Tribute to: Fr Kees Vlaming MHM

On July 11, the day Fr Kees Vlaming MHM would have reached the age of 90, the friends of Kees and of the Mill Hill Missionaries in DR Congo, came together at the Basankusu diocesan house in Kinshasa to celebrate the memory of this dearly beloved missionary. Fr Patrick Lonkoy Bolengu MHM paid him this tribute:

We gather today, our hearts heavy with sadness but filled with gratitude, to pay our last respects to Reverend Father Cornelis (Kees) Vlaming, Missionary of Mill Hill. He was a humble servant of the Gospel, a priest close to the poor, a father to the sick, a faithful friend to the forgotten.

Father Kees was not only a priest. He was a missionary with a deeply compassionate heart. In the remote villages of our diocese, particularly in Yamboyo, Djolu, and in many other communities, he dedicated his life to serving the most vulnerable. He cared for bodies with his medical knowledge and for hearts with his kindness. He proclaimed Christ not only with his words, but also through his daily commitment, his fraternal presence, and his silent devotion.

During my leave spent in the Netherlands in November 2024, I had the grace to visit him. What deeply touched me was that, after so many years away from the diocese, he still kept his old photos of Basankusu near his hospital bed. He looked at them every day. This revealed to me how deeply the Diocese of Basankusu lived in his heart until the end. He still remembered the families he had accompanied, the faces he had loved, the villages where he had sown God's love. His body was weakened, but his missionary heart remained alive.

Today, we give thanks to God for his life, his witness, and the love he sowed. And we rely on the Word of God which assures us:

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will touch them. (Wisdom 3:1)

On behalf of the Mill Hill Missionaries, I wish to express our deep gratitude to:

- the Diocese of Basankusu,
- the priests who organized this Mass,
- the faithful of Djolu,
- and all those who, behind the scenes, made this celebration possible.

I would like to sincerely thank the organizing committee for the joyful initiative of organizing this Mass in memory of Father Kees. Thank you also to all those who travelled, sometimes from great distances, to take part in this celebration.

We are also deeply grateful to all those who are united with us in prayer throughout the world, even if they were unable to be physically present.

I also do not forget all those who are willing to contribute financially, but whose means are lacking: your intention alone is already a great treasure in God's eyes.

And finally, thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have contributed concretely, financially or materially, to the success of this Mass and memorial gathering.

May the Lord bless you abundantly and repay you a hundredfold!

Father Kees, you have fought the good fight, you have finished the race, you have kept the faith.

Good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master. (Mt 25:21)

Rest in peace, dear Father Kees.

May the Lord, whom you served with faithfulness and love, now welcome you into His eternal home.

Amen.