
cassocks for the first time, on the occasion of the visit
of the Superior General, Father Barnabas Verhoeven,
centre right in black cassock, with next to him
Brother Chrysologus Willems, General Assistant.
9

namibië
HISTORICAL DAY
IN NAMIBIA
Saturday, April 21, 2012, went down into the books as an historic day for the CMM Region Namibia.
Archbishop Liborius Nashenda of Windhoek, in the presence of the CMM Superior General, Brother Broer
Huitema, blessed the new chapel of the brotherhouse on the Jan Jonker Road in Windhoek, three novices made
their first profession, five Namibian brothers renewed their temporary profession and Brother Hermenegildus
Beris received papal recognition.
The site on Jan Jonker Road, which serves as the
headquarters for the Region Namibia, has been
thoroughly renovated. The rooms of the brothers were
renewed, the kitchen and dining room were expanded
and a new chapel was built. Due to the increase in
the number of brothers in Namibia the existing prayer
space and dining room had become inadequate for
regional gatherings of all the brothers.
Exterior and interior of the new chapel.
Surprise
Three novices of the Region Namibia, the Brothers
Nestor Mwinoma Lita, Lawrence Banda and Juliano
Mulenga, made their first temporary profession after
two years of novitiate, in the presence of the Superior
General Brother Huitema. At the same occasion five
Namibian brothers renewed their temporary profession.
The Namibian Region has experienced a steady
growth. The number of Dutch and Belgian brothers
had declined to three around the year 2000. At this
time there are twelve brothers in the region. The
culmination point of the day was a solemn Eucharistic
Celebration in the new chapel presided over by
Archbishop Nashenda. During this celebration the
professions took place. There was a surprise at the
end for the nearly one hundred people in attendance:
Brother Huitema presented the Regional Superior
Brother Hermenegildus Beris with the honorary papal
distinction ‘Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice’. The archbishop
had a special blessing for Brother Hermenegildus.
Archbishop Nashenda reviewed his special services for
the church in Namibia for more than forty years, for
10

Above left: Archbishop Liborius Nashenda of Windhoek (centre) during the Eucharistic Celebration. Bottom left: First
temporary vows of Brother Lawrence Banda. Above right: Broer Huitema pins the honorary papal distinction on Brother
Hermenegildus Beris. Bottom right: The brothers of the Region Namibia.
which he received this recognition. He was principal
of St. Paul’s College, Secretary General of the Bishops’
Conference in Namibia, is professor at the seminary,
and published among other books the historiography
of the missions in Namibia, books about the history
of the Diocese of Keetmanskoop and a book about the
history of the Congregation of the Brothers CMM
in Namibia.
Joy
“When I became Superior General in 2002, I never
had expected that eight brothers would make their
profession now in Namibia”, said Brother Broer
Huitema during the celebration. “It is not only a day
of joy for the region, but for the whole Congregation.”
He pointed out that it is not easy these days to choose
for a life as a brother. “Many people do not understand
it. When a young man opts for this he barely knows
what challenges lie ahead. However, like our Founder
Joannes Zwijsen wrote: we must have trust in God.” In
addition young brothers know that they are supported
by the community in which they live, said the superior
general. “Our brotherhood is rooted in community life
and we go out from this community fulfil our mission.
In community we serve and encourage each other
and share the good and bad. We pray, eat, and relax
together. And when it is necessary, we correct each
other. This ‘brotherly correction’ is important in our
community life”, he explained to the brothers. “Use it
without hesitation. We really do not build a community
by ignoring things. On the contrary, that can be
destructive. I want to encourage you as brothers to
be open and honest with each other.
Hope
The superior general concluded his speech with
expressing his hope “that in the Region Namibia the
CMM mission of brotherhood and mercy may grow. We
may look back on a tradition of fifty years in Namibia
in the field of education. Without exaggeration I may
say that the brothers have greatly contributed to
the development of this country by providing good
education. It is our hope and our expectation that the
present generation of Namibian brothers will continue
this tradition, so that their ancestors may be proud
of them.”
