Message of Mr. Joseph "Kuya Yo" Van Parys (Brother of Fr. Paul)(Delivered by Fr. Paul's nephew - Rik Van Parys during the
Tribute to Fr. Paul on August 19, 2005)
Dear Fr. Paul Van Parijs, I think I may address you as uncle Paul:
Rik Van Parys |
On behalf of my father and our family I would like to say a few words on the occasion of the tribute to Fr Paul Van Parijs. His eldest brother, Kuya Yo, wrote this text and with the assistance of Mr Wilfried Vanhoutte we are glad now that we could present this to you in English:
May 10, 1937. A joyful day, especially for his parents, as on that day, our brother Paul was born. Even as he came as number 11 of 13 children in the team, we had not even noticed his coming? Maybe our three elder sisters knew something more. But I, the eldest brother of hardly 10 years old, was totally surprised by this memorable event. It was 1937 : during our school days, we were looking up in the dictionary the meaning of some strange words, like birth, pregnancy? and everything that had something to do with it. We were like neophytes in those matters, while nowadays, even a small child could tell you every single detail about them : what has happened to children's innocence ?
|
But let's go back to our topic now : Our new brother Paul was surrounded by the tender care of his three elder sisters and was actually a little bit spoiled by them ; we, however, his brothers, were waiting for him to be strong enough to join our soccer team as our goal keeper. We had strict but loving parents and they did all they could to give us a solid, Catholic education. However, some of his brothers - just to mention the names of Maurits, Frans and Peter - felt they should assist their parents with their own over-zealous educational 'interventions'. If they saw an opportunity to catch him in a little corner - and in our family's wide farming compound at Aarsele there were many such corners - he ended up as the underdog. His only help in such occasions came from his loud (I am emphasizing the word 'loud') voice . Those were the situations in which he developed that powerful sounding tool, which was going to become so precious an instrument in later times.
As a student, Paul was a real 'winning horse'. His brilliant school performances were rather painful to us who weren't able to properly compete with him : why had our parents not considered giving us a share in his intelligence - But God's ways are hardly understandable to us, humans. Just as we had a more worldly vocation, Paul had his own, orienting him to a different goal. Enumerating all details about his ways would bring us too far. But what counts is that he joined the CICM congregation (popularly called 'Scheut' in Flanders), with the intention to preach God's message of hope in other continents. However, his superiors had quite different intentions : they sent Paul first to Lyon in France, and then to Rome in Italy, where he eventually became a real Bible prophet. The Old Testament doesn't hold any more secrets for Paul and therefore he was sent as a professor to Manila, where he has taught for 17 years (or even more ?).
After this, the superiors of 'Scheut' sent him back to Rome as a member of the General Council. Maybe, it was also the purpose that the new vicar-general would undergo some personal 'renewal' or spiritual 'refreshment' or how do you call that?
Six years later, time had come for him to return to the Philippines - something for which he was very eager. Paul had in fact become so familiar with the Filipino people that he felt like one of them : the Philippines had become his second home. Back in Manila, Paul was thinking of going back to teaching, but his superiors in the CICM had again other plans : they asked him to become 'president' (in Flanders we call this function rector ) of Saint Louis University in Baguio. This looked like a very serious and demanding task, involving a high personal responsibility. Paul was staying with us before assuming that function. We were witnesses of Paul's internal struggle and the resistance he had to overcome. However, the final answer he gave to his superiors was a clear and decided 'yes'. He was hoping for the support and cooperation of his superiors, his teachers, officials, collaborators in the university and so many other fine people who were going to provide him with their full endorsement and assistance for the following nine years. Not to forget the Almighty One who is in Heaven, and Who supported Paul with His blessings too. Maybe, there were some trials and obstacles waiting on the way ahead, but as it is expressed in an old Flemish saying 'life is monotonous where there is no storm or should I say typhoon' and 'even an ideal marriage presents some little beauty spot.' What is sure is that Paul , thanks to the pioneering work of his predecessors and to the dedicated collaboration of so many other people, both now and in the past, has managed to maintain and develop Saint Louis University into one of the best and outstanding universities in this country. The detailed list of achievements will - in this moment of goodbye - be related by those who were closely involved in their planning and implementation.
Before I conclude, I still have one question : Is this 'goodbye' to Saint Louis University also Paul's definite 'goodbye' to the Philippines? We, his relatives, don't believe this : his heart is too close to his beloved fellow Filipinos to abandon them for good. I therefore bet he will return some day!
I still would like to speak on behalf of the whole of our family here - especially of Kuya Yo and myself - and to congratulate Paul for the huge and impressive work he has done here in Baguio. However, our special feelings of gratitude go to all those who have supported him in good and in bad days ; I do not dare to mention names, out of fear to forget some, but I assure you of our warmest feelings of respect and appreciation. |
Fr. Paul and Kuya Yo |
Dear Paul, I now dare to conclude with the words that are so often used (and unfortunately by some leaders also 'misused') to wish you good luck and happiness in your new assignment in Rome : 'God bless you' ; and we hope to disturb you there one day - if your frail shoulders still manage to carry this!
(Tribute to Fr.Paul Van Parijs, 5 th president SLU, Baguio Friday August 19, 2005)
|
