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CAPUCHINS MISSIONARIES IN THE PUNJAB (INDIA AND PAKISTAN)
1888 – 2011
by Fidentian Van den Broucke and Daniel Suply
Mariam Siddeeqa Capuchin Vice Province Pakistan
St. Mary’s Friary T‐7 Gulberg II Lahore
PAKISTAN
2011
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Preface We are happy to present a new contribution to the history of the Church of Pakistan: Capuchins missionaries in the Punjab (India and Pakistan). The provisional draft was made by Fr. Fidentian (Valeer Van den Broucke) on the occasion of the Centenary of the Capuchin presence in Pakistan in 1986. This draft remained unfinished and was revised and completed up until today by Fr. Daniel Suply. It contains all the Capuchin missionaries, the living and the dead that were or still are in the mission. Out of them 145 were member of the Belgian (Flemish) Province and two came from a French Capuchin Province, namely Mgr. S. Mouard from Sombernon and Fr. Deodat from Saverne. In order to make research easier we give three preceding surveys: one by the date of departure to the mission, one by the religious name in alphabetical order, and one by the family name also in alphabetical order. The missionaries are arranged according the number in the first colon. This edition is additional to former publications on the Belgian (Flemish) Capuchins in the mission of India and Pakistan. In particular we mention:
‐ G. Pelckmans, Dix années d’apostolat au Punjab, Brugge 1900. ‐ Leo (De Brabandere), The Capuchin mission in the Punjab, Mangalore 1910. ‐ In the Land of the Five Rivers, Translation by John Bosco (Albert Vanhove) from “ In het Land van de Vijf Rivieren”, Lahore, 2006.
‐ Emmerich Blondeel, A sort history of the Catholic Diocese of Lahore (1886‐1975), 1975. ‐ J. Rooney, Into deserts, Rawalpindi 1986. ‐ Christopher Harding, Religious Transformation in South Asia. The meanings of conversion in Colonial Punjab, Oxford, 2008.
‐ John O’Brien, The Construction of Pakistani Christian Identity, Lahore, 2006. On the 15th of November 1888, the diocese of Lahore, erected by Rome in 1886, was entrusted to the care of the Capuchins of the Belgian province by a decree from the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda Fidei in the Vatican dated 15‐11‐1888. Originally this diocese extended over the whole of the present Pakistani and Indian Punjab Province and the State of Bahawalpur. From this original Lahore diocese came the following dioceses: in India the diocese of Jullundur and in Pakistan the dioceses of Multan, Faisalabad; parts of the diocese went to the diocese of Rawalpindi, nl. the districts of Shahpur, Sargodha, Jhelum and Gujrat. In praise of the founders and hard‐working 147 Capuchins, mostly Belgians, in those six dioceses, this work “CAPUCHINS MISSIONARIES IN THE PUNJAB” is dedicated.
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The Decree of the Sacred Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith Cum Lahorensis Dioceseos in Indiis Orientalibus a SSMO D.N. Leone Papa XIII per apostolicas litteras diei 1 Septembris 1886 erectae ac Minoribus Capuccinis in illis regionibus jampridem adlaborantibus concreditae, ea sit extension ad difficilis rerum status, ut plurium Apostolicorum virorum ministerio ac munimine indegeat, eam Sacro Congregatio Christiano nomine Propagando Proviniciae Belgicae praedicto Ordinis Minorum Capuccinorum curis per praesens Decretum adducit, ut ea ibidem operarium copia haberi jugiter posit, quae animarum saluti fideique incremento in supradicta Lahorensi Dioecesi promovendis par evadat. Datum Romae ex aedibus S. Congr. de Propag. Fide XV Novembris An. 1888. L.S. Johannes Cardinal Simeoni, Prefectus + D. Archiep. of Tyren. Secret.
Translation As the diocese of Lahore in India has been erected by H.H. Pope Leo XIII through his apostolic letter of 1 September 1886; and as the Capuchin Fathers are already working in this region; and because of the long distances and the various difficult situations, this diocese needs more apostolic men for the ministry. Therefore, the Sacred Congregation, by name of the Propaganda, entrusts by this letter, the care of the diocese of Lahore to the Order of the said Capuchin Fathers of the Belgian Province, so that there the need for more workers may always be fulfilled for the benefit of the salvation of the souls, and the propagation of the Faith in the said diocese of Lahore. Given from the offices of the Sacred Congregation for the Propaganda of the Faith in Rome; on the 15th of November of the year 1888. L.S. Johannes Cardinal Simeoni, Prefect. + D. Archbishop of Tyren. Secretary
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Missionaries according the date of departure Religious Name Name Place of birth Departure
1 Mgr Symphorian Mouard Sombernon (F) 08-08-1888
2 Mgr Fabianus Eestermans Antonius Meerle 23-01-1889
3 P Livinus Caeyman Bavo Grimminge 23-01-1889
4 P Engelbertus Defroyer Leo Lessines 23-01-1889
5 B Paulus De Vos Josephus Koningshooikt 23-01-1889
6 B Ivo Luymoyen Petrus Oostmalle 23-01-1889
7 B Martinus Girardin Augustinus Wommelgem 23-01-1889
8 B Ferdinandus Demoerlooze Henricus Sint-Jans-Molenbeek 23-01-1889
9 Mgr Godefridus Pelckmans Leopoldus Turnhout 23-01-1889
10 B Constantius De Bondt Joannes-Baptista Asse 31-07-1889
11 P Desiderius Sury Carolus Mons 25-11-1889
12 P Antonius Dobbeleers Edmundus Antwerpen 25-11-1889
13 P Leo De Brabandere Petrus Ninove 25-11-1889
14 P Arsenius Bollansée Alexander Emblem 25-11-1889
15 P Edmundus Van Tilborg Josephus Turnhout 25-11-1889
16 P Theodosius De Kimpe Alphonsus Brussel 25-11-1889
17 P Leopoldus De Ceuster Josephus Turnhout 25-11-1889
18 P Felix Finck Henricus Antwerpen 25-11-1889
19 Mgr Emmanuel Van den Bosch Alphonsus Antwerpen 20-01-1890
20 P Eduardus Goelen Josephus Turnhout 20-09-1891
21 P Petrus Van der Hoeven Joannes-Bapt. Brussel 20-09-1891
22 P Vincentius Stevens Daniel Ninove 20-09-1891
23 P Daniël Louwyck Henri Houthem 20-09-1891
24 C Rochus Malfait Eduardus Turnhout 20-09-1891
25 B Joachim Adriaensen Josephus Turnhout 20-09-1891
26 B Maurus Adriaensen Servatius Turnhout 11-12-1894
27 P Archangelus Maria Swannet Alphonsus Turnhout 28-11-1895
28 P Marcus Dierinck Ivo Zeveneken 28-11-1895
29 P Theodulus Brion Constantinus Ramskapelle 28-11-1895
30 P Filippus Vermeylen Franciscus Lier 28-11-1895
31 P Emilianus Vereyck Prosper Ichtegem 19-12-1898
32 P Vitalis De Wispelaere Camillus Westkapelle 19-12-1898
33 P Rochus Bultiauw Oscarus Wenduine 19-12-1898
34 P Bernardinus Van Sundert Benedictus Mortsel 19-12-1898
35 P Mattheüs Blondé Henricus Vlissingen (NL) 19-12-1898
36 P Quirinus Keersmaekers Aemilius Bouwel 19-12-1898
37 B Idesbald Lippens Alphonsus Brugge 19-12-1898
38 B Florentinus Titeca Servatius Booitshoeke 19-12-1898
39 P Bonaventura Calluy Franciscus Lier 15-11-1900
40 P Deodatus Darcourt Antoine Saverne (F) 17-03-1903
41 P Gonsalvus Rens Petrus Reet 12-10-1903
42 P Ubaldus Dhondt Julius Lissewege 12-10-1903
43 P Macarius De Blanger Alphonsus Nieuwkerken-Waas 12-10-1903
44 P Albanus Veys Aloysius Pittem 12-10-1903
45 P Floribertus Jespers Josephus Mechelen 12-10-1903
46 P Cajetanus Hongenaet Leopoldus Westkapelle 12-10-1903
47 P Victorius Banken Gerardus Appeltern (NL) 15-11-1903
48 P Emmanuel Roets Victor Beernem 15-11-1903
49 P Honoratus Dupont Theodulus Voorde 07-12-1906
50 P Constantius Derycke Joannes-Baptista Bogaarden 12-12-1906
51 P Marcianus De Clercq Ernestus Paris (F) 15-11-1908
52 P Romualdus Neutens Antonius Brugge 15-11-1908
53 P Herman Dubois Eugenius Herentals 15-11-1908
54 P Capistranus Miroen Aemilius Antwerpen 15-11-1908
55 P Arnoldus Cordy Ludovicus Brugge 15-11-1908
56 P Sigismundus De Coster Franciscus Kampenhout 31-10-1910
