Plaque ‘Brothers Field’ unveiled

Reusel, 7 August 2018

At the official opening of ‘Pagatter Week’ (pagatter: dialect for small children), a plaque was unveiled beginning a week of sports and especially, because of the heat, water games. This activity symbolised the transfer of the ‘Brothers’ Field’ to the ‘Foundation Jeugdbelangen’ in Reusel. Already on 19 December 2017, this field was officially transferred to this foundation by the Superior General, Brother Lawrence Obiko. On the plaque the field was named: ‘Brothers Field’.

At the festive start of this Pagatter Week, the Brothers Benyamin Tunggu and Rofinus Banunaek of the General Board and the Brothers Godfried Kanen and Edward Gresnigt were present. The board of the foundation offered them a festive lunch. Brother Godfried, the last superior (2002-2008) of the brothers’ community in Reusel and at present 96-year-old, was invited, together with two small ‘pagatters’, to remove the canvas from the memorial plaque. The attached description stated the following:

‘Since the brothers left Reusel in 2008, the soccer field of the brothers was the last connection between the brothers and our village. Since 2002, the Foundation Jeugdbelangen was allowed to use the field for its activities.’

On behalf of the General Board it was emphasised that the brothers greatly contributed to the development of that part of the province Brabant, mainly through education, and that education is still their mission today. The Constitutions of the Congregation put it as follows:

The concern of our Congregation is especially directed towards youth. Through education and other forms of guidance we want to help them to find their way in the world of tomorrow (Const. I, 30-31).

The Brothers’ Field in Reusel offers young people a great opportunity to form themselves through sports and games. The sense of belonging and adherence to the agreements or the rules of the game are formative. The hope was expressed that this transfer is not only about the plot, the land, but also about the objective once given to this place: to guide young people towards the future.

Brother Edward Gresnigt