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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The day, Wednesday, November 19, 2014 when Fr. Victor Bieler CM passed away is to be viewed in the light of faith despite sad moment for all of us. Fr. Emile Victor Bieler (EVB) has returned to the Source of life, to God longed for in his whole life. A friend calls him as “a light shining for a while and is now going back to the Source of light itself.” EVB’s friends and I myself are all in tears upon hearing his holy departure for eternity. And yet in the light of our faith his departure to God is telling us His immense love in EVB’s life.
Fr. EVB has just completed his 85th year and yet was never elderly and aging. He showed us how a profound faith in God and philosophical understanding could rejuvenate life and physical performance. Being teacher (or better expressed “professor”) of almost the of us, he just presented himself as friend , a close one with a rare warm heart to everybody. We still remember his strong grip when shaking hands with us. It did not just tell us about physically good stamina but also warmth of his presence and welcoming.
EVB taught almost every subject we studied, from Biblical theology to English and Latin, from Patristic to social teaching of the Church, and of course from philosophy to practical things in our house. Yet, above all he taught us not by intellectual eloquence but by exemplary love, perseverance, and diligence. He could travel from seriousness of sophisticated philosophy to surprising sense of humor by cracking a joke without loosing firmness and assertiveness in presenting himself in leadership. It is not surprising when recalled how he once became rector of two different theological-philosophical institutions at the same time. It happened in the late eighties. He was about to leave for Papua after his sabbatical semester. Being known as man with beautiful experience of leadership EVB was immediately installed as rector of the so-called “Fajar Timur” school of philosophy and theology at Abepura, the West Papua (Irian Jaya). But, when he was elected as rector in Papua, EVB was also still rector in “Widya Sasana” school of philosophy and theology, Malang. EVB might be known as the first person in the Congregation (in the world?) who broke the record by holding such a responsibility as rector of two institutions of philosophy and theology at the same time for about a year!
This record does not express any personal ambitions of EVB. He remained a simple Vincentian. Yes, simplicity was one of the Vincentian virtues, which he loved so much. He suggested the word “Kepolosan” in Indonesian language for that virtue. This word (“Kepolosan”) means more or less nothing to reserve for oneself or giving the wholeness of oneself to God alone. Indeed EVB was the man who accomplished his job in best effort as possible as he could.
Since he diligently and tirelessly involved himsef in priestly formation almost throughout his life, he became a person to whom we, students, have often aspired to be. What I mean is that he has been a “model” of priesthood for us. We have been dreaming to be priests like him. Hundreds of priests, seminarians, Daughters of Charity sisters and lay people were fortunate to have EVB in their formation years. We know he touched many hearts of priests and seminarians of Indonesia as well as Solomon Islands with his simple presence.
In Indonesia the students come from different religious congregations, dioceses, whereas in Solomon Islands EVB’s students are from three dioceses, Honiara, Gizo, and Auki. His love and everything he possessed were meant to work in formation. Holy Name of Mary’s Seminary in Solomon Islands was his last and forever love. He even showed his willing to come again to Solomon Islands after recovering from hospital.
In the words of Bishop Adrian Smith (of Honiara, Solomon Islands) he was one of the “Founding Fathers” of mission in Solomon Islands: “Fr. Victor was the first Vincentian to come to Solomon Islands when we were seeking help to run our Seminary. He was most encouraging in those early days when everything seemed so uncertain. That is his special gift, he is a person who encouraged others. He was with us when we got the green light from Rome to proceed with our hopes. I am sure the seminarians who knew him will always remember his as a father who cared for them and who was interested in them. I want you to know that in our three dioceses we will be remembering Father Victor at the Altar of the Lord. His life story is one great story; he was a man of such great experiences and has made a wonderful contribution to the story of Holy Name of Mary Inter-Diocesan Seminary in Solomon Islands. He was part of the foundation and so I am sure that what he did so much to develop will remain as a testimony of the man he is” (Email of Bishop Adrian Smith to Visitor of Indonesia).
Some tributes posted in timeline of Facebook of Holy Name of Mary seminary speak of condolence: “I just want to add that Fr. Victor Bieler CM was one of the ‘founding fathers’ of HNMS [Holy Name of Mary Seminary] along with the Bishops, putting in a huge effort to bring the Vincentians to Solomon Islands to run the seminary and then giving his last years to this ministry. Thank you, Victor. Rest in Peace, Victor. Fr. Victor passed away today in Indonesia. [He is] a saint in my opinion. If only we had more like him.”
When we invited him to share his mission of Solomon Islands to the students of Widya Sasana School of philosophy and theology at Malang a couple of years ago, he encouraged each one of us to go for mission by saying strongly: “Dear students, as you know, I am working in Pacific Islands called ‘Solomon Islands’. I would like to encourage all of you to pay attention to the people of those remote Islands. The church has often forgotten those people; even God himself has sometimes forgotten too. He forgot the people living in the remote places there … So, let us not forget them, let’s go there evangelizing those people.” What a love of mission! What a beautiful love!
How do we understand such a wonderful love of EVB for mission? I do believe that such a beautiful love does not emerge instantly; instead, it comes gradually and has strongly been nurtured in deep faith to God.