57 P Stanislaus Pauwels Eugenius Borgerhout (Antwerpen) 16-10-1912
58 P Rupertus Verspaandonck Jacobus Turnhout 16-10-1912
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59 P Arthur Van der Schueren Josephus Brugge 13-01-1913
60 P Arsenius Roggeman Basilius Berlaar 13-01-1913
61 P Fabianus Faes Joannes Meerle 13-01-1913
62 P Gulielmus Van Meenen Petrus Brugge 13-01-1913
63 P Theodorus De Coster Josephus Kampenhout 13-01-1913
64 P Anastasius Maenhout Carolus Oedelem 13-01-1913
65 P Simon De Keyser Arthur Ronse 10-11-1913
66 Mgr Hector Catry Hector Ledegem 28-11-1919
67 P Theofanus Van Hoeyweghen Eduardus Antwerpen 28-11-1919
68 P Guido Van Ackere Arthurus Egem 28-11-1919
69 P Gothardus Daenens Michel Izegem 28-11-1919
70 P Calasanctius Slembrouck Julius Antwerpen 28-11-1919
71 P Silvanus Strubbe Josephus Brugge 01-01-1921
72 P Rufinus Faes Henricus Meerle 01-01-1921
73 P Walter Corty Eugenius Brugge 23-11-1921
74 P Hugolinus Luyten Henricus Grobbendonk 23-11-1921
75 P Silvester Algoet Medard Jabbeke 23-11-1921
76 B Angelicus Ghys Desideratus Sint-Maria-Oudenhove 23-11-1921
77 B Rafaël Brouckaert Victor Geraardsbergen 23-11-1921
78 P Ansgarius Hertveldt Gustavus Pamel 24-10-1922
79 P Gaspar De Gols Joannes-Baptista Aalst 24-10-1922
80 Mgr Rogerius Buyse Marcellus Izegem 24-10-1922
81 P Innocentius Vanheuverswijn Ludovicus Brugge 24-10-1922
82 P Florianus Kestens Germain Menen 24-10-1922
83 P Masseo Bogaert Franciscus Heist-aan-Zee 22-09-1924
84 P Prudentius Vandomme Alphonsus Lichtervelde 22-09-1924
85 P Evaristus Raes Ernest Nederhasselt 22-09-1924
86 P Balduinus Tinel Henricus Sint-Gillis 12-11-1925
87 P Michaël Lams Marcellus Brugge 12-11-1925
88 P Damianus Reumont Henricus Mons 27-09-1926
89 P Ludolfus Hostens Marcel Izegem 10-10-1929
90 P Thomas Van Laer Jan Pamel 03-11-1930
91 P Eugenius Dillen Frans Geetbets 03-11-1930
92 P Agnellus Koyen Cornelius Meer 03-11-1930
93 P Xaverius De Vooght Mauritius Antwerpen 03-11-1930
94 P Hermes Van Butsele Mauritius Ronse 03-11-1930
95 P Egbertus Van Laethem Gustavus Nieuwerkerken 06-10-1932
96 P Exuperius Sanders Frans Essen 06-10-1933
97 P Bonaventura Van Roy Johannes Helmond (NL) 06-10-1933
98 P Clarentius Vinckier Florent Rumbeke 18-10-1934
99 P Meinardus Luijtens Gaston Antwerpen 18-10-1934
100 P Benno Van Doninck Denis Herentals 07-10-1935
101 P Tryfon Huybrecht Frans Essen 26-10-1936
102 P Salesius Murkes Jaak Eindhoven (NL) 26-10-1936
103 P Diëgo Van Schuylenbergh Ferdinand Aalst 23-10-1937
104 P Nathanaël Puts Frans Kasterlee 23-10-1937
105 P Franciscus Jozef Van Butsele Henricus Ronse 18-10-1938
106 P Zeno Deroo Omer Gullegem 13-01-1946
107 P Theodulus Pyckevet August Vlissingen (NL) 13-02-1946
108 P Ligorius Janssens Louis Wortel 13-02-1946
109 P Fidentianus Van den Broucke Valeer Egem 13-02-1946
110 P Concordius Demaré Julius Loppem 20-03-1946
111 P Wigbertus Luijtens Antoon Schilde 20-03-1946
112 P Andreas Boerhave Raphaël Abele (Poperinge) 27-11-1946
113 P Elias Van der Stighelen Albert Antwerpen 02-05-1947
114 P Liberius Broekmans Alois Meerle 02-05-1947
115 P Reinfridus Raeman Gaston Oedelem 02-05-1947
116 P Emericus Blondeel Georges Izegem 09-01-1948
117 P Lidwinus Caers Jan Oud-Turnhout 12-01-1948
118 P Maurinus Vandierendonck Albert Sint-Andries 29-01-1949
119 P Ivan Baudron Aemilius Sart-lez-Spa 03-03-1949
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120 P Engelbertus Thiry Albert Châtillon 03-03-1949
121 P Eubertus Pollentier Gerard Torhout 26-11-1949
122 P Johannes Bosco Vanhove Albert Werken 26-11-1949
123 P Hieronymus Godefroy Marcel Opwijk 04-01-1950
124 P Vincentius Evens Jan Meeuwen 15-12-1951
125 P Cherubinus Vermeulen Egied Hoge-Zwaluwe (NL) 03-12-1952
126 P Ludovicus Van Hee Jan Ieper 03-12-1952
127 P Stanislaus Gonnnissen Piet Paul Stokkem 30-11-1953
128 P Pius Derde Guillaume Wichelen 09-01-1956
129 P Florimundus Van Dyck Joannes Meeuwen 31-01-1956
130 P Arnoldus Stalpaert Hubert Vollezele 28-12-1956
131 P Benedictus Houtman Walter Denderhoutem 31-08-1957
132 P Emilius Deprez Gerard Izegem 02-09-1959
133 P Lambertus Thielemans Felix Beverlo 02-09-1959
134 P Theotimus Suply Daniel Staden 28-11-1960
135 P Viventius Wouters Alfons Vorselaar 28-10-1960
136 P Henricus Van den Broucke Willy Egem 29-08-1961
137 P Silvanus Beyen Michel Veurne 16-11-1961
138 P Lucas Wouters Frans Vorselaar 07-12-1962
139 Mgr Felicissimus Raeymaekers Alfons Westmeerbeek 25-01-1964
140 B Crispinus Meersman Jozef Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem 12-09-1964
141 P Albanus Maria Maertens Norbert Izegem 17-12-1964
142 P Gratianus Segers Paul Hamme 25-09-1966
143 P Agnellus Van der Steen Theofiel Wiekevorst 18-04-1967
144 P Laurentius Dubaere Jozef Izegem 12-01-1969
145 P Hugo Evens Leopold Hasselt 01-03-1970
146 P Bernardus Labeeuw Frans Roeselare 19-09-1970
147 P Filippus Dubaere Carlos Izegem 30-01-1972
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Missionaries alfabetical on religious name Religious Name Name Place of birth Departure
92 P Agnellus Koyen Cornelius Meer 03-11-1930
143 P Agnellus Van der Steen Theofiel Wiekevorst 18-04-1967
44 P Albanus Veys Aloysius Pittem 12-10-1903
141 P Albanus Maria Maertens Norbert Izegem 17-12-1964
64 P Anastasius Maenhout Carolus Oedelem 13-01-1913
112 P Andreas Boerhave Raphaël Abele (Poperinge) 27-11-1946
76 B Angelicus Ghys Desideratus Sint-Maria-Oudenhove 23-11-1921
78 P Ansgarius Hertveldt Gustavus Pamel 24-10-1922
12 P Antonius Dobbeleers Edmundus Antwerpen 25-11-1889
27 P Archangelus Maria Swannet Alphonsus Turnhout 28-11-1895
55 P Arnoldus Cordy Ludovicus Brugge 15-11-1908
130 P Arnoldus Stalpaert Hubert Vollezele 28-12-1956
14 P Arsenius Bollansée Alexander Emblem 25-11-1889
60 P Arsenius Roggeman Basilius Berlaar 13-01-1913
59 P Arthur Van der Schueren Josephus Brugge 13-01-1913
86 P Balduinus Tinel Henricus Sint-Gillis 12-11-1925
131 P Benedictus Houtman Walter Denderhoutem 31-08-1957
100 P Benno Van Doninck Denis Herentals 07-10-1935
34 P Bernardinus Van Sundert Benedictus Mortsel 19-12-1898
146 P Bernardus Labeeuw Frans Roeselare 19-09-1970
39 P Bonaventura Calluy Franciscus Lier 15-11-1900
97 P Bonaventura Van Roy Johannes Helmond (NL) 06-10-1933
46 P Cajetanus Hongenaet Leopoldus Westkapelle 12-10-1903
70 P Calasanctius Slembrouck Julius Antwerpen 28-11-1919
54 P Capistranus Miroen Aemilius Antwerpen 15-11-1908
125 P Cherubinus Vermeulen Egied Hoge-Zwaluwe (NL) 03-12-1952
98 P Clarentius Vinckier Florent Rumbeke 18-10-1934
110 P Concordius Demaré Julius Loppem 20-03-1946
10 B Constantius De Bondt Joannes-Baptista Asse 31-07-1889
50 P Constantius Derycke Joannes-Baptista Bogaarden 12-12-1906
140 B Crispinus Meersman Jozef Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem 12-09-1964
88 P Damianus Reumont Henricus Mons 27-09-1926
23 P Daniël Louwyck Henri Houthem 20-09-1891
40 P Deodatus Darcourt Antoine Saverne (F) 17-03-1903
11 P Desiderius Sury Carolus Mons 25-11-1889
103 P Diëgo Van Schuylenbergh Ferdinand Aalst 23-10-1937
15 P Edmundus Van Tilborg Josephus Turnhout 25-11-1889
20 P Eduardus Goelen Josephus Turnhout 20-09-1891
95 P Egbertus Van Laethem Gustavus Nieuwerkerken 06-10-1932
113 P Elias Van der Stighelen Albert Antwerpen 02-05-1947
116 P Emericus Blondeel Georges Izegem 09-01-1948
31 P Emilianus Vereyck Prosper Ichtegem 19-12-1898
132 P Emilius Deprez Gerard Izegem 02-09-1959
19 Mgr Emmanuel Van den Bosch Alphonsus Antwerpen 20-01-1890
48 P Emmanuel Roets Victor Beernem 15-11-1903
4 P Engelbertus Defroyer Leo Lessines 23-01-1889
120 P Engelbertus Thiry Albert Châtillon 03-03-1949
121 P Eubertus Pollentier Gerard Torhout 26-11-1949
91 P Eugenius Dillen Frans Geetbets 03-11-1930
85 P Evaristus Raes Ernest Nederhasselt 22-09-1924
96 P Exuperius Sanders Frans Essen 06-10-1933
2 Mgr Fabianus Eestermans Antonius Meerle 23-01-1889