Peter van Zoest
11

news in brief
Brother Sjaak Staats.
THE POWER OF
VULNERABILITY
Collection of forces: the power of vulnerability is the
title of a unique booklet with the biographies of twenty
persons recorded by colleagues of twenty organizations
that are active in the field of service and guidance of
people that are distanced from society and the job
market. The publication, issued at the end of last year, is
a product of ‘Reële Communicatie’ in Valkenswaard
(www.reelle.nl). Inga de Bruijn, location secretary of the
residential care facility Joannes Zwijsen in Tilburg, wrote
the biography of Brother Sjaak Staats, who passed away
shortly afterwards on March 6, 2012. She writes in her
introduction: “What Brother Staats a life-long has done
for the youth, the future adults, demands respect. The
subdued and modest manner, in which he tells his story,
makes the listener humble.” Along with the text is a
picture of the brother near an aquarium in the residential
care facility. “To tend to the fish in the aquarium is now
my hobby”, he tells us. “The most beautiful fish I saw
was on Curaçao. On our Saturdays off I always went
swimming among the coral with my fellow-brothers.
That was a wonderful time, long ago.”
He moved from Curaçao to Belo Horizonte in Brazil,
where the brothers started ‘Colégio Padre Eustáquio’
in 1962. Brother Sjaak was the first principal at this
school. For thirteen years he was in charge. “We started
off with zero students”, he recalled. “When we left,
there were eighteen hundred. If you were to ask me
now about what I was the most proud of, then I would
say what we accomplished in Belo Horizonte. Yes, that
was beautiful. And it still is, for it now even has three
thousand students.” Upon his return to The Netherlands
in 1981 and a few relocations, he came to the residential
care facility Joannes Zwijsen. He concludes: “Looking at
the future I know that my body is getting weaker. After
my stroke a few years ago, I have continuously pain in
my legs. Walking gets increasingly more difficult. I am
fearful of the time that I will need more assistance. But
till that time I will enjoy, as long as that is possible, the
nice, colourful underwater world in the aquarium.” In
this way life is good. As long as I don’t have to relocate.”
GOLDEN JUBILEE
ST. PAUL’S COLLEGE, WINDHOEK
Gatherings were held on March 1, 2 and 3, 2012, on the occasion of the fifty years’ jubilee of St. Paul’s
College in Windhoek, Namibia for former teachers, former students, parents and pupils of the former school
of the Brothers CMM. The official celebration took place on March 2, in the presence of former principals,
among whom Brother Hermenegildus Beris, Superior of the CMM Region Namibia. In The Netherlands
attention was paid to the jubilee as well. The brothers who had lived and worked in Namibia had been invited
to the Generalate in Tilburg for a festive get-together. Superior General, Brother Broer Huitema, noted in his
speech that in comparison to other mission areas where the brothers have worked, Namibia has more former
missionaries who are still alive than any other country. He expressed his gratitude for what the brothers,
through their schools, clubs, and other activities, have contributed to the development of the country.
He expressed his pleasure about the constant influx of young Namibian brothers, which started around 2000.
12

LOOKING BACK ON THE
RENOVATION OF THE ROOF
OF ‘BROTHER ANDREAS’
Hans Korthout, of the ‘J.P.Korthout Roofing Company,
Ltd.’, wrote in a letter to the General Board of CMM
on April 25, 2012, that he looked back with
satisfaction and pride on the renovation of the dome
of the chapel at the Generalate in Tilburg. The chapel
struggled for quite some time with persistent moisture
spots. It seemed that these spots were caused by
condensation due to the poor insulation and too
little ventilation in the construction of the roof. The
company from Udenhout advised to do a thorough job
on the domed roof. A moisture repellent layer, the right
insulation and a new copper roof were installed, which
greatly improved the ventilation. After the tender
had been approved the work started in the middle of
February 2011. At the beginning of June the renovation
was complete.
