In Deo

Nico Brunott

Nicolaas Johannes

(Br.o Johannes Berchmans, Bro. John)

 

Written by Wim Swüste

 

Nico Brunott was born on 13 November 1929 in Amsterdam. He made his first vows to the FIC Congregation on 15 August 1950. On 20 February 2025, he received the Sacrament for the sick. On 1 March 2025 he died at the Care center De Beyart in Maastricht.

 

Hold on to the Lord

“Hold on to the Lord,

He will always be with you.

Then, you will live to the fullness of days.”

This verse from Psalm 91 was a clear guideli- ne for our dear Nico, whom we say goodbye to today. During his long stay in Malawi, and after that in the Netherlands, this was his aim in life: to be good and do good for his fellow human beings.

 Father died early

Nico was born as the fifth in a family with 8 children. His father died when Nico was eight years old. The family was poor. Nico often spoke of it. In his room, he kept a picture of his mother with her children. And the note his father wrote in the morning of Nico’s fifth Birthday was stuck on his noteboard. His father never came home that day.

 

Talented Brother

In 1942, Nico left home and reported to the FIC congregation to join the juvenate. In Septebmer 1948, he became a postulant, in August 1949 he was a novice, and on 15 August 1950 he made his first vows as an FIC Brother. He successfully did the teacher training !1949). In the next ten years, he got all the diplomas he needed as a teacher, including French, sports, and secon- dary school English.

All of which shows he was very good at langu- ages. And such a talented man would be very useful in Malawi.

 

Malawi

In 1961, Nico started on an adventure that would go on for 43 years. “Hold on to the Lord. He will always be with you.” He joined the community at Mzedi and taught at St. Patrick’s Secondary School. At his own request, he was given the opportunity to study at the Catechist Institute of Gaba, Uganda. He felt it was his calling to train students for teaching religion based on what he learned there. And so, from 1968, he taught at the Catechist Training Institute of Likulezi. He also taught religion at the Montfort Teachers’ Training College.

Zambia

Eleven years later, in 1979, Nico was moved to our new work station in Zambia. He taught reli- gion there for some ten years at St. Clement’s Secondary School. As school chaplain, he wor- ked for the young people there. Nico, Bro. John, was very popular there because of his great de- dication to his students.

When in 1989, the Congregation left Zambia, he rejoined the Brothers in Malawi (Limbe – Forma- tion House).

 

School chaplain

Nico continued to “hold on to the Lord” and started writing books about the Bible and reli- gion. He also became school chaplain again, to help the students. He protected their interests, gave personal guidabnce, and regularly orga- nised religious services.

 

Nico was also one of the editors of the ‘Moni’ magazine and gave technical support for the ‘Care’ magazine. Until 2004, he also took care of the students of St. Patrick’s Secondary School. After that, he returned to the Netherlands and joined the Xaverius community at De Beyart in Maastricht.

 

Very strong faith

Nico was a man with a very strong faith. He did not always completely agree with his fellow Bro- thers, who tend to be more relaxed in the way they regard mass practices. I can only admire him for holding on to his own ideas, while equal- ly valuing the religious line of thought of others. He had an open ear and a benevolent look when church matters were discussed. But he would also calmly express his own honest view of the matter.

Riding a tricycle

Nico did not have very good health. He had problems with his legs and he had to wear bra- ces always, up to his knees. He didn’t normally mention that to others. It was hard for him to keep his balance on a bicycle. That was a nui- sance to him, because he much enjoyed cycling through the beuatiful Limburg hills.

The problem was solved when he was offered a tricycle. So he could go to the church of St. Mary’s every day for morning prayers. The tricy- cle was parked in the chapel, and Nico could go in to services.

For Nico, cycling was a connection with God and Nature. Anyone encountering him in the road would have to be careful, for Nico’s tricycle went quite fast both in town and in the country roads. Unfortunately after a fall, even the tricycle was no longer possible. But he made his peace with that. “Hold on to the Lord, hwe will always be with you.”

Photographer and community man

When years ago, a new ‘book of faces’ was pre- pared for all the FIC Brothers, Nico proved an able photographer for portraits. I am still grateful and pleased with the portrait he took of me at the time. When I complimented him on his art, he made a face like “Oh, it’s nothing!”

 In the communities he was part of, ge was al- ways a loyal and attentive fellow Brother. He’d always be there during Recreation. And he sho- wed himself an inventive companion, finding new games to play to occupy his house mates when they had nothing left to talk about.

Joining his fellow Brothers at Anjoulaan When we stand at the Anjoulaan cemetery and look at all those grave monuments there, we feel surrounded by all the goodness, warm fraternity, and great efforts for others of all those who rest there.

Nico will amply strengthen that feeling for us. We will lay our beloved relative and loyal fellow Brother to rest with all those who have passed before. Here will rest a man who held on to his Lord in full surrender. A man who lived in the strenth of Love, which he radiated until the very end.

May he now rest in eternal Peace with his Maker.