EVB was born in Surabaya, Indonesia, June 13, 1929. In time of the Indonesian revolution to independence 1945, he was sixteen years old. EVB was in Surabaya with his dear father, a Swiss descent. Despite being European his father was not exterminated in the Internment by the Japanese troops. It was simply because his father was an expert of financial matter. The Japanese employed him in financial field for “Peta” (Pembela Tanah Air), the famous name of revolutionary movement to the independence from the Dutch. But when the Allies troops defeated the Japanese in the WW II, there was a very chaotic situation in Surabaya. The Indonesian revolutionaries sent EVB and his father to jail of Kalisosok, Surabaya. There in prison his father started to hate the Indonesian in human perspective. How come the Indonesians put him in prison while he was serving and helping them in their struggle to gain the independence? When the family of Bieler transferred to Holland in 1949, EVB entered in seminary of the CM. Knowing that the son, EVB, was about to come back to Indonesia after ordination, his father began to disagree with. “How come that EVB is now coming back to Indonesia to serve and dedicate his life to those who did put him in prison few years ago?” EVB’s relationship with his father started to become somehow “cold”. EVB’s classmate and lifetime friend and confrere, Fr. Wiel Bellemakers CM, told that it was “very difficult decision” of which he admired mostly EVB’ fearless and flawless love for mission. In other word, it was the very profound love of EVB to Indonesians regardless of unpleasant experiences in prison of Kalisosok, Surabaya. As we can imagine, prison in wartime is just uncertain life for tomorrow. EVB’s love transcended such an obstacle.
When arrived in Indonesia he was immediately assigned in Saint Vincent’s seminary in Garum. He taught philosophy to the students who prepared themselves for theology. From Garum he travelled to Eastwood, Australia accompanying those of theology. Then, he was called back to Kediri, to initiate a new building of a major seminary for the CM students.
The second Vatican Council was the very pivotal point of system of priestly education in Indonesia. EVB was among the formators who promoted the so-called “Solid collaboration” to establish major seminaries in Indonesia. He sought to work together with a couple of Carmelite fathers in preparing some materials of philosophy and theology. This “working together” was sort of providential start of beautiful collaboration in the future which brought the Widya Sasana School of philosophy and theology into being. EVB was of course not alone in establishing such a big enterprise as a school of philosophy and theology. But, he was one of the main Founding Fathers of this beautiful fruit of collaboration between the Carmelites and the Vincentians, that the Widya Sasana School of philosophy and theology, Malang, where almost one third of dioceses of Indonesia and more than 15 different religious congregations have sent their candidates to study philosophy and theology.
Narrating EVB’s life seems to be endless, yet I have to end my personal share. The other fruitful period of EVB’s life to be necessarily mentioned is when Father General, Richard McCullen CM, summoned him from the “jungle” of Papua to Rome to be Secretary General and then Assistant General (in time of Fr. Robert Maloney CM). Rome was the very start of his international “career” journey. From Father Richard McCullen as well as Fr. Robert Maloney and confreres in the Generalate we heard that EVB was “man of collaboration”. He tirelessly dedicated his ability in both fixing practical problems in house and setting up vision of the future of the whole Congregation of the mission. EVB was “man behind the scene”; together with Fr. Robert Maloney he promoted “new shift” of mission in the CM (as EVB suggested “cultural sensitiveness” in doing mission to the poor); he involved himself to set up regular meetings for formators in Asia Pacific, Africa, Latin America and else; he also urged the CM to deal with interreligious dialogue especially with Islam, etc. Several confreres from different continents, they gladly shared their encounter with Fr. EVB as the man who inspired them with virtues of simplicity and practical ability as well as warm welcoming.
Fr. Victor Bieler CM, Fr. Reksosusilo CM, and Fr. Robert Maloney in Solomon Islands.
Fr. Robert Maloney CM, the former Superior General, remembers Fr. Emile Victor Bieler CM as follows: “He was a great Vincentian and missionary. I was privileged to live with him, pray with him and work with him for so many years in Rome. We travelled together to China, to Japan, to Australia, to the Solomons, to Istanbul, to Austria, to Holland, to Indonesia of course, and to many other places. He was a wise counsellor and a tireless worker. He had great practical gifts and endless patience. We used to work together taking computers apart and putting them back together! When we were in Taiwan, we bought new, advanced computer parts and then installed them when we got back to Rome. In his heart, he always remained a missionary. I remember how fondly he spoke of his years in Irian Jaya [West Papua]. Then, after Rome, even though he was no longer young, he served so generously in the Solomons. Priestly formation had a huge place in his life” (Fr. Robert Maloney’s letter to Visitor of Indonesia, Fr. Robertus Wijanarko CM).
Dear brothers and sisters, let me now say few last words directly to Father Victor Bieler CM: “Dear Father Bieler, we just want to express our deep gratitude to you for your ceaseless and tireless dedication to priestly formation. We do accompany your last journey toward eternity with our prayers and masses. Eternity simply means “encountering God” as you taught us in the class of philosophy. When you reached there, when you meet Him whom you loved and longed for so much, we hope that you not forget us in your prayers. Please insert us in your prayers that all of us may be tireless as you were to be faithful disciples of Jesus; that each one of us may diligently continue your beautiful legacies and steps; and that God may bless us always in our daily duties. Amen. (taken from http://cmglobal.org/en/2014/11/29/tribute-fr-victor-bieler/)
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