61 P Fabianus Faes Joannes Meerle 13-01-1913
139 Mgr Felicissimus Raeymaekers Alfons Westmeerbeek 25-01-1964
18 P Felix Finck Henricus Antwerpen 25-11-1889
8 B Ferdinandus Demoerlooze Henricus Sint-Jans-Molenbeek 23-01-1889
109 P Fidentianus Van den Broucke Valeer Egem 13-02-1946
30 P Filippus Vermeylen Franciscus Lier 28-11-1895
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147 P Filippus Dubaere Carlos Izegem 30-01-1972
38 B Florentinus Titeca Servatius Booitshoeke 19-12-1898
82 P Florianus Kestens Germain Menen 24-10-1922
45 P Floribertus Jespers Josephus Mechelen 12-10-1903
129 P Florimundus Van Dyck Joannes Meeuwen 31-01-1956
105 P Franciscus Jozef Van Butsele Henricus Ronse 18-10-1938
79 P Gaspar De Gols Joannes-Baptista Aalst 24-10-1922
9 Mgr Godefridus Pelckmans Leopoldus Turnhout 23-01-1889
41 P Gonsalvus Rens Petrus Reet 12-10-1903
69 P Gothardus Daenens Michel Izegem 28-11-1919
142 P Gratianus Segers Paul Hamme 25-09-1966
68 P Guido Van Ackere Arthurus Egem 28-11-1919
62 P Gulielmus Van Meenen Petrus Brugge 13-01-1913
66 Mgr Hector Catry Hector Ledegem 28-11-1919
136 P Henricus Van den Broucke Willy Egem 29-08-1961
53 P Herman Dubois Eugenius Herentals 15-11-1908
94 P Hermes Van Butsele Mauritius Ronse 03-11-1930
123 P Hieronymus Godefroy Marcel Opwijk 04-01-1950
49 P Honoratus Dupont Theodulus Voorde 07-12-1906
145 P Hugo Evens Leopold Hasselt 01-03-1970
74 P Hugolinus Luyten Henricus Grobbendonk 23-11-1921
37 B Idesbald Lippens Alphonsus Brugge 19-12-1898
81 P Innocentius Vanheuverswijn Ludovicus Brugge 24-10-1922
119 P Ivan Baudron Aemilius Sart-lez-Spa 03-03-1949
6 B Ivo Luymoyen Petrus Oostmalle 23-01-1889
25 B Joachim Adriaensen Josephus Turnhout 20-09-1891
122 P Johannes Bosco Vanhove Albert Werken 26-11-1949
133 P Lambertus Thielemans Felix Beverlo 02-09-1959
144 P Laurentius Dubaere Jozef Izegem 12-01-1969
13 P Leo De Brabandere Petrus Ninove 25-11-1889
17 P Leopoldus De Ceuster Josephus Turnhout 25-11-1889
114 P Liberius Broekmans Alois Meerle 02-05-1947
117 P Lidwinus Caers Jan Oud-Turnhout 12-01-1948
108 P Ligorius Janssens Louis Wortel 13-02-1946
3 P Livinus Caeyman Bavo Grimminge 23-01-1889
138 P Lucas Wouters Frans Vorselaar 07-12-1962
89 P Ludolfus Hostens Marcel Izegem 10-10-1929
126 P Ludovicus Van Hee Jan Ieper 03-12-1952
43 P Macarius De Blanger Alphonsus Nieuwkerken-Waas 12-10-1903
51 P Marcianus De Clercq Ernestus Paris (F) 15-11-1908
28 P Marcus Dierinck Ivo Zeveneken 28-11-1895
7 B Martinus Girardin Augustinus Wommelgem 23-01-1889
83 P Masseo Bogaert Franciscus Heist-aan-Zee 22-09-1924
35 P Mattheüs Blondé Henricus Vlissingen (NL) 19-12-1898
118 P Maurinus Vandierendonck Albert Sint-Andries 29-01-1949
26 B Maurus Adriaensen Servatius Turnhout 11-12-1894
99 P Meinardus Luijtens Gaston Antwerpen 18-10-1934
87 P Michaël Lams Marcellus Brugge 12-11-1925
104 P Nathanaël Puts Frans Kasterlee 23-10-1937
5 B Paulus De Vos Josephus Koningshooikt 23-01-1889
21 P Petrus Van der Hoeven Joannes-Bapt. Brussel 20-09-1891
128 P Pius Derde Guillaume Wichelen 09-01-1956
84 P Prudentius Vandomme Alphonsus Lichtervelde 22-09-1924
36 P Quirinus Keersmaekers Aemilius Bouwel 19-12-1898
77 B Rafaël Brouckaert Victor Geraardsbergen 23-11-1921
115 P Reinfridus Raeman Gaston Oedelem 02-05-1947
24 C Rochus Malfait Eduardus Turnhout 20-09-1891
33 P Rochus Bultiauw Oscarus Wenduine 19-12-1898
80 Mgr Rogerius Buyse Marcellus Izegem 24-10-1922
52 P Romualdus Neutens Antonius Brugge 15-11-1908
72 P Rufinus Faes Henricus Meerle 01-01-1921
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58 P Rupertus Verspaandonck Jacobus Turnhout 16-10-1912
102 P Salesius Murkes Jaak Eindhoven (NL) 26-10-1936
56 P Sigismundus De Coster Franciscus Kampenhout 31-10-1910
71 P Silvanus Strubbe Josephus Brugge 01-01-1921
137 P Silvanus Beyen Michel Veurne 16-11-1961
75 P Silvester Algoet Medard Jabbeke 23-11-1921
65 P Simon De Keyser Arthur Ronse 10-11-1913
57 P Stanislaus Pauwels Eugenius Borgerhout (Antwerpen) 16-10-1912
127 P Stanislaus Gonnnissen Piet Paul Stokkem 30-11-1953
1 Mgr. Symphorian Mouard Sombernon 08-08-1888
63 P Theodorus De Coster Josephus Kampenhout 13-01-1913
16 P Theodosius De Kimpe Alphonsus Brussel 25-11-1889
29 P Theodulus Brion Constantinus Ramskapelle 28-11-1895
107 P Theodulus Pyckevet August Vlissingen (NL) 13-02-1946
67 P Theofanus Van Hoeyweghen Eduardus Antwerpen 28-11-1919
134 P Theotimus Suply Daniel Staden 28-11-1960
90 P Thomas Van Laer Jan Pamel 03-11-1930
101 P Tryfon Huybrecht Frans Essen 26-10-1936
42 P Ubaldus Dhondt Julius Lissewege 12-10-1903
47 P Victorius Banken Gerardus Appeltern (NL) 15-11-1903
22 P Vincentius Stevens Daniel Ninove 20-09-1891
124 P Vincentius Evens Jan Meeuwen 15-12-1951
32 P Vitalis De Wispelaere Camillus Westkapelle 19-12-1898
135 P Viventius Wouters Alfons Vorselaar 28-10-1960
73 P Walter Corty Eugenius Brugge 23-11-1921
111 P Wigbertus Luijtens Antoon Schilde 20-03-1946
93 P Xaverius De Vooght Mauritius Antwerpen 03-11-1930
106 P Zeno Deroo Omer Gullegem 13-01-1946
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Missionaries alphabetical on family name Name Religious Name Place of birth Departure
25 Adriaensen Josephus B Joachim Turnhout 20-09-1891
26 Adriaensen Servatius B Maurus Turnhout 11-12-1894
75 Algoet Medard P Silvester Jabbeke 23-11-1921
47 Banken Gerardus P Victorius Appeltern (NL) 15-11-1903
119 Baudron Aemilius P Ivan Sart-lez-Spa 03-03-1949
137 Beyen Michel P Silvanus Veurne 16-11-1961
35 Blondé Henricus P Mattheüs Vlissingen (NL) 19-12-1898
116 Blondeel Georges P Emericus Izegem 09-01-1948
112 Boerhave Raphaël P Andreas Abele (Poperinge) 27-11-1946
83 Bogaert Franciscus P Masseo Heist-aan-Zee 22-09-1924
14 Bollansée Alexander P Arsenius Emblem 25-11-1889
29 Brion Constantinus P Theodulus Ramskapelle 28-11-1895
114 Broekmans Alois P Liberius Meerle 02-05-1947
77 Brouckaert Victor B Rafaël Geraardsbergen 23-11-1921
33 Bultiauw Oscarus P Rochus Wenduine 19-12-1898
80 Buyse Marcellus Mgr Rogerius Izegem 24-10-1922
117 Caers Jan P Lidwinus Oud-Turnhout 12-01-1948
3 Caeyman Bavo P Livinus Grimminge 23-01-1889
39 Calluy Franciscus P Bonaventura Lier 15-11-1900
66 Catry Hector Mgr Hector Ledegem 28-11-1919
55 Cordy Ludovicus P Arnoldus Brugge 15-11-1908
73 Corty Eugenius P Walter Brugge 23-11-1921
69 Daenens Michel P Gothardus Izegem 28-11-1919
40 Darcourt Antoine P Deodatus Saverne (F) 17-03-1903
43 De Blanger Alphonsus P Macarius Nieuwkerken-Waas 12-10-1903
10 De Bondt Joannes-Baptista B Constantius Asse 31-07-1889
13 De Brabandere Petrus P Leo Ninove 25-11-1889
17 De Ceuster Josephus P Leopoldus Turnhout 25-11-1889
51 De Clercq Ernestus P Marcianus Paris (F) 15-11-1908
56 De Coster Franciscus P Sigismundus Kampenhout 31-10-1910
63 De Coster Josephus P Theodorus Kampenhout 13-01-1913
79 De Gols Joannes-Baptista P Gaspar Aalst 24-10-1922
65 De Keyser Arthur P Simon Ronse 10-11-1913
16 De Kimpe Alphonsus P Theodosius Brussel 25-11-1889
93 De Vooght Mauritius P Xaverius Antwerpen 03-11-1930
5 De Vos Josephus B Paulus Koningshooikt 23-01-1889
32 De Wispelaere Camillus P Vitalis Westkapelle 19-12-1898
4 Defroyer Leo P Engelbertus Lessines 23-01-1889
110 Demaré Julius P Concordius Loppem 20-03-1946
8 Demoerlooze Henricus B Ferdinandus Sint-Jans-Molenbeek 23-01-1889
132 Deprez Gerard P Emilius Izegem 02-09-1959
128 Derde Guillaume P Pius Wichelen 09-01-1956
106 Deroo Omer P Zeno Gullegem 13-01-1946
50 Derycke Joannes-Baptista P Constantius Bogaarden 12-12-1906
42 Dhondt Julius P Ubaldus Lissewege 12-10-1903
28 Dierinck Ivo P Marcus Zeveneken 28-11-1895
91 Dillen Frans P Eugenius Geetbets 03-11-1930
12 Dobbeleers Edmundus P Antonius Antwerpen 25-11-1889
147 Dubaere Carlos P Filippus Izegem 30-01-1972
144 Dubaere Jozef P Laurentius Izegem 12-01-1969
