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 Frére Nicet-Joseph,
Pierre-Paul Loubet
Born: 1898
Superior: 1956 - 1966
Died September 25, 1999
Office of Brother Superior
Remarks of Brother John Johnston
September 30, 1999
Athis-Mons, France |
It is with great sorrow that we have learnt of the death of Brother Nicet Joseph at the age of 101, which occurred on 25th September. He was Superior General of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools from 1956 to 1966.
Pierre Loubet was born on February 12th 1898 in Champclause, Haute Loire, in France. Like many of his contemporaries, he had to go abroad for his religious formation. In 1912, he entered the juniorate at Warchin, in Belgium. In 1914. he joined the novitiate at Hal, and in 1915, he began his scholasticate at the same place. Belgium was occupied at the time by German troops.
When peace returned in 1918, Brother Nicet Joseph, hardly 20 years old, took up a teaching post in the scholasticate in Hal. Next, there came three years of advanced studies at the Catholic University of Lille resulting in a degree in philosophy. He spent the period between 1930 and 1933 in the United States (Lafayette, Las Vegas), and Mexico (Mexico City) learning English and Spanish. He then returned to Europe and made his Second Novitiate at Lembecq les Hal.
In 1936, after a year spent teaching at Passy Froyennes, he was appointed Director of the scholasticate at Hal. The following year, he took over as Director of the Lille scholasticate. In 1939, he became Sub-Director of the Second Novitiate in Rome. With the outbreak of war, he had to go back to France. He returned to his native Haute Loire and, from 1940 to 1946, taught in Notre Dame de France in Le Puy.
The 1946 Chapter ordered the Rome Second Novitiate to be re-opened. Brother Nicet was appointed its Director, and he remained in this position till 1956, when the General Chapter of that year elected him Superior General of the Institute. Brother Nicet Joseph then undertook a series of journeys which enabled him to acquire firsthand knowledge of most of the Institute. A man of prayer, who liked personal contacts, he undertook the government of the Institute with faith and zeal. It was a time of change for both the Church and the Institute, and a period in which the work of the Institute continued to expand in a remarkable way. As Superior, he presided over the launch of Lasallian Studies and he promoted the theological studies of the Brothers by establishing the "Institutum Jesus Magister" in Rome. In response to the recommendation of the 1956 Chapter, he set in motion also the mammoth task of completely revising the Rule. As an observer at the Vatican II Council, Brother Nicet Joseph learned the importance of "aggiornamento" and "adapted renewal", which inspired the documents which guide the Institute today.
When his term in office as Superior came to an end, Brother Nicet Joseph first played a key role in the 1966-67 Chapter and then left for the Third World, working for two years in Toussiana and Sakabi in Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta). In 1969, he accepted to be the Director of the La Blache retirement home in Pont Saint Esprit. In 1974, he moved to Athis Mons, where he spent the last years of his life in prayer, reading, corresponding with his numerous friends and, as long as his strength permitted, lending a hand in community.
The funeral of Brother Nicet Joseph will take place at a time and place to be announced.
Br Peter Gilfedder
Executive Secretary |
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