Dear sisters and brothers, dear members of the Salvatorian Family,

Although we on the General Committee had been aware of Rita’s failing health for some time, the news of her passing hit us hard. The moment when our thread of life is woven to its end is unknown. And so it says in the Book of Isaiah 38:12 :

My dwelling, like a shepherd’s tent, is struck down and borne away from me; You have folded up my life, like a weaver who severs the last thread.

Some Salvatorian lay people have written words of remembrance which can be read here on behalf of many others:

Our dear Rita beat us to the date of heaven…Her departure leaves a void in the ICDS and in the Salvatorian Family, not only in his native Belgium, but also internationally, due to her active role both in the General Committee of the ICDS, and for her participation in some of the joint commissions of the 3 branches such as “the Justice, Peace and Defense of Life Commission” and the “Salvatorian Identity and Mission Commission”.

With a jovial, cheerful and open spirit, reflecting both her vocation as a school teacher and her vocation to follow Christ as a Lay Salvatorian, Rita worked tirelessly for the development of Lay Salvatorians in the world and for the fraternal union of the Salvatorian Family, putting their gifts at your service.

She was equally concerned with encouraging the lay Salvatorians of the Congo in French and those of Suriname in Dutch. Although I did not personally know her husband, her 2 daughters and her grandchildren, I was very happy when she told me about having been able to take a trip to Germany, at the beginning of the year with her entire family, to celebrate 50 years of marriage.

From her I learned that although she was an only child, she had been lucky to have cousins ​​who were like her sisters with whom she remained very close despite the years that had passed.

To her family, as well as to the members of the Salvatorian Family of Belgium, a hug full of affection and my prayers.

Jesus Christ, the Divine Savior, receive her in His Glory and from there intercede for each of us who are part of her life in one way or another, so that every day we may be better witnesses of her Kingdom in the world, while we meet again in Eternal Life.

Mónica Cuadra de Ormaza
ICDS-Venezuela

 

Rita van Olmen, our dear Rita, was a person with a big and generous heart, with open arms to welcome those in need, always ready to collaborate with whatever was proposed to her, just like the Virgin Mary when she said yes to God. She became a lay Salvatorian many years ago, and dedicated herself to caring for the needs of others, especially when they couldn’t figure out what to do or who to resolve their problems with.

We remember when he visited the ICDS Salvatorian Communities of Congo, got help for projects, her work for almost 13 years in the General Committee of the ICDS as General Consultor, or her tireless work in various International Commissions for Justice and Peace and Defense of Creation or in her fundamental role of host for the preparation in her country of the ICDS General Assembly 2018.

Our dear Rita, we are going to miss her very much. We love her and we ask God that after having dedicated her life as a Lay Salvatorian being a testimony of salvation for all, God Himself rewards her with Eternal Life and His Divine Presence.

Sabin Ormaza
Member of the GC of the ICDS

 

I am so sad. She was a Christ filled women who will be sadly missed across many fields of church life. We pray for her soul and for her family.

Anne Cullender
General Secretary of the ICDS

 

Give glory and honor to God, who is always good in all things. My dear sister, Rita, was a precious Lay Salvatorian who loved people, loved her community, and served unselfishly on the General Committee. She often was in great pain but, she never let her discomfort stop her from participating in all our activities. She was always willing to give of her time, her energy, and her love to serve the community. I will miss her laugh and her physical presence among us when we gather internationally. I know she will be praying with us and for us as we continue to live in this world until we meet in heaven.

Judy Davis.
USA Lay Salvatorian

 

Dear Rita,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me get to know you and share a piece of life’s journey with you. I appreciated every moment when I was able to talk “about God and the world”. I will miss your own homorous open manner – and the whole ICDS will miss it. With a deep bow and a big thank you, I would like to say goodbye, but you will always have a place in my and our all memory.

Christian Patzl
President of the ICDS

 

ICDS Candle

 

We are deeply filled with hope – indeed with the certainty – that God will only reshape her and our lives after the earthly one, so we remain behind.

On behalf of the General Committee
of the International Community of the Divine Savior,

 

Let us take her in our prayers.

 

Some updates from October 23:

 

Dear sisters and brothers, Dear members of the Salvatorian Family,

The International community of the Divine Savior is in mourning. It is with sadness that we learn that RITA, Consultor of the General Committee, was recalled by God on October 22, 2023. We were certainly informed that for some time, her health had been deteriorating but the news of her death gives rise to a feeling in us of pain. Our dear Rita beat us to heaven. Her departure leaves a void in the CIDS and in the Salvatorian Family.

She was simple, joyful and open, ready to serve and follow Christ as a Lay Salvatorian.

The disappearance of Rita makes me cry for having worked tirelessly for the development of Lay Salvatorians in the world in general and in Congo in particular.

She was driven by an ardent concern for the development of the laity of Congo as proof, she had pleaded for the creation and implementation of the girls’ supervision center in KASOMENO with benefactors.

During the Zoom meetings she constantly made the General Committee understand the expressions used by the Congolese who speak French.

She left when we needed her so much. To her family, as well as to the members of the Salvatorian Family of Belgium, our feelings of compassion. Good by dear Rita and may Jesus Christ, the Divine Savior, receive you into His Glory. From there, intercede for each of us so that each day we may be better witnesses of his Kingdom in the world, and that we may meet at the last day around His table in paradise. Blessed JORDAN intercede for your daughter RITA.

DEOGRATIAS/CIDS-CONGO 1 (translated  into English)

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