Jozef Vannuffelen (1935-2024)
Born in Wortel, Belgium on June 10, 1935
Religious vows on September 8, 1955
Ordained priest on August 7, 1960
Missionary in North Congo, Kinshasa and Belgium
Died in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw,
October 9, 2024,
at the age of 89
Jozef grew up in a family of five sisters and four brothers. He was the eldest. We can imagine the responsibility he had for his younger brothers and sisters.
After secondary studies at the minor seminary in Hoogstraten, he entered the Scheut novitiate in Zuun in 1954.
Jos spent most of his life in North Congo, where he devoted 42 years to education in secondary schools and a higher institute. He was also concerned with the guidance and education of young people. He remained in Bumba for 21 years as a teacher and principal of the secondary school.
He then worked for 14 years in Kinshasa at the Centre de Recherches Pédagogiques. This was a very intense job: maintaining contact with schools, writing adapted textbooks, monitoring the printing process, distributing books to schools, etc.
In 2003, he returned to Belgium permanently and lived for 18 years in the community of Schilde. With all his talents and energy, he devoted himself to older people, particularly to OKRA, an organization for the animation of retired people. From youth, he became a pensioner. Relations with his family were excellent. As an older brother, he continued to play an important role to the lives of his siblings.
"Enjoying his close family again, doing odd jobs around the house, cycling through the Kempen, alone or with the Schilde OKRA: he made the most of it," wrote one of Jos' nieces.
A cycling accident on August 31, 2021, at the time of the coronavirus, put a completely different spin on his life. He stayed in the clinic and a revalidation center for several months. Then, he came to the Zuun community for his convalescence.
We admire the positive way in which he has dealt with his limitations over the past few years, how he has lived in our community over the past few months, and how he has prepared to meet the Lord.
"I've always been happy.
I was able to do what corresponded
my possibilities and my deepest aspirations.
I thank the Lord for my life.
I also thank my colleagues, my family and so many other people." §
Cyriel Stulens
