11th June 2009
We regret to announce the death at Missiehuis ‘Vrijland’, Oosterbeek, the Netherlands on 10th June 2009, at the age of 87, of
Fr Harry Steegmans
May he rest in Peace
Hendricus Godefridus Hubertus Steegmans was born on 5th January 1922 in Roermond, the Netherlands to Henry Steegmans and Maria Boonen. He had three sisters and three brothers. He went to the Diocesan College at Doermond before starting his philosophical studies at Haelen in 1942. He began his theological studies at Roosendaal in 1945 and continued at Mill Hill from 1946. He took his Perpetual Oath on 29th May 1948 at St Joseph’s College, Mill Hill and was ordained priest there on 10th July 1949.
After arriving in Uganda to take up his appointment on 3rd March 1950, Harry began learning Luganda at Nsambya, Kampala. He was made curate at Bugerere, Kayunga in August 1950. From February 1951, he taught Mathematics at Namilyango College in Kampala. In December 1952 he became the Diocesan Education Secretary based in Nsambya, a post he held until June 1953. At the same time, he started a new parish in Naggulu, Kampala. He went on home leave in November 1957 and had a gastrectomy due to a duodenal ulcer. Unable to return immediately to the missions, he was appointed to Aldenghoor, Haelen as Procurator in September 1958. He also did some organising work. However, he fell ill again and took leave from August until the end of September 1959. On 2nd October, he returned to Uganda and started work as curate in Naggalama. On 1st January 1960, he became the Diocesan Education Secretary based in Nsambya. When he completed his term as secretary in December 1963, he became curate at Kamuli. He was moved to Budini in September 1964 and he started a parish in Itanda and became Parish Priest of both parishes in October 1965. He had to leave for home in October 1966 because of illness. Treatment of another stomach ulcer was halted because of the discovery of serum hepatitis. He was operated on for several stomach haemorrhages and had a resection of the stomach and vagotomy done. After his recuperation, he returned to Itanda in September 1967. In May 1968 he was transferred to Nawanyago and a year later, in May 1969, he became the chaplain of the Leprosarium in Buluba. He was awarded the Order of Oranje Nassau in April 1976. At the end of November 1978, he took over Namunyumya Parish and remained there till he went into semi-retirement at Bishop’s House, Jinja in March 1993.
On 1st June 2005, Harry was withdrawn from the East African Region and appointed to the Dutch Region. He moved into Missiehuis ‘Vrijland’ to live out his remaining years. Last Thursday, 4th June, Harry fell in his room and broke his left leg. He was successfully operated upon the following day but unfortunately his health deteriorated. He was taken back to Vrijland on Monday and on Wednesday 10th June, just after 7.00 pm Harry passed away peacefully. His burial will take place after the Requiem Mass at 11.00 am on Monday 15th June 2009 at Missiehuis ‘Vrijland’.
The previous obituary (5/2009) was that of Fr Ton van Hout who died at Missiehuis ‘Vrijland’, Oosterbeek on 10th May 2009.
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