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Name: MENTINK, Gerhardus Wilhelmus (Rev. Father)
Birth Date: 2 Nov 1887 Nijmegen, Holland
Death Date: 12 Apr 1923 Mombasa
First Date: 1922
Profession: C.M.S. missionary
Area: Kakamega
Book Reference: KAD, Red 25, Hut, Red 22
General Information:
Red 22 - Rev. Fr. G. Wm. Mentink, CMS, Kakamega
Gazette - 22/8/1923 - Probate and Administration - W.G. Mentink, late of Kakamega who died at Mombasa on 12 April 1923. Applied for by Father P. Hogan of Kakamega
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-mentink/I562.php(translated from Dutch) Willem became a priest in the St Joseph Congregation of the Fathers of Mill-Hill - near London. The following data was received from the archives of this Congregation.
He attended the minor seminary, successively at the Jesuit College in Nijmegen, then at the Jesuit College in Culemborg and finally for a year and seven months at the College of the Franciscan Fathers in Venray. In September 1907 Willem Mentink went to Roosendaal to study philosophy. On March 19, 1910, the feast day of the Patron Saint of the Mill-Hill Fathers, he was received as a member of this Congregation. As a sign of this admission he received the red sash, which was worn over the bar.
On September 21, 1910 he arrived at St Joseph College in Mill-Hill to study theology. On 28-4-1912 he was ordained Subdeacon and 20-9-1913 ordained Priest by Bishop Joseph Butt - Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster.
In November 1913 he left for the Vicariate of Upper Nile Uganda-Kenya. After a four-month stay in the main station - to learn the language - he worked successively in Nyenga, Mumias and Kakamega. In the "Annals of the Mission House in Roosendaal", year 1923, the following was written: Due to his pleasant character and heartfelt zeal, he acquired the friendship and affection of his fellow priests and parishioners. There was a vocational school attached to the Kakamega mission, which he was responsible for managing. In 1920 he was entrusted with the responsibility of directing the mission in Kakamega, until the Bishop sent help and with unwavering zeal and knowledge he was able to devote all his energies to the vocational school.
In early February 1923, while visiting Kisumu, a serious throat infection developed and he was admitted to hospital. The doctors advised him to take a month's rest on the coast, where he initially enjoyed hospitality at the post of the White Fathers in Mombasa. He also had to be admitted to hospital there. His throat was so swollen that he could no longer use anything and his arms and legs were paralyzed.
He died on April 13 and was buried. At his funeral, a catechist carried a cross of flowers with the inscription: "Asanti sana - watu wa Africa" ??which is "Dear thanks - the people of Africa". His grave in Kakamega is still standing. Willem Mentink was one of the founders of the church in Kakamega (elevated to a Diocese in 1979 with an African as Bishop).
The Congregation's archivist wrote about Kakamega: "I can assure you that a lot of hard work has been done there."
https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-mentink/I562.php(translated from Dutch) Willem became a priest in the St Joseph Congregation of the Fathers of Mill-Hill - near London. The following data was received from the archives of this Congregation.
He attended the minor seminary, successively at the Jesuit College in Nijmegen, then at the Jesuit College in Culemborg and finally for a year and seven months at the College of the Franciscan Fathers in Venray. In September 1907 Willem Mentink went to Roosendaal to study philosophy. On March 19, 1910, the feast day of the Patron Saint of the Mill-Hill Fathers, he was received as a member of this Congregation. As a sign of this admission he received the red sash, which was worn over the bar.
On September 21, 1910 he arrived at St Joseph College in Mill-Hill to study theology. On 28-4-1912 he was ordained Subdeacon and 20-9-1913 ordained Priest by Bishop Joseph Butt - Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster.
In November 1913 he left for the Vicariate of Upper Nile Uganda-Kenya. After a four-month stay in the main station - to learn the language - he worked successively in Nyenga, Mumias and Kakamega. In the "Annals of the Mission House in Roosendaal", year 1923, the following was written: Due to his pleasant character and heartfelt zeal, he acquired the friendship and affection of his fellow priests and parishioners. There was a vocational school attached to the Kakamega mission, which he was responsible for managing. In 1920 he was entrusted with the responsibility of directing the mission in Kakamega, until the Bishop sent help and with unwavering zeal and knowledge he was able to devote all his energies to the vocational school.
In early February 1923, while visiting Kisumu, a serious throat infection developed and he was admitted to hospital. The doctors advised him to take a month's rest on the coast, where he initially enjoyed hospitality at the post of the White Fathers in Mombasa. He also had to be admitted to hospital there. His throat was so swollen that he could no longer use anything and his arms and legs were paralyzed.
He died on April 13 and was buried. At his funeral, a catechist carried a cross of flowers with the inscription: "Asanti sana - watu wa Africa" ??which is "Dear thanks - the people of Africa". His grave in Kakamega is still standing. Willem Mentink was one of the founders of the church in Kakamega (elevated to a Diocese in 1979 with an African as Bishop).
The Congregation's archivist wrote about Kakamega: "I can assure you that a lot of hard work has been done there."