Celebrating the love story that is Fr Volle

Jan 08, 2015

PETALING JAYA (Herald Malaysia): Thousands of Catholic faithful took time from their hectic year-end revelry to gather at the Assumption Church on the last day of 2014 to bid farewell to Fr Andrew Volle, who was called home to the Lord on Sunday, December 28. He was 91.

The church was packed and many were seen looking sombre and wiping away their tears, as the remains of the missionary priest was taken for burial at the Kajang Catholic Cemetery. The funeral service was celebrated by Archbishop Julian Leow.

Also in attendance to bid the good shepherd farewell were over 50 priests and bishops from all over the country.

Born Andre Paul Louis Volle, the son of farmer Louis Volle and Fanie Paris, he knew he wanted to become a priest at the tender age of 12.

According to his book Come, Follow Me - The Journey of a Shepherd of God, Fr Volle, an altar server, would ring the bell ahead of his local priest as he took the Eucharist to the homes of sick parishioners and this was when he decided he wanted to join the priesthood.

He was ordained a priest on April 24, 1949.

Fr Volle was involved in mission work from the time he set foot in then Malaya back in October 1949, but the French priest, who became a Malaysian citizen in 1969 would best be remembered by the way little children would bounce up the altar steps to get blessings from him after Mass.

During the homily, Fr Simon Labrooy who had worked with Fr Volle at the Assumption parish in the past, spoke about how the former College General theology professor’s love was contagious.

The College General in Penang was the main Catholic seminary in the region where Fr Volle taught between 1949 and 1968.

He added that Fr Volle was not afraid to express his love by acts of kissing, hugging and touching.

“One of the biggest groups of people who would rush to Fr Volle were the children. They saw him as a great person who loved everyone and that was like a magnet that drew children to him,” Fr Labrooy said.

He said that it was therefore significant that Fr Volle was called to the Lord on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, which is a celebration of the blessing of children.

Fr Labrooy also said that another group that loved Fr Volle dearly were the nurses, from those who knew him when he was chaplain for the Catholic Nurses Guild since 1957, to those who looked after him right to the very end.

In 1969, Fr Volle was appointed chaplain for the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, which founded and administered the Assunta Hospital.

“Today, we draw from this person that great expression of love and we pray that the expression will continue to live among us,” Fr Labrooy said.

MEP Superior for Malaysia and Singapore, Fr Bruno Saint Girons, in his eulogy said that he had always been touched by Fr Volle’s humility and gentleness, adding that despite his big frame, no one would feel small around him.

Fr Saint Girons also read out a letter from Fr Volle's niece, who wanted to join her uncle’s friends and the parish community to speak of their affection for him.

The niece wrote that in one of his last letters to his family, Fr Volle had spoken of his admiration for Pope Francis.

She also mentioned that despite being far away, their uncle had always been very interested to find out what they were doing and was always happy to receive news and photographs of his family back in France.

During the final blessing, Archbishop Leow thanked everyone who had come, including bishops from other parts of the country.

“I’m sure Fr Volle has touched your life, that’s why you are all here; do continue to share his legacy with others,” he said.

Although Fr Volle’s movements had been limited in his twilight years, he had undoubtedly contributed greatly to the Catholic Church in this country. He started off as a priest-professor at the College General, where his former students included former bishops Anthony Selvanayagam, Soter Fernandez, and Murphy Pakiam.

In the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur, Fr Volle not only celebrated Masses, but was also involved in teaching Catechism, preparing couples for marriage, blessing families in their homes, visiting the sick and keeping in constant contact with parish committees.

Fr Volle first came to the Assumption parish to assist Fr Stephen Tsao in the early 1970s but was then sent to Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Salak South in 1978.

He was then sent to the Cathedral of St John in 1982, after which he returned to Assumption in 1991, at the age of 68.

He retired in July 2003 at the age of 80 but remained in the parish as resident priest.

Since then, despite being confined to a wheelchair in later years, he remained visible to the parish community during his participation at Masses.

Due to his strong ties to the PJ parish, it came as no surprise that the aged, youths, young parents with little children and even the infirm came to celebrate Fr Volle’s life on December 31.

The gentle giant that was Fr Volle will surely be missed, especially among the Assumption parish community and all those whose lives he touched.

May the Lord reward him for his hard work
and unselfish dedication.

May the Lord turn a merciful eye on his
sins.

May the Lord grant him eternal life.
Amen.