Rome, 12 March 2021 -- Fr Julien Jackers, 76 years of age, passed away in Kenya. In the EAO region he was best known in Myanmar and in Timor Leste, but also through his work in formation (postnovitiate stage in 2018). Just yesterday this message from his provincial, Fr Wilfried Wambeke (Belgium North - Holland, BEN) reached the General house:

"I want to inform you about the situation of Fr. Julien Jackers. He went to Sri Lanka about 1 year ago. He planned to come back to Belgium after a few months but because of Covid he had to stay in Sri Lanka. From there he gave some courses online (among others for the postnovices in Timor Leste, Dili - TLS). He could arrange a flight from Sri Lanka to Dar Es Salaam (without coming to Belgium). He was in the postnovitiate at Moshi (Tanzania) from the beginning of October 2020.

"A few weeks ago he developed health problems. Two days ago the situation became serious. He was transported from the hospital in Moshi to the hospital Mater in Nairobi in a special medical plane with a medical team. Yesterday morning the hospital asked our consent for a surgical intervention to unblock an instestinal blockage. The procedure was performed yesterday morning. One hour ago I’ve got the following message from Augustine Jacob [Sellam], vicar of the province: “We are just told that his condition is not good. We are rushing to the hospital.”

"Fr Julien rendered invaluable service to the Congregation in the years since his retirement from university teaching, as itinerant philosophy teacher, generously teaching in several postnovitiates in 5 Salesian Regions: Middle East - Cremisan (Holy Land), Interamerica (Haiti), in Asia and Africa (Ahungalla, Sri Lanka - LKC; Dili -Timor Leste, TLS; Moshi - Tanzania, AFE; in Nigeria, AFW in Pyin Oo Lwin - Myanmar, MYM and many others.

In the last two years, we have been thinking, with Julien, to offer a seminar to postnovitiate teachers, formators and students on Learning and Teaching Philosophy in a Salesian Way - or How to do Philosophy as Salesians in a Secularized World. Then Covid came along, and Julien remain for many months, first in Ahungalla, and then in Moshi. He did do some video recordings and he has left us an outline of his seminar, but the idea was his, and the style irreplaceable.

"He has been such a wonderful gift to so many young Salesians mostly in the regions of East Asia and Oceania, South Asia, Africa and Madagascar. No one ever was able to impact the lives of so many young SDBs in so many different Provinces by direct interactions, deep reflections and true brotherly relationship. A true giant in formation" Fr Silvio Roggia.

RIP, Julien, you will be missed very much. The Salesian world remembers you, peripatetic globetrotting Salesian hilosopher, deeply human, Salesian, Christian in a secularized world!

We miss you Fr. Julien! We pray for you!

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