Indonesia Province mourns the death of Brother Piet VAN HOOF, SMM: A Missionary who changed his citizenship for the people
BANDUNG, Indonesia - On September 24, 2021, around 5:00 Western Indonesia Time (WIT), Brother Petrus (Piet) VAN HOOF, SMM breathed his last, leaving a sombre- heartbreaking mood in the province. Our confreres in the Bandung Province community held a Requiem Mass led by Fr. Niko SCHNEIDERS, SMM. Two days later, the body was flown from Jakarta to Pontianak then to Menurai for burial.
In an interview with the Communications Team, Fr. Antonius TENSI, SMM, the Provincial of Indonesia, spontaneously said Bro. Piet is a living example of St. Joseph the worker.
Bro. Piet VAN HOOF, SMM for me is a living example of St. Joseph the worker. He had dedicated all his life as a Montfort religious working in silence to serve people in need within the diocese of Sintang, West Borneo. He had used his talent in architecture to build structures such as schools, churches, etc, in the early times of the diocese while the local bishop was a Montfortian.
The Provincial Superior continued to envision the progressive and down-to-earth Montfortian.
He used his technical skills in carpentry and agriculture to teach many young people in order to empower them to live better lives. Truly, he was a hard worker and had put all his heart for the benefits of simple and poor people in Sintang. He left Holland years back and change his citizenship into an Indonesian and spent most of his time with the people whom he served. He was faithful to his call as a Montfortian brother until the end of his life.
Fr. Stefanus LEBA, SMM, in charge of Media Communication in the province said Bro. Piet underwent medical examination in May, 2021 at the Borromeus Hospital.
Br. Piet was operated on 10th June, 2021 after receiving the holy oil by Fr. Niko Schneiders, SMM. His health improved and for the first time on 29 June, he was able to seat on chair and prayed with us in the chapel.
On 1st July 2021, Bro. Piet became weak and slept a lot so he only ate a little fruit in the morning and the rest through the sonde. He was receiving treatment in the SMM Provincial community in Bandung and at the hospital. On 22 September, 2021, the doctor visited Bro. Piet to check his health. He had developed digestive and respiratory problems, so he started using oxygen cylinder which is always available in the community. September 24, 2021, around 05.00 WIB, Bro. Piet breathed his last.
Mgr. Samuel Oton Sidin, Ofm.Cap, Bishop of Sintang led the Requiem Mass on 26th September, 2021. The bishop was accompanied by Fr. Antonius TENSI, SMM, the provincial of Indonesia and Fr. Yohannes SUMADI, SMM, the leader of Bandung community. Mass was attended by many people who love Bro. Piet from both Catholic and government circles.
Bro. Piet was born on June 10, 1947 in Westelbeers, Netherlands. He was born in a farming family. He is the fifth of 13 children, 5 of whom are boys and 8 are girls.
From 1959 to 1963, he studied at SMM’s carpentry school in Bunde. After completing his education at the carpentry school, he entered the SMM's novitiate in 1964 in Vroenhof, the Netherlands. The following year, on March 19, 1965, he made his first vows in the Company of Mary in Vroenhof. Then on December 8, 1975, he made his perpetual vows in Oirshot, Netherlands. This year, he has completed 56 years of religious life.
Fr. Stefanus LEBA, SMM
Media Communication
0
reviews