53 Dubois Eugenius P Herman Herentals 15-11-1908
49 Dupont Theodulus P Honoratus Voorde 07-12-1906
2 Eestermans Antonius Mgr Fabianus Meerle 23-01-1889
124 Evens Jan P Vincentius Meeuwen 15-12-1951
145 Evens Leopold P Hugo Hasselt 01-03-1970
72 Faes Henricus P Rufinus Meerle 01-01-1921
61 Faes Joannes P Fabianus Meerle 13-01-1913
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18 Finck Henricus P Felix Antwerpen 25-11-1889
76 Ghys Desideratus B Angelicus Sint-Maria-Oudenhove 23-11-1921
7 Girardin Augustinus B Martinus Wommelgem 23-01-1889
123 Godefroy Marcel P Hieronymus Opwijk 04-01-1950
20 Goelen Josephus P Eduardus Turnhout 20-09-1891
127 Gonnnissen Piet Paul P Stanislaus Stokkem 30-11-1953
78 Hertveldt Gustavus P Ansgarius Pamel 24-10-1922
46 Hongenaet Leopoldus P Cajetanus Westkapelle 12-10-1903
89 Hostens Marcel P Ludolfus Izegem 10-10-1929
131 Houtman Walter P Benedictus Denderhoutem 31-08-1957
101 Huybrecht Frans P Tryfon Essen 26-10-1936
108 Janssens Louis P Ligorius Wortel 13-02-1946
45 Jespers Josephus P Floribertus Mechelen 12-10-1903
36 Keersmaekers Aemilius P Quirinus Bouwel 19-12-1898
82 Kestens Germain P Florianus Menen 24-10-1922
92 Koyen Cornelius P Agnellus Meer 03-11-1930
146 Labeeuw Frans P Bernardus Roeselare 19-09-1970
87 Lams Marcellus P Michaël Brugge 12-11-1925
37 Lippens Alphonsus B Idesbald Brugge 19-12-1898
23 Louwyck Henri P Daniël Houthem 20-09-1891
111 Luijtens Antoon P Wigbertus Schilde 20-03-1946
99 Luijtens Gaston P Meinardus Antwerpen 18-10-1934
6 Luymoyen Petrus B Ivo Oostmalle 23-01-1889
74 Luyten Henricus P Hugolinus Grobbendonk 23-11-1921
64 Maenhout Carolus P Anastasius Oedelem 13-01-1913
141 Maertens Norbert P Albanus Maria Izegem 17-12-1964
24 Malfait Eduardus C Rochus Turnhout 20-09-1891
140 Meersman Jozef B Crispinus Smeerebbe-Vloerzegem 12-09-1964
54 Miroen Aemilius P Capistranus Antwerpen 15-11-1908
1 Mouard Mgr. Symphorian Sombernon 08-08-1888
102 Murkes Jaak P Salesius Eindhoven (NL) 26-10-1936
52 Neutens Antonius P Romualdus Brugge 15-11-1908
57 Pauwels Eugenius P Stanislaus Borgerhout (Antwerpen) 16-10-1912
9 Pelckmans Leopoldus Mgr Godefridus Turnhout 23-01-1889
121 Pollentier Gerard P Eubertus Torhout 26-11-1949
104 Puts Frans P Nathanaël Kasterlee 23-10-1937
107 Pyckevet August P Theodulus Vlissingen (NL) 13-02-1946
115 Raeman Gaston P Reinfridus Oedelem 02-05-1947
85 Raes Ernest P Evaristus Nederhasselt 22-09-1924
139 Raeymaekers Alfons Mgr Felicissimus Westmeerbeek 25-01-1964
41 Rens Petrus P Gonsalvus Reet 12-10-1903
88 Reumont Henricus P Damianus Mons 27-09-1926
48 Roets Victor P Emmanuel Beernem 15-11-1903
60 Roggeman Basilius P Arsenius Berlaar 13-01-1913
96 Sanders Frans P Exuperius Essen 06-10-1933
142 Segers Paul P Gratianus Hamme 25-09-1966
70 Slembrouck Julius P Calasanctius Antwerpen 28-11-1919
130 Stalpaert Hubert P Arnoldus Vollezele 28-12-1956
22 Stevens Daniel P Vincentius Ninove 20-09-1891
71 Strubbe Josephus P Silvanus Brugge 01-01-1921
134 Suply Daniel P Theotimus Staden 28-11-1960
11 Sury Carolus P Desiderius Mons 25-11-1889
27 Swannet Alphonsus P Archangelus Maria Turnhout 28-11-1895
133 Thielemans Felix P Lambertus Beverlo 02-09-1959
120 Thiry Albert P Engelbertus Châtillon 03-03-1949
86 Tinel Henricus P Balduinus Sint-Gillis 12-11-1925
38 Titeca Servatius B Florentinus Booitshoeke 19-12-1898
68 Van Ackere Arthurus P Guido Egem 28-11-1919
105 Van Butsele Henricus P Franciscus Jozef Ronse 18-10-1938
94 Van Butsele Mauritius P Hermes Ronse 03-11-1930
19 Van den Bosch Alphonsus Mgr Emmanuel Antwerpen 20-01-1890
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109 Van den Broucke Valeer P Fidentianus Egem 13-02-1946
136 Van den Broucke Willy P Henricus Egem 29-08-1961
21 Van der Hoeven Joannes-Bapt. P Petrus Brussel 20-09-1891
59 Van der Schueren Josephus P Arthur Brugge 13-01-1913
143 Van der Steen Theofiel P Agnellus Wiekevorst 18-04-1967
113 Van der Stighelen Albert P Elias Antwerpen 02-05-1947
100 Van Doninck Denis P Benno Herentals 07-10-1935
129 Van Dyck Joannes P Florimundus Meeuwen 31-01-1956
126 Van Hee Jan P Ludovicus Ieper 03-12-1952
67 Van Hoeyweghen Eduardus P Theofanus Antwerpen 28-11-1919
90 Van Laer Jan P Thomas Pamel 03-11-1930
95 Van Laethem Gustavus P Egbertus Nieuwerkerken 06-10-1932
62 Van Meenen Petrus P Gulielmus Brugge 13-01-1913
97 Van Roy Johannes P Bonaventura Helmond (NL) 06-10-1933
103 Van Schuylenbergh Ferdinand P Diëgo Aalst 23-10-1937
34 Van Sundert Benedictus P Bernardinus Mortsel 19-12-1898
15 Van Tilborg Josephus P Edmundus Turnhout 25-11-1889
118 Vandierendonck Albert P Maurinus Sint-Andries 29-01-1949
84 Vandomme Alphonsus P Prudentius Lichtervelde 22-09-1924
81 Vanheuverswijn Ludovicus P Innocentius Brugge 24-10-1922
122 Vanhove Albert P Johannes Bosco Werken 26-11-1949
31 Vereyck Prosper P Emilianus Ichtegem 19-12-1898
125 Vermeulen Egied P Cherubinus Hoge-Zwaluwe (NL) 03-12-1952
30 Vermeylen Franciscus P Filippus Lier 28-11-1895
58 Verspaandonck Jacobus P Rupertus Turnhout 16-10-1912
44 Veys Aloysius P Albanus Pittem 12-10-1903
98 Vinckier Florent P Clarentius Rumbeke 18-10-1934
135 Wouters Alfons P Viventius Vorselaar 28-10-1960
138 Wouters Frans P Lucas Vorselaar 07-12-1962
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1. His Excellency Mgr. Symphorian Mouard from Sombernon First Bishop of Lahore Born on 22‐11‐1828 He entered the Order on 8‐9‐1851 He left France for Agra in 1859 He became Vicar Apostolic of the Seychelles on 28‐10‐1882 He became the first bishop of Lahore on 8‐8‐1888 He died at Lahore on 14‐7‐1890 On 8th September 1851 after his studies at the seminary of Dijon he entered the novitiate of the Capuchins in Marseille. After his ordination as a priest he became missionary in the mission of Agra. In 1859 he became director of the Saint Peter College and of the Saint Paul School, and spiritual director of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary. During the cholera epidemic in 1872 he took care of the sick in a heroic way and he took pity on the poor and the orphans. In 1882 Pope Leo XIII appointed him Apostolic Vicar of the Seychelles. He was ordained bishop on 28th October 1882. Again he devoted his energy for the welfare of the inhabitants of the island. After six years, on 10th August 1888, he became the first bishop of the new erected diocese of Lahore. He set an example to the missionaries regarding apostolate, he spread out the faith in the villages, he opened schools everywhere in the diocese and he founded a seminary for the formation of the local clergy. During the Episcopal Synod of Lahore, from 6 till 8 January 1890, new directives for the evangelisation and for the organisation of the diocese were established under his guidance. He died the 14th of July 1890, scarcely two years after his arrival in Lahore.
2. His Excellency Mgr. Fabian (Antonius) Eestermans from Meerle Fourth Bishop of Lahore Born on 24‐4‐1858 He entered the Order on 8‐5‐1878 He was ordained a priest on 19‐5‐1883 He left Belgium for Lahore in the first group on 23‐1‐1889 He became the fourth bishop of Lahore on 11‐4‐1905 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 28‐6‐1928 He died at Louvain on 29‐1‐1931 After the humaniora studies at the seminary of Hoogstraten, he joined de diocesan seminary at Mechelen. After a few months he left the seminary to join the novitiate of the Capuchins at Enghien on 8 May 1878, where he took the name of Father Fabian. After finishing his studies in 1886, he was appointed a professor at the newly established seraphic seminary of Bruges. On 23 January 1889 he left with the first group of missionaries for Lahore (India). His first appointment was at the pro‐cathedral of Anarkali. He was the ideal parish priest. Day and night he served and visited his parishioners, rich and poor alike.
