JOEL HAMAGO
BROTHER Bert Webster FMS, an influential Marist Brother and educator, passed away on 18 September after giving almost 40 years of his life to Papua New Guinea.
I first met Brian Bertrand Webster over 10 years ago and we immediately connected. His gentle sensitive nature allowed me to open up. I felt he understood me.
He became a spiritual guide and, with me along with many young men, he instilled not only spiritual growth but also confidence. He loved PNG and its people.
Bro Bert had a special way of praying. I asked him once what was the best way of prayer and he answered, “There are many ways to talk to God. You can sometimes sit before the altar and say nothing. Just bask in the glory of God,” he said.
Bertie would visit my mother when she was very sick and would sit and talk with her in an encouraging and healing manner.
He himself at that time suffered a bad fall, but that did not stop him visiting other sick people. I am sure mum would welcome Bertie home.
When I was in Bougainville, I noticed that the name Bertrand was quite popular and I later learnt that Bertie’s former students named their sons after him.
Bro Bert spent 38 of the last 45 years in various locations in PNG and Solomon Islands. The prime focus of his missionary journey was in Bougainville at St Joseph’s Rigu where he taught and was headmaster in the 1970s and 1980s.
He clearly remembered his former students and would speak of them with fondness when any memory of Bougainville came to him.
I describe Bert as a simple Brother who would put the welfare of others before himself. He was always sensitive in his choice of words as he did not want others to be offended with what he said.
He wasn’t very adept with new technological devices such as mobile phones, internet and laptops. Once I offered to buy him a mobile phone when I visited him in Port Moresby on one of my duty travels. Despite strong persuasion, he declined to accept the gift, and the money.
Bro Bertrand was very loyal as a Brother, loyal to his religious vows and sharing his Brotherhood among friends and those who came to know him in his ministry.
He had entered the Marist Teaching Brothers’ novitiate in Mittagong near Sydney in 1956. He took first religious vows in July 1957 and made final profession in 1963.
Bro Bert arrived on the shores of PNG in 1969. He loved the people and the country so much that when the country received independence, in solidarity with the people he loved he became a naturalised citizen.
He was called back to our Maker on Thursday 18 September, in Modilon Hospital, Madang.