It is with regret that we announce the death on Saturday 6th July at Zilverheuvel (former Missiehuis Vrijland) aged 100 of
Father Joseph Boekema
Mill Hill Missionary
May he rest in peace
Joseph was born on the 25th of May, 1924 in the town of Akkrum, near Utrecht, the Netherlands. His father, an agricultural worker, was Hessel Boekema, and his mother Catherine Boekema (nee Rypkema). Jozeph had two brothers and five sisters.
Joseph entered the minor seminary for Mill Hill in Hoorn/Haelen in 1938 where he undertook his secondary education. His schooling was interrupted for a year in 1944 when he had to return to his home in Akkrum as the fighting during the 2nd World War intensified. As the war came to an end, in 1945 Jozeph returned to his studies and followed a shortened course in Philosophy in the Mill Hill College in Haelen. In 1946 Jozeph then proceeded to Saint Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London, to begin his studies in Theology. Jozeph took the Perpetual Oath on the 15th of July 1949 and was ordained a Mill Hill Missionary priest on the 9th of July 1950 in the Chapel of St. Joseph’s College, at the hands of Cardinal Griffen of Westminster, London.
Immediately after his ordination, Joseph was appointed to work in the Diocese of Buea, Cameroon, where he worked in Fiango-Kumba. In 1954 he was appointed to work in Tabenken and then to Mankon. In late 1957 Jozeph was appointed to his home region for a few years to work at our college in Hoorn. By 1960 he was back in Cameroon and working again in Mankon. In 1963 he was appointed to Njinikom and, from there, in 1965 he returned to Fiango-Kumba. In 1970 Jozeph was elected Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Bamenda by Archbishop Paul Verdzekov and served in the parish of Bafut and then Mankon. In 1980 he was appointed to serve in the parish of Bayelle where he stayed until he was forced to leave Cameroon in 2000 due to ill-health, after 50 years of loving service. On the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of his ordination, the then General Superior – Maurice McGill – wrote of Joseph, ‘I know from personal experience of your conscientious work and zeal: always on duty, willing to serve the people and attend to their needs… your ability as an administrator, host and wise counsellor was recognised not just by MHMs but by the local clergy and religious too.’
Joseph retired first to Sint Jozefhuis and later, in 2012, when he required more acute care, he transferred to Vrijland.
In latter years as his mobility decreased and he became completely dependent on others for care, Joseph remained grateful. His 100th birthday celebration in May of this year was an occasion of great joy for the community and Joseph’s family. An internal haemorrhage marked the end of his long missionary life of love and service. “Well done, good and faithful servant!… Come and share your master’s happiness!” Matthew 25:21
On Thursday 11th July, starting at 11 a.m., a Eucharist Celebration will be offered in Sint Jozefhuis in thanksgiving for Joseph’s life. His remains will then be laid to rest in the Mill Hill Cemetery at Oosterbeek. The service will be streamed online and can be followed through this link: https://vimeo.com/event/2882273.
