In fact, there was hardly any right for them to exist in the Netherlands, the Capuchin Brothers. Last year they left Tilburg after almost a century and a half. But one brother, Christophorus Goedereis, arranged reinforcements from abroad. He settled in a monastery in Velp, near Grave.
Three new brothers were welcomed during mass on Sunday morning to loud applause. Brother Christophorus Goedereis looks on beamingly: “This is a very special moment for me. We have known each other for a few months, but only through Zoom talked to each other. Now they are really here and it feels very good.”
“The youngest Capuchin in our country is 67 years old.”
Brother William is from Tanzania, brothers Vincent and Christy from India. Because there is no more young growth in our country. “The youngest Capuchin in our country is 67 years old,” Brother Christophorus explains. “They are all in a retirement home. They have decided to finish because they are now too old. When I was born, there were six hundred fellow brothers in the Netherlands, now only about twenty.”
That is why the Capuchin Monastery in Tilburg closed its doors in June after 142 years. Brother Christophorus will start a new community in Velp with the international brothers. The oldest Capuchin monastery in our country is located there. “I was assigned to look for an inspiring place for a new beginning. When I came here for the first time, I immediately thought: that place is here.”
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Brother William Nyuki has been in Velp since Wednesday. He is happy with the warm welcome. “It immediately feels like home. We don’t feel like strangers here. This is only the fourth day in Velp, but it feels like we have been here for months.” He has to get used to the Dutch winter weather. “It’s very cold, we’re almost freezing,” he says, laughing.
In a few weeks another brother from Indonesia will join us. They will form a community with a total of six brothers. Brother Christophorus looks forward to it with confidence: “We will now get to work and see what the Lord has in store for us and with us.”
The Last Brothers
Omroep Brabant made a documentary about the farewell of the Capuchin brothers from Tilburg, their new start in Breda and the reburial of deceased Tilburg brothers in Velp. ‘The Last Brothers’ can be seen on Brabant+.
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