Pastor Piet Vissers (93) does not have long to live. He led the parish in Wintelre for over thirty years. On Monday he visited the church for the last time and villagers paid him their last respects. “I hope that the gates of heaven will be open to him as soon as he comes”, resident Jan-Wim van de Sande says emotionally.
It is raining, but the Kerkplein in front of the Sint Willibrorduskerk in Wintelre is full of people. They have all come to pay their last respects to former pastor Piet Vissers.
He retired twenty years ago, left the rectory opposite the church and took up residence in the Groenendaal nursing home in Vessem.
But even though he no longer lived in the village, he remained involved. As long as it was physically possible, he often visited Wintelrenaren.
The Wish Ambulance Foundation organized a round of honor for him on Monday, including a visit to Sint Jan in Den Bosch. There, to his great joy, he also spoke with Bishop Gerard de Korte. He ended the day in his beloved church in Wintelre.
“Will you drive me into the church too?”
When the Wish Ambulance comes into the church square that evening, people throng closer. And as soon as the ambulance door opens, the pastor’s hands go up. He waves directly to the people he sees, a glimpse of recognition on his face. He is driven out of the car to loud applause. “Do you drive me too effkes into the church?” he asks softly.
People are also waiting for him in the church. The choir sings. And while the pastor is wheeled forward, the church fills up as in a church service from years ago. Filled banks, with young and old.
The pastor himself is eager to say something. It is difficult, he is difficult to understand, but he does his very best to address the people. “We are gathered here to pray and sing together. And now I want to do that together. Thank you for coming in great numbers, thank you.”
“There are successors in the church, but we don’t get one like him anymore.”
The racers we speak to all say the same thing: Pastor Vissers is a man of the people. A sweet man, compassionate, who knows everyone by name.
“There are successors in the church, but we don’t get one like him anymore. If there is anyone who deserves this, it is him”, resident Jan-Wim van de Sande says emotionally. He is happy to say goodbye to the pastor in this capacity. “I hope the gates of heaven are open to him as soon as he comes.”
The local brass band and drum band play, the choir sings the last songs and the pastor, despite the tears, wants to say something last through the microphone: “I am a bit of a cry shall we say. Thank you very much for being here. Glad I got to come here. Everyone hip hip hooray.”