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On 1 September 1893 he became military chaplain at Multan. But on 15 October 1894 he was called to return to his old parish in Anarkali. After 15 years of exhausting missionary work, he fell sick and on 11‐3‐1905 he left Lahore for Belgium, with the intention of passing the last years of his life in Belgium. A few weeks after he had returned to Belgium, he was elected the fourth bishop of Lahore. He was consecrated bishop by Cardinal Goosssens, archbishop of Mechelen, in our Capuchin church of Antwerp on 11‐4‐1905. He once again travelled to Lahore and was enthroned as the fourth bishop of Lahore on 10‐12‐1905. On this occasion his old parishioners presented their new pastor a very beautiful “Prie Dieu” which still stands in the sanctuary of the cathedral. During the 20 years of his episcopate he founded two congregations of Indian sisters. The number of Catholics in the diocese increased from 5000 to 50.000 in 1925. He opened ten new mission stations : Lyallpur (1907), Sialkot (1911), Sangla Hill (1911), Pasrur (1912), Sargodha (1914), Antoniabad (1914), Rahimpur (1919), Montgomery (1923), Ferozepur (1923) and Narowal (1924). On 19‐11‐1907 he consecrated the new cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Lawrence Road, 1, with the belfry of 165 feet height. On 26 October 1915 he purchased a big compound of 35 kanals in the civil lines of Sargodha. In 1917 he opened the boarding quarters in the High School of Dalwal to prepare Indian boys for the priesthood. On 15‐3‐1911 he went to Rome “at Limina” and he met Pope Pius X. He told him: “the Holy Spirit made a big mistake by making me the bishop of Lahore” “Oh”, answered the saintly Pope: “He still made a bigger mistake by making me a Pope.” Bishop Eestermans was very simple and on familiar terms with his confreres and missionaries. One day, at table in the dining room of the bishop’s house, the Fathers were criticizing their bishop. During the conversation a Father said that the mosquitoes had played hell with him during the night. “Oh”, said the bishop, “they do not bite me”. “How can that be”, asked the Father, “we are all equal”. “Yes”, said the bishop, “but the mosquitoes respect their bishop”. On 15 December 1925 he resigned from the seat of Lahore. He became titular bishop of Letopolis. He was administrator of the diocese of Lahore for three more years till his successor, Bishop Hector Catry, was nominated on 28‐10‐1928. He left Lahore for Belgium on 28 June 1928 and retired to the friary of Meersel Dreef. On 29 June 1930 he celebrated the 25th Anniversary of his consecration as bishop. Six months later, he died in the university clinic of Louvain on 29‐1‐1931. His funeral service took place in our church of Antwerp in the presence of Cardinal Van Roey, archbishop of Mechelen, four bishops and three abbots. The provincial, V. Rev. Donatus offered the Requiem Mass. As requested in his explicit will, he was buried in the Capuchin graveyard of Meersel.
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3. Father Livinus from Grimminge (Bavo Cayman) Born on 10‐3‐1851 He entered the Order on 19‐6‐1880 He was ordained a priest on 19‐6‐1886 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐1‐1889 He died at Anarkali, Lahore on 27‐1‐1922 After finishing his theological studies Fr. Livinus was appointed as a professor and invigilator at the Seraphic seminary of Bruges. When, in 1888, the diocese of Lahore was entrusted to the care of the Capuchins of the Belgian province, he asked and obtained the permission to join the first group of eight missionaries going to Lahore. When Fr. Livin arrived in Lahore on 21‐3‐1889, there were nine priests in the whole diocese, caring exclusively for the spiritual needs of 2.500 Europeans working in the army and the administration. He started his missionary work at Sialkot Cantt. A group of protestant padris with their leader, Ralia Ram, expressed their desire to become Catholics. Bishop Mouard asked Fr. Livin and Br. Constant on 28‐6‐1889 to instruct the new converts in the Catholic faith. Because they could not find accommodation in Sialkot, they joined Fr. Engelbert and Br. Paulus at Daoke. Very soon Fr. Livin had 484 Catholics in seven villages around Sialkot. When the group of padris had exhausted the finances of Fr. Clement, the Catholic chaplain of Sialkot Cantt., they returned to their previous protestant church premises. Only 200 Christian remained faithful to the Catholic faith. Fr. Livin and Br. Constant left Daoke to live in Adha. This was the first community of Catholic Punjabis. When the English government started distributing new canal‐irrigation land to agriculturists, Fr. Livin persuaded Bishop Van den Bosch, Bishop of Lahore, to purchase 126 acres of land. He went to Gujranwala where he remained for five months to purchase the land for 6.000 Rupees. He chose the first group of Christians from Daoke, and together with Fr. Engelbert he led them in a 6 days journey on foot to the place which was called “Maryabad”. Six months later, Fr. Livin and Fr. Engelbert were transferred and replaced by Fr. Felix and Fr. Desiré. Fr. Livin came to Anarkali, Lahore, to work among the Punjabi sweepers. From 1903 onwards he brought them together every Sunday in the chapel of the Sisters of Charity (Thorton Road). When the orphans from the famine‐stricken areas in 1897 came to Lahore, Br. Constant and Fr. Livin rented a bungalow and with the help of the German Brothers he started St. Francis School. In 1900 Fr. Livin went to Gujrat and Bengal in Central India to bring another 400 orphan children to Lahore. Some of these children were sent to the Maryabad orphanage. Fr. Livin became the first director of Anarkali orphanage, with a primary school and a technical school (weaving and spinning). He was the founder of the “Vernacular Catholic Truth Society” and of the “Catholic Naqib”, a weekly information paper. In 1901 Fr. Livin was transferred to Dalwal School as a professor. There he started a boarding for Catholic students. In November 1909 he was called back to Anarkali to rebuild St. Francis School, which was completely destroyed by the big earthquake of
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1905. It was a difficult task to rebuild the school and make of it a recognized primary and middle school. In 1913 the “Vernacular Catholic Truth Society, which he had founded a few years earlier, began translating and publishing religious books. In 1920 the full bible was translated in Urdu under the guidance of Dr. Uttarid. During his 33 years of his missionary life he never went on home leave to Belgium. Where‐ever he worked he was a real father to the Christians. He died at Anarkali, Lahore, on27‐1‐1922. He was buried in the old Christian graveyard on the Ravi Road.
4. Father Engelbert from Lessines (Leo Defroyer) Born on 9‐1‐1859 He entered the Order on 8‐5‐1881 He was ordained a priest on 19‐6‐1886 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐1‐1889 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in 1894 He died at Mons on 15‐8‐1916. Fr. Engelbert was one of the first group of missionaries who left Belgium for Lahore. After learning Urdu and Punjabi he was sent with Br. Paulus to Daoke (district Sialkot), where both lived in extreme poverty, in a small house which served as a cattle shed. After a few weeks Fr. Livin and Br. Ivo joined them. Within a few months they had a Catholic congregation of 484 people. Together with Fr. Livin he took, on 8‐1‐1893 the first group of Christians to the new settlement of Maryabad, where they built a new village. After a few months of very hard labour he came to Lahore, and from Lahore he went to Adha in 1892 to replace Fr. Livin. There in 1894 he became sick and on the advice of the doctor he left for Belgium. After getting well again he passed the last years of his life in Mons, preaching and hearing confessions. He died a saintly death at Mons on 15‐8‐1916.
5. Brother Paulus from Koningshooikt (Jozef De Vos) He was born on 26‐7‐1851 He entered the Order on 21‐7‐1882 He made his profession on 21‐6‐1883 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐1‐1889 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in 1893 He died at Herentals on 30‐10‐1912 He is a member of the first group of missionaries who left Belgium for Lahore. On arrival he went to Sialkot Cantt. to learn Urdu and Punjabi. In August 1889 he goes with Fr. Engelbert to Daoke to open a new mission station. He accompanied, in 1892, the first group of Christian families who went on foot from Daoke to the new settlement which would become “Maryabad”, the village of Mary. These were very
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hard days under a burning sun. Six months later (24‐1‐1893) he became sick and was broken. Then he left for Belgium. For many years he suffered in silence and in complete submission to God’s will. He died a holy death in our friary of Herentals on 30‐9‐1912.
6. Brother Ivo from Oostmalle (Peter Luymoyen) He was born on 12‐7‐1861 He entered the Order on 9‐10‐1885 He made his profession on 11‐10‐1886 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐1‐1889 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 20‐12‐1932 He died at Meersel‐Dreef on 5‐11‐1933 He left Belgium with the first group of eight missionaries for Lahore. On arrival he went to Sialkot to learn Urdu and Punjabi. He visited together with bishop Mouard, the first bishop of Lahore, some of the villages near Sialkot, which were in need of a Catholic priest. At the end of 1889 he lived for five months in a rented house at Sahowala. On 11‐1‐1890 he went to Lahore for his solemn profession in the pro‐cathedral at Anarkali. The following year he stays with Fr. Felix in the village Bahewali. After a few weeks of rest in the hills of Dalhousie he starts the hard pioneer work at Maryabad and Khushpur (Feb. 1902). On 8‐3‐1906 he came for a rest to Belgium. This was his only visit to Belgium during his 43 years of missionary life. In 1911 he was residing in Dalhousie where he first demolished the old villa on Pohein Hill. Then he built above it a new and more adapted house for the students of theology and for the resting or sick confreres. On 19‐6‐1913 Br. Ivo was sent to Maryabad to help in the construction work of the village. On 15‐10‐1914 he accompanied Fr. Felix to Rahimpur and Okara. There, the bishop of Lahore rented from the army 2.500 acres of agricultural land which was cultivated by poor Christian families living in Chak 6 and Chak 10. Many problems cropped up: the pest, malaria, shortage of water, disputes among the cultivators. On 5‐2‐1916 Br. Ivo was sent to Sargodha to build in the Civil Lines a church and the priest’s residence. On 22‐9‐1931 he returned to Chak 10, Antoniabad, near Okara to build up the village. Exhausted by 43 years of hard missionary work he returned to Belgium on 5‐11‐1933. For a few months he lived in our friary of Antwerp and then in Meersel. He was a lonely man, and his mind was very often in the Punjab. He died peacefully of a heart attack in Meersel on 5‐11‐1933. Br. Ivo has been a very hard working and practical man. He never spared himself in the work. Together with Fr. Felix Br. Ivo was the founder of Chak 10, Antoniabad, near Okara. With Fr. Livin he was the founder of Sahowala.
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7. Brother Martin from Wommelgem (Augustin Girardin) He was born on 15‐5‐1862 He entered the Order on 26‐8‐1886 He made his profession on 27‐8‐1887 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐1‐1889 He died at Sialkot on 7‐2‐1941 He left Belgium with the first group of eight missionaries for Lahore. The farewell party of those eight missionaries took place in our friary of Bruges on 23‐1‐1889. They left the same day at 4 p.m. by train and arrived in Rome 26‐1‐1889. After the blessing of Fr. General of the Order and the Cardinal‐Prefect of the Congregation of the Propaganda Fide and after a special audience with the Pope on 29‐1‐1889 they went to Brindisi (Italy). From there they left by boat and arrived in Bombay on 25‐2‐1889. From Bombay they travelled by train and arrived in Lahore on 9‐3‐1889. Br. Martin was appointed “socius” of bishop Mouard and he remained in the same post with Bishop Van den Bosch and bishop Pelckmans. On 1‐11‐1897 he went to live in Sahowala where he started a dispensary. From there he was transferred in May 1898 to Adha where he opened another dispensary. He lived with Fr. Vincent and Br. Constant. But after the death of Br. Constant in Sahowala he went back to Sahowala where he built a church and the priest’s residence in only a matter of a few months. In one room of the residence he started his famous “people’s dispensary” (St. Marguerite’s poor dispensary). Within one year he cared for 13.737 sick patients. On 9‐3‐1905 he went as socius to bishop Eestermans to Belgium on home leave after 16 years of hard missionary work. Returning on 3‐11‐1905 he remained for a few months as socius of bishop Eestermans. Two years later, on 17‐11‐1908, he was back in his dispensary in Adha and he remained there for twenty years till the Indian Sisters took over the work. In August 1927, aged and sick, Br. Martin was taken to the hospital in Sialkot. After recovery he went back to Adha to rest. On 14‐4‐1934 he celebrated there his golden jubilee of religious life. On 25‐1‐1936 he took ill again and was admitted to hospital in Sialkot. One month later, on 21‐2‐1936 he received the sacrament of the sick. He slowly recovered and returned to Adha, the beloved place where he had been working for more than forty years of his life. On 2‐2‐1941 he was readmitted in the military hospital of Sialkot, where he received the sacrament of the sick. A few days later on 7‐2‐1941 he died peacefully in the hospital. After the funeral service his body was taken to Adha and buried in front of the parish church. Many people came for the funeral to bid “farewell” to their “dear Doctor”, who had been working for more than 40 years in the “People’s dispensary” of Adha. The bishop came from Lahore to Adha to attend the funeral. Br. Martin wrote many articles in “Franciskaanse Standaard” about the ancient customs on the occasion of death in the Punjab.
