Latest revision as of 16:32, 8 October 2024

Fr Léon Lejeune S.M.

APOSTLE OF THE LEPERS

Translation by AI; review by Elizabeth Charlton, NZ Province Archivist, Sept 2024 of text from Gigi René, Hols L, Carnet de Bord d’Une Épopée Mariste En Lorraine Belge Differt: 1887-2000. Imprimerie-reliure Michel frères: 2001

His childhood and adolescence

[1]

Father Lejeune was born in Petitvoir (Neufchâteau) on 12 January 1876. He was baptised the following day in Tournay church by the parish priest, Deroisy.

[2]

His father, Jean-Joseph Lejeune, born in Nevraumont in 1846, undertook the difficult job of slate miner in Warmitfontaine. His mother, Marie-Elvire Burnay, born in Petitvoir in 1852, governed everything like the strong woman of the Gospel: her home, the garden, the stable, the oven, the washing, the children's duties. What's more, she was a fervent Christian and was particularly esteemed for her good character.

[3]

The children, seven boys and one girl (Léon was the eldest in the family) grew up in a friendly and generous environment.

[4]

In 1884, Léon went to primary school in Petitvoir with Mr Golinveaux. At the age of 9, he was hired as a cowherd on a village farm for 25 francs a year. In 1886, he was employed by Féfé de Molinfaing, where he looked after the cows for 45 francs a year. He got up at 4 o'clock in the morning and was on his feet until 10 o'clock in the evening. It was work beyond his strength! The distance and loneliness made the boy suffer. His parents were affected. Two years later, he returned home and returned to being a cowherd in his home village.

[5]

Leon made his First Communion on 10 April 1887, Easter Day, in the church in Tournay. He was confirmed the same year, in June, by Bishop Bélin, the Bishop of Namur.

[6]

Shortly afterwards, he confessed to his mother, “Mum, I want to be a missionary and go to the Blacks”. This was a very hard blow for his parents, as the Lejeunes were not rich. As the eldest, the father was counting on him to help feed the family.

[7]

He protested, hesitated, and then, with a heavy heart, agreed to it at his wife's insistence. Father Henry, a priest of good judgement, advised Leon to apply to the Marist Fathers' Institute in Differt, where another child from the parish, Louis Pierret, would soon be entering. To pay for the trousseau, everyone tightened their belts. Léon knitted his own socks. His father sold their only cow for 300 francs. Father Perquis, the superior of Differt, was contacted. The new school year began in September. In the meantime, the new parish priest in Tournay, Father Godefroid, took charge of the boy and gave him Latin lessons. Léon continued to attend the village school and entered the primary school examination at Longlier on 17 July 1890. He passed with flying colours. Before leaving his native Belgian Ardennes, the teenager made three pilgrimages to the shrines of Notre-Dame de Lourdes in Orgeo, Notre-Dame du Rosaire in Waillimont and Notre-Dame de Grâces in Straimont.

[8]

On 27 September 1890, Léon Lejeune entered in the sixth class Latin.^[1] At that time, the school set aside a period of probation to test a candidate's moral and intellectual abilities before admitting him as an apostolic [pupil destined for priestly formation].

[9]

This admission took place on the feast of Blessed Chanel, 28 April 1891. At the start of the 1891-1892 school year, Léon was allowed to skip the fifth class and enter directly into the fourth. His class teacher was Father Jacquinot, whom he particularly liked. On 4 December, Bishop Vidal, Vicar Apostolic of Fiji, visited the Differt community. He gave a lecture on the Missions. His young audience was enthralled. In thanks, to the bishop's great surprise, the pupils sang a Fijian song.

[10]

In 3rd Latin, Father Reinert was his teacher. In poetry [his second to last year of secondary education] Léon Lejeune had Father Grenot. Of the 25 pupils in 1890, only 8 remained, but the total number of pupils went from 50 to 87. At the Christmas exam in 1894, Léon came second out of eight. He was therefore appointed monitor for year 1895. His job was to ensure discipline during study periods.

[11]

In rhetoric [last year], Léon was a model of good spirit: regular and pious, he faithfully observed the rules.

[12]

Léon Lejeune's brilliant intelligence was much admired by his teachers and fellow students. His cheerful, playful character, his helpfulness and the sensitivity of his heart won him many friends who sought out his lively, witty conversation. They were attracted by what was uncovered by an inquisitive mind, constantly on the lookout for the latest discoveries. Endearing characteristics in front of which one cannot remain indifferent. Differt also revealed his party organising and acting skills... He played in “Le Coffret de Papa Daguenet” [Papa Daguenet’s box], a play performed on several occasions, notably in the presence of Bishop Fraysse from New Caledonia.

[13]

Finally, his faith was strong; his soul turned towards the supernatural with joy, spontaneity - and sometimes with a candour that even his own friends, like Father Pierret, did not fail to underline, not without some malice.

Itinerary of an aspiring Marist missionary

[14]

At the end of July 1895, Léon learned that he would be continuing his studies at Paington (England) with Nicolas Weber. On 26 August, he left Differt, where he left a lasting impression. The whole school accompanied him to Autelbas station. The farewells from teachers and pupils were moving.

[15]

This trip to England was obviously a revelation for the young man from the Belgian Ardennes, who had never been further than Libramont.

[16]

At Paington, Léon Lejeune successfully studied philosophy and fundamental theology for two years, and in six months he spoke English well.

[17]

1896 was his year for the military service lottery. His brother Arthur took his place and drew a good number, 137, which exempted him from military service.

[18]

On 17 August 1897, he entered the novitiate at Sainte-Foy-Iès-Lyon, France with around fifty students. He was the only Belgian.