The renovated dome of the chapel of the Generalate.
“The nice thing is”, according to the writing of Hans
Korthout, “that a company from Udenhout, that exists
already for more than 175 years, constructs a roof
under which Brother Andreas is buried. He himself also
came from Udenhout.”
NEW COMMUNITY
IN EAST TIMOR
On February 11, 2012, a new community, named Mater Misericordia, was founded in Suai, East Timor.
The brothers have taken over there the boarding house ‘Padre Dewanto SJ’ from the Jesuits. For the
time being the postulancy has been established in the new house. On account of the passing away
of Brother Aquiles Monteiro, the brothers only moved into the community on March 1, 2012.
The community is made up of the Brothers Anselmus Weka Udjan (Superior), Antonius Sipahutar
(Deputy/Postulant-master) and Arcanjo Ferreira, (Treasurer).
ASSOCIATE
MEMBERS ON
RETREAT
The associate members of CMM and some associate
candidate members held a retreat on April 27 and 28,
2012, in ‘Klaarland’, Bochholt, Belgium. They were
guided by the Brothers Wim Verschuren (fourth
from the left) and Jan Koppens (sixth from
the left), Provincial Superior of The Netherlands.
13

NETHERLANDS
Esmee de Bekker (right) and Vera Terra,
ready for their departure for ‘De Vuurhaard’ near the
provincial government building of North Brabant
in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
‘ENORMOUS
EXPERIENCE’
On March 1 and 2, 2012, Esmee de Bekker from Sint
Michielsgestel and Vera Terra from Amsterdam, both
19 years old, were guests at the CMM Community
‘De Vuurhaard’ (the Fireplace), in Udenhout. The
brotherhouse offers hospitality to refugees. Their visit
was intended as a preparation for a stay in Malawi
organized by the organization ‘Dare2Go’, the former
‘Jongeren & Missie’ (Youth and Mission). This is their
report for ‘Brothers CMM’.
From April to June 2012 we are going to be involved
in volunteer work in Malawi with the Brothers of
Maastricht (FIC). They devote themselves there to the
development of village communities and to children
with a handicap. We will work at a boarding school
with 200 deaf children, aged 6 – 20. We will live with
the sisters who are responsible for the day to day care
of the children. In order to prepare us properly for this
work Dare2Go requires that we can immerse ourselves
in a way of life other than our own. So we chose to go
to the brotherhouse ‘De Vuurhaard’. We were deeply
moved by the way we were welcomed by the brothers.
Things were explained to us; we were taken to the
nearby sand dunes of Drunen and visited an exhibition
on the history of the brothers.
Their way of living filled us with due respect, especially
the way they freely take up the cause for refugees.
Their ‘home restaurant’ is a fabulous initiative and we
were happy to chip in. Together with the refugees we
prepared a five-course dinner; it was a great way to
make contact with them. For the first time we realized
how hard life is for refugees in The Netherlands.
For the night we could stay with the brothers in
Tilburg. Here too we were received with great
hospitality and straight away we were given a
guided tour through the house. We each got our own
bedroom. We spent quite a bit of time exchanging our
experiences with the brothers. They listened to our
stories and we were impressed by their travel stories.
On Friday, March 2, we got up very early to join them
in prayer. We have never been through something so
special and it moved us when all of a sudden we heard
how they were praying for us, that we would be safe
in Malawi and have a great time there. To say ‘thank
you’ for all our beautiful experiences we cooked the
evening meal at ‘De Vuurhaard’. Together with some of
the refugees we cooked for the brothers and the other
refugees. We still had time for playing a few games
which allowed us to have a good laugh together.
It was nice to see them laughing so they were able to
forget their worries for a moment. We want to thank
everyone for this enormous experience and we hope
‘De Vuurhaard’ will last for many more years to come.
