Fr. Marcel Dubois
The life of our friend and mentor, spiritual father and teacher, Fr. Prof. Marcel J. Dubois, OP, was fulfilled in the evening of Thursday, 14 June when he was called home. The next day, at the funeral in the Convent of Beit Gamal a huge group of people paid Fr. Marcel the last respects. While we are grateful for the many blessings in his life, we are particularly thankful for his important contributions to the work of the Ecumenical Fraternity for more than four decades.
Fraternally yours,
Rev. Dr. Petra Heldt
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Eileen Schuller, McMaster University, Canada
Thanks for the notice about Marcel. That must feel like the end of an era in some way.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Max Cappabianca OP (Radio Vatikan, dt. Abtl, [email protected])
bezugnehmend auf Ihre untenstehende Email frage ich an, ob Sie für ein Interview zur Verfügung stehen für Radio Vatikan. Es soll um den Verstorbenen gehen und seinen Beitrag im jüdisch-christlichen Dialog!
Beste Grüße aus Rom
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
David Blewett, USA
Thank you for this sad notice. My heart is sad because of the loss of such a remarkable man of God, but at the same time it is happy in the promise of the resurrection and in the reality of all the good that he did for the church and the Fraternity.
I know that he was very close to you and the Fraternity, I hope you are doing well. My prayers are with you and the Fraternity that you will find a wonderful way to keep the memory of Fr. Marcel alive and a blessing for generations to come. I am trying to do the same thing here with NCLCI and the memory of Rose Thering and David Lewis . . . and Ed Flannery. Best wishes.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Ibolya Glancz, UK
Thank you so much for letting me know about the passing of Fr. Marcel
to his eternal home. I too remember him with affection and unite with
you in prayer for him. You are a treasure, Petra! God bless you.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Sr. Geneviève
Grand Merci de m'avoir envoyé votre mot "aux amis" au sujet de notre cher P. Marcel qui nous a quittés. J'avais appris cette nouvelle par Yohanan. Je vous remercie beaucoup d'avoir pensé à me l'écrire aussi. (J'aime mieux être prévenue 2 fois que pas du tout !)
J'ai, tout de suite, prié pour lui et demandé au Seigneur de l'accueillir sans tarder auprès de Lui.
Je suis contente de savoir, par ce mot, que vous étiez toujours à Jérusalem. Bien que je ne vous écrive pas, soyez assurée que je ne vous oublie pas, ni le bon "travail" que vous faites à Jérusalem. (Je n'oublie aucun, aucune de mes amis de Jérusalem, d'Israël pour lesquels je prie chaque jour.)"Que ma langue s'attache à mon palais, si je perds ton souvenir !"
Excusez-moi de vous avoir écrit en français (mon anglais est trop mauvais, et je sais que vous connaissez bien le français)
En vous remerciant encore, je vous assure de ma fidèle amitié et de mon union dans la prière.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Wesley Brown, USA
Thank you, Petra, for the sad news of Fr. Marcel's death. I have some special memories of conversations with him from the '70's and '80's. He made a great contribution to the Fraternity, to the Rainbow Group, to the Hebrew University, and to the Christian presence and witness in Israel.
May God bless you and your faithful service there. Greet Malcolm for me, too. Yours in our Lord
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Mari Kuhnley, USA
Dear Petra:
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Marcel Dubois. He was a great man. I know he was your friend and mentor and you will miss him. You have my condolences.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Moshe Aumann, Israel
Mimi joins me (at her specific request) in sending you and the Fraternity our heartfelt condolences on the passing of our dear friend, Father Marcel Dubois.