[19]

On 24 September 1898, Léon Lejeune took the vow of obedience, his first step in the Society of Mary. Two days later, he left for Montbel, in the Var, where the scholasticate was located. Several of Léon's former classmates were there, including Louis Pierret de Tournay. Léon Lejeune immediately joined the band of merry men who were destined for the Missions. This gave them the right, or so they said, to go on madcap trips or fanciful excursions during the long holidays they called ‘bidoche holidays’ or during the three days before classes resumed, known as ‘turlure’.

[20]

On 20 December 1899, Leon was called to religious profession. The following day, the feast of St Thomas, the 14 theologians left for Marseilles where Bishop Robert gave them the tonsure and minor orders.

[21]

On 13 January 1901, he was ordained a deacon by Bishop Arnaud of Fréjus. On 28 April, the feast of Blessed Chanel, he re-submitted his request to go on mission. On 7 July, at the end of the exams, he was appointed to go to Fiji with Father Destable.

[22]

The ordinations took place on 14 July... Then it was back to his homeland. The following day, he celebrated Mass at the high altar in the Basilica of Fourvière (in Lyon). On 20 July, Father Lejeune arrived back in Petitvoir. The following day, 21 July, the Belgian national holiday, was also the day of Father Lejeune's first steps in the priesthood. He was assisted by his former teachers from Differt, Fathers Tranier and Grenot. The whole population joined in this grand ceremony. His first blessing was for his mother, who on her knees, wept with joy and emotion. That same evening, he shared with her the great ideal of his life: his departure for the missions in Oceania. The future missionary had four weeks' holiday to prepare for the ultimate departure. He took advantage of this time to visit family and friends. He sang High Mass at Differt on Sunday 4 August. On 18 August, he gave his farewell sermon in his parish church. The time for final farewells had finally come. His mother walked 7km to take her son to Longlier station... A whistle, the train began to move ... Handkerchiefs were waved ... Father Lejeune waved good-bye ...

On the way to the mission in Fiji

[23]

Father Lejeune arrived in Marseilles on 8 September 1901. With fervour, he made the traditional pilgrimage to Notre-Dame de la Garde and also celebrated Holy Mass.

[24]

Courageous and optimistic, with the help of Mary, he will be able to give the full measure of his exceptional worth, which will make him a hero.

[25]

And then it's time for the big departure. L’Armand Behic weighed anchor. Among the passengers is Bishop Lamaze, who, despite being 68 years old, is returning to the Islands of Tonga. L’Armand Behic sailed towards the Pacific, towards Oceania, towards the Fiji Islands. It was quite an eventful journey, if Father Lejeune's logbook is to be believed. During the 33-day crossing, the liner had to endure two fairly serious storms. The ship called at Port Said and Colombo. It dropped anchor in Sydney on 11 October. On the 23rd, Father Lejeune continued his voyage to Fiji. He disembarked in Suva on 30 October after an 8-day crossing on a small steamer in terrible weather. He was given a warm welcome by Father Nicolas, the parish priest of Suva, who would one day be bishop of Fiji.

[26]

Discovering, one after the other, these marvellous islands scattered in the isolation of the ocean, he couldn't help feeling a certain emotion. He wrote enthusiastically of his arrival in Fiji on 30 October 1901, “At five o'clock, we were at the entrance to the port of Suva, in ecstasy at the picturesque mountains, the luxuriant vegetation, the tall coconut palms lining the coast and the charming town hidden in the greenery ... All this bathed in the last rays of the sun, which was soon to disappear behind the mountains. We immediately entered the port. We were delighted to see our first Fijians, with their deeply tanned complexions, robust stature and thick hair. From Marseilles, we had been on the water for 40 days and had covered more than 20,000 kilometres. Now our task would begin.

[27]

The Fiji Islands, the young missionary’s field of action, lie on the route from Sydney to San Francisco, between the archipelagos of Tonga, Samoa, New Caledonia, the New Hebrides and the Solomon Islands. This archipelago is made up of 250 islands of volcanic origin, only 30 of which are inhabited. The Fiji archipelago is shaped like a recumbent S. The large island of Viti-Levu forms the upper hump. The capital is Suva, an important port of call. The lower hump is represented by the other large island, Vanua-Levu.

[28]

Bishop Blanc, Vicar Apostolic of Central Oceania, describes these marvellous islands as follows, “The islands vibrate in the heat of the sun's golden rays or they languish in the softness of the pink mornings, and gather themselves, wrapped in the purple shadows of twilight. The eyes find serenity there. They are filled with pleasure and joy, while waiting for the islands to change their mood and become distressed and threatening when the winds blow and the hurricanes strike.” The Fijians, of several races, have a dark complexion and frizzy hair. They are fairly intelligent and gifted in song and music. They are considered to be the most ferocious cannibals in Oceania. Anthropophagy can be explained by the fact that the Pacific islands had no pests or domestic animals... Too lazy to hunt or fish, the Fijians were reduced to a diet based on yams, bananas and coconuts. Until 1877, there were public meals of human flesh. Mothers even cooked their children; children ate their parents. Fijians ate their enemies. There was no feast without several human bodies roasted in the fire.

[29]

“For me,” said King Cakobau to a ship's captain, “men are my cattle”. A young native would place a large stone next to his hut every time he ate a slave. When he died, they were counted and he had eaten 872 ‘long pigs’. The barbaric custom of killing, eating or mutilating one's fellow man came to an end under the beneficent influence of the missionaries with the acclimatisation of cattle, sheep and horses.

1901-1936: 35 years of missionary apostolate

[30]

In his diary, Father Lejeune wrote the following:

[31]

“I was appointed to begin my ministry at Naiserelagi on the north-east coast of the large island of Viti-Levu in the company of a certain Father Calviac of whom I had never heard. He wondered, and so did the others, what this Belgian could be, the first one to be seen in the country! The Mission personnel were all French except for a Luxemburger, Father Jean-Baptiste Schneider. Father Calviac was pleased to learn that his curate knew English and was something of a musician: two very important things in these countries. On 6 September, we arrived at Naiserelagi.”

