Good afternoon all,
Dear Cheryl, Monique, Chantal, Michelle, and Dario, on behalf of the Catholic Order of the Knights of da Gama, we offer you and your extended family our sincere condolences on the passing of our committed and faithful Brother Vic.
For those of you who are not aware the Catholic Order of the Knights of da Gama, we are a Catholic Order of men whose vision it is to bring Jesus to communities in Southern Africa. And our mission is to evangelise ourselves, our families and our communities through active Christian service. As all here will testify, Brother Past Supreme Knight Vic played an instrumental role in achieving these objectives.
On a personal note, I met Vic sometime in 1990, and we both had seemed to have the same outlook on our Order. Vic was passionate about our mission, his family, and his community. Naturally, we hit it off immediately and journeyed together ever since, while making sure to have fun while doing so. We struck up a unique and special friendship with Fr Peter Cullen, who eventually went on to become our National Chaplain. Vic's way of connecting with others had a unique way of imparting inspiration and enabling them to act with momentum. His catchphrase was "Just do it!" And not only did he live up to it, but he inspired others to do the same. Myself included.
Vic was a man of service and a humble, steadfast leader.
Brother Vic held many titles in the Order. Under his guidance, a wave of change in our community was set in motion, a product of which is seen today. Vic was initiated into Cl 11, St Joseph, Boksburg on the 18th of February 1989. He was elevated to the Second Degree on the 5th of October in the same year. And soon after, he advanced to full knighthood on the 28th of May 1990. Brother Vic rose up through the ranks to the office of Regional Grand Knight of the Eastern Highveld. Once on the Board of Directors, there was no stopping Brother Vic. He soon became Deputy Supreme Knight and later, Supreme Knight, attaining the Order’s highest office.
Vic was not a spectator. Instead, he was a dedicated, hard-working Brother. Once his term of office was completed as Supreme Knight, he was nominated and elected as president of the International Alliance of Catholic Knights, known as IACK. IACK is an alliance of 15 Orders of the Knights from various countries around the globe. Installed as president in Dublin, Ireland, in 2011 he presided at two meetings: one in Nigeria and the other in The Gambia. In that same year, Vic and his family relocated to Cape Town, his hometown. He transferred to Council 26, Our Lady of Good Hope, Bothasig, where he continued to serve his council, region, and the board of directors as the Supreme Councillor for Membership Recruitment and Retention. He held this office and served without reservation until February of this year.
Vic was an organiser of note and beyond committed.
St Bruno Cl 52 Polokwane was the first council that Brother Vic was instrumental in establishing. It took a bit of effort and meant travelling to Polokwane monthly for three years. Vic went on to establish St Lawrence, Council 53 in Mitchell’s Plain and to reestablish St Jude Cl 33 Uitenhage in the Eastern Cape.
When Pope John Paul II, now a declared Saint, visited South Africa in September 1995, Brother Vic automatically volunteered his services to the organising committee. His role was to manage all 650 marshals as well as the security of the visiting Vatican contingent, which included the Pope and many other members of the hierarchy of the Church. His contribution was not just limited to securing the Papal Mass, but included several venues visited by the Holy Father for the duration of his visit.
Vic was respectful and reverent.
The Order established a committee to counter blasphemy. Focused on the Reverence of The Holy Names they produced stickers, posters, leaflets, and pledge cards promoting the Holy Name of God and Jesus Christ. In 2009 Brother Vic and Brother Clive Leon presented arguments of opposition to ICASA relating to blasphemy on television and successfully demanded an apology from a large retail outlet for supporting the UCT Rag Magazine, which funded the publication.
Vic was a community man and his Brother’s keeper.
Aside from his ongoing recruitment efforts, Vic was an active member, and past chairman. of the Box & Dine Committee. This was an annual black-tie event and gentleman’s evening of amateur boxing held in Benoni City Hall – a project that served to build a strong sense of community and raise much-needed funds for various charities.
In addition to this, Vic was also the coordinator of Brotherline, a forum within the Order used to communicate offers of employment and opportunities available for Brothers and their family members seeking employment.
Vic was a caring and considerate man. A friend to many. Vic was always very sociable and inclusive and went to great lengths to ensure people felt valued.
As we have heard from the moving eulogies given today, it is undoubtedly evident that Vic gave of himself entirely to so many varied areas: whether it was a soccer coach or refereeing, a potjiekos judge, contributing time to the Community Police Forum, his local parish, and the Order of the Knights of da Gama, Vic always gave of his talents wholly and completely. Brother Vic never over-committed and under-delivered; instead, he delivered much more than one would expect. He always did so with detailed and accurate planning, calmness, thoughtfulness, and always with a spirit of joy. And with that, he would always reflect and analyse what needed to improve, if anything.
Brother Past Supreme Knight Vic, you have served the brotherhood so well for 33 years. May you now rest in eternal peace, good and faithful servant.
Thank you for the opportunity to be your Brother! Thank you for your friendship, for all the memories, and all that we enjoyed together.
Anthony Beale
The funeral booklet picture shows PSK Vic wearing the Chain of Office of the Supreme Knight as well as the special tie with the emblems of the Order and the International Alliance of Catholic Knights, of which later he was to become International President.