Esmee de Bekker and Vera Terra
14

Netherlands
PROTESTANT
STUDENTS VISITING
Following a quite recent tradition the brothers in Tilburg welcome once a year a group of students from
the PABO Driestar College at Gouda. This training institution for primary school teachers has a Protestant
Christian foundation. At the Generalate and at the Elim Community in Tilburg the students are introduced
to a Catholic community of religious, which has devoted itself to education all over the world.
Ewald Kloosterman and Rick Lekkerkerk reflect on the most recent visit of the students on April 11.
Brother Edward Gresnigt giving the students an
introduction about the Brothers CMM in the Chapter
Hall of the Generalate.
Brother Pieter-Jan van Lierop taking the students on
a tour through the Exposition of the brothers.
In two groups – swapping over half way through
the day – we, Protestant young people were given
an impression of the life of a brother and how the
brothers are faring in The Netherlands and abroad.
In the Generalate the information about the brothers
was the focal point. Thus it became clear to us what
they are aiming at in life and how they fill in that
goal. It was impressive to see during the tour through
the house how proud the brothers were of their
community. Pride and commitment, but also humble
simplicity were the points that stood out during the
time in the Generalate.
Meaningful conversations
Apart from the information given to us in the
Generalate, we also saw the practical side of things in
the Elim Community. Here also the brothers gave us a
warm welcome. After an introductory meditation there
was a clear explanation of the life of the brothers.
The Rule of Life was highlighted and the Bible was
shown as a source of inspiration.
The next thing was a tour through the house of
the brothers; there was ample room for discussion.
Meaningful conversations took place in various
groups with the emphasis on mutual contact and faith
experiences. They were heart-to-heart talks. Both
differences and similarities came to the fore.
We learned most from the meditative and quiet,
sober lifestyle of the brothers in the Elim community.
They are members of society and make an active
contribution to the parish. But still, meditation
and giving God a prime place in their lives, are
indispensible to the brothers. We Protestants can
learn a great deal here. Before we realize it we get so
carried away by the everyday humdrum and our busy
hearts miss opportunities for quietness and meditation.
Spirit and action
At the end of the morning there was a prayer meeting.
Together we sang a few hymns from the books we had
brought along. Next we wrote down the similarities
between Protestants and Catholics. There were
important areas where we found ourselves one
15

Netherlands
in spirit and in action. However, on certain crucial
points there is a different way in dealing with
the Bible. The way Christ’s work of redemption
is understood also varies.
Respect
Zooming in on the similarities both ‘form’ and ‘liturgy’
stood out. To us they are points of interest too and we
felt guilty by the attitude of the brothers in everything
related to God and His worship. Attention to the
liturgy, the symbolism and the celebrations is precious
and implies a lot of good. With the Reformation we
have at times lost too much of this. It was also nice
to hear from a brother how he has also learned from
Luther. In this way we were able to mutually enhance
one another. Jesus is to the brothers the greatest
example they follow. We see this function of Jesus
as a role model as a somewhat one-sided approach,
but it makes us think. After all, wasn’t it Jesus who
showed us how to live, how to care for the poor, the
weak, the suffering, the sick and needy. As poor and
guilty sinners we may find salvation in Him alone,
till he pours out his everlasting love of sinners into
our hearts, and we are restored in faith, through the
intercesson of His Spirit, to a new living relationship
with Him.
Ewald Kloosterman and Rick Lekkerkerk
Left: Brother Joop van Dooremaal talking with one of
the students in the museum of the brothers.
Below: Students during the prayer service in the chapel
of the Generalate.
16

Netherlands
‘Publishing House Zwijsen’ 1933.
LANDMARK ‘PUBLISHING
HOUSE ZWIJSEN’
DEMOLISHED
The empty building which until 2005 lodged the ‘Publishing House Zwijsen’, was pulled down early 2012.
