}A Braveness of Heart

Insight on the missionary journey of Fr. Jan Couvreur, CICM.

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A Braveness of
Heart
Insight on the missionary journey of
Fr. Jan Couvreur, CICM.
Last week was the week that I’ll always
remember because in this week I got an
opportunity to hear amazing story from our
elderly especially from my partner Fr. Jan
Couveur. For two days, I was really enjoyed
this occasion.
In this reflection, I want to reflect the insights
I got from the story of my partner. First, it’s a
prayer. Every time I hear about a religious
life, prayer will never absent as the best
source of strength. Prayer help them in the
difficulties moment in their life as a religious
missionary. Through prayer, we can calm our
self and the most important is we can
encounter god in it.
Second, it’s the braveness of heart to stand
and fight for the injustice, the poor, and
environment. I really get inspired by the
story Fr. Jan told me. How he fought the
corrupt politician, stood for the poor, and
went against the corrupt government on
illegal logging. Many times, those people
threaten him. Some even wanted to take his
life. However, he did not surrender or run
away. He did not life the people he served. I
admired this braveness and the courage he
has. In my deepest heart, I ask myself “can I
have that braveness also?”
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} A Braveness of Heart
Third, it’s about the unworthiness. He said to
me, “am I doing this for myself or my
people?” I considered this as one of my
insight because it is true that as a missionary
what I will do is not the work of myself but
the work of God through me. Like what
Mother Theresia said that “I am the pen in
the hand of God.” I am just His tool that he
used to write. Without Him, I am nothing.
Fourth, it’s a support. He considered himself
as not a single fighter. He needs the support
from the people and from confreres. They
helped him a lot when he faced the problem.
It is true that I, in my vocation journey,
cannot stand until now if I walk alone or I
just use my own strength without the support
from others.
Fifth, it’s giving the people not the fish, but
the fishing rod. As a missionary, we go there
not to give what they want but to teach them
how to do something. This needs a creativity.
That’s why it is good to improve myself for
the preparation of my future missionary
journey. By doing this it is also a sign of
loving the mission we are sent to.
Finally, it’s about serving the local church.
We go to our mission not to gain benefit just
for our self but the most important is to
develop or to serve the local church. This is
what makes us as a CICM is different from
others. It does not just think or work for our
own congregation but also the local church
we serve.
By Dicky Lmuda.