We regret to announce the death at “Missiehuis Vrijland”, Oosterbeek the Netherlands, on 7th February 2012, at the age of 88, of

Fr Lau Houben

May he rest in Peace

Fr Laurence (Lau) Houben was born on 5th September 1923 at Groesbeek in the Diocese of s’Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. He was the son of Emmanuel Houben and Johanna Wyers, and he had four brothers and four sisters. Lau received his secondary education in the college of the Norbertine Fathers at Heeswijk. From 1945 to 1947 he studied Philosophy in Haelen and Roosendaal, and from 1947 to 1951 Theology at Mill Hill. He took his Perpetual Oath at St Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London, on 3rd May 1950, and was ordained priest at the same venue on 8th July 1951 by Cardinal Griffin.

After his ordination Fr Lau Houben was appointed to the Philippines, and he served there as a missionary in the areas of Iloilo City and Antique till 1998. Arevalo, Tanza, the Leprosarioum at Santa Barbara, Bugansong, Patria Pandan, Culasi, Tibiao, Sebaste and San Pedro are places where he served as pastor, teacher, administrator and chaplain. He left the Philippines in 1998 due to health reasons and retired to Vrijland.

Lau has been described as a dedicated and hard working priest, who has helped many in their journeys of faith. He was a faithful pastor to the people he had served in the different parishes, and he was well respected by his colleagues as a dependable and quiet person who got on with his work. He also developed a reputation as a builder. The re-roofing and renovation of the Church in San Pedro was a fitting final gift to the people he served and loved.

The previous obituary (16/2011) was that of Fr Toon Schoone, who died in Warmond, the Netherlands, on 16th December 2011.