[32]

This station had eight hundred Catholics scattered around fifteen villages: about 5,000 inhabitants in an area as large as the province of Luxembourg. The island had only one wooden chapel, 12 metres long and 7 metres wide. The presbytery was also a rudimentary wooden building with 3 fairly spacious rooms and a veranda. At the station itself, there are only the schools, with 30 boys and 30 girls and 7 households whose men assist the missionaries with various tasks. Father Lejeune immediately revealed his talents as a builder, organiser and leader. He worked tirelessly to build a beautiful stone church, surrounded by a smart presbytery and comfortable schools.

[33]

“What is most exhausting,” he wrote, “is travelling. On this island, where there are no marked paths, you spend whole days climbing or descending mountains. You're usually drenched to the skin in sweat or rain. When you reach a village in the evening, you're treated to a piece of yam (sweet potato) cooked in water. To go to bed, you have a mat with a shoe rolled up in your trousers as a pillow.”

[34]

He understood very quickly how useful a horse was for getting around and took up riding. Father Lejeune often returned from his apostolic trips with his cassock in tatters and his shoes torn. His first concern was to learn the Fijian language. After three months, he was able to follow a conversation. Two months later, he could start confessing and two months after that, he was preaching in Fijian.

[35]

Every evening, Father Lejeune gathered the natives for prayer and a sermon. Then it's time for the traditional ‘Kava’ (Kava: a typical Fijian alcoholic drink made from crushed kava root), during which the leading villagers came to chat informally with him. Father himself admitted that Fijians preferred evening chats to sermons.

[36]

In order to provide food for the many schoolchildren who were hungry in the middle of the day, Father Lejeune took the initiative of starting a market garden. To do this, he introduced the plough and a team of oxen to Fiji.

[37]

In November 1903, he was appointed to Kadavu. Father Leberre, the mission's founder, was his second in command. Everything was in a state of disrepair.

[38]

In 1905, he wrote, “I have just started a stone church at Vabéa, the Catholic centre of the island. You're going to ask me who I've got as a mason? Well, none other than myself... Just as I could knit, now I'm a mason. It's going to be a church like the one at Névraumont: 18 metres long, 8 metres wide. The lime is made from baked reef stone. The sand and stones were found by the sea or in the mountains. Everyone pitches in and fetches them on their backs.” Christians were few in number. In 1908, there were 176 scattered across thirteen villages with a population of 7,000.

[39]

In December 1910, Bishop Vidal appointed Father Lejeune to the important mission of Rotuma. Rotuma is completely outside the Fiji archipelago, 500 km to the north. He was going to have to get used to a new climate, to people who were very different from the Fijians and whose language seemed to have some affinity with Chinese. Rotuma is an island barely as big as the canton of Neufchâteau, very pretty and very fertile. It is the garden of the Pacific. The population was just over 2,000, a good third of whom were Catholics when Father Lejeune arrived. Father Lejeune began by re-establishing the boys' school. He learned Rotuman. He introduced singing to his new parishioners. He had a harmonium brought in from Paris. He spent two years settling important material issues. The thirty-to-forty-hectare mission property had been neglected for more than four years. The coconut and coffee plantations and the cattle yard needed tidying up. Some buildings needed repairing...

[40]

At the end of 1911, the Makogai leprosarium opened. It needed a chaplain of goodwill for this position of dedication and self-sacrifice. At the age of 68, Father J.R. Schneider applied and left for the island of the lepers.

[41]

Father Lejeune translated biblical stories into Rotuman and added an abridged history of the Church. He organised the work of catechists.

[42]

In 1913, Father Griffon moved to Rotuma while Father Lejeune went to complete his second novitiate. The Marist Fathers' rule provides for a period of reflection and retraining after more or less 10 years of religious profession. He arrived in Sydney on 14 October 1913. There he met up again with Father Laurent, a native of Ethe, who had returned dying from the Solomon Islands eight or nine years earlier and permanently settled in Sydney. On 26 March 1914, Father Lejeune sailed again for Fiji. On 1 April, he disembarked at Suva.

[43]

At the end of 1913, Father Lejeune was appointed to the important parish of Suva. The parish priest of Suva had to attend the Provincial Chapter in Sydney, where he was elected a member of the General Chapter. This was to be held in Differt at the beginning of August 1914. But when the priest landed in France, war broke out. This forced him to rejoin the French army.

[44]

On 4 August 1914, war broke out in Europe. For a month, all the talk was of the forts of Liège and the indomitable Belgian army... The Belgian colours mingled everywhere with those of England and France. All that could be heard was the Brabançonne [Belgian national anthem]. The Catholics of Suva were proud to have a Belgian priest as their parish priest. Father Lejeune put it this way, “Congratulations, Mr Director, and sincere thanks to you and your colleagues. I am an unknown Belgian missionary who works in the middle of the Pacific, but whose heart trembles and groans with the great heart of the Fatherland.”

[45]

In 1915, Father Lejeune took charge of the vast mission of Tunuloa to the east of the large island of Vanua-Levu. He worked there for 5 years with Father Roth, an Alsatian who had been a fellow student at Differt. One of Father’s first tasks was to build a small motorboat for visiting coastal villages. He named it ‘Yser’, synonymous with the heroism of the Belgian army in the face of the enemy.

