The Dutch Province of the Brothers of Our Lady Mother of Mercy celebrated the Congregation’s 180th anniversary with a simple yet meaningful gathering, reflecting on their history of challenges and successes, and highlighting the courage and international unity that continue to define their mission.

On Saturday, October 5, the Dutch Province of the Brothers CMM celebrated the 180th anniversary of the Congregation. August 25, 2024 marked 180 years since the Congregation was founded by Father Joannes Zwijsen, who would later become a bishop and archbishop.

Every year the brothers worldwide commemorate that foundation day. In the Netherlands, the 180th anniversary was given special attention. That happened on Saturday 5 October 2024 ‘in a simple gathering of brothers of the Dutch province with the associate members, the members of the general board but also – and we are pleased about this – with some brothers from Indonesia, Kenya, Brazil and Timor Leste, participants in the General Assembly. Their presence illustrates the international character of the Congregation,’ as explained by Brother Broer Huitema, Provincial Superior, in his speech on the occasion.

Let nothing go to waste

The celebration began that day with a Eucharist, presided over by Pastor Theo te Wierik in the chapel of the community of Joannes Zwijsen. In his reflection, he looked back at “how all those men and women, in education, in health care, in pastoral care, in social work and in boards, showed that nothing should be lost of what the Eternal One had described as beautiful and good and valuable at the beginning of creation. Religious life was lived through all these years,” he continued. “Often by trial and error…because it was not always easy (and often still is not) to form a close community together as religious but also as people given as a gift to each other in town and country… here and elsewhere in the world. A tremendous amount of work has been done,” said Pastor Theo.

Joyful and courageous

Brother Broer Huitema also looked back in a brief summary at what has happened in the course of those 180 years: “We have had an eventful history. A history of successes but also of failures. Of building up but also of dismantling, of founding new communities and projects but also of closing them, of many entries but also of retirements. Of sadness for brothers who left our community, sometimes after many years, but also of sadness for brothers who died, sometimes still in the prime of their lives. Periods of growth and stagnation, both in terms of mission and spirituality. What strikes me, however, is that throughout all this history, young men worldwide have always again dared to enter the congregation and that – despite the decline – boards worldwide have always had the courage to start new missions and new foundations.”

Congratulations!

Source: https://www.cmmbrothers.org/