On Monday, November 11, 2013, several hundred people gathered in the chapel of the Assumptionist retirement community of Espirito Santo do Pinhal (Brazil) to celebrate the hundredth birthday of the oldest living Assumptionist, Fr. Lambert van de Leemput, a Dutch missionary who arrived in Brazil over 65 years ago.

Considered unable to undertake the rigorous curriculum of philosophy and theology, he dedicated himself first to the simple tasks of house manager and sacristan, but quickly turned the bricklaying skills that he learned from his father to become an amateur engineer, electrician, and architect, responsible for the construction of several Assumptionist churches and buildings.

Later, self-taught, he began to give classes at the Assumptionist minor seminary, courses in biology, physics, astronomy, and chemistry.

Aware of the severe shortage of priests in his adopted country, he requested ordination to the priesthood and prepared himself by studying part-time with Bishop Jose Fuccioli and was ordained in 1971. He was later named pastor and associate pastor of Santo Antonio do Jardim where he served some 25 years.

In his homily, Bishop Jose Geraldo da Cruz, Assumptionist bishop of Guazeiro, underlined not only Fr. Lambert’s exemplary faithfulness and perseverance, but also his extraordinarily unassuming nature and ever-present sense of humor.

He was recently quoted as saying, “I have the head of 25-year old but my body doesn’t want to keep up.” During his birthday remarks he added that he always tried to imitate Mary and would ask himself, “What would Mary do in my place?”

Happy birthday, Fr. Lambert and “Ad multos annos”.