[46]

The mission's closest neighbour was a tireless planter named Eric Seal, a Protestant. He was a great friend of Father Lejeune. Through his hard work, he purchased a large plot of land 2 km from the mission. Full of admiration for Belgium and its king, he decided to sell his beautiful coconut plantation. He donated the proceeds to the Belgian relief fund. He obtained £3,500, which he gave to the Belgian consul in New Zealand. He made this magnificent gesture discreetly, without telling Father Lejeune. On 11 November 1918, a colleague on the neighbouring island gave him the great news of the armistice. There was widespread enthusiasm on the island. A wealthy planter invited the fathers to a big dinner on 13 November at five pm. During the dinner, the natives made a straw kaiser, which was loudly booed and then burnt in the presence of all the guests. A lady started playing the piano. Father Terrien sang ‘La Marseillaise’, Father Lejeune ‘La Brabançonne’ and all together ‘God Save the King’.

[47]

On the first Friday in October 1919, a violent earthquake shook the Fiji archipelago. Father coped with the damage with his usual courage.

[48]

On 2 January 1920, the twentieth anniversary of his religious profession, the first missionary left Tunuloa to return to his very first station at Naiserelagi, served by his first parish priest, the good Father Calviac. He stayed there until July 1921. This was a period of rest for him. Among other things, he used it to visit the leprosarium at Makogai. This had been in existence for 10 years. There he met Father Nicouleau, its chaplain.

[49]

In July 1922, Bishop Nicolas, the successor of the deceased Bishop Vidal, appointed Father Lejeune director of the catechist school and the Marist Brothers' school at Cawaci, on the island of Ovalau. Father Lejeune proved to be a consummate trainer and organiser.

[50]

He became superior of the mission and adviser to the vicar apostolic. He wrote, “‘I'm at Cawaci in a very healthy station by the sea. Our house is no more than 20 metres from the shore. When there is too much wind and the sea is rough, the foam from the waves flies over our house in fine rain.”

[51]

Initially, the father received a dozen catechists with wives and children. Their numbers grew from year to year. He devoted all his skill and tireless dedication to them. Father Lejeune wrote, “Catechists are extremely useful in these countries. Each missionary has to look after a vast area similar to half the size of Luxembourg. In these conditions, it's impossible to visit all the Catholics and give them the sacraments more than 2 or 3 times a year. Fortunately, the catechists are there. Placed in a village at a permanent post, they replace the missionaries and bring the faithful together morning and evening. They make them recite prayers, sing hymns and preach”

[52]

More than 100 catechists were trained by him. He monitored them after they left. Every 3 years, he called a meeting of the leaders and principal subordinates to stimulate their zeal and coordinate their activities.

[53]

In 1923, the missionary founded a minor seminary. There were about twenty students to begin with and had a priest to look after their training. He introduced Catholic Action to Fiji and organized the work of the teachers in indigenous schools. Every year, they came on retreat and participated in a pedagogical meeting that Father himself led.

[54]

After 24 years of mission, on 30 April 1925, Father Lejeune returned home. He arrived with a very moved heart in Longlier. And then at Petitvoir where he found family and friends with the joy that one can imagine. His father unfortunately died on 1 October 1906 after a life of dedication and hard work.

[55]

Our missionary used his six months of vacation to make the people of Fiji known by preaching in the parishes of Luxembourg . He visited his confreres’ relations. He received the villagers at the vigil. He made them laugh or squirm with his stories of cannibals and a thousand memories of youth that he tells in the Ardennes dialect. In Oceania, he never had the opportunity to speak the lilting dialect of Neufchâteau. Father China, another child of Petitvoir, affirmed that he still spoke it well. At his descent onto the platform of the Longlier-Neufchâteau station, he greeted his brothers in Walloon without error or the least hesitation. Father Lejeune also proved to be a great patriot. He took advantage of his stay in Belgium to visit the battlefields of the Yser, the martyred cities, the military cemeteries. Of course, he went on a pilgrimage to Rossignol where on 22 August 1914, French and German soldiers fought a merciless battle

[56]

On Whit Monday, 1 June 1925, he attended the inauguration and blessing of the Rossignol ossuary erected in honour of the 120 civilian victims shot in Arlon on 26 August 1914 by German soldiers. The moving ceremony took place in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth, Bishop Heylen, Bishop of Namur, the Count of Briey, Governor of Luxembourg, Mr Joset, Deputy Royal Commissioner, Mr Plum, President of the Luxembourg Government and a large crowd. Father Lejeune loved his native village above all else. He bitterly deplored the lack of a church in Petitvoir. "What would my poor Fijians say, who cry for chapels and travel dozens of kilometres every day to attend mass. No, it is not allowed. You need at least one chapel." And the missionary, without further ado, drew up plans, began the process, collected funds. It is to him that the inhabitants of Petitvoir owe their pretty little chapel, dedicated to Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, patron saint of the missions.

[57]

Concerned about the evangelization of Fiji, he had 50,000 copies of a bible in Fijian "Le vola ni Lotu" printed in Lyons, of which he is the author. He still found time to keep up his correspondence. He wrote articles for English, American, Irish newspapers, etc.

Visit to the Pope, King Albert, Cardinal Mercier

[58]

Father Lejeune took part in a pilgrimage to Rome. He visited the Superior General of the Society of Mary who welcomed him with open arms. He said Mass at Saint Peter's at the altar of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus. He had an audience with His Holiness Pope Pius XI. The Pope of the Missions said a few affectionate words to him, congratulated him on his prodigious activity. He gave him his apostolic blessing and 20,000 lire for his missions. On the way back to Milan, a rogue stole his wallet. The thief returned it to him some time later, but not without having relieved him of the money it contained.

[59]

On Tuesday, 11 August at 11:20 a.m., Father Lejeune was in Brussels and presented himself at the royal palace. He had requested an interview with King Albert through Queen Elisabeth. The queen welcomed him and had him sit next to her. Queen Elisabeth went to fetch King Albert herself. He was very affable and kind. What region are you from, my father? From Petitvoir, Sire. The inhabitants still remember seeing you cross the village on your bicycle in the past. I remember that little village in the Ardennes very well. There are some very good people there.