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8. Brother Ferdinand from Sint‐Jans‐Molenbeek (Henri Demoerlooze) He was born on 1‐5‐1866 He entered the Order on 10‐2‐1887 He made his profession on 11‐2‐1888 He left Belgium for Lahore 23‐1‐1889 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 30‐6‐1911 He was one of the first group of eight missionaries who left Belgium for Lahore in 1889. His first appointment was in Sialkot Cantt. He was transferred to Adha on 15‐1—1895. He went with Fr. Filip to Khushpur six years later. He went on home leave to Belgium for a few months in February 1902. Back in Khushpur on 8‐11‐1903 he helped Fr. Filip to build the new village. He was transferred to Adha on 15‐12‐1907. He left for Belgium on 26‐9‐1911. He did not return to the Lahore mission.
9. His Excellency Mgr. (Leopold) Godfrey Pelckmans from Turnhout Third Bishop of Lahore Born on 21‐1‐1854 He entered the Order on 28‐9‐1872 He was ordained a priest on 21‐12‐1878 He left Belgium for Lahore, in the first group on 23‐1‐1889 He became the 3rd. bishop of Lahore on 2‐6‐1893 He died at Dalhousie on 13‐8‐1904 After finishing his theological studies in 1880, Fr. Godfrey was appointed preceptor of the young professed clerics at Mons. Two years later, he became guardian of the friary of St. Clare at Bruges. In 1885 he was elected definitor and 1st Custos and appointed novice master at Enghien. When the diocese was entrusted to the Capuchins of the Belgian province, he asked and obtained the permission to go to Lahore. On 23‐1‐1889 he left Belgium with the first group of 8 missionaries and arrived in Lahore on 9 March 1889. This first group included Fr. Fabian, Fr. Engelbert, Fr. Godfrey, Br. Paulus, Br. Ivo, Br. Martin and Br. Ferdinand in August 1892. His first appointment was Adha, together with Br. Constant. After a few months, Fr. Edward, his minister provincial, sent him as lector of the young theology students to Dalhousie. He prepared the first Episcopal Synod held in Lahore in January 1890. Bishop Van den Bosch made him vicar general of the diocese. In November 1891 he was appointed as chaplain in Multan. On the transfer of Bishop Van den Bosch as archbishop of Agra in August 1892, Fr. Godfrey was appointed as Apostolic Administrator of the diocese. He started his administration in April 1893 with the school and orphanage in Anarkali in a rented house. On 2 June 1893 Pope Leo XIII appointed him as the third bishop of Lahore. His consecration took place in the cathedral of Simla. For eleven years he was at the head of the diocese. He opened many new mission centers, churches and schools; one of them is the High School of Dalwal. He purchased
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the property on Lawrence Road, 1, Lahore, and built the bishop’s residence. He laid the foundation of the new cathedral in 1899. He was an excellent administrator and his love for the poor was awe‐inspiring. During his stay in Dalhousie he became sick and received the H. Viaticum. Kneeling, notwithstanding his great weakness, he died in the hospital of Dalhousie on 3 August 1904 at 5 p.m. He was buried at Dalhousie with military honour in the presence of the General, the commanding officer and his full staff. His body was later transferred to Lahore and his now kept in the crypt of the cathedral of Lahore. During the eleven years of his episcopate a pakka church with a priest house, school and dispensary were built at Adha. In Maryabad he constructed the church with the priest house, a convent and orphanage for 70 children. He purchased more land from Gulab Singh for the village. At Sahowala he built a large church with a parish house, two schools for boys and girls and a dispensary. In Dalwal he built the high school, a priest house with a chapel and a dispensary. In Lahore the Sisters of Charity opened an orphanage and an Urdu school. The Brothers of the Franciscan Third Order opened a school and an orphanage at Anarkali, where the boys produced hand‐knotted carpets. The Franciscan Sisters of the Propagation of the Faith of Lyon came to take over the female section of the mental hospital. On Empress Road he built the St. Anthony’s Church with the parish house, in the service of the English speaking Catholic community. The Sisters of Jesus and Mary started their renowned girls school at Anarkali. In Khushpur village the land was acquired and a model village was built. He built in the village a large church, a parish house, a convent of the Sisters of Charity, a dispensary and two schools, one for boys and one for girls. In Ferozepur he built a large church for the English soldiers and a spacious house for the military chaplain. In Dalhousie the Capuchins a property to serve as a resting place for sick missionaries and a theological seminary for the new missionaries from Belgium. Bishop Pelckmans is considered as the principal organizer of the diocese of Lahore. He laid the foundations for the further growth and development in the coming years. He wrote two books: Novitius Capuccinus Dix Années d’ Apostolat au Punjab.
10. Brother Constant from Asse (Jan Baptist De Bondt) He was born on 10‐7‐1859 He entered the Order on 13‐2‐1881 He made his profession on 14‐2‐1882 He went to Boedja, Smyrna, in 1886 and from there to Missouri (diocese of Agra, India) He arrived in Lahore in July in 1889 He died at Lahore on 21‐10‐1897 One year after his solemn profession he received from the provincial his letter of obedience to go to the mission. He went for a few months to Rome and stayed in St. Fidelis College. From there he was sent to the novitiate of Boedja near Smyrna. He left
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by boat to the Agra diocese in India. He started working in the famous school of Missouri. During his stay in Missouri he went to the hospital quite often to care for the lepers. When he heard that the Lahore Diocese had been entrusted to the care of his own Belgian province, he asked and the obtained the permission to go and work in Lahore. He arrived at Anarkali in July 1889. When he journeyed from Missouri to Lahore he picked up three orphan children and gave as a gift to bishop Pelckmans. The bishop wrote in a letter to Belgium: “when Br. Constant arrived here from Missouri, he brought with him three small orphan children whom he found on his way. They were very thin and victims of the famine that raged in the desert areas of Poona. What were we to do with them? We had arrived in the city of Lahore with no church, no house and no school. The offering from the good Brother, in all his simplicity, could not be refused. These were the first three orphans of the famous orphanage that started in a rented house at Anarkali. Fr. Livin became the organizer and the life and soul of this new work of mercy. Br. Constant went to Sialkot Cantt. to help the Italian Capuchin Fr. Clement, who had opened an orphanage in the Saddar Bazar. He walked many times from Sialkot up to Adha (eight miles away) to teach catechism to the new converts of that place. He was transferred from Adha in 1893 to the new Colony of Maryabad. He lived in a tent and ate the food of the Punjabi Christians. He drank the water from the irrigation canal. After one year of hard work he fell ill and left on sick leave for Belgium. On his return he went first to help Fr. Vincent at Adha. When the new centre of Sahowala was opened he went there in August 1897 with Fr. Archange as the first residents to build the church and the priest’s residence. In September 1897 he fell ill with pneumonia. Bishop Pelckmans came to take Br. Constant from Sahowala to the hospital in Lahore. During his illness he surrendered completely to the will of God. The doctor, who took care of him, said later: “What a pity that such a man has to die; he is still so young and capable of doing so much good.” He renewed his religious vows the day before he died. He died as a saint on Friday 22‐10‐1897 at 4 a.m. He was 38 years old.
11. Father Desiré from Mons (Charles Sury) He was born on 21‐7‐1861 He entered the Order on 5‐10‐1886 He was ordained a priest on 19‐12‐1885 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 20‐12‐1932 He died at Mons on 17‐1‐1936 He passed is humaniora in St. Stanislaus College of Mons, and he studied two years of philosophy at the diocesan seminary of Bonne Espérance. After philosophy he entered
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the novitiate of the Capuchins at Enghien on 5‐10‐1880. After finishing his studies of theology he was ordained a priest. He was appointed as professor at the seraphic school at Bruges. He asked and obtained the permission to go to Lahore. On arrival in Lahore he went to Sialkot Cantt. to learn the languages and to help in the apostolic work, where he worked for four years. On 3‐4‐1893 he went with Fr. Felix to Maryabad to help in the organization of the new village. Because they had no house in Maryabad, the two priests hired a house in Khanqah Dogran, two miles away. The work and life was too hard for his constitution. After nine months he was called back to Lahore to become, on 31‐3‐`894, the secretary of the diocese. On 22‐1‐1896 bishop Pelckmans asked him to become a councilor of the diocesan council. He held this function for thirty years. He served as a secretary of bishop Pelckmans, bishop Eester‐mans and bishop Catry. On 10‐2‐1906 he went on home leave to Belgium and was back in Lahore on 13‐10‐1906. On 19‐12‐1910 he celebrated his silver jubilee as a priest. In February 1911 he went for a second time on home leave to Belgium. Returning to Lahore on 10‐10‐1911 he remained the secretary of the bishop. On 15‐4‐1916 he replaced for a few months the Catholic chaplain at Lahore Cantt. On 6‐10‐1929 he celebrated in Lahore his golden jubilee of religious life and he received the title of “ex‐provincial”. On 20‐12‐1932 Fr. Desiré resigned as secretary of bishop Catry and councilor of the diocese. He left with the ageing Br. Ivo for Belgium to take rest after a life of extremely exhausting mission‐nary work. He was 72 years old, 52 years in religious life, and 43 years as a missionary in Lahore diocese. He went on home leave only twice during these 43 years. His heart and soul were in his very dear Punjab. He died peacefully in our friary of Mons on 17‐1‐1936.
