‘Chocolate pastor’ reflects on 50-year mission
Published Date: September 4, 2009
Farmer priest. Chocolate pastor. These are just some of the affectionate nicknames given to Divine Word Father Heinrich Bollen, an 80-year-old German-born priest who recently celebrated 50 years of mission work in Indonesia.
In a recent interview with UCA News, he said that he was deeply moved at seeing the poverty and suffering of the people, brought about by factors such as drought and disease.
Over the next 50 years, he spent most of his time working on the predominantly Catholic island of Flores, serving people not only in the liturgical and pastoral fields but also helping them economically.
He encouraged local farmers to continue growing their cacao trees and helped them market their produce. He built embankments to collect rain water during the rainy season for use during the dry season.
The priest also initiated the establishment of tuberculosis clinics to give sufferers easy access to treatment and to provide education on the disease.
On Aug. 15, he celebrated 50 years of missionary service by presiding at a special Mass with three other priests, and attended by about 250 other Catholics.
read his interview here https://our-lady-for-life.forumotion.com/our-beloved-priests-f4/farmer-priest-chocolate-pastor-t969.htm#4805
Published Date: September 4, 2009
Farmer priest. Chocolate pastor. These are just some of the affectionate nicknames given to Divine Word Father Heinrich Bollen, an 80-year-old German-born priest who recently celebrated 50 years of mission work in Indonesia.
In a recent interview with UCA News, he said that he was deeply moved at seeing the poverty and suffering of the people, brought about by factors such as drought and disease.
Over the next 50 years, he spent most of his time working on the predominantly Catholic island of Flores, serving people not only in the liturgical and pastoral fields but also helping them economically.
He encouraged local farmers to continue growing their cacao trees and helped them market their produce. He built embankments to collect rain water during the rainy season for use during the dry season.
The priest also initiated the establishment of tuberculosis clinics to give sufferers easy access to treatment and to provide education on the disease.
On Aug. 15, he celebrated 50 years of missionary service by presiding at a special Mass with three other priests, and attended by about 250 other Catholics.
read his interview here https://our-lady-for-life.forumotion.com/our-beloved-priests-f4/farmer-priest-chocolate-pastor-t969.htm#4805
Last edited by Easter-won on Sun Oct 25, 2009 6:17 pm; edited 1 time in total
