Newsletter for alumni of The Abbey School,
Mt. St. Benedict, Trinidad and Tobago, W.I.
Caracas, 25 March
2017 No. 803
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Dear Friends,
For those who might have not known Fr. Bernard,
Here is the Eulogy for Fr. Bernard as it
appeared in the farewell card that we received.
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Father Bernard Vlaar
1915 – 1991
Monk of the Mount St. Benedict Abbey
Trinidad
Born in Hoorn, Holland, on 24th
May, 1915, he received the names, Timothy Peter, at baptism.
After being turned down by the Mill Hill
Fathers, with whom he studied for a few years, because of frail health, he
entered the Benedictine monastery in Trinidad, in 1937, determined now to be a
missionary monk.
Monastic Profession followed on 8th
September, 1938, and the ordination to the priesthood on 19th March,
1942.
In the following year he was appointed first
Rector of the Minor Seminary and first Headmaster of the conjoined
boarding-school.
In 1949, he was reading for a science Degree
at Oxford and resumed the Headmastership two years after his return in 1951.
In 1972 he was appointed Prior-Administrator
and, in 1975, Abbot.
He resigned in 1979, after suffering a
cerebral stroke.
In 1981, while on a visit to Holland, he
sustained severe hot-water burns while bathing, that left him crippled.
In September, 1991, he fractured his leg
after falling down from his wheel-chair.
Further complications set in and he passed
peacefully to the Lord in the Caura Chest Hospital, where efforts were made to
deal with his pleurisy, on the morning of Sunday, 27th October.
After well-attended funeral Mass on Tuesday
29th, his body was laid to rest in the Abbey cemetery.
Father Bernard was a humble and lovable man
filled with the Spirit of the Lord.
The spirituality of the Charismatic Renewal,
which he served as its Spiritual Director, swayed and transformed his life of
faith and prepared him for these twelve years of physical confirmed which he
endured prayerfully with heroic patience.
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The circular is inviting those that have a
golden pen for a short resume on Fr. Bernard´s life, to write and let others
know, how life was influenced by our beloved headmaster, and to set an
example…..
But in case you wonder how my life was under
Fr. Bernard, here is a very short episode that I wanted you to have.
I remember him as the HEADMASTER and I was
always afraid to be called by him, as it was a sign that you did something wrong.
But of course this was not so but it was in the air.
The first time I was called in to his office
was on Sunday, right after the study period at 10 am, the study period where
you were supposed to write letters to your family and friends.
Naturally the first step was to scan my
brains of my last few hours movement, to check of any deviation of the rules,
just in case I had to make up an excuse.
I knocked on the door of his office and was ushered
in, I cannot express the felling that I had upon crossing the threshold but the
feeling was there, maybe because of the multiple rumours and the general fear
that his call generated and the sight of the CANE propped in one corner.
I was told to sit down in the straight back
chair in front of his desk, and I was ready for the dress down or the unknown.
With my eyes and ears tuned, I was suddenly
aware that the situation was not a reprisal or punishment. He asked me about
the address on a letter that I had just written to my aunt in Hungary, the
letter did not have a Mr, Miss, before the name as was customary, so I was
asked kindly, for whom the letter was addressed; male, female or the way the
Magyars were accustomed to address a person. Once I gave him the right answer I
was relieved how easy was it all. But no matter, until I again crossed the
threshold of the door, I did not feel easy.
Outside my friends were waiting to find out
how I did or what I did. Or maybe to hear my cries!!!!
I know that this does not say a lot about
Fr. Bernard but I can tell you that he was respected to a great extent, at
least by us the younger generation, I was 13 at that time and in Form I in
1956.
I regret that I never had a closer
friendship with him during my five years at the school, but somehow he
represented an authority that was not to be joked about.
In a later issue I shall recount another
episode that might help to gauge the appreciation and general, that I have had
and still remember of this great teacher and HEADMEASTER.
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Date: 15 Oct 13:28 (PDT)
Dear Ladislao,
We received the sad news of the passing of
Fr. Paul van den Eijnden in his native Holland on October the 13th.
The funeral will take place on Saturday,
18th October, after which according to his last wishes his mortal remains will
be cremated.
Paul had been battling cancer of the kidneys
for a number of years and was getting increasingly weaker.
In the end he was longing to die and return
to his Lord.
God bless and every good wish.
Fr. Christopher.