The distinctive building along the railway line was one of the last remnants of the old buildings on a
small parcel of Tilburg where the Congregation of the Brothers CMM came to full maturity. The only
thing remaining is a section of the old brotherhouse wall that used to shield the brothers’ domain from
the outside world.
Right next to the Generalate of the brothers, opposite
the demolition site, the construction began in 2006 of
the Joannes Zwijsen residential care facility. It replaced
the convalescent home of the brothers with the same
name, first occupied in 1974. On March 26, 2009 the
official opening took place. The complex had been built
by housing corporation TBV Wonen (Tilburg Building
Company ‘Wonen’) in cooperation with the care provider
‘De Wever’ and the Congregation of the Brothers CMM.
On the fourth and fifth floor there are forty apartments
for the brothers.
The residential care facility finds itself on historic land as
study secretary spirituality of the Brothers CMM, Charles
van Leeuwen, showed us via a PowerPoint presentation.
“For a long time this small area, situated about half way
between the centres of ‘t Heike and ‘t Goirke, remained
a vacant piece of land, where there was still some nature
and fresh air. That is why the local people called the
place ‘De Locht’. You’d find a few restaurants there
and in 1829 the first hospital arose in these green and
peaceful surroundings for the fast developing city. The
road that led you there was soon called ‘Gasthuisstraat’
(Hospital Road) and still later it was called ‘Gasthuisring’
(Hospital Ring Road). The hospital was staffed by a few
Catholic sisters. Early 1845, next door to the hospital, a
small but dignified brotherhouse was built for the
new Congregation of the Brothers. It was a perfect
location for a religious community, not far from the
sisters, fairly close to the centre of the city and yet
somewhat secluded.”
17

NETHERLANDS
Left: the Generalate of the brothers next to the residential care facility Joannes Zwijsen.
Centre and right: Remnants of the old garden wall which surrounded the complex of the Brothers CMM, with the
statue of Mary made by Brother André Boss (1902-1973).
Enormous building complex
The study secretary then sketched the development
in the early years of the Congregation: “As early as
September of the same year the first three brothers
entered the place which still smelled of fresh paint.
Nobody could foresee then what might spring up on
that same land of the brothers. Immediately they
started with taking in some orphan boys into their
house. After a few years there were so many orphans,
some 30 to 40, forcing them to build a separate
orphanage adjacent to the brotherhouse. The boys not
only received their education from the brothers, but
they were also put to work in a small print shop and
publishing firm called ‘Drukkerij RK Jongensweeshuis’
(Printing firm Roman Catholic Boys’ Orphanage).
In later years this was re-named ‘Uitgeverij Zwijsen’
(Publishing House Zwijsen). The brothers also took on
the education of other children, but they did not build
their schools at this remote location, but right in the
midst of city centres like ‘t Heike and ‘t Goirke. The
number of schools grew rapidly and the need arose
for teachers. Thus the brothers used the parlours
of the brotherhouse to begin a teachers’ training
college, which in no time grew into an institution
with an annual intake of some fifty students who
were accommodated in a separate wing and later in
their own building.” On the same location a larger
chapel was erected as well as a church, the so called
‘Paterskerk’, (Church of the ‘Fathers’ i.e. religious
priests). In addition there came a technical school and
a Sunday school to offer supplementary schooling to
working youth, as well as the first Tilburg ‘gymnasium’
(pre-university school). Meanwhile the brotherhouse
had expanded into an enormous building complex,
home to one hundred and fifty brothers and schools
accommodating some two hundred young men.
Rear view of the CMM Motherhouse with church,
chapel and garden with cemetery (1925).
In 1846 the ‘Printing House Roman Catholic
Boys’ Orphanage’ was established. In 1931-1933
the Congregation built an attractive plant (see
page 17), for the publishing house, designed by
architect Constant Panis (1891-1972). As from 1958
this printery/publishing establishment was called
‘Publishing House Zwijsen’. Until 2005 it continued
to occupy this characteristic building. During that
year a new accommodation was found in the top
four floors of the new office building ‘Het Laken’,
situated a stone’s throw away from the Fraterstraat
(Brothers’ Street). In the early part of 2012 the old
building was demolished (see photo below).
