Mass for Willem Geertman

The Promotion of the Church People’s Response (PCPR) celebrated a mass to honor the life of Willem Geertman, Dutch missionary who was extra-judicially killed while doing his missionary work. The mass was held last July 11, 2012, at 6:00 pm, in Sto. Domingo Church. Bishop Deogracias Iñiguez, Jr., DD (Diocese of Caloocan) served as the main celebrant and homilist. Bishop-Emeritus Julio Labayen, OCD, DD (Prelature of Infanta) with secular and religious priests concelebrated in the mass. The Dominicans were represented by some priests and members of the KADAUPAN. Religious sisters from different congregations also took part in the liturgy. Geertman’s family from the Netherlands and friends were also present during the mass.  

During the homily, Bishop Iñiguez emphasized the importance of Geertman’s missionary works in the recent years in the Philippines. He also added that in order to achieve peace and justice, we have to live in the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. He ended by saying that Geertman’s efforts would never be put in vain.

Right after the mass a candle lighting ceremony was held outside Sto. Domingo Church. Prayers were also offered by the people to ask for justice and, in the same way, to stop the killings of missionaries.

Geertman spent 46 years of his life doing missionary works in the northern and central parts of Luzon. He was an advocate of land reforms and defender of the indigenous people. He was 67 years old when he was killed in his office in San Fernando City, Pampanga last July 3, 2012. Apparently, police investigators claimed that the accident was a result of robbery. However, some activists argued that Geertman’s death was a murder.