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I am sure that there is another story to be
told on Fr. Paul’s chess abilities.
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First Abbey School REUNION 2003/08/30
At the end, the Master of Ceremonies, Martin
Laurence, (class of 1981), who did a magnificent job of presenting speakers and
smoothing out the gaps, said it best, "The building may have closed, but
we live on."
So we finally met up, on a Saturday night,
the 15th of August 2004, at the Centre of Excellence in Tunapuna, a place where
so many of us used to hungrily look down upon, on similar Saturday nights, before
cinema with Fr. Augustine. And I don't even know if those shows were continuing
in 1985, but there we were in Tunapuna liming and old-talking as usual.
Next year I'll find out.
Fr. Augustine was not present, his hearing
and eyesight not being of the best at present, but Abbott Francis Alleyne,
Brother Camillus Culley, the honey man; Br. Gerard Alexis, once known as
Br.Rupert, as urbane and smooth as ever; Fr. Cuthbert van de Sende; Fr.
Benedict Simons, of Sputnik fame, Fr. Odo van der Heijdt; Fr. Christopher
Theunissen and Br. Marius Williams, well represented the monks. In addition,
Miss Kitty Marcus, the school secretary whose chemistry classes we all remember
with delight if not success (I failed chemistry miserably) graced us with her
presence. As a matter of fact there were a number of ladies present, most
of whom I did not remember from Mount, but obviously some of us have improved
ourselves. Perhaps the happiest couple there was the hardworking treasurer of
the Organising Committee, Aaron Chin Albert (1984) and his wife who were
celebrating their 11th anniversary.
Other members of the Organising Committee
were Miguel Gonzalez (1985), who came all the way from California where he now
lives, through Arima (mom) and Maracaibo (Dad) and who was described as the
“chief organizer by everyone; Robert O’Connell (1982), President of the
committee and who promised to take off his tie but never did; Avalon Kallo
(1985), a key man, responsible for coordinating the bar; Gavin Gonsales (1983),
another key man, the executive chef; Kerry Costello, (1983), instrumental in
contacting many of the old boys who came; Leonard Abbot (1985), part time
committee secretary and who I mixed up all night with Fr. Abbott (and I got
more mixed up as the night wore on); Paul Guillen (1985); and Reza Haditsingh,
who like a good Trini confused everyone thoroughly at the end by trying to give
directions to his ranch for the family get-together the next day. He should
have asked his wife.
By the way, the Sunday function at Reza was
so good it ended at 2 AM on Monday. Now we know why so many banks opened late
that Monday.
The room was tastefully decorated; wives
again! The food was tasty and filling; wives again! The drinks were
plenty and varied; Mount boys again!
A couple of people spoke. Christopher
de Marothy (1958?) did so on behalf of the 50’s. He had to, he was the
only one from that decade, and he led off magnificently, setting the tone for
the rest of the speakers. Next year we hope to see more of you “real old boys”
and hear some good old talk about how Mount was better back then.
David Bratt (1962) was allowed to speak for
the sixties after fighting off Don and Gordon Mitchell (?1963 & ?1964),
Dion Fakoory (?1965)and Salvador Coscaret (1969?), who all probably could have
done a better job. Salvador incidentally was only the second “panol”
representative at the reunion, Miguel Gonzalez being the other, and he came
from Louisiana for the meeting. Thanks, fellows!
“Drax” or Joe Berment spoke movingly about
life at the Mount in the 70’s and Clinton Ross, who now runs the lab at the
General Hospital in Scarborough, (somebody knows chemistry!) spoke up for the
scouts. He was well prepared.
Then, the last principal, Fr. Cuthbert made
us all laugh with some unassuming but pointed jokes about life at Mount.
“Cuttie” as we all fondly know him, was leaving for Holland the next day.
He better come back. For someone who claims to have never been too
interested in the Abbey School, he certainly has spent a lot of time with
us. And the man makes a mean yogurt!
Abbott Francis, who I was told, was the best
scout Mount ever had, closed off the formal part of the evening and it was
interesting to hear him say that the main reason why the Abbey School had to
shut down was because there was no longer any need for a quality academic
school like Mount in T & T, and the decision was taken to put scarce
resources into St. Bede’s Vocational School. For our own personal reasons, some
of us would want to disagree with the idea that another quality school is not
needed, but there is no denying that St. Bede’s School is needed in the
country.