[60]

After having spoken at length to the king about his distant mission, Father Lejeune wanted to express to the king the admiration he was the object of in the antipodes. But he could not express his thoughts. "I had the impression," he said, "of having before me a man who was embarrassed by compliments. I thought that words of praise addressed to him would not be well received and I kept quiet.” I nevertheless took the liberty of pointing out to him the case of my old friend Eric Seal, who had given three-quarters of his fortune to the Belgian relief fund and who had no testimony of gratitude. The King proposed an official decoration for the person concerned. “I told him that a personal souvenir from His Majesty would give him more pleasure than any decoration. I suggested to King Albert that he send him a photograph with a line or two written in his own hand. The Queen went to get a sheet of paper and a pencil. I wrote the following sentence in English: To Mr Eric Seal in recognition of his generous contribution to the Belgian relief fund during the Great War. When everything was over, the three of us talked for a few more minutes. He told me that he would send me the photograph in a day or two. Seeing that he was so accommodating, I asked him if he would not be so kind as to enclose a second for me. With a wry smile, he said to me: "There will also be one for you." Pleased with my perfect success, I thanked the king, gave him a good handshake, kissed Queen Elisabeth's hands and left. Three days later, the two photos arrived. On mine, the king had simply written: "To Father Lejeune, in token of esteem Albert. 1924" The photograph of the king that was intended for me was in an ordinary frame. But the one for my friend Seal was in a magnificent silver frame surmounted by the royal crown.

[61]

Father Lejeune ardently desired to meet the primate of Belgium, Cardinal Mercier. This meeting took place in Malines on the afternoon of 2 October 2 1924. Introduced to the cardinal, the father said: "Eminence, please excuse me for disturbing you. I am a missionary from Oceania. I will return there in a month. I do not want to leave without having received your paternal blessing." He made me sit next to him and asked me about my missionary work.

[62]

When he learned that my evangelization work was taking place in Fiji, he asked me if we had Protestants in those countries. When I answered yes, he seemed very interested. In fact, he had started the "Malines Conversations" a short time before. These were talks between Lord Halifax and himself to try to bring the Anglican Church closer to the Catholic Church. Our conversation lasted about 10 minutes. The Cardinal's personality made a great impression on me. After giving me a generous blessing and a photograph of himself, I left."

Farewell to Petitvoir

[63]

Despite all the tenderness that his family and friends showed him, Father Lejeune was missing Oceania and his dear Fijians. These, sorry for the absence of their great friend, sent him money for fear that he will be without it on his return trip. On November 18, he said his last mass in his birth parish and gave the Eucharist to his adored mother. His farewells were particularly touching. The missionary left with the apprehension of never seeing his loved ones again here on earth… One cannot imagine without emotion of the farewell between the old mother and the beloved son… Father Lejeune knew that he would never again see the one he adored, the one he spoke of in all his letters with so much filial love, gratitude and moving praise... "Mum". The one whose death he will one day learn with pain and joy because, he said, "she went straight from her bed to paradise."

[64]

On 26 January 1926, Father Lejeune found himself in his beautiful residence in Cawaci "proud as Artaban" he wrote in his memories. To celebrate his return, there were large bowls of "kava".

[65]

The reason that decided the "big shots" to keep me in Cawaci is that someone was needed to teach English and singing at the minor indigenous seminary and in the schools.

[66]

On August 10, 1928, our missionary had the joy of receiving in Suva, Bishop Heylen, Bishop of Namur, Bishop Lamy and Bishop Prince de Croy who were going to the Eucharistic Congress in Sydney. During the reception arranged for them, Father Lejeune spent a pleasant time with his distinguished compatriots.

[67]

News from his native Ardennes pained him particularly in his exile: the death of his dear mother. Madame Lejeune passed away peacefully in Petitvoir on 25 November 1931. Father Lejeune's grief was immense. In a moving letter to his brother Edouard, on 12 December 1931, and after having praised his mother, he recommended that his family live in harmony. He hoped that the sharing of property will not give rise to any dispute because, as he said: "Understanding and brotherly love are worth more than all the gold in the world".

[68]

Father Lejeune was a man of order, methodical, disciplined, zealous, perfectly informed. He had a thorough knowledge of the English language as well as Fijian. His pen was both alert and erudite. One is astonished to note the quantity of his publications in spite of his missionary activities as abundant as they were varied. He is the author of a translation of biblical stories. He composed hymns in Fijian, two volumes of meditations of more than 600 pages each. He collaborated on the "Cathedral Gazette" for which he wrote in-depth articles in English. He was also the very faithful correspondent of a small Fijian newspaper. He received a very abundant mail to which he always replied with uncommon kindness.

[69]

Attached to his "jewel of a village" in the Ardennes, after having started the construction of the chapel, he saw to its furnishing. To do this, he sent a circular to the Belgian newspapers in which he appealed to the generosity of believers.

[70]

Struck by the lack of solidity of Fijian native huts that overturn in the slightest hurricane, he took as a model the thatched roofs of his native village and succeeded in having them adopted by the natives.

[71]

In February 1932, a rumour circulated persistently of a possible nomination of Father Lejeune as Bishop of Fiji with a view to the succession of Bishop Nicolas then aged 73.

[72]

In 1934, the village of catechists in Cawaci expanded. Many new houses had to be built. The crops were in full production and were more than enough: 300 hectares to feed 300 people. Despite his many absorbing occupations, Father Lejeune tirelessly continued his lifelong learning. The diversity of the works in his personal library was proof of this.

[73]

His reputation as a preacher continued to grow. He was in demand in other mission stations. In May 1935, he preached in French to his thirty confreres from Fiji who were accompanied by their bishop.

[74]

Father Lejeune worked in Cawaci until 1936. At that time, his confreres elected him their delegate to the provincial chapter of the Society of Mary which was to be held in Sydney that year. He embarked. He would not return to Cawaci where he had worked so hard. A terrible ordeal awaited him: leprosy.

