It was at the age of 26 that Brother Adelbert (Rémy) DeGroote set foot in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the very first time, as a Xaverian missionary. Naturally, the joy must have been immense for this young Brother who was joining a mission community made up of his Belgian confreres engaged in the education of young people. This educational apostolate was carried out through the Scout movement and the schools run by the Congregation, notably the Collège du Sacré-Cœur and the Saint François Xavier primary school in Kikula, in the city of Likasi, as well as the technical school of the Société Nationale des Chemins de Fers. It should be noted that in addition to Likasi, the Brothers also had two schools, primary and secondary, in Kasenga, a village located some 220 km from the city of Lubumbashi.
It was at the Collège du Sacré-Cœur, now known as the Collège TUTAZAMIE, a school that has trained and continues to train the Congolese elite, that Brother Adelbert himself worked tirelessly throughout his years of mission in Congo.
A man with a big heart and a tireless worker, Brother Adelbert left an indelible mark on the memories of the many young people who knew him, first as a mathematics teacher and then as manager of the school store at the same college, where he sold school supplies to the students. He was also responsible for the conservation of school textbooks, which he meticulously maintained during the vacation period.
With his calm temperament, Brother Adelbert welcomed the various changes that took place in his mission country with serenity and faith. These included the independence of Congo in 1960, and the Zairianization policy implemented by President Mobutu in 1971. He never complained about the difficulties associated with the country’s socio-economic situation, which was often degrading and unstable.
Always ready to help, Brother Adelbert gave everything he had to the most disadvantaged, doing so discreetly out of respect for people’s dignity. Many students and teachers could testify to his small acts of charity and kindness towards those in need.
Adelbert truly embodied the following excerpt from our Fundamental Principles: “The gift you have received, give as a gift.”
Another very striking fact is that in the evening, when you entered his modest room, you would find him doing his daily reading, after he had finished putting his accounts in order, of course.
For several years, he served as Legal Representative and Treasurer of the Congolese Region with loyalty and self-sacrifice, seeking neither privilege nor glory. That is why he will long remain an undeniable source of inspiration for us.
All in all, we can list the following qualities in Brother Adelbert:
- Selflessness,
- Fidelity to his commitment,
- Punctuality in his work and community activities,
- Love of a job well done,
- Special attention to his confreres and to the poor, to name but a few.
Brother Adelbert truly allowed himself to be formed and transformed throughout his life, as our Fundamental Principles so aptly put it: “in the common, ordinary, and unspectacular flow of everyday life.”
Humble servant of God, receive now the crown reserved for you by the Master whom you have faithfully served with complete loyalty, as a true Brother among your Brothers.
WRITTEN BY BROTHER FRANÇOIS MUSONGO KAFINDO, CFX
I am truly inspired by reading these words from a student of Bro. Adelbert. I sense Ryken’s spirit at work in him, changing our world little by little. Bro. Bill Griffin CFX