We regret to announce the death in Vrijland, Oosterbeek, the Netherlands  on 24^th April 2008, at the age of 89, of

Alphonsus Welsing

May he rest in Peace

Alphonsus Welsing was born on 24^th February 1919 in Brummen, the Netherlands to Johannes Welsing and Anna van Driel.  He had a twin brother and three sisters.  He studied in Haelen and Tilburg until 1938 when he went to Roosendaal to do his philosophical studies and a year later he continued in Haelen till 1940.  His theological studies took place at Roosendaal between 1940 and 1944.  He took his Perpetual Oath to the Society on 3^rd June 1943 at Roosendaal and was ordained a year later on 9^th July 1944 by Bishop Hopmans.  

After his ordination, he was assigned to work among the refugees in Roermond with Bishop Lemmens during the Friesland evacuation.  In 1945, he was appointed to the Upper Nile in Tororo , Uganda and he set sail in May 1946.  He began his ministry at Kitedok in June 1946 and at Kwapa in January 1949.  In July the same year, he was appointed to Bukedea.  A recurrence of cerebral malaria and dysentery eventually forced him to leave for Holland in 1951.  While back in Roosendaal, he was appointed to do organising work.  He eventually returned to Tororo in 1953 and was appointed to Nyondo in December that year.  In March 1954, he moved to Kumi and in the following year,  he was appointd to the Tororo Procure.  Two years later, he was appointed as Parish Priest of Amuria.  After his home leave in 1962, he was reappointed to Kumi in April 1963 and a year later, he was back in Amuria as Parish Priest.  After his leave in 1968, he was again assigned to Amuria.  In April 1972,  he teamed up with Siem Boenen and Cees van Rooÿen to pioneer a new approach to ministry. 

Alphonsus finally left Tororo in October 1973 to return to the Dutch Region and was assigned to do pastoral work in the Diocese of Breda.  Between 1975 and 1985, he worked in Steenbergen.  In November 1985, he decided to move to St Jozefhuis, Oosterbeek and he remained there till August 1995 when he moved back to Roosendaal to live with his nephew.  From February 2002, he was being cared for by his good friend, Angela Verbist.  On 30^th March 2007, he moved into Missiehuis ‘Vrijland’ to live out his remaining days. 

In January 2008, Fons was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Deventer Hospital with pancreatic problems, a result of a long standng struggle with diabetes, but he recovered reasonably well enough to return to ‘Vrijland’.  About three weeks ago, he was taken to Rijnstaete Hospital in Arnhem but was released on 20^th April 2008 and brought back to ‘Vrijland’ where his condition gradually deteriorated.  He passed away peacefully at 3 pm this afternoon.   Fons will be buried at the cemetery in Vrijland after the Funeral Mass which will take place at 11.00 am on Tuesday, 29^th April 2008.

The previous obituary notice (06/2008) was that of Br Brian Hilary Thorp, who died in Lamu, Kenya on 9^th April, 2008.