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| A Tribute to Chris Rowland |
| Chris was born on 17th May 1941 to Roy and Averil St John Rowland. When they named him Christopher little did they know that in a unique way he would be a Christ-bearer to many in his day, until his life and work were cut short on 22nd June 2000. |
The youngest of four children and a late arrival in the family Chris was a fairly lonely and not very robust child. Like so many of his generation he was sent to boarding school where the Jesuits at St Aidan's in Grahamstown nurtured his abilities and qualities, including an independent spirit and helped him become the logical thinker he turned out to be. He loved his family but through circumstances he missed some of the family closeness that has become so important to him. His childhood experiences formed the foundation of the values he lived and the man he became. |
Life was unsettled after leaving school until he found his feet in International Combustion and began to build his career. |
| Chris met Toni van den Heuvel in the church choir where his dad was choir-master, They fell in love, married and their family started with their three older children. Alan, Quentin and Claire soon added their own special contributions. Happy memories include cricket matches, family meals, holidays - sandcastles and dams, and the "odd" musical production. Like all young couples they worked at balancing career, family life and other activities including some church involvements. For many years they shared an interest in the church choir, much of the time with Chris as choir-master and Toni as what she liked to call "choir-master's mistress.” |
On the career front Chris left ICAL and for the rest of his working life operated in a smaller engineering environment. Like so many he experienced the ups and downs, successes and insecurities of the engineering world. Those who knew him and worked with him unanimously speak highly of him as meticulous, competent, knowledgeable and reliable, an understanding colleague, available to help whenever possible. As GHS No 1 executive Chris was seen as a man of integrity and compassion,qualities highlighted strongly in the last project which he was not destined to complete. |
On the personal level a life-changing event was experiencing a Marriage Encounter weekend in 1979. Chris and Toni's own marriage was enriched and Desiree was born, along with a ministry to marriage and families that was to become the main extra-mural activity of Chris and Toni's life over the next 21 years. His and Toni's vision was forged and matured in a furnace of love and dedication to this ministry. It was probably in the particular area of marriage preparation in Catholic Engaged Encounter, where he himself experienced the greatest sense of calling, that reflection and sharing helped to build on this vision of a renewal of the Church through a renewal of the Sacrament of Marriage. Together with Toni, with couples and families, priests and religious to establish the new form of peer ministry that is about walking the walk, more than just talking the talk. |
| In a 1991 notebook he wrote," The old issues are the same and remain unresolved even in our own relationship because we have not really grown enough in confidence and trust to reach mutual life-giving decisions. I still see that the basic lack in ministry is a lack of community, true Christian community. “ As the logical thinker behind Toni's more up-front achieving personality, he experienced this need himself, in his own relationship with Toni, the children and his other family. |
| Exposure on a national and international level in Catholic Engaged Encounter honed his vision and he worked hard at promoting the idea he shared with Fr Jerry Foley, a mentor in family ministry. |
| Chris' family was very important to him aA vision without a task is a dream - a task without a vision is drudgery A task with a vision is hope for the world.nd he took his bread-winning role very seriously and was seen as the eternal peace-maker. He experienced especially the stresses of a lay family person attempting to marry faith and life, living and working in three environments, the world, the home and the Church. |
| While not always obvious on the surface, it has been said time and again that much has been achieved through his dedication. Some thousands of couples - including his own children - have been better prepared for marriage. Marriages and families have been given greater insights into their role and task and have been enriched. Chris and Toni have been instrumental in bringing Catholic Engaged Encounter and Retrouvaille to South Africa and in the establishment of MARFAM, the Marriage and Family Life Renewal Ministry of the Diocese of Johannesburg, which has also had an impact at a national and international level. |
But life is always a work in progress. His marriage to Toni, his relationships with his 4 children, children-in-law, 4 grandchildren, and one on the way, continue to be enriched. Many will say "He was a good man, but more will say, "they were a great couple" That is his legacy. While it seems that the work is incomplete and his time was too short, he identified himself with the goals and vision of CEE as a "weekend of beginnings, of planting of seeds, of opening of doors.” With great sadness we must accept that his time was enough and the work is left to others to continue. |
| Chris Rowland meant something special to each one present at this celebration of his life and his passing. May your good memories live on and be an inspiration. |
| Chris, in your last moments ……… Was the tear in your eye just a product of the marvels of modern technology that supported you in your physical distress but then left you helpless in the hands of God? Was the tear in your eye not also a product Was the tear in your eye one of sadness, Was the tear in your eye one of gladness Was the tear in your eye a tear of pride, of achievement, And now as you face God and your own Resurrection And the tear in my eye is also of hope Your Toni |
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