1936-1951: Father Lejeune, a leper among lepers in Makogai

[75]

Leprosy had always been known to the Fijians. It did not inspire in them the terror it brings elsewhere. Lepers continued to live in the villages amidst the general filth and the disease spread rapidly. Some families passed it on from generation to generation. The Fijians made a point of contracting leprosy when the chief of the tribe was affected. In 1900, out of 100,900 inhabitants, Fiji had more than 1,500 lepers. It was decided to isolate the lepers on the small island of Beqa, south of Viti-Levu. Men, women, children, old people were housed haphazardly in the nauseating huts, without faith or law, left to themselves, at the mercy of the strongest.

[76]

In 1909, the Fijian government decided to create a new leper colony on Makogai. This island is large enough (80 Ha) to meet the needs of a considerable establishment and at the same time small enough to be reserved for lepers. From 1909 to 1911, the land was cleared, small wooden houses and the hospital for lepers and staff were built. Doctor de Boissière was responsible for ensuring the installation of hospitals and residences. He brought in two Fijian doctors trained at the Suva hospital. Bishop Vidal asked for volunteer nurses among the missionary sisters of the Society of Mary. Two French women, Sister Marie-Stanislas (in Fiji for 20 years) and Sister Marie-Suzanne (arrived from France in 1909) offered themselves with two indigenous sisters, Filoména and Tekela, to care for the lepers. On September 21, 1911, they settled on Makogai.

[77]

A life of devotion began in this little lost corner of the Pacific. Through charity, piety, energy, and willpower, the sisters overcame fatigue, fear, and disgust to care for their sick people, who would soon number 500 from 13 nationalities. Makogai had four large sections: men, women, girls, and boys. Within these sections, there were as many villages as there were nationalities: Samoans, Gilbertise, Fijians, Tongans, Solomon Islanders, Chinese, Indians, Rotumans, etc. Each hut was occupied by four patients. The doctor classified them according to the severity of their illness. The lepers had a small garden and cooked their own meals. A hospital looked after the most affected.

[78]

Father Schneider, despite his infirmities and old age, brought his moral comfort to the sisters and the sick every two weeks. To do this, he needed to sail for three hours, as he was himself a missionary in Cawaci. He prematurely lost his life during a storm in which his boat sank.

[79]

Father Nicouleau, the youngest of the missionaries of Fiji, obtained from Bishop Vidal the permission to occupy this formidable and meritorious post among all. He disembarked on July 13, 1913 on Makogai. Faithful to his vow of total renunciation, he entered all the huts, instructed the lepers, consoled them, had a chapel built which was blessed on 10 May 1922 by Bishop Nicolas to general enthusiasm. Out of charity, he exceeded the strict limits of his ministry and, after 9 years of uncommon dedication, the apostle of Makogai, recognized as a leper, had to live with the other patients in the Solomon Islands village. His martyrdom lasted five years. The first priest of Makogai died on 10 March 1928. In the meantime, Father Marcel had succeeded him as chaplain.

[80]

Due to the large number of patients, new volunteers had to be called upon and Makogai now had 25 sisters. During the provincial chapter of Sydney from 22 to 25 July 1935, Father Lejeune consulted several doctors about red spots he had on his arms and chest. A dermatologist, Dr Ryan, subjected him to a test for sensitivity to heat and cold. This method was commonly used in Fiji to detect cases of leprosy. A bacteriologist took his blood. All agreed that Father Lejeune was a leper. He wanted only one thing: to return to Fiji as soon as possible. The tragic death of Queen Astrid on 29 August 1935 delayed his return. As he was the only Belgian priest in Sydney, the consul invited him to sing mass at the cathedral. He accepted with eagerness. The date was set for Friday 6 September. In the meantime, news of his illness reached the Australian health authorities. On 18 September, Father Lejeune left Sydney without any difficulty. He landed in Suva on Tuesday 24 September. The next day, he was examined by the hospital doctor. The diagnosis of leprosy was pronounced. He had to be transported to Makogai as soon as possible. Here is how Father Lejeune described his transfer to Makogai, "The preparations for departure were hastened and on the 29th, the feast of Saint Michael, at 7 am, I left Suva. It was Sunday. On the way from Suva to Makogai, we passed only 5 or 6 km from Cawaci. When we arrived there, the captain, a native brother, diverted the boat and brought me 1 km from the station to allow me to see it one last time... Then we headed straight for Makogai which was 25 km in front of us. The weather was superb and we arrived there around three pm. The reverend mother was there waiting with the chaplain Father Gonnet and the doctor... My first impression on arriving was one of great relief. For years, I had been absorbed in Cawaci by continual worries, and here I found myself in an atmosphere of complete tranquillity.” The English government provided him with a small, solid and comfortable wooden house, located in the centre of the town. This is where Father Lejeune would spend sixteen extremely active years, as we shall see.

[81]

The religious situation in Makogai was not very encouraging. Out of 560 lepers, barely 150 were Catholics. Armed with his long experience, the missionary began as was his custom with getting these good people to sing. Father Lejeune wanted to boost the splendour of the religious ceremonies. The main difficulty he encountered was his exclusion from the solemnities of worship. The church choir was forbidden to lepers. Father could therefore not officiate at the high altar. A small altar was at his disposal outside the choir, in front of the statue of the Holy Virgin. This is where he said his mass every morning. There were no processions in Makogai. Father Lejeune, who had established the processions of the Blessed Sacrament in Kadavu, decided to introduce them in his new residence. In 1936, the first procession took place. The following year, the Palm Sunday procession was also established. In the first two years, Father Lejeune conferred 73 baptisms. 1936 was precisely that of the centenary of the approval by Rome of the Marist Fathers. Father Lejeune took advantage of this circumstance to create the Third Order. The idea was accepted with enthusiasm and brought together 24 adults at the start. As for the Eucharistic crusade, 55 candidates presented themselves immediately. He organized multiple groups of piety which, while making them forget their distress and their exile, raised to a very high level the supernatural life of these afflicted people. He organized catechisms and put his spirit of method into them. He was a musician. He taught his faithful to sing.