The Father Marcel I came to know over the years was always an outstanding practitioner of Kiddush Hashem – the Sanctification of God’s Name – generally known as a Jewish precept, yet one I have encountered, again and again, in the Christian community as well. His academic career at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, including his distinguished service as head of that institution’s Philosophy Department, was only one manifestation of that sterling quality. His Presidency of the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel, and his activity in the Fraternity at other times as well, are yet a further illustration of this Kiddush Hashem. I have always admired the way Father Marcel and you, Petra, were able to work together so harmoniously; the difference in your respective denominational backgrounds was never an obstacle. On a personal note, I shall always remember the wonderful way Father Marcel helped prepare me, in the course of a long conversation we held (in Hebrew!) at his home, on the eve of my departure for Washington, in 1987, as Minister-Counselor for Relations with the Churches at the Embassy of Israel in America’s capital. Father Marcel Dubois will be missed – and well remembered – by many, in both the Christian and the Jewish communities.
May he rest in peace. Blessings.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Jeff Magnuson, USA
Thank you very much for letting me know of Prof. Dubois' death. I don't recall working closely with him, but I did meet him several times and was always impressed by his kindness, thoughtfulness, and insight. I'm sorry to hear of his passing.
I hope you and Malcolm are well and flourishing. I hear periodic reports of your good work from my mother, who has the good fortune to meet up with you from time to time. I treasure the years I was privileged to live in Jerusalem, and to know you and work with you.
With every good wish.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Fr. Alviero Niccacci, Israel
Thanks for the message.
Of course, I also joined you in the prayer and thanks to the Lord for Fr. Marcel J. Dubois, OP.
Fraternally,
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Sr. Dr. Maureena Fritz, Israel
Thank you for this notification. I felt very badly when I heard that Marcel died. I didn't even know he was sick. I agree with the adjectives you have listed below to describe him. May he rest in peace.
Thank you.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Becky Brimmer, Israel
Thanks for letting me know about the home-going of Marcel Dubois. Our prayers are with you. I am sure my dad and Marcel will be meeting one another as they walk on the streets of gold.
Blessings,
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Jean-Michel Poffet op, Israel (Directeur Ecole Biblique et Archéologique Française)
Thank you very much, dear Petra. Unfortunately, I could not attend, I was in Europe.
But, I think it was the right moment. He was so weak. We can pray for him: God receive Him, bless Him and us.
With my best regards
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Ruth Weyl, UK
I had the sad news of Fr Marcel's death already on Friday from John Pawlikowski and I thought that the best I can say in response to your note which I received from the ICCJ head office is to copy here what I then wrote to John :
What sad news. But I agree with Michael, what a relief also to know that this dearest of friends ands counselors no longer suffers. I have known Marcel for nearly four decades. The last time I visited him was a couple of years ago when he showed me some handwritten notes in Bill Simpson's typically minute but clear handwriting and we talked about the bonds often created by handwritten exchanges of thoughts with the occasional crossing out that reveals how hard people strove to get their meanings across by way of correspondence.
In the absence of Andrew Goldstein, I am leading the Friday night service in our synagogue tonight and I will include Marcel when we remember the legacy on our continuing lives of those who are no longer with us.
To which I can now add that I did include Marcel in the final readings about those no longer with us and the Kaddish, which in my Liberal tradition actually ends with the additional words "and all humanity". You may have heard that the ICCJ is planning to hold its 2008 conference in Israel. I took liberty of suggesting already now that one of the main lectures then ought to be named in honour of Marcel Dubois.
Meanwhile affectionate greetings.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
J. Robert Wright, USA (General Theological Seminary)
May he rest in peace + and rise in glory.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Tim King, Israel (ICEJ)
It clearly is the end of an era.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Jimmilea Berryhill, USA (Jubilee Christian College)
Thank you Petra, I appreciate your communications with those of us who would not otherwise learn of these things.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
John T. Townsend, USA
We shall remember him in our prayers.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Joseph Sievers, Italy
Liebe Petra,
vielen Dank für diese Nachricht, die ich mittlerweile auch durch eine Notiz von Michel Remaud erhalten habe. Möge Marcel in Frieden ruhen und möge doch in gewisser Weise seine Arbeit für Frieden und Versöhnung weitergeführt werden.
Mit herzlichen Grüßen aus Rom,
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Rachel Elior, Israel (Hebrew University)
I am very sorry to hear about it –Prof Dubois was my teacher in the HU many years ago and I was on my way to send him a three language beautiful catalogue on monotheism that has been published this month by the Bible Lands Museum. I thought that he would have been so happy to see the trialogue between the three monotheistic religions.
