Father Herman Jozef van Hulten: Life and Legacy of a Missionary in West Kalimantan

 

Herman Jozef van Hulten. Doc. the writer.

BORNEOTRAVEL - PONTIANAK: At the Capuchin Friary, a community of friars following St. Francis of Assisi, in Tilburg, Netherlands, on January 27, 1994, Father Herman Jozef van Hulten passed away. 

Among the Christian community of West Kalimantan, he was loved not only because he was part of the first generation to spread the message of Christ among the Dayak people but also because he was a humble priest.

Facing Challenges and Inspiring Change: The Early Journey in Borneo

When the Dayak community was still isolated, underdeveloped, and living in a primitive world, Herman Jozef was undeterred in his mission to introduce Christ. In his book (Mijn Leven met de Daya's, 1983), Herman writes the indigenous people of Borneo as "Daya," without the letter "k" at the end.

Born in Drunen, Netherlands, in 1907, Father Herman became a Capuchin friar in 1927 and was ordained a priest in 1935. In 1938, he first set foot on Borneo, which at the time seemed "terrifying" to many. He initially served in West Borneo, in Sejiram. 

During World War II, he was "exiled" by the Japanese to a camp in Malaysia, where he experienced and witnessed the horrors of war. 

After World War II, he returned to serve in Jangkang, a parish in the Sanggau Kapuas district of West Kalimantan. He was the shepherd there for 17 years before being transferred to Menjalin.

An Inclusive Approach: Bridging Christ and Daya Culture

Father Herman used analogies to introduce Christ. He highlighted similarities between the Daya people's traditional beliefs and Christian teachings. While Christianity views the cross as a symbol of victory, the Daya people believed in the pantak (a protective idol) that safeguarded their village and way of life. His most revolutionary work was replacing the pantak in each village with a cross. If you visit the former parish regions today, you can still see crosses erected before entering a village. Truly remarkable!

For 36 years, Father Herman lived among the Daya people, and throughout that time, his attention and heart were devoted to them. As the saying goes, "a tiger leaves behind its stripes," a missionary leaves behind a book.

This is the essence of Father Herman's book, which is not only a pastoral experience but also a model of evangelism. By reading his work, people living among the Daya sub-ethnic group, especially the Daya generation, can gain a proportionate understanding of "the Daya" and their way of life, which is so closely intertwined with their natural environment.

A Lasting Legacy: Leaving a Mark Through Books and Community

In 1974, Father Herman returned to the Netherlands. In his old age, he compiled various events, observations, and memories of his time with the Daya people. His first work was published in two volumes, titled Mijn Leven Met de Daya's. I was fortunate to be entrusted as the editor when the Capuchin Order decided to translate the book into Indonesian. Not only because I had previously immersed myself in his experiences, but also because I personally knew him.

Father Herman recounts his pastoral experiences, including how he lived with the Daya people, all driven by various purposes and hopes. But what is clear is that he aimed to provide as concrete a picture as possible of the Daya people, especially through his own experiences. It cannot be denied that life, as he experienced it in many aspects, was shaped by the close relationship with the surrounding environment.

Father Herman Josef was indeed a missionary with an incredible passion for evangelism and for the people. He was hardworking and dedicated, which is evident from his close relationship with the Daya people, his ability to reach remote areas, and his efforts that led to many converts to Catholicism in West Kalimantan—efforts that certainly deserve recognition.

His open and welcoming attitude formed the foundation of Father Herman Josef's personality, which was harmoniously aligned with the spirit of the Gospel. As evidenced in Mijn Leven Met de Daya's, this spirit brought about changes in values among various Daya sub-groups.

This book also represents the birth of a new cultural form, the result of the cultural encounter between the Daya people and the Gospel, namely the Catholic Christian Daya culture. 

The culture born from the meeting of various Daya sub-ethnic groups with the Gospel and Christian faith—now and in the future—remains a bright beacon and guide for every step of the Daya people's journey. 

In the areas where he served, there are now about 30,000 Catholic faithful. This is the harvest of the seeds he painstakingly sowed nearly 50 years ago.

-- Masri Sareb Putra