[82]

During the last war, New Zealand officers and soldiers stationed in Fiji, clubbed together to buy the lepers of Makogai a magnificent foot-pumped harmonium with a double keyboard. No one, except Father Lejeune, was able to give it a voice. When asked, he came down from his hill with joy in his heart. He sat down proudly in front of the harmonium, playing a few Ardennes Christmas carols that the visiting soldiers found very beautiful. What offended Father Lejeune the most on his arrival in Makogai was the lack of respect shown to the dead. They were buried pell-mell in the bush. No one took care of their graves. He inquired about a place where he could establish a Catholic cemetery. He was granted permission. He himself cleared the chosen spot on the hillside. From 1935 to 1947, there were already 258 graves.

[83]

In addition to his priestly duties, he visited the sick every day, comforted them, encouraged them. Father had to deal with a considerable amount of correspondence. The number of his friends and acquaintances was constantly increasing. However, he found time to send information to the press, to the Fides agency, to the Belgian consul in Sydney.

[84]

The instruction of new converts was especially complicated by the diversity of languages. Despite his age, Father Lejeune nevertheless still learned the Arorai language to take care of the 48 lepers who had come from the Gilbert Islands. He heard confessions in 6 languages and preached twice every Sunday. Every day, at prayer, he gave a short speech.

[85]

The small chapel made of planks was replaced by a vast reinforced concrete construction, thus perpetuating his spirit of initiative. The estimate came to £6,000 sterling. And soon was seen, as before on the other islands, Father in trousers in the middle of the scaffolding, climbing here, giving instructions there. He paid with his own person. However, he was suffering from his illness. The assistance he received from everywhere helped him to complete the works. Because news of his condition and his photo had gone around the world. Telegrams, letters and offerings came from everywhere. "L'Avenir du Luxembourg" opened a subscription and collected in a few days the sum that this newspaper wanted to reach. America, England, France did the same...

[86]

The works on the new church started in June 1938 were completed on 8 December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception. In 1939, the symptoms of leprosy, which had practically disappeared, reappeared in October 1940. Father Lejeune still felt strong. He wasn’t suffering and continued his work as usual. In October 1939, Father Lejeune, far from confining his apostolate to Makogai addressed the lepers of his island in this way: "Let us think of this multitude of children who are like flowers that are planted and who, for lack of care, wither and fade before they can blossom. - Let us think of these men and women who have reached middle age, grappling with the difficulties of life, not knowing the great law of charity that softens so many things, living in the midst of incessant rivalries and daily quarrels. An example among the Indian castes, 60 million individuals are listed as untouchables. - Let us think of so many abandoned old people living in misery, worn out by work and infirmities, with only an obscure future in sight. They have nothing of the joys of heaven to maintain their courage. Let us help these unfortunates with our alms today and even more so with our prayers."

[87]

In August 1945, he wrote: "The disease is held in check by the care of our dear sisters, who are devoted to everything. In the meantime, I am approaching my 70th birthday... What deprives me the most is the lack of freedom. It is forbidden to move beyond certain limits which are strictly set at two kilometres, along the coast on each side of our residence. As you can see, we are here a bit like in a concentration camp. What consoles me is that the patients are very attached to me." The same year, Father Lejeune received bad news that caused him a lot of pain: his brother Alfred died at the beginning of the year; two nephews died in Germany, one in a concentration camp at Neuengamme, the other, a prisoner of war, cowardly murdered in Prussia by a Russian soldier.

[88]

In October 1947, on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of his father's death, Father Lejeune wrote to his family, “I am still limping along and I am getting by as long as I don't go too fast. This morning, I said my mass for our late father and for all the deceased members of the family.” At the same time, Father Lejeune reported that he regularly received "L'Avenir du Luxembourg". It was almost a miracle that a man so busy in an environment so different from his family, so far away from Belgium, should have retained such a precise memory of his native land. He had forgotten nothing of this Walloon from the Ardennes, a few words of which pepper most of his letters to his relations. He was delighted to receive from Father Hector his book on "Longlier and its priory". He thanked him and congratulated him warmly. In a letter written on 20 June 1948 to a colleague in Differt, the father gave some details about his religious activities. "Given my advanced age, I have no chance of recovery. For the past 2 years in particular, I have felt that the disease is making progress. But this progress is slow. I will hold on as long as possible... After all, we are not from the Ardennes for nothing. One of my favourite pastimes is reading "The Future of Luxembourg". Since my arrival here on 29 September 1935, we have had 281 adult baptisms. Preparation for baptism is a particularly complicated task because of the diversity of languages. Out of 16 baptized, there was one Chinese, two Solomon Islanders, one Gilbertise, two Indians, two Fijians, four Tongans and four Cook Islanders.” And Father ended his long letter with these words: "My most ardent wishes for stability and progress for this good old Differt whose name cannot be written without a hint of emotion."

Sister Marie-Suzanne, the hope of lepers

[89]

The first volunteer of Makogai, she did not content herself with treating lepers but wanted to attack the origin of the evil. She patiently studied leprosy and after 15 years of hard work, she achieved a first positive result. The basis of the treatment is Chaulmoogra oil extracted from hydnocarpus seeds, a tree from southwest India. Father Marcel acclimatized more than 500 of these precious trees on the island of Makogai. Sister Marie-Suzanne continued this experiment for another 10 years. Specialists from all over the world studied her work. She was at the Saint-Louis Institute and then at the Pasteur Institute where she spent a long time. Six years later, she succeeded in isolating a leprosy bacillus. She was present at the microbiology congress held in Rome in September 1953. On the suggestion of Professor Penso, the bacillus isolated by Sister Marie-Suzanne was named: "mycrobacterium marianum". It can now be scientifically affirmed that Sister Marie-Suzanne's antigen makes the organism resistant to leprosy. In conclusion, the Commission on Immunology recommended the extension of vaccination trials.

