Remembering Father Hans in Nazareth

On April 23, 2021, Fathers David and Peter travelled to Nazareth at the invitation of Sister Camelia Khoury of the Sisters of Nazareth. She was one of the closest collaborators of Father Hans Putman, who passed away in March 2020. Sister Camelia had invited those who had known Father Hans to a memorial mass in the church of the convent of the sisters of Nazareth, alongside the Basilica of the Annunciation.

“Present to the Presence of God”

We publish here the homily Father Peter Du Brul gave at the memorial mass for Father Hans Putman celebrated on April 9, 2021, under the trees of the Jesuit Garden in Jerusalem.

Dear friends of Fr. Hans. “Friends”, because that is why we are here, even holding the card we are offering to commemorate his life which ended last year on March 29.  The icon on the card shows the image that Fr. Hans was especially attached to: the Beloved Disciple resting on the breast of Jesus.  He was so attached to it, because it was the basic lesson that he chose to teach and to live, to come to greater intimacy with Our Lord, and to help others to that intimacy as well.  During and after his studies he himself taught, high school in Cairo, theology in the Seminary in Sudan.  But he found teaching less effective to his vocation than the more personal and interpersonal work of retreats and spiritual direction.

Memorial mass for Father Hans

Father Hans Putman, tireless spiritual director and giver of the Ignatian Exercises passed away in the Netherlands on March 29, 2020. On April 9, 2021, the Jesuit community in the Holy Land celebrated a mass in his memory during the Octave of Easter, the ongoing celebration of Christ’s resurrection.