Vrijdag 23 mei 2014 rond het middaguur overleed in Hotel-Dieu in Beiroet, in de vrede van de Heer, onze medebroeder

Michael A. Brenninkmeijer

Hij werd 12 maart 1932 geboren in Londen, trad 7 september 1951 in de jezuieten-orde en werd 1 augustus 1964 priester gewijd in Bikfaya, Libanon. Hij is 82 jaar geworden.

Na jeugdjaren in Engeland en Duitsland gaat Michael naar Katwijk de Breul en doet eindexamen in 1951. Hij treedt in en begint zijn jezuieten-opleiding. Hij studeert Engels in Amsterdam, haalt zijn doctoraal en begint theologie in Maastricht. In 1962 vertrekt hij naar Beiroet, voltooit de theologie en wordt priester gewijd. Bij de laatste geloften in 1967 wordt hij overgeschreven naar de vice-provincie van het Nabije Oosten.

Zijn eerste taak is op het college St. Johannes Damascenus in Homs, totdat die school binnen een jaar genationaliseerd wordt. Hij krijgt het idee voor een godsdienstig centrum in een nieuwe wijk van de stad, Nouzha. Hij blijft dertig jaar in Homs, waarvan 13 jaar als superior. Hij heeft zorg voor de zusters, is betrokken bij de Focolare, doet pastorale zorg buitenshuis en krijgt verschillende verantwoordelijkheden binnen de provincie. De Latijnse christenen in Syrië kunnen op hem rekenen. In 1996 verhuist hij naar Aleppo en in 2004 naar Damascus. In 2012 verlaat hij Syrië en komt naar Beiroet. De laatste twee jaar waren er ernstige problemen met zijn gezondheid. Hij werd op 22 mei opgenomen in het ziekenhuis, waar hij de volgende dag overleed.

Dat het eeuwige licht hem verlichte.

Homilie door Paul Brouwers:

Michael Brenninkmeijer’s funeral

on Wednesday 28 May 2014

at Saint Joseph Church of the Society of Jesus, Ashrafieh, Beirut

Dear Friends,

After Frans van der Lugt was murdered in Homs on 7 April 2014, a little more than a month ago, Father Michael Brenninkmeijer left us suddenly last week after a long illness and recovery. Both are Dutch, both spent more than 30 years in Homs where they gave the best of themselves, both spoke fluently Arabic, but both were completely different from each other, with a different character and different gifts, and both were holy.

Michael preceded Frans in Homs, where they spent many years together at the Jesuit Residence in Bustan ad Diwan. Later Michael founded a new Residence with Church in Nouzha, on the outskirts of the city, where life flourished immediately. Because of the ‘walking retreats’ Frans organized every year, “المسير “ - as they were known, - he was better known all over Syria, while Michael was deeply involved in the ‘Focolari’ movement in Syria and on international level. Both, Frans and Michael, were witnesses of God’s love for the ordinary people, through their devotion, their patience, their perseverance, their humility, but also their stableness, working steadfast through danger and opposition.

Michael’s funeral is taking place on the eve of the Ascension of the Lord, Jesus’ return to his Father. Jesus’ stay on earth has come to an end, and he is leaving for good, a leave of absence which changes and upsets his relationship with his disciples. They will not see him anymore and it will take them some time to understand how Jesus does not let them down but continues to be with them in a different way, an inner presence in each one of them through his Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

This is what we experience when we look at our two Dutchmen. First Fr. Frans, when he remained with his little flock, Christians and Muslims alike , encircled by the army in the old center of Homs suffering danger, hunger and lack of everything. And then in a complete different way, when we look at Fr. Michael, how he was isolated from his flock, not by the war, but caused by health problems, first his legs, and later through cancer, which totally exhausted him. But he never gave up. In fact, he went several times through death without dying, holding on to recover, to the disbelief of all, and in such a peaceful and unexpected way. He was not only reviving himself but revitalizing and strengthening the faith of those who came to see him, and that with great confidence and assurance, nearly joyfully. Those who came to console him or to wish him ‘farewell’, he would console them, and so he reversed the situation. His inner strength was such that he was leading the dialogue, increasing their faith and creating peace and acceptance in their hearts. It is just amazing!

With Jesus’ Ascension, we are not looking at his absence among us, which makes us sad; but we rejoice for his return to the Father, where He belongs. We rejoice, because it is the end of his suffering for us and so we enter also into a different phase of life. Like the Apostles we have first being enjoying Jesus’ presence as a friend, a companion or a Master. But after the Ascension everything is different: not only has He changed, but the Apostles have changed, we have changed. The Apostles are not just living from past memories, recalling all Jesus did when he was with them. With Pentecost they received his Spirit and were not afraid anymore. They started to act and live like Jesus did.

This is also a perfect description of Michael’s readiness to follow Christ after his Ascension, just like his Apostles did.

Now I would like to switch to another look at this funeral. I was comparing Michael and Frans to Jesus’ Apostles, but this comparison does not fit on all levels, as I forgot to mention the huge difference in age. The Apostles were young and starting their active life. Frans died a few days short of his 76 birthday, and Michael was 82, their active life should have been behind them, but no, they were really active till death came to take them and that opens another story.

The Dutch Jesuits have been coming to the Near East since 1958 and until 1968. This flow stopped by pure lack of vocations. More or less 3 came every year. The first group was famous with Fr. Peter-Hans Kolvenbach (actually our former Superior General) still living in this house, Fr. Theo Vlugt, a co-novice of Fr. Michael and also living in this house, Fr Ary Roest Crollius, who is back in Lebanon after serving worldwide (in Tanaïl) and Br Ad Merks who very soon after his arrival went back to Holland. Myself, I am also a co-novice of Michael and I came in 1960 with Charles Libois (in Egypt) and Christian van Nispen (in Nijmegen). Michael himself came in 1962. And Frans came in 64. Many others are still working in the Near East: Thom Sicking, here at the Université Saint Joseph, Hans Putman, in Bethlehem and, Jan Bronsveld and Frans Berkemeijer, in Egypt.

With Michael’s departure there are no Dutch Jesuits left in Syria. The Provincial of the Dutch Province, Fr. Johan Verschueren, just arrived yesterday. He is here present among us today. He came to visit the Dutch members of the Near East Province and did not expect to include a funeral.

The Lord’s Spirit is taking over and we can trust Him:”He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Ap 22, 13) and the following verses apply too: “Happy are those who will have washed their robes clean, so that they will have the right to feed on the tree of life and can come through the gate to the city. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to make these revelations to you for the sake of the churches”. (Ap 22, 14-15)

The engagement of our Dutch Fathers for the local church of Homs has been great, between Bustan ad Diwan and Nouzha, each one of them according to his personal gifts. They both humbly served the faithful and gave their life for this purpose.

Jesus said to his disciples: “You see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations. You are witnesses to this.” (Lc 24, 46-47) Frans gave witness, Michael gave witness. And today many of you here present are witnesses to the presence of Jesus and his Spirit in the testimony which these two Jesuits gave us through their life and death. Amen