Peter van Zoest
18

BRAZIL
50 YEARS
COLÉGIO PADRE EUSTÁQUIO
Colégio Padre Eustáquio, the primary and high school complex in Belo Horizonte, Brazil,
celebrated its golden jubilee on March 3, 2012. Superior General, Brother Broer Huitema,
attended the ceremony. Joaquim Giovanni Mol Guimarães, Auxiliary Bishop of the Belo
Horizonte Archdiocese, celebrated the Eucharist for this festive occasion.
The superior general receives a warm Brazilian
embrace from Bishop Joaquim Giovanni Mol
Guimarães, during the celebration of the Eucharist.
Guests attending the jubilee.
Some eight thousand people attended the jubilee,
which became a reunion as well. Brother Nicácio
Huiskamp took his position at the school’s main
entrance to greet everyone; something he had done
and still does every day. Various bands that were made
up of students, graduates, and teachers enriched the
celebration with their music.
‘The spirituality of the Congregation’
In his commemorative speech Brother Broer Huitema
observed that the brothers provided the leadership of
the school from its beginning in 1962. During the first
half of the school’s existence the brothers took on its
daily management. “With respect and appreciation
we think of Brother Inócencio (Sjaak) Staats, the first
principal. With him started the fruitful development of
this school. He was a pioneer who laid the foundation
for the current successes. His successor, Brother
Nicácio Huiskamp, continued this style of leadership.
He became the brother who knew all the students by
name and came to know thousands of pupils this way.
He left an important mark on the school.
The members of the Congregation are grateful for
his great achievements for the school. In his intense
personal approach, he showed in a very natural way
that a school is much more than a place of great
academic achievements, even though those are
very important. Both brothers completely dedicated
themselves, in the spirit of the Congregation, to serve
the school, the teachers, and the pupils. The school
received its first lay principal following Brother
Nicácio. Limitations make increasingly difficult to
appoint another brother as principal of the school.
Yet we consider ourselves blessed that successive
principals have served the school and its teachers and
students maintaining the spirit of the Congregation.”
‘Pride’
The superior general thanked the school’s lay
administration, which maintains close contact with
the Congregation and shows concern for students,
teachers, and personnel supporting educational
programs, administrative and secretarial fellow workers,
the technical staff, security guards, and cafeteria
workers. “All of them contribute to the school’s
atmosphere. They bring an ambience where
pupils will be at home, at ease and feel
accepted. It has been my experience in all
the years I walked into the school that the
pupils encountered a climate in which they
19

BROTHER
Aquiles (D.) Monteiro
BROTHER
Gummarus (J.A.) van Gils
He was born in Fatulia, East Timor, on February 3, 1985
and entered the Congregation of the Brothers of Our
Lady, Mother of Mercy, in Tomohon, Indonesia, on
April 30, 2006. He made his first profession on April
10, 2008. He passed away at the hospital in Dili, East
Timor, on February 9, 2012 and was buried at Santa
Cruz cemetery in Dili.
After he completed the noviciate, the Congregation
assigned Brother Aquiles to Dili in 2008, where he
helped rebuild the country of his birth, East Timor.
He became a teacher at the elementary school of
Becora Parish. In Dili he studied Portuguese, the
national language of East Timor. Because of the
great contacts he had with young people he was
chosen to chaperone the youths to participate in
the ‘Ambassadors of a Worldwide Brotherhood’
programme. They were sent to days of formation in
The Netherlands and to the World Youth Days in
Madrid, in 2011. When he arrived back in Dili, Brother
Aquiles felt sick. Medical examinations indicated that
he suffered from a serious kidney disease. For months
he was cared for in Surabaya, Indonesia, and in Dili.
