Mathilde Beckers, MOL founder, passes
away
 Miss Mathilde Beckers, who started one of the first
schools to form professional catechists in the Philippines,
passed away last April 4. Miss Beckers, who was born
in Aachen, Germany, was 87 years old.
Beckers was sent to the Philippines in 1963 by Fr.
Marie-Eugene, founder of Notre Dame de Vie Institute,
to establish the Mother of Life Center (MOL). She supervised
catechists in the public schools of Manila from 1963
to 1967 where she discovered the need for specialized
education as well as spiritual formation for catechists.
Beckers established MOL in 1967 to form catechists
who will proclaim the Christian message and witness
to it in their lives. Since then MOL has produced more
than a thousand professional catechists from all over
the country and some neighboring countries in Asia.
Among Beckers’ contributions to the catechetical
ministry in the country was her involvement in the publication
of the National Catechetical Directory of the Philippines
and the Catholic Faith Catechism.
The Archdiocese of Manila recognized Beckers’
lasting contribution to the Philippine church through
the work of Mother of Life Center by bestowing on her
the Papal Award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice in 2001. In
1989 the Ateneo de Manila University honored Beckers
with the “Bukas Palad” Award for her missionary
activity in the Philippines.
 Miss Beckers was cremated on April 7 following the
funeral mass at 9 a.m. at the chapel of Notre Dame de
Vie Institute in Barangay San Agustin, Novaliches, Quezon
City. Manila Archbishop Gaudencio B. Rosales was main
celebrant with Bishops Teodoro Bacani, Xavier Labayen,
OCD, and Federico Escaler, S.J. and several priests
as co-celebrants. Priest friends, former students and
graduates of MOL and members of Notre Dame de Vie Institute
paid tribute to Miss Beckers in the eulogy after the
Mass.
|