12. Father Anthony from Antwerp (Edmond Dobbeleers) He was born on 12‐4‐1864 He entered the Order on 3‐10‐1883 He was ordained a priest on 15‐6‐1889 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in April 1912 He died at Antwerp on 3‐9‐1936 After studying the Urdu language for a few months he went to Sialkot Cantt. He was military chaplain in Dalhousie in December 1891. From Dalhousie he went to Ferozepur in 1893, to Lahore Cantt. in 1894, to Multan Cantt., and to Dalwal on 18‐9‐1899 to repair and extend the school building. The building of the middle and high schools were blessed by bishop Pelckmans on 18‐1‐1900. He was transferred on 1‐4‐1900 to Sialkot Cantt. where he remained till 1‐8‐1902. From there he went to Multan Cantt. on 29‐10‐1904. From Multan he came to Lahore as principal of St. Anthony’s School and remained till he went on home leave on 9‐3‐1906.
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He returned to Lahore on 9‐1‐1907. He becomes the parish priest of St. Anthony’s parish on 2‐12‐1907 for four years. Then he is transferred to Dalhousie as military chaplain. On 24‐3‐1912 he returns to Belgium after 22 years of missionary life in the Punjab. He built many schools and churches throughout the diocese. In the beginning of the First World War in 1914‐1918 he took a large group of Belgian refugees to England. He remained with them as chaplain at Bristol for five years. After the war he became professor of English for eight years in our seraphic seminary at Bruges. In September 1926 he suffered a heart attack. He came to the friary of Antwerp where he remained till the day of his death on 3‐9‐1936 at 2 p. m. Fr. Anthony was an example of Capuchin life. He observed all the traditions and customs of our Belgian province, and he was very punctual in the H. Office and other community exercises.
13. Father Leo from Ninove (Petrus De Brabandere) He was born on 5‐8‐1862 He entered the Order on 3‐5‐1884 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 5‐6‐1890 in Dalhousie He left Lahore and arrives in Belgium in 1914 He died at Aalst on 11‐11‐1915 He was a student in theology when he left Belgium for Lahore. He finished his theological studies at Dalhousie and was ordained a priest there. His first appointment in 1891 was in Adha to help Fr. Livin. From Adha he visited Sahowala and there he prepared five years later the foundations at Sahowala. In July 1891 he was appointed as military chaplain of Sialkot Cantt. He built there the recreation room and library in the church compound. In 1899 he became the principal of St. Anthony’s school, Lahore, and the parish priest of St. Anthony’s church on Empress Road. He remained for a few weeks at Maryabad to help Fr. Felix. In 1909 he was sent to Sialkot Cantt., Lahore Cantt. and Dalhousie Cantt. as military chaplain. While he was chaplain in Lahore Cantt. he built the recreation room in the church compound. On 12‐2‐1911 he went on home leave and returned on 1‐11‐1911. He was sent to Jullundur as a military chaplain. In June 1912 he contracted enteric fever and was sent to Dalhousie on 15‐6‐1913. Six months later he was in Amritsar. Exhausted by fever he left for Belgium on 10‐2‐1914. He died of pneumonia at our friary of Aalst on 11‐11‐1915. He published “The Capuchin Mission in the Punjab” with very interesting notes on the history, geography, ethnology and the different religions practiced in the Punjab.
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14. Father Arsene from Emblem (Alexander Bollansée) He was born on 20‐2‐1864 He entered the Order on 27‐9‐1884 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 5‐6‐1890 in Dalhousie He died at Dalhousie on 26‐8‐1904 Fr. Arsene did his humaniora studies at Hoogstraten and his philosophical studies at the diocesan seminary of Mechelen. He entered the Capuchin novitiate of the Capuchins at Enghien. After ordination as sub‐deacon he left with the second group of missionaries for Lahore. He continued his theological studies at Dalhousie and bishop Mouard ordained him a priest in the church of Dalhousie on 5‐6‐1890. During most of his missionary life he served as a military chaplain in Sialkot Cantt. and Dalhousie. In 1900 he went on sick leave to Belgium. After a few months he returned to Lahore. In December 1891 he was appointed as secretary to the bishop. He died at Dalhousie on 26‐8‐1904, three weeks after the death of bishop Pelckmans. Fr. Arsene is buried in the military graveyard.
15. Father Edmund from Turnhout (Joseph Van Tilborg) He was born on 6‐6‐1865 He entered the Order on 3‐10‐1885 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 26‐4‐1891 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 7‐8‐1895 He died at Herentals on 28‐9‐1933 Six weeks after his solemn profession he left Belgium with the second group of missionaries for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889. He finished his studies of theology at Dalhousie with Fr. Godfrey, the future third bishop of Lahore as his professor. He was ordained sub‐deacon on 5‐6‐1890, deacon on 9‐11‐1890 and ordained a priest on 26‐4‐1891. After finishing his studies he was sent to Sialkot on 6‐12‐1891 to learn Urdu and to help in the missionary work. In 1893 he went to Adha. He became sick in October of the same year and left for Dalhousie. In July 1895 he was appointed a chaplain in Lahore Cantt. But he became ill again and on the advice of the doctor he went on sick leave to Belgium in August 1895. In Belgium he worked as a preacher in our friaries of Antwerp, Bruges, Antwerp, Meersel and Aalst. On 24‐5‐1912 he became assistant parish priest in our parish of Brussels. On 6‐8‐1925 he was transferred to Lommel together with Fr. Hilduard and Br. Julian. He lived there in a rented house near the church till the friary was completed. These three friars were the founders of the new friary of Lommel. He died peacefully in our friary of Herentals on 28‐9‐1933 in the 49th year of age.
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16. Father Theodose from Brussels (Alfons De Kimpe) He was born on 29‐1‐1866 He entered the Order on 3‐10‐1885 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 26‐4‐1891 in Dalhousie He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in 1895 After finishing his studies at Dalhousie he was sent as a military chaplain on 8‐12‐1892 to Multan Cantt. One year later he served as parish priest of St. Anthony’s church, Lahore on 1‐9‐1893. At the beginning of 1895 he returned to Belgium by order of Fr. Provincial, thus ending his missionary services.
17. Father Leopold from Turnhout (Joseph De Ceuster) He was born on 29‐6‐1866 He entered the Order on 3‐10‐1885 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 26‐4‐1891 in Dalhousie He died at Lahore on 8‐8‐1943 Seven weeks after his solemn profession he left for the Punjab mission on 25‐11‐18889. He went to Dalhousie to finish his theological studies and to learn Urdu and Punjabi. He was ordained a sub‐deacon on 5‐6‐1890, a deacon on 9‐11‐1890 and a priest on on26‐4‐1891. Six months later he was appointed as military chaplain at Dalhousie. On 1‐9‐1893 he became parish priest of the pro‐cathedral at Anarkali, Lahore. From there he was transferred to Jullundur (1894), Mian Mir, Lahore, and Sialkot Cantt (15‐9‐1899). While in Jullundur he built the priest’s residence and in Anarkali (Lahore) the convent and school of the Jesus and Mary Sisters. In March 1900 he went on home leave for six months. On his return in October 1900 he was appointed as military chaplain at Amritsar till January 1906. On 15‐3‐1906 he was back in Jullundur where he built another priest’s residence. On 15‐12‐1908 he became the principal of St. Anthony’s high school till November 1911. In November 1911 he became military chaplain of Lahore Cantt. On 1‐6‐1920 bishop Eestermans appointed him vicar general of the diocese and lived in the bishop’s house. He remained in this service till 1931. Then returned to Lahore Cantt. for a period of rest. On 15‐11‐1934 he celebrated his golden jubilee of religious life. The following month he fell ill. On 24‐12‐1934 Fr. Ubald came to help him in the parish work. During his missionary life of more than 50 years he always worked with the Europeans and Anglo‐Indians. The last four years of his life he was sick and bedridden from December 1939 until August 1943. In sickness he was very patient and even joyful. Twice he was the administrator of the diocese in the absence of the bishop. For many years he was the bursar of the diocese and adviser to the bishop. He died in Lahore Cantt. on 8‐8‐1943 at the age of 77 years.
