Kerkrade ribbon-cutting ceremony 2021 - Jo van Duin

Mr. J.H.J. (Jo) van Duin was appointed Member in the Order of Orange-Nassau.

Since 1970, Mr. Van Duin has been a volunteer at the R.C. Parish of St. John the Baptist. From 1970 to 1974 he was active weekly as an altar boy, no Sunday was skipped. Even though
he was not on the list to serve, he still came to participate every Sunday. Since 1974, he has been an acolyte. As a high mass acolyte, he is still active every Sunday as the pastor's aide and supporter.

In addition, Mr. Van Duin has been a member of the Christmas and Easter Group within the Parish since 1975. Together with three to four other members, he takes care of the assembly and disassembly of the Easter Group and the Christmas Group each year. He also takes care of the purchase and repair of materials. Mr. Van Duin has been the driving force behind these important moments within the Parish for many years. 

Beginning in 1980, Mr. Van Duin began training altar boys and making work schedules in addition to weekly altar boys, and also became a member of the acolyte and altar boy board.As a board member, and later chairman, he was responsible for scheduling the altar boys and acolytes, organizing the annual outing, and preparing and practicing special celebrations with the group. Mr. Van Duin is the great role model for many altar boys.

In 1993, he also became a member of the R.C. Procession Society St. Joannes de Doper. Besides the annual Bronk Procession, it organizes outdoor activities such as the procession and the decoration in the streets and at the church of the First Holy Communion processions. They also take care of decorations at anniversary celebrations of (church) associations. Mr. Van Duin is present at every activity of the association. Throughout the year he maintains and takes care of all materials of the association.
In addition, since 2008 Mr. van Duin fulfills the task of assistant verger, and later verger, for both the Old Church and the Great Church in Eygelshoven. Since 2010 he also serves the funerals in Eygelshoven, these are about 20 to 25 a year. 

In addition to his activities for the parish, Mr. Van Duin has been an active conductor with Harmonie St. Caecilia in Eygelshoven since 1990.
He gives musical direction to the brass band on the street and replaces the conductor at serenades. At musical performances, Mr. Van Duin takes care of the line-up of musicians, furnishings and sometimes microphones and sound system on behalf of the conductor.
In addition, he has been co-archivist for more than 30 years and a member of the harmony's three-member music committee, where he serves as secretary. He orders, digitizes and distributes new pieces of music. He also transcribes them into other scales and takes care of archiving all scores. He advises and supports the conductor in the field of music.
In addition, Mr. Van Duin has also filled the position of assistant secretary since 1990. He supports the secretary of the harmony with the digital keeping of the membership lists, including the lists for the Limburg Association of Music Societies. In addition, he keeps the attendance list of the rehearsals, and makes overviews of the draw of the harmony and concerts.