He will be always loved and remembered.
All the best Rachel
Fraternally yours,
Rev. Dr. Petra Heldt
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Eileen Schuller, McMaster University, Canada
Thanks for the notice about Marcel. That must feel like the end of an era in some way.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Max Cappabianca OP (Radio Vatikan, dt. Abtl, [email protected])
bezugnehmend auf Ihre untenstehende Email frage ich an, ob Sie für ein Interview zur Verfügung stehen für Radio Vatikan. Es soll um den Verstorbenen gehen und seinen Beitrag im jüdisch-christlichen Dialog!
Beste Grüße aus Rom
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
David Blewett, USA
Thank you for this sad notice. My heart is sad because of the loss of such a remarkable man of God, but at the same time it is happy in the promise of the resurrection and in the reality of all the good that he did for the church and the Fraternity.
I know that he was very close to you and the Fraternity, I hope you are doing well. My prayers are with you and the Fraternity that you will find a wonderful way to keep the memory of Fr. Marcel alive and a blessing for generations to come. I am trying to do the same thing here with NCLCI and the memory of Rose Thering and David Lewis . . . and Ed Flannery. Best wishes.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Ibolya Glancz, UK
Thank you so much for letting me know about the passing of Fr. Marcel
to his eternal home. I too remember him with affection and unite with
you in prayer for him. You are a treasure, Petra! God bless you.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Sr. Geneviève
Grand Merci de m'avoir envoyé votre mot "aux amis" au sujet de notre cher P. Marcel qui nous a quittés. J'avais appris cette nouvelle par Yohanan. Je vous remercie beaucoup d'avoir pensé à me l'écrire aussi. (J'aime mieux être prévenue 2 fois que pas du tout !)
J'ai, tout de suite, prié pour lui et demandé au Seigneur de l'accueillir sans tarder auprès de Lui.
Je suis contente de savoir, par ce mot, que vous étiez toujours à Jérusalem. Bien que je ne vous écrive pas, soyez assurée que je ne vous oublie pas, ni le bon "travail" que vous faites à Jérusalem. (Je n'oublie aucun, aucune de mes amis de Jérusalem, d'Israël pour lesquels je prie chaque jour.)"Que ma langue s'attache à mon palais, si je perds ton souvenir !"
Excusez-moi de vous avoir écrit en français (mon anglais est trop mauvais, et je sais que vous connaissez bien le français)
En vous remerciant encore, je vous assure de ma fidèle amitié et de mon union dans la prière.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Wesley Brown, USA
Thank you, Petra, for the sad news of Fr. Marcel's death. I have some special memories of conversations with him from the '70's and '80's. He made a great contribution to the Fraternity, to the Rainbow Group, to the Hebrew University, and to the Christian presence and witness in Israel.
May God bless you and your faithful service there. Greet Malcolm for me, too. Yours in our Lord
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Mari Kuhnley, USA
Dear Petra:
I was saddened to learn of the passing of Marcel Dubois. He was a great man. I know he was your friend and mentor and you will miss him. You have my condolences.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Moshe Aumann, Israel
Mimi joins me (at her specific request) in sending you and the Fraternity our heartfelt condolences on the passing of our dear friend, Father Marcel Dubois.
The Father Marcel I came to know over the years was always an outstanding practitioner of Kiddush Hashem – the Sanctification of God’s Name – generally known as a Jewish precept, yet one I have encountered, again and again, in the Christian community as well. His academic career at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, including his distinguished service as head of that institution’s Philosophy Department, was only one manifestation of that sterling quality. His Presidency of the Ecumenical Theological Research Fraternity in Israel, and his activity in the Fraternity at other times as well, are yet a further illustration of this Kiddush Hashem. I have always admired the way Father Marcel and you, Petra, were able to work together so harmoniously; the difference in your respective denominational backgrounds was never an obstacle. On a personal note, I shall always remember the wonderful way Father Marcel helped prepare me, in the course of a long conversation we held (in Hebrew!) at his home, on the eve of my departure for Washington, in 1987, as Minister-Counselor for Relations with the Churches at the Embassy of Israel in America’s capital. Father Marcel Dubois will be missed – and well remembered – by many, in both the Christian and the Jewish communities.
