MSC Covid-19 deaths in Europe.
In the media recently, families have written tributes to members of their family who have succumbed to covid-19.
We have already honoured our three US confreres who have died:
George Farkas, aged 88
Joseph Tesar, aged 87
John Paul, aged 87.
And from Central America, Jose Dore Chicos, aged 45.
Our confreres from Belgium, Spain, France - long lives of foreign mission ministry. (Stories from the MSC General Bulletin.)
Our MSC confreres who died from COVID-19 in the Belgian Province
Fr. Alfons de Nijs was born in Deurne (Antwerp) on 14/07/1936, the third in a family of five children. Feeling called to religious life, he entered the apostolic school in Asse in 1947. On the 23rd April 1962 he was ordained a priest in Louvain. He was first a mission promoter in the region of Antwerp and Flemish Brabant, which he did with the enthusiasm that would characterise his life.
His missionary dream came true in 1968. He was able to go and strengthen the Belgian MSC group in the southwest region of Paraná (Brazil).
At the end of his holidays in Belgium in 2019, the doctors forbade him to return to Brazil because of the delicate state of his heart. He would have liked to return to Brazil at least for a farewell visit. But the coronavirus decided otherwise: in early March 2020, he was infected and hospitalised. He died on 6 April 2020, without being able to say goodbye.
Fr. Joseph Bossmans was born on 8th December 1927 in Bree. Coming from a very religious family, he felt the vocation to the priesthood at a very early age.
At the beginning of September 1942, he entered the apostolic school of the Congregation in Asse and was ordained priest in Louvain on 6/09/1953. His great dream was to join the Belgian brothers who had been working in the mission of Paraná (Brazil) since 1948. He was able to join them in 1955.
In the last years of his life, through visits to hospitals, he kept in touch with many people, until his death from COVID-19 on 17 April 2020.
Fr. Edgard De Vlaminck was born on 08-01-1926 in Lembeke (East Flanders). He entered the Apostolic School in Asse in September 1937. On 21.09.1948 he made his final vows and on 04.03.1950 he was ordained priest. After his ordination, Fr. Edgard attended the Social School and it was in 1953 that he embarked for the first time for the mission of Equateur (Belgian Congo).
After the house in Beernem was closed and sold in 2004, Fr. Edgard retired to Borgerhout, where he lived another 16 years in a quiet retreat among his confreres.
He died in the General Hospital of Deurne on 14-04-2020 from Covid-19. Restrictions during the time prevented the community from saying goodbye to him.
Our confrere who died from COVID-19 in the Spanish Province
On 21 September, in Valladolid (Spain), Fr. Isabelino Rubio García died on his 83rd birthday. He was born in Valdunquillo in 1937 and very young, at the age of 11, he joined the Little Work of Valladolid. He moved to Canet de Mar to make his novitiate. He made his religious profession in 1954 and, in Rome, after obtaining his degree in Sacred Theology, he was ordained priest in 1961.
From this date, Fr. Isabelino's life is offered as a varied and great service in all the ministries the was appointed to. His capacity, adaptability and varied skills led him to occupy various positions as teacher and director of the scholasticate, the Sacred Heart School in Pontevedra, rector of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Barcelona and parish priest in various churches of the Congregation, he was also Provincial Councillor on several occasions and Provincial Superior from 1993 to 1999. During this period the MSC mission in Paraguay was started.
In the area of the Spanish Church, he was a delegate to CONFER (Spanish Conference of Religious) and was appointed to various diocesan offices, such as the Presbyteral Council and the Group of Consultants of the Diocese of Valladolid.
He was a person with a strong personality, very optimistic in everything he undertook or was asked to lead. Easy to communicate with, he created good and lasting friendships in the different communities and ministries he was entrusted with. Without a doubt, he led a life full of dedication and activity at the service of the communities he was in.
Our confrere who died from COVID-19 in the French Province
Brother Robert RYCKEBUSCH, MSC died on April 5, in Marseille, from COVID-19. He was the first of the whole MSC Congregation, but one who loved to be in the last place! He spent his life in Senegal providing the mission with the necessary infrastructure for the proclamation of the Gospel. He built several churches, schools, houses, etc.
One of our Parisian friends speaks of the "palette of the good God", his simplicity, his deep and natural goodness. His confreres cannot come to Issoudun without feeling nostalgia for his smile. That sums up his life, all given to the little ones and the poor. Back in France, he lived for several years in Issoudun and from 2011 he lived at the Hameau des Accates (Marseille) where he was very much appreciated by all the residents.