[90]

Speaking of Father Lejeune, Sister Marie-Suzanne described him as a man of remarkable intelligence, an uncommon organizational spirit and boundless dedication.

[91]

Father Lejeune continued to fight against the disease that weakened him. The worst thing, he said, "is to feel like a sort of pariah".

[92]

After a trial treatment of sulfetrone, it proved to be ineffective and harmful to Father. His region of origin prayed fervently for improvement of his health. The parish of Lahage, in Gaume country, did the same. It had adopted him as "its missionary".

[93]

At the beginning of 1949, a happy surprise was in store for him: the visit of a close and affectionate friend: Father Jean-Baptiste Poncelet, a Luxembourger originally from Izel-sur-Semois. Father Lejeune would describe this visit as “one of the most beautiful days of his life.” Alluding to the never-ending march of evil, he had this astonishing word: “We lepers belong to the highest congregation of the Holy Church, the one where God himself calls us and from which no one can drive us out…”

[94]

On 20 December 1949, Father celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his religious profession. Father Lejeune’s ordeal was coming to an end. He was growing weaker and weaker. He had to give up all activity and physical effort. On 14 January 1951, he finished his mass with great difficulty. It would be his last mass. His condition was getting worse…

[95]

On Sunday 21 January, the patient asked to receive Extreme Unction. Father Choblet, surrounded by sisters and young Catholics of Makogai, administered the last sacraments to him. A slight respite came. Monsignor Foley, the Apostolic Vicar of Fiji, brought him comfort. During his last months, about forty young people, in groups of two, watched over him night and day and assisted him in everything.

[96]

The last letter that Father Lejeune addressed to one of his brothers is dated 15 April 1951, “I continue my painful climb towards the Eternal Hills,” he wrote. “I hope that the summit is not very far away. I am gradually fading; I feel helpless and I hope that the Holy Virgin will take advantage of her month to come and get me… I received the two letters from our brother Arthur. Tell “Our t’Arthur” not to worry. One of these days, we will meet again in paradise, as we used to meet again with the “cows” at the “large ponds”. Tell Pol not to send me “L’Avenir” anymore. I no longer have the strength to read it.”

[97]

On Saturday 12 May, the eve of Pentecost, he chose his location in the cemetery and asked that his grave be dug so that they would not have to work on Sundays. His coffin had been ready since God knows when. He named the pallbearers: the youngest of the "Eucharistic Crusade". On the night of 18 May, around 11:15 p.m., death came gently and peacefully. On the island, there was great consternation.

[98]

On Saturday 19 May, at 6 am, his body was carried to the church to be exposed for the veneration of all. A high Requiem mass was celebrated. Until two pm, there was an uninterrupted procession of the faithful. At 3 pm, the funeral procession set off towards the cemetery. It looked like a triumphal march... All of Makogai followed the coffin.

Testimonies:

[99]

The day after the funeral, a boat stopped in Makogai. It brought two letters for Father Lejeune. The first came from the Belgian Consul in New Zealand who, one day too late, notified him of the award one of Belgium’s highest distinctions: the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Leopold. This decoration was awarded to him in recognition of the eminent services rendered to Belgium during the 50 years of apostolate in the Fiji Islands and because of his exemplary dedication and the selflessness with which he cared for the lepers of Makogai for more than 15 years. The other letter announced the death of his younger brother Arthur, of whom he was particularly fond.

[100]

The news of Father Lejeune's death caused great emotion throughout the world. Funeral services were held in the Missions in America and Europe. Protestants offered money to have masses said. In Petitvoir, a solemn service was sung on 5 June in the small chapel of Saint Thérèse. Father Poncelet came from Differt to sing the absolution. As early as 22 May, he had celebrated a solemn mass in the chapel of Differt in the presence of teachers and students.

[101]

Let us limit ourselves to quoting “L’Avenir du Luxembourg”, a newspaper so dear to Father Lejeune, “He who was admired throughout America where his life was known by millions of men, he who without seeking it held high the reputation of Belgium, in this dust of islands that dot Oceania, he who in his saving work remained so faithful to his Luxembourgish land, he who has just written a new page in the martyrology of the Church, died as simply as he lived and his last thought before meeting his God was still for his own and this little corner of the Ardennes where he was born.

“We can be proud of him as we were of this child of Flanders, Father Damien."

“We can be proud of this death because it crowns with glory in the history of our Luxembourg the last stage of the life of one of our greatest men.”

[102]

A Fijian newspaper wrote these laudatory lines:

"Father Lejeune's stay of more than 16 years in Makogai left an indelible mark on the history of the small island. If Father Lejeune had never come to Makogai, his name would still have figured among the most eminent missionaries of this vicariate because his 34 years of apostolate in the different stations of Fiji had also been marked with the stamp of success which is the prerogative of those who manifest an obvious sense of organization and endurance."

[103]

Here finally is the moving testimony of a leper:

"Father took up his cross and followed the Divine Master from Belgium to the Fiji Islands. There, he worked and suffered for fifty years, fifteen of which were spent in the Makogai leper reserve as a patient and even more as a priest. He was a true father to all of us. He gave courage and strength to the weak and the dying. Seeing him carry out his ministry without thinking of himself, we all found the courage to bear the separation from home and family. The memory of the father will not be erased from the memory of his children and companions in suffering.”

Notes

1. ↑ This equates to the first year of post-primary education.