Congregation of the Brothers of the Immaculate Conception of Mary

"Simplicity is the hallmark of truth,"

We have the sad task of informing you that we have to bid farewell to

Brother Crispinianus Mooren FIC

Martinus Hendrikus Johannes

Martinus was born on November 24, 1930, in Haarlem. He made his profession with the Brothers FIC on August 15, 1957. He passed away on Friday, September 18, at the MUMC in Maastricht.

As a sixteen-year-old boy, he arrived at De Beyart in Maastricht, where he adopted the religious name Crispinianus. Three-quarters of a century of faithful service with the Brothers FIC followed. He always made himself available wherever the Congregation needed him. Within De Beyart, everyone knows him as brother Cris, and to his family, he is uncle Tinus.

Cris learned the trade of shoemaker in Maastricht. He worked for a number of years as a shoe maker on Brusselsestraat and Tongerseweg, as well as on Oude Mollenhutseweg in Nijmegen. As a shoemaker, he would have liked to apply his craftsmanship in other provinces, but the Congregation needed him in the Netherlands. He became an assistant at the central library and worked there until he began supporting the De Beyart print shop. Cris spent the greater part of his life at De Beyart. We remember Cris as a man who always worked hard and did even more in silence; for service and wholehearted dedication were things he considered entirely natural.

In his final years, he lived in serene simplicity. He was never bored; he filled his days with puzzles, reading the newspaper, tinkering in his room, and many meaningful conversations with the nursing staff, caregivers, fellow brothers, and the FIC team. He greatly enjoyed reminiscing about the past and sharing his own keen perspective on it. He leaves an indelible mark and is an integral part of the history of De Beyart. On August 15, 2026, he celebrated the 75th anniversary of his religious profession - an occasion he visibly enjoyed. We thank him for all he has done and for the impact he made.

In him, we lose a remarkable person - dear to his family, friends, and acquaintances, as well as to the Congregation.

We will bid farewell to brother Cris during the Eucharistic celebration on Thursday, September 24, at 2:30 PM in the De Beyart chapel. Afterward, he will be laid to rest in the brothers' cemetery on Anjoulaan in Maastricht.