Pope Francis I Begets Family Memories - Part II

My previous blog was about Mother.  This one is about my Uncle Pierre, Catholic priest, who inspired Mother to choose her religious vocation.

 Uncle Pierre was my Mother’s cousin.  His family was the one Mother grew up with when my grandmother died in childbirth.  His Parish, St. Martens-Voeren in Belgium is bordered by both Holland and Germany.  The primary language is Dutch, German is secondary.  (see picture of the presbytery [define: the home of Roman Catholic parish priest])

I spent part of my summers (see blog dated 10/4/12, Summers spent in a Dutch windmill) at the Parish campgrounds in St. Martens-Voeren.  I was a Belgian (what Americans would call) Girl Scout.  We would spend the month of July having the time of our lives.  It was special one-on-one time to spend with my Uncle.

During World War II, he was imprisoned for 2 years in a concentration camp in Dachau, Germany.  The memory of what he had undergone never left him. Every decade, starting in 1950, he and the other surviving priests returned to Dachau, each celebrated Mass for those who died at the camp. (Over 1000 priests died in Dachau.)

In 1970, he stopped in Frankfurt for a short visit with my husband and me.  I remember as soon as he stepped from the train, he was shivering, scared.  He disclosed the terror would return every time he was in Germany,  The fear left as soon as the train crossed the border back into Belgium. At the time of his visit, there were only 30 priests left to perform the mass at the camp.  He seemed relieved he would not have to stay long. 

Uncle Pierre was the parish Priest in Ruanda for over 30 years.  Ruanda was a Belgian colony until 1961.  Catholicism is the primary religion in Ruanda.  Uncle Pierre loved Africa and “his” Rwandan people.  (see picture of Uncle Pierre and his parishioners during one of the Rwandan celebrations)

He encouraged my cousin, Joseph, to come to Ruanda when Josef took his final vows as a priest.  When my uncle retired, (Father) Joseph continued working and teaching in Ruanda. (translation of picture from French to English:  Joseph Schmetz, Priest for the Church of Rwanda, Nyundo)

Uncle Pierre was instrumental in reducing the deaths of Rwandans in his parish from HIV aids by actively discussing and promoting the use of condoms.  He shared with me, the deaths he saw daily amongst women, men, but most of all, babies prompted him to make the decision he made counter to the Vatican’s doctrine.  He felt God would approve of his decision and he could live with that.

I lived in Belgium from 1988 to 1996.  My girlfriend’s husband was a doctor with Médecins Sans Frontier (Doctors without Borders).  During Ruanda’s 100-day genocide in 1995, it was my connection to my Uncle and Ruanda that prompted me to participate in transporting medicines, clothes, and other necessities from Antwerp to Ruanda.  My professional role at the time was Materials Manager Europe for a global automotive seat manufacturer.  I used those connections to schedule the trucks, define the logistics, and the documentation needed to cross borders throughout Europe and Africa.  Médecins Sans Frontier is the only organization I make sure I donate to each year.  They truly represent the best-in-class of the medical profession.

 

I saw Uncle Pierre frequently once he retired. He loved to talk about his church and his people and I loved listening to, and learning from, him.  The picture of the two of us walking the countryside in Eupen, Belgium is the last time I saw him before he passed away.

Yes, the selection of Pope Francis I makes me think of my Mother and my Uncle and the memories flood over me.