On February 6 the illness worsened and he passed
away on February 9, 2012. Brother Aquiles was well
respected and people loved to work with him. He was
humble, cheerful, and had a great sense of humour.
He carried out his assignments with enthusiasm and
took full responsibility for them. He accepted his fate
when he became ill and remained hopeful that he would
recuperate. He continued to be the joy filled brother he
always had been. We find comfort in the conviction that
Brother Aquiles’ life will bring abundant fruitfulness, as
the seed of wheat that falls in the earth and dies will
bear fruit a thousand-fold.
He was born in Made and Drimmelen, The Netherlands,
on August 16, 1922 and entered the Congregation of
the Brothers of Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, in Tilburg,
The Netherlands, on March 19, 1943. He made his
profession for life on August 15, 1947. He passed away
on February 29, 2012 at the Joannes Zwijsen community
in Tilburg and was buried in the brothers’ cemetery at
the Estate Steenwijk, in Vught, The Netherlands.
He was a man ready to tackle any task at the brothers’
Motherhouse in Tilburg and later in the community
in Goirle, The Netherlands. He moved to the boarding
school Huize De La Salle in Boxtel, The Netherlands
in 1945. He became a student monitor and for three
years he looked after the boys, who were assigned
to his care. In 1948 the Congregation asked him
to give his talents to the work in Curaçao. There
Brother Gummarus worked at Huize Scherpenheuvel, a
boarding school that took in boys who went to school
there or learned a trade. For a quarter of a century
he dedicated himself to the needs of disadvantaged
youth. He accepted the task of deputy superior for
the Scherpenheuvel community and was a member
of the Congregation’s regional board. He returned to
The Netherlands, together with his fellow-brothers
in late 1995. For three years he lived in Udenhout,
The Netherlands, and later became a member of the
Joannes Zwijsen community in Tilburg. He maintained
a workshop in both places. He started to lose his
strength and his spirit became increasingly ‘foggy’
and confused. During the last years of his life Brother
Gummarus received loving care at the Joannes
Zwijsen residential care facility. He was a man
for whom community and cordial personal
relations were of great importance. He loved his
family. We believe that God has received him
into his loving care.
21

SOURCES
JESUS’ DAILY
AGENDA
Zwijsen’s down-to-earth image of Jesus
What was it about Jesus that fascinated Zwijsen above everything else? In his conferences,
the Familiar Discourses, he repeatedly presented the following thought: “What did Jesus do on
earth? At times he isolated himself to pray to his merciful Father. The rest of the time he spent
showing concern for the wellbeing of the fellow man.”
This strikes one as a remark on how to use one’s time. But it turns out
that there’s more to it. Both St. Vincent and Zwijsen cherished the
image of Jesus, which showed him among the people as ‘the Merciful
One’, ‘the Compassionate One’, uniquely and closely present, and in
solidarity with each one’s needs and hopes. For those who follow Jesus
this means for all practical purposes: living with two hands. With one
hand keeping continually contact with the Merciful One, while with
the other hand one stays in contact with the little ones, the vulnerable
ones, the lonely and the poor, with people in need.
All founders of orders and congregations, past and present,
consistently called attention for a good balance in life. Monks
received the directive: ‘Ora et Labora’, ‘Pray and Work’. The brothers
of Taizé practice a basic rule to achieve a balanced life: ‘Lutte et
Contemplation’, ‘Struggle and Contemplation’. Zwijsen followed St.
Vincent in seeing merciful love as the ideal for which to strive. Yet
here too striking the balance is essential. Therefore, Zwijsen gave
practical directives to prevent one-sidedness: “… at one time do this…
and at the other time do that…” After all, the key issue is to find the
evangelical lifestyle of mercy and that is strikingly different from the
style of heated activism. Zwijsen invited us to pay attention to Jesus’
daily agenda. He intended to stimulate a harmonious personal life for
us and also, of course, to promote the sustainability of our practice
of mercy.
Brother Harrie van Geene
23