May he rest in peace. Blessings.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Jeff Magnuson, USA
Thank you very much for letting me know of Prof. Dubois' death. I don't recall working closely with him, but I did meet him several times and was always impressed by his kindness, thoughtfulness, and insight. I'm sorry to hear of his passing.
I hope you and Malcolm are well and flourishing. I hear periodic reports of your good work from my mother, who has the good fortune to meet up with you from time to time. I treasure the years I was privileged to live in Jerusalem, and to know you and work with you.
With every good wish.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Fr. Alviero Niccacci, Israel
Thanks for the message.
Of course, I also joined you in the prayer and thanks to the Lord for Fr. Marcel J. Dubois, OP.
Fraternally,
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Sr. Dr. Maureena Fritz, Israel
Thank you for this notification. I felt very badly when I heard that Marcel died. I didn't even know he was sick. I agree with the adjectives you have listed below to describe him. May he rest in peace.
Thank you.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Becky Brimmer, Israel
Thanks for letting me know about the home-going of Marcel Dubois. Our prayers are with you. I am sure my dad and Marcel will be meeting one another as they walk on the streets of gold.
Blessings,
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Jean-Michel Poffet op, Israel (Directeur Ecole Biblique et Archéologique Française)
Thank you very much, dear Petra. Unfortunately, I could not attend, I was in Europe.
But, I think it was the right moment. He was so weak. We can pray for him: God receive Him, bless Him and us.
With my best regards
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Ruth Weyl, UK
I had the sad news of Fr Marcel's death already on Friday from John Pawlikowski and I thought that the best I can say in response to your note which I received from the ICCJ head office is to copy here what I then wrote to John :
What sad news. But I agree with Michael, what a relief also to know that this dearest of friends ands counselors no longer suffers. I have known Marcel for nearly four decades. The last time I visited him was a couple of years ago when he showed me some handwritten notes in Bill Simpson's typically minute but clear handwriting and we talked about the bonds often created by handwritten exchanges of thoughts with the occasional crossing out that reveals how hard people strove to get their meanings across by way of correspondence.
In the absence of Andrew Goldstein, I am leading the Friday night service in our synagogue tonight and I will include Marcel when we remember the legacy on our continuing lives of those who are no longer with us.
To which I can now add that I did include Marcel in the final readings about those no longer with us and the Kaddish, which in my Liberal tradition actually ends with the additional words "and all humanity". You may have heard that the ICCJ is planning to hold its 2008 conference in Israel. I took liberty of suggesting already now that one of the main lectures then ought to be named in honour of Marcel Dubois.
Meanwhile affectionate greetings.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
J. Robert Wright, USA (General Theological Seminary)
May he rest in peace + and rise in glory.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Tim King, Israel (ICEJ)
It clearly is the end of an era.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Jimmilea Berryhill, USA (Jubilee Christian College)
Thank you Petra, I appreciate your communications with those of us who would not otherwise learn of these things.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
John T. Townsend, USA
We shall remember him in our prayers.
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Joseph Sievers, Italy
Liebe Petra,
vielen Dank für diese Nachricht, die ich mittlerweile auch durch eine Notiz von Michel Remaud erhalten habe. Möge Marcel in Frieden ruhen und möge doch in gewisser Weise seine Arbeit für Frieden und Versöhnung weitergeführt werden.
Mit herzlichen Grüßen aus Rom,
........................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Rachel Elior, Israel (Hebrew University)
I am very sorry to hear about it –Prof Dubois was my teacher in the HU many years ago and I was on my way to send him a three language beautiful catalogue on monotheism that has been published this month by the Bible Lands Museum. I thought that he would have been so happy to see the trialogue between the three monotheistic religions.
He will be always loved and remembered.
All the best Rachel
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