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18. Father Felix from Antwerp (Henri Finck) He was born on 11‐1‐1869 He entered the Order on 11‐5‐1886 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐11‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 26‐4‐1891 in Dalhousie He was superior regular of Lahore from 1927 up to 1930 He died at Maryabad on 29‐3‐1932 Fr. Felix passed the humaniora studies at Hoogstraten. On 25‐11‐1889 he made his solemn profession (with papal dispensation) and left the same day together with five other clerics for the Lahore mission, where he arrived on 2‐1‐1890. He went to Dalhousie to finish his theological studies and to learn Urdu and Punjabi under the guidance of the future bishop Godfrey Pelckmans. He was ordained a sub‐deacon in Dalhousie on 5‐6‐1890, deacon on 9‐11‐1890, and a priest on 26‐4‐1891. His first appointment was at Sialkot Cantt. on 6‐12‐1891. He was put in charge of Balowali, in the Daoke centre. One year later, in April 1893, he was sent to new foundation of Maryabad to organize and construct the village. The first cultivators of Maryabad were the previous residents of Daoke centre, brought there by Fr. Livin. Because there was no residence at Maryabad, Fr. Felix and his companion Fr. Desiré went to stay in Khanqah Dogran, 5 miles away. They first stayed in the dak‐bungalow and later in a rented house. After clearing and levelling the fields he divided the land in plots, and gave a plot for cultivation to each family. After the summer he had to leave for Lahore for health reasons. He was back in Maryabad to celebrate the first Christmas feast in the village in 1893. On 4‐10‐1896 bishop Pelckmans came to Maryabad to bless the foundation stone of the new church. The first Catholic village in the Punjab was born. 18 months later Fr. Felix left Maryabad to start the new village of Khushpur in the district of Lyallpur, taking with him most of the founding cultivators of Maryabad. On 16‐12‐1898 Fr. Felix and Fr. Fabian were appointed advisers to the superior regular. On 18‐5‐1897 he was present at the blessing of the church of Adha near Sialkot. On 20‐1‐1902 he handed over the administration of Maryabad to Fr. Marcus and he left on home leave for Belgium. He went to see Fr. General in Rome to explain to him the situation and difficulties of the Lahore mission. In August of the same year 1902 he came back to Lahore and went to Khushpur to improve the situation in the new village. When he returned to Lahore six months later he left on a journey throughout India to collect as many documents as possible concerning the life and work of bishop Hartmann to prepare for the beatification of this great Capuchin bishop of India, who died as a saint 50 years earlier. In May 1907 he made a second journey to Nainital to obtain further documents and to prepare the preliminary process of beatification. Both these journeys and the research work were carried out at the request of the Suisse Capuchins. Fr. Felix gave them on 15‐5‐1908 all the information which he was able to collect about the life, work and death of bishop Hartmann. These enabled Fr. Johannes to write his book about the life and work of bishop Hartmann. Fr. Felix published in that year “The history of the Capuchins in Tibet, Nepal and Bettiah”, and another book of his travels to Agra, Calcutta and Madras “Short history of the Capuchin Missions in
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Tibet”. For his publication he made a third journey through India on 1‐3‐1912, to collect documents about the work of the old Capuchins in North and South India. He also went to Rome, the Vatican Library, to Florence and many Capuchin houses in Italy to look for more documentation. While at Allahabad he discovered the material collected by bishop Hartmann concerning the history of the Capuchins in Tibet and Bettiah. He came back to Lahore on 28‐4‐1912. On 25‐4‐1908 Fr. Felix was in Lyallpur (Faisalabad) for the first stone laying of the church there. He was visiting in earlier days the city from Maryabad where he lived at that time. In May 1914, thanks to the efforts of Fr. Felix, the government of India gave 6250 acres of land for cultivation to the Catholic bishop of Lahore. Fr. Felix and Br. Ivo went there to construct the new villages of Chak 6 (Antoniabad) and Chak 10 (Rahimpur). They met with unexpected difficulties, so much so that within two months more than half of the Christian families had run away. The scorching of the summer and the lack of canal water were the main obstacles. In October of the same year the situation improved. Most of the land was cultivated and more houses were built. Fr. Felix began the construction of the church and the school. One year later, in July 1915, there were 1213 baptised and 227 catechumen residents in the two villages. When the First World War in 1914‐18 broke out, the Austrian Capuchins working in the Bettiah mission were thrown in concentration camps by the English government. On the request of Rome Fr. Felix was appointed apostolic administrator of the Bettiah Mission from 23‐1‐1916 up to 10‐11‐1921. He then returned to Antoniabad to investigate the financial problems of the villages. Fr. Herman, who had replaced him during his absence in the Bettiah mission, had recently died in the village on 26‐10‐1920. Horrendous financial debts forced the bishop of Lahore to give up the land and to return it to the government. On 1‐5‐1926 the superior regular, Fr. Marcus, left on sick leave for Belgium. Fr. Felix was appointed acting superior regular. Later he became the superior regular on 15‐2‐1927. At the end of his three years’ term as superior regular he went on home leave to Belgium on 16‐3‐1930. Back in Lahore on 10‐4‐1931 he went to his dear Khushpur, but not for long. Admitted to the Mayo hospital, Lahore, on 11‐1‐1932, the diagnosis of the doctors was cancer in the abdomen. On his own request he was taken to Maryabad, his first foundation, where he lived and suffered for two months. The local Sisters cared for him until his death on 9‐3‐1932. This great missionary had a brilliant intellect with an iron will to execute any work. Mgr. Mooney, the apostolic delegate of India, wrote about him: “He is one of the greatest missionaries of India”. The provincial, who visited him in Maryabad a few days before his death, wrote: “How shall I feel before this great missionary?” He is buried at Maryabad near the church that he had built himself. A few of his works are: ‐ Notes on the Jesuit Missions to the Mughal Emperors. ‐ Byelaws of the Bettiah Central Cooperative Bank Limited. ‐ What should be the duties of the Central Cooperative Bank?
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‐ How to start a society when villagers have applied for one. ‐ Essays on the Catholic Missions in India. ‐ Travels of Catholic Missionaries through India, Tartary, Tibet and China in the middle Ages.
19. His Excellency Mgr. (Alfons) Emmanuel Van den Bosch from Antwerp Second Bishop of Lahore, Archbishop of Agra, Titular bishop of Parios Born on 18‐6‐1854 Entered the Capuchin Order on 24‐5‐1873 Ordained a priest on 20‐12‐1879 Joined the Allahabad diocese on 1884 Joined the Lahore diocese on 20‐1‐1890 Elected 2nd Bishop of Lahore on 20‐11‐1890 Became archbishop of Agra on 2‐5‐1892 He left Agra and arrived in Belgium in 1897 He died at Bruges on 15‐10‐1921 After his theological studies he was appointed lector of Moral Theology; but very soon he had to give it up because of his bad eye‐sight. Fr. Emmanuel took up preaching when the Mgr. Pesci, Bishop of Allahabad, came to Belgium to find more missionaries for his diocese. Fr. Emmanuel asked and obtained the permission from his provincial superior to work as a missionary in India. He arrived in Allahabad in 1884. He was appointed parish priest of the catholic families living in Lucknow. He cared day and night for the spiritual and temporal needs of his parishioners. Five years later when the diocese of Lahore was entrusted to the Capuchins of his own Belgian province he asked and obtained the permission to come to the Lahore diocese. He arrived on10‐1‐1889 by train in Lahore and appointed Superior Regular of the Capuchin Friars working in this diocese. On 14‐8‐1890, at the death of Mgr. Mouard, the first bishop of Lahore, he was appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Lahore diocese. Four months later, on 21‐11‐1890, he was appointed the second bishop of Lahore. His Excellency Mgr. Ajuti, Apostolic Delegate for India, consecrated him on 18‐1‐1891 in the pro‐cathedral of Lahore (Anarkali). The new bishop first visited all the mission stations of his extensive diocese to find out the needs of the diocese. Then he left for Belgium to ask for more missionaries and funds which were needed for the work. Back in Lahore, he started the renowned English St. Anthony’s School, which he entrusted to the care of the Irish Brothers of St. Patrick. He purchased 126 acres of land from the government for 6.600 Rupees and more land from Gulab Singh in order to build the catholic village of Maryabad near Khanqah Dogran, in the district of Sheikhupura. He purchased in Lahore city a plot of land on Empress Road to build a church for the many Goans and Anglo‐Indians working in the railway department and the post and telegraph offices. Fifteen months after taking over the Lahore diocese he was appointed archbishop of Agra. As soon as he took over the archdiocese on 4 August 1892, he again called the Irish Patrician Brothers to open a school in Agra. In January 1894 he called the first provincial council to direct the missionary work in Agra diocese. He received the pallium from the Pope on 11 July 1892.
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Exhausted by the work he fell sick and left for Belgium in 1897. He resigned as archbishop of Agra and was made archbishop of Parios on 27 May 1898. He lived as a simple Capuchin confrere in our friaries of Meersel, Izegem and Bruges St. Clara. In his last will he had explicitly that, after receiving the sacrament of the sick, nobody should be allowed to visit him, so that he could prepare himself to finally meet his creator. He wanted to be buried in the Capuchin habit among his confreres in a simple grave decorated only with a simple cross. He died in our friary of St. Clare at Bruges. His funeral took place in the presence of two bishops and many priests.
20. Father Eduard from Turnhout (Joseph Goelen) He was born on 4‐3‐1850 He entered the Order on 2‐10‐1869 He was ordained a priest on 30‐5‐1874 He was provincial of the Belgian province from 1882 up to 1891 During his second term as provincial he accepted the diocese of Lahore He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐9‐1891 He was Superior Regular from 1891 up to 1903 He died at Dalhousie on 28‐6‐1903 Fr. Eduard finished his humaniora studies at the college of the Jesuits in Turnhout. After finishing his theological studies he was appointed professor of dogmatic theology, Holy Scripture and moral theology in our seminary. In the historical chapter of 20‐9‐1879 he was elected first definitor and custos of the province at the age of 29 years. In the following chapter of 4‐5‐1882 he was elected provincial minister. In the chapter of 1888 he was re‐elected for the second term. He rebuilt the dilapidated friary of Brussels. In 1889 he accepted the Lahore mission in the name of the province. He himself accompanied the second group of missionaries to Lahore in November 1889. While making the canonical visit of the Lahore mission, he erected the theological seminary at Dalhousie and he appointed Fr. Godfrey as director. In 1891 he became custos and professor of Holy Scripture in our seminary. When Fr. Marcus de Faverges, the then superior regular of the Lahore mission, became bishop of Port Victoria on the Seychelles Islands, Fr. Eduard was nominated by Fr. General as the new superior regular of the Lahore Mission. Fr. Eduard gave as his answer: “Now that the Lord is clearly calling me, I ask for the permission to go to Lahore as a missionary just as my confreres are going”. He left as a missionary and as superior regular via Naples to Bombay and Lahore in October 1891. In August 1893 bishop Pelckmans appointed him as vicar general of the diocese; he remained superior regular and vicar general until his death. He never returned to Belgium. He was loved as a father to all. Six weeks before his death he became unwell. He did much to further the missionary work among the poor Punjabi people. While replacing Fr. Fabian as military chaplain in Dalhousie he died on 27‐6‐1903 He was 53 years old.
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His funeral took place at Dalhousie with full military honour. More than military officers and men were present at his funeral. He was known by all as the good Fr. Eduard.
21. Father Petrus from Brussels (Jan Baptist Van der Hoeven) He was born on 2‐11‐1864 He entered the Order on 20‐4‐1885 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐9‐1891 He was ordained a priest on 11‐6‐1892 in Dalhousie He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in 1903 After finishing his theological studies at Dalhousie on 9‐2‐1894 he was sent to Maryabad to help Fr. Felix in the apostolic work. On 14‐9‐1897 he was transferred to St. Anthony’s church, Lahore‐re, as military chaplain of Amritsar, and from there to Multan Cantt. as director of the convent of the Sisters of Charity and military chaplain. In August 1901 he became military chaplain at Lahore Cantt. and a few months later at Sialkot Cantt. He spent most of his missionary life in the service of the army. On 2‐3‐1903 he left Sialkot Cantt. for Belgium. He asked for the permission to stay there and not to return to Lahore.
22. Father Vincent from Ninove (Daniel Stevens) He was born on 8‐2‐1870 He entered the Order on 16‐9‐1886 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐9‐1891 He was ordained a priest on 18‐6‐1893 in Anarkali He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 23‐3‐1923 He died at Bruges on 18‐9‐1938 When he arrived in Lahore, on 5‐11‐1891, he was sent to Dalhousie to finish his theological studies and to learn the local language. On 13‐6‐1892 he received the diaconate in Dalhousie. One year later (18‐6