Obituary of Confrere Lambertus Cornelis Blessing,OSC: An Example of Faithful Crosier in Daily Prayer

Pastor Postinus Gulö, OSC

The province of Sang Kristus mourns for the death of Cfr. Lambertus Cornelis Blessing, OSC.  He passed away on Sunday, 19 June 2022 at Cahya Kawaluyan Hospital, Padalarang, Bandung at around 02.25 West Indonesian Time.  He died at the age of 95 years.

Cfr. Blessing was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands on January 20, 1927. In 1946, he entered the OSC Novitiate in Neeriter and made his temporary vows on 28 August 1947 and perpetual vows on 28 August 1950. He studied philosophy and theology at Crosier institute in Sint Agatha, the Netherlands.  Then, he was ordained a priest on July 25, 1952 in St.  Agatha, Netherlands

At the end of October 1956, Cfr. Blessing arrived in Indonesia (Tanjung Priok) to carry out the Order’s mission in Indonesia.  His first assignment in Indonesia was to become a formator at the Minor Seminary (now: Cadas Hikmat), Bandung.  After serving in Indonesia for eleven years, Cfr. Blessing became officially an Indonesian citizen on 7 December 1967.

Cfr. Blessing was entrusted with several parochial and categorical pastoral services such as in Rotterdam Parish, Crosier Monastery in Achel, Belgium and in Neerriter, Haut Blerik Parish, Limburg, 1952-1956.

After moving to Indonesia, he was assigned in Cicadas Minor Seminary, Cathedral Bandung, Tasikmalaya Parish, Kamuning Parish, st. Ignatius Cimahi, Indramayu, Mohamad Toha Bandung, Lembang, St. Laurentius Sukajadi, and Subang. Most of the time he served people of God in the parishes.

Cirebon was a very special city for him where he served at St. Yusuf parish in 1970-1977 and later on he was back to the same parish in 1992-2007.

Finally after being freed from any assignment he stayed in Pratista Priory beginning in 2007 to the day he died.

Cfr. Blessing is an example of faithful Crosier in daily prayer.  In fact, he had a devotion to Saint Odilia and the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of the Church through the Legion of Mary and the Rosary with the people to whom he was sent to serve. People knew him as Pastor Blessing. He was truly a shepherd who blessed all the time the people of God.

The following is the final honor for Pastor Blessing, all of which were held at Pratista Priority:

1. Sunday, June 19, 2022, pkl.  18.00 WIB: Spirit Worship, presided by Cfr. Yustinus Nana Sujana, OSC, a Council of Pratista Priory.

2. Monday, June 20, 2022, pkl.  10.00 WIB: Requiem Mass and Funeral, presided by Mgr. Antonius Subianto Bunjamin, OSC (Bishop of Bandung Diocese).

Rest in peace Cfr. Blessing. Please remember him in your prayers.

 In Cruce Salus

By Cfr. Postinus Gulö, OSC

(Provincial Secretary of Sang Kristus Province, Indonesia)

Translated by Cfr. Y.B. Rosaryanto, OSC

(Secretary General of the Order of the Holy Cross, Rome)