Red 22 - Rev. Father M. Umans, RC Mission, Bura, Voi

Red 25 has Rev R. Umans, R.C.M., Bura, Voi

Henry J. Koren, Spiritan East African Memorial, 1994: He entered the Congregation's junior seminary of Weert in 1905, the year after its founding, made his vows at Chevilly on October 20, 1912, and began his senior studies there. Because of wartime conditions, he finished them in- the safety of Langonnet, where he was ordained on October 28 1915. Appointed to the Vicariate of Zanzlbar, he sailed, together with Fr. John Foley of lreland, on December 23, 1917 to his destination. Bp. Neville placed him in Bura,  where at that time there were about 1,000 parishioners and some 120 children in the mission's schools. Shortage of personnel in the post-war years left him there alone as a priest too long, but he worked zealously, so that by 1930 there were some 2,300 Christians and catechumens. Going on leave after 13 years, he spent one year in the novitiate at Gennep and then three years in the Mother House at Paris, working in its mission procure. From 1934 on he continued to be associated with the Congregation and render service in the senior seminary of Gemert, the Brothers professional training school of Baarle Nassau and the provincialate of Rhenen. He was a congenial priest, who retained a lively interest in the affairs of his one and only mission station of Bura till the end of his life. Life did not treat him kindly, and the changes in society, the Church, and the Congregation that began in the 1960s added to his woes. Yet, he never lost his sense of humor nor his will to serve with meticulous accuracy. His scrupulous faithfulness in litle things constituted the pattern of his life. He died in his sleep at the home of his 87 year old sister and was buried with full honors in the monumental vault of Kerkhof, where since 1830 leading clergymen of The Hague had been laid to rest.