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I was only 7 years old when I thought of becoming a priest. Of course, a child that age has little idea of what that means, but I have come to understand that it is like God sowing a little seed in the soil of your heart and with growth comes understanding, coupled with determination. By the time I entered our Community I was 21 and knew very well what I was doing, I was born in The Netherlands and grew up in a very Catholic family. I always enjoyed the support of my parents, brothers and sisters. I made my First Profession in 1946 and was ordained in Nymegen on July 19, 1953. My dream had been to go to Chile to work along the poor, but I flunked my medical, My superiors decided to send me to our United States Province to teach in our Minor Seminary in Donaldson, Indiana. I actually was on loan for five years, but enjoyed my work so much that I asked for a permanent transfer. I taught Latin, French and Music and was assistant prefect for 15 years.
Although I enjoyed teaching, yet once Vatican 11 started and I became involved in the renewal programs of a number of religious communities in the diocese, I became restless and the classroom became too small. Finally in 1970 my superiors allowed me to go full- time into retreat ministry. For 15 years I traveled from sea to shining sea and way beyond, giving retreats, workshops and missions and later on to lay people also. I loved this ministry, not only because I loved traveling and go places, but also because I loved to meet people and get acquainted with different cultures. For 5 years I ran a Spirituality Center in Lanesboro, Massachusetts and although the place was small, we got some wonderful programs going. It is here that I became more involved with lay people.
In 1985 1 went on a Sabbatical and spent a year at the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. to educate myself a little and I loved the courses. At the end of the school year, against all my expectations I was asked to go to Houston, Texas and become a parish priest. By that time I was 61 and I had mixed feelings about this appointment. On the other hand, challenges always held an attraction for me. I found the first year very hard. St. Matthew's was a parish of some 1800 families and at that time there were some serious internal problems. Eventually these were resolved and I came to love parish work For most of my priestly life I had dealt with seminarians and religious, actually a very small segment of the Church, now I become involved with the ups and downs of family life, the joys and sorrows of God's People and as my Mother used to say: the laughter and tears of life. A lady in the parish and myself founded an Aids Ministry and for seven years we worked with Aids patients. I really felt that during my tell years in Houston my priestly life came full circle. This thought meant very much to me.
At 70, I went into retirement, but this did not agree with me at all. Our Lord interfered three times. By this I mean: in each of these cases I did not take the initiative: others did. First I was asked to become an assistant to our novice master in Chicago to help him prepare candidates for Holy Profession in our Community. I did this for one year. Then I was asked to go to India for three months to do something similar to what was expected of me in Chicago. It was a fascinating experience. Finally, the president-rector of our Sacred Heart School of Theology in Hales Corners, asked me to take somebody's place for one year to function as spiritual director to our seminarians. I gladly responded.
After that year I was asked to continue this ministry and presently I am in my 7th year of Spiritual Direction. In the springtime of my priestly life I was working with seminarians to prepare them for the Priesthood. I feel that the Lord is smiling on me, as He allows me to do the same in my twilight years. Until He calls me Home, His Holy Will shall be my pleasure.
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