The St. Benedict community of monks has
contracted over the years. There are now only 10 monks up there and half
are over 70 years of age. Abbot Francis also pointed out that 2003 was
the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey School in 1943. Is anyone
from that era around? (Richard O´Connor living in Australia, entered the school
in 1945)
The evening ended with a slide show of pictures
of Mount old boys. It was not complete by any means but should form the
basis of a really good album by next year.
Personally I want to thank the 1985 class,
the last Abbey School class, for organizing this much needed reunion. As
the last class, it was really their duty to do and they did it with much
brio. Strange how things work out, Ladislao with his weekly Mount letters
and now the Mount reunions. Maybe we are growing up at last.
David Bratt (Class of 1962)
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10-02-2017 Hi guys I am Angel Gomez, Abbey
Boy 1971 – 1974, Chemical Engineer, Venezuelan, Living in Jamaica. Great to be here
in this group! If you can all introduce yourself for me to add each of you in
my contact list.
10-02-2017 Hi Angel Azizul Mohammed
1966-1971 Living in New Jersey
10-02-2017 Hello Guys.... Enrique Zanelli
67/70.... living in Houston/Katy Tx
10-02-2017 I need to let Salvador know to
put names with nrs that way we can all have complete contact info
10-02-2017 I think Kiko you need to put
those iPhone # and names in each one contacto list if their names pop Up when
they write if not they Will be anonymous
10-02-2017 Hi Óscar Cantore 66-69
10-02-2017 Salvador what about your brother
Pedro? How is he? Hope to see posts from him.
10-02-2017 Enrique Greetings !
10-02-2017 Oscar, ian gomes here whats up
miserable? How are you man?
10-02-2017 Hey Ian how u doing piece of crap
10-02-2017 Living in Panama now. Set Up base
here. Raising mushrooms and manufacture paints
10-02-2017 Next time I am in Panama I will
look u up
10-02-2017 Lol. Still the same you misery.
Wow panama. Enjoying it. I’m retired now.
10-02-2017 Don’t fear Now get you enjoy both
oceans 80 kilómetros apart
10-02-2017 Hello guys!!! Nadia Mellone Our
Lady Coromoto School 71/74 I'm Luciano's sister... living in Pto. Ordaz
Venezuela .Thanks for adding me...Salvador!!!!
10-02-2017 Winston What's up man Where are
my Trini friends?
10-02-2017 so guys, anyone living in New
Jersey
10-02-2017 Fr. Imash: Winston it look like
you joe and I are the only Trinidad left in Trinidad
10-02-2017 Winston and Joe I kno who r u
10-02-2017 I’ll try to update names with
phone nrs
10-02-2017 Sad reality
10-02-2017 Eat anything you find Kiko People
are starving
10-02-2017 Flamingos are pretty, don't know
if they taste good 😝 but who cares if you are hungry
10-02-2017 Introducing myself: Attila
Gyuris, attended Abbey School 1964-1969, Prep A till Form V.
Chemical Engineer / Professional Pilot. Lived in Venezuela ->
USA -> Mexico -> Peru -> Colombia -> now living in Ecuador.
10-02-2017 Hello Attila.... i remember you
with the bb guns shooting lizards behind the woodwork shop...
10-02-2017 Hi Attila long time great to hear
from u
10-02-2017 Enrique, I was confused. There
was a guy Zanella from Barinas state when I attended MSB. Not you!
10-02-2017 It happens 😂
10-02-2017 Enrique cómo estás?
10-02-2017 Yeah, Zanella was there same time
I was (67-70) and then my brother Victor (70-71).... I think Zanella stayed
longer than me
10-02-2017 Hi Enrique: yeah that was me,
except it was a pellet gun. Still do a lot of competitive shooting but with real
guns this time, he he.
10-02-2017 Yeah, pellet guns... i got one
myself, Diana brand I think it was....bought it downtown on Frederick St
10-02-2017 Hola
Antonio.... todo bien y tu?
10-02-2017 Yes, mine was a Diana model 25,
.177 caliber.
Sent 803
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EDITED by Ladislao Kertesz, kertesz11@yahoo.com,
if you would like to be in the circular’s mailing list or any old boy that you
would like to include.
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Photos:
11AD0002ADE, Anthony Devaux
16PD0005PDE, Patrick Devaux
16LK0105FAMLKE, Fabio Amici and Ladislao
Kertesz
80LK5985FBIGO, Ian Golding
