Almost 50 years in the EAO region
By Fr Florentino Gil dos Santos, TLS Vice-province
Belgium, but also Dili, Timor Leste, 18 August 2020 -- Only a few SDBs have had the rare opportunity to work in many different countries in East Asia-Oceania. Among them is Fr Walter Van Wouwe. He spent his best years in our region from 1960 to 1999, before he was assigned as a staff member at the office of the General Economer, Rome. Cl. Walter got his obedience to do his practical training in Vietnam in 1960-1962. Then, he returned to Belgium for the last year of his theological studies. He was ordained at the end of 1962. In 1964, he returned to Vietnam as a young priest and worked tirelessly until he was painfully forced to live the country due to political turbulence. In 1978, he got another chance to become a missionary ad gentes, particularly among the poorest ones in Tondo, Manila.
In 1982, he took up another challenge by volunteering to go to Timor-Leste (at that time, known as Timor-Timur). During that time, Timor-Leste was hardly a safe destination. Civil war and the Indonesian military occupation marked severe humanitarian crises. In fact, many times he got himself into trouble with some of the officers of the Indonesian military. Bishop Belo nicknamed him "comandante Lospalos” (Lospalos is the most eastern part of Timor-Leste, and there he was assigned as the rector of a Salesian community).
He never backed down and remained there for 17 years until he moved to Jakarta, Indonesia, due to his new assignment as the Provincial Economer there in 1998. Barely one year in that job he got the call to move to Rome for a new assignment in the General Economer's office. Of his dedication and faithful service in Timor-Leste, Rev. Fr. Apolinario Neto, SDB, the current provincial testifies: On hearing the death of our very dear father Walter VAN WOUWE in Belgium 16 August 2020. I take this opportunity to extend condolence and prayers from SDB of the vice province TLS and different groups of Salesian family and friends of father Walter from Timor-Leste to Father Wilfried WAMBEKE the provincial of BEN, all confreres and the family members of our dear Father Walter.
From the year 1982 to 1999, Fr. Walter worked tirelessly as a missionary in the mission land Timor-Leste. He is also one of the Salesian missionary pioneers in Timor-Leste. Today the local Salesian vocation is growing, and I dare say that it's the fruits of the tireless work of many Salesian missionaries, including Fr. Walter. Fr. Walter's total dedication as a father, brother, and friend was deeply felt and real cultivated in Christians family, young people, and orphans. As a Salesian missionary, he is considered a builder of different infrastructures meant for the education and formation of many poor boys and young people of Timor-Leste. At the same time, he is appreciated as a 'builder' of Christian faith and Salesian vocation through his ministry as a Salesian priest, particularly in his role as a parish priest. Today the local Salesian vocation in Timor-Leste is growing, and also some have followed his footsteps by being missionaries in different nations. Thank you, dear Father VAN WOUWE Walter. Your 17 years as a missionary in Timor-Leste, which characterized by tireless work have contributed directly to the formation of some Timorese Salesians and a big group of young Timorese to be good Christians and honest citizens. Thank you, dear Father Walter. You are always in our memory. May your soul rest in peace!
Finishing his service in Rome in 2008, he returned to Belgium where he immediately assumed the role of assistant parish priest until his retirement. On the 205th birthday of Don Bosco, Fr. Walter was born to eternal life, an awaited time, indeed, for him because over these final years he had regularly manifested his desire to return to God. Fr Walter, kindly remain a missionary before God to us, particularly the poorest and marginalized young people of our region.
- Born in Bazel on 6 July 1932.
- First profession in Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium, on 2 September 1955.
- Perpetual Profession in Thu Duc (Saigon) on 15 August 1961.
- Priestly ordination in Leuven, Belgium, on 8 December 1962.
- Died at Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Belgium, on 16 August 2020.
- 1954-1955 - Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium - Novice
- 1955-1957 - Groot-Bijgaarden, Belgium - Philosophy
- 1957-1958 - Oud-Heverlee, Belgium - Theology (1)
- 1958-1959 - Theology (2) + Military Service
- 1959-1960 - Oud-Heverlee, Belgium - Theology (3)
- 1960-1962 - Govap (Saigon) in Vietnam
- 1962-1963 - Oud-Heverlee (Belgium) - Theology (4)
- 1963-1964 - Jette Missieprocuur (Belgium) - Lumen Vitae
- 1964-1972 - Thu Duc (Vietnam) - Catechist+Economer
- 1972-1976 - Go Vap (Vietnam)- Rector+Economer
- 1976-1977 - Sint-Denijs-Westrem (Belgium) - Missionary Course in Zevenkerken, Belgium
- 1977-1978 - Sint-Denijs-Westrem (Belgium)- Teacher
- 1978-1982 - Tondo (Manila, Philippines) - Missionary
- 1982-1991 - Lospalos, Timor-Leste - Parish Priest
- 1991-1998 - Dili-Comoro, Timor-Leste - Rector
- 1998-1999 - Dili-Comoro, Timor-Leste - Economer
- 1998-1999 - Jakarta-Wisma, Indonesia - Provincial Economer
- 1999-2008 - Rome (RMG-General House) - General Economer Office
- 2008-2019 - Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Belgium - Assistant Parish Priest in Lede
- 2019-2020 - Sint-Denijs-Westrem, Belgium - House for elderly Zonnehove (Belgium)
