Romain Mayuku K., cicm
Missionary in Malawi
On June 3, 1903, Hubert was born in Aldeneik, Limburg, Belgium. After finishing his elementary education at the Gemeenteschool of Aldeneik, he went to the Holy Cross College in Maaseik. On September 7, 1921, he entered the novitiate in Scheut. He was ordained a priest by our confrere Mgr. Egied De Boeck on August 21, 1927. Two years later, on September 25, 1929,1 he left for China by boat, where he arrived on November 17.
On September 14, 1930, after some time of language study, he was assigned as Parish Priest in Hun-Yuan in the vicariate of Datong (Ta-t'ung). In June 1933, he was assigned Parish Priest of Tong Hin Tchoang, in the vicariate of Datong. In March 1938, he was picked up by Japanese soldiers and taken to Hun-Yuan, where he was held prisoner together with Father Jozef De Vos (1903-1972). During his days in prison, he suffered a lot, according to a report by Father Maurits Ingelbeen (1898-1985), the Provincial Superior.
In 1939, he returned to Europe to do his regular furlough. During the ten years of his life in the missions of China, he was wholeheartedly dedicated to the people among whom he toiled. They could rely on him, which was the source of his prestige and the respect shown to him. He was there in times of danger when bands of brigands besieged the poor villagers. He was always ready to help the people, but he also demanded that they should carry out scrupulously what was expected of them.
After he arrived in Belgium, he was assigned as Socius (assistant to the Director of novices) in the novitiate in Scheut. On July 2, 1941, he became the Director of novices.2 In August 1942, the novitiate was transferred to Zuun where Hubert would stay until 1965. During the following six years, until 1971, he was the Rector of the House in Schilde. From 1971 until his death on November 6, 1979, he stayed in Schilde. He was buried in the CICM cemetery in Schilde.
I was his novice from September 7, 1963, to the day of my first profession on September 8, 1964. Hubert could enthusiastically share his mission experiences and kindle the fire to become a dedicated missionary in us. "He was a man who went straight ahead and called a spade a spade. He was hard on himself. The first to do what he asked of others, he was respected and appreciated by everyone."3
He was not shy of surprising the novices. One day in the winter of 1963, four or five novices and I had to prepare the vegetable garden for the new planting season. It so happened that it was bitter cold. After some time, Hubert came to visit us. We greeted him, and he replied, "Maybe you need something to keep you warm." We had no idea what he intended to do. He went away, returned, and handed each one a small glass, which he filled to the brim with gin !!! We were flabbergasted. This extraordinary gesture showed how concerned he was for us. As one can imagine, we started working even harder, hoping for more gestures of kindness.
In his conferences, he often mentioned that we should always try to live in the presence of the Lord Jesus. I did not understand very well what he wanted to tell us. One day, some of my co-novices ran up the wide staircase to the second floor. He told them: "Dear novices, Jesus cannot follow!" Only much later, in the mountains of Luzon, did I grasp the deep meaning of his words.
A confrere provides us with a nice picture of Hubert. There was no pretentiousness in his spirituality, which was simple and modest. A man of prayer, he was not fond of particular devotions. Above all, what was striking in him was his faithfulness: faithfulness to the Congregation and to the missionary ideal, faithfulness to the Church with devotion and without complication. Not legalistic in the slightest, he was broad-minded and understanding. He was always able to distinguish clearly what was important from the details. He followed the course of the last Council as well as he could and rejoiced at opening and renewal as long as people did not go too far. He opposed all eccentricity in the name of his love for the Church.4
In less than a quarter of a century, he introduced about 1,050 young men to the CICM missionary way of life. That's an unbreakable record, I guess!
The "In Memoriam" ends with the following words: "Dear Hubert, obtain for us now a little of your faithfulness and generosity so that we may serve the Church and the Mission with as much zeal and love as you!"5
André De Bleeker, cicm
General Archivist
