Visit to Fr Vincent in Belgium in 2006

Visit to Father Vincent in Belgium on 5-6/8/2006

As all friends, we lost trace of Fr Vincent since he left Cambodia (end 2004?). We knew he was in Belgium but were unable to locate him. I asked friends in Cambodia, France... No one knew where he was.

In the begining of 2006 (I think it was in March or April), Vily forwarded us an email, from Guy Seigneuric, inside which there was Father Vincent's address. Bingo, we got him! Thank you Guy.

The connection with him is re-established. Vily, Phala and Saren were able to organize their visit to him rapidly, at the end of April 2006. They were joined by Sakal from Paris.

I planned to visit him at the end of July but finally pushed to the week-end 5-6/8/2006.
I took Brussels Airlines with my family early in the morning of 5/8 from Lyon airport and arrived at Brussels airport slightly after 9 am.

After crossing the immigration, we were excited. Couldn't wait to see him again! He was not in the crowd in front of us. Where is he? I tried to find him in all directions... I breathed deeply, rose my eyes. I saw then a hand in the air, waving. I followed down the hand... It was him! (He was a bit away from the crowd as they may made him fall accidentally) I reached him rapidly and we shared a warm hug. Oh my god, it was nice to meet him again. Kids & wife were happy to meet him again as well (Maelle was 1 year and saw him for the first time). He introduced us Father Alois who served as the driver! Thank you Fr Alois.

We left the airport to Jesuit House where he lived. Arriving at his home, we took a break together in the dinner room. We discussed... Happy to see each other again.

Fr Vincent played with Pauline

A beautiful smile on a happy face

After the break, we visited his room and he then brought us to our room. Kids were tired of the journey and took a rest in the room. We joined him around noon for lunch. He reserved for us a special room. We were received like the princes! The lunch were delicious and the soup was really excellent!

The excellent soup

Lunch continued and the discussions went on, interrupting from time to time by kids' noises.

After lunch, we went for a small walk then Father went to his room for a rest. We did the same. Kids were excited and played in the room.

In the evening, he brought us to visit the center of Leuven (Louvain). I was very impressed by the architectures I had never seen before. The downtown is really beautiful and is crowded of people who enjoyed their free Saturday to do shoppings, to go out with friends..

Behind is the library of Leuven (I think)

Leuven downtown

A small street with plenty of restaurants

After a small walk in downtown, we went for dinner together in a restaurant.

The dinner finished, we went back to his home. Kids as well as him were tired. Kids were tired because we woke up very early to take the plane. He was tired as he didn't take a nap as usual but he never complained he was tired. He made a tremendous effort to spend his time with us and made us pleasure. We were separated for the night.

On 6/8/2008, we woke up at 8h. We took an excellent breakfirst together and then went for a small promenade. We talked about the past, friends, Site 2, Cambodia. He wanted to have fresh news from Cambodia.

Breakfirst

We talked about his new life here in Belgium. Most of the Fathers in Jesuit House are retired from Congo at the end of their missions. They get a retired pension from Belgium government as their missions are recognized by this latter. Unlike the others, Father Vincent got no pension from the government by that time.

He told about his visit to Father Charles, his sister....

I asked him the reason of his silence when he was back to Belgium. He said baecause I don't want people feel oblige to visit me or to get news from me. I said: it is not an obligation for us to visit you. It is a pleasure! He just smiled and then we passed on to other things.

Run, run Forest (Gump) ...

After the promenade, he took a rest in his room. During that time, we went to visit a beautiful castle not far away his place. The park is huge. Kids enjoyed running around.


After lunch, we went to visit the church (the one where his funeral ceremony happenned) and did a small promenade. We then took a break in our room and made the luggage for our return.

He brought us with Fr Alois back to the airport.

Fr. Alois played with Pauline & Maelle

Fr. Alois played with Pauline.

In the back, Fr Vincent joined us for the airport

At the aiport.Time to say goodbye.

It was hard for us to leave him, to say goodbye...

We were very happy to meet and touch him again. The 2-day visit was short but full of emotions and souvenirs. Thank you for your always warming reception. Thank you for kindness. You know that you are in my heart for always.

Anything not given is lost

ANYTHING NOT GIVEN IS LOST
tout ce qui n'est pas donné est perdu

Phrase written in Sankrit in the guetbook of a leprosarium in South India

When I read this phrase, it makes me think to you, Father! I think to the beginning of your hard mission as a young Jesuit in India to help the poors and the lepers, to make life better, to make the diffuclties less difficult... You were there to give all the riches you had: your heart, your beautiful heart!

The door of my room at JEZUITENHUIS when I visited Fr. Vincent in August 2006.
I supposed Gast in Flemish means Guest in English.

On the long road of your life from Belgium to Cambodia via India, how many loves you distributed regardless of all the barriers: nationalities, religions, casts, colors of the skin, material riches, age, languages,...? You certainly gave much that we cannot count. Even in the case of Cambodia, we don't know how many people you helped. But the number is certainly not important to you! You were where needs be to give your love, your supports. Your love was unique to each one of us.

In SITE 2 camp, when the boarding school didn't receive the nutrition help anymore, you sacrified an important part of your modest "salary" of a priest (I think it was 100 or 200$ a month) to help us, to keep hopes and unity of the group alive.

At the end of your exemplary life, you were back home and lived modestly, even poorly. You gave all you had: loves, supports, effforts, knowledges, money,... You seemed to follow conformly to the sense of what had been written in the guestbook of the leprosarium in Sotuh India, i.e "Anything not given is lost". I wonder if it was not you who wrote this phrase at the beginning of your mission in India!

Even back home with the accomplished missions, you never forgot to think to those who crossed your road. You thought to all of us; I know sometimes it hurt you that you could not associate the name of the a person you know with his/her pciture.

The only material things you had are in this red luggage:

Red luggage of Fr. Vincent.
Pcitured during his funeral on August 9, 2008

It was a heart-break when I saw this luggage in your room, at your funeral. I felt sad to know that you will never come back again to take it. It will wait desperately for your return like we wait to see your coming back toward us again with smiles and open arms.

Pictured on Sunday August 6, 2006 at 10:21 am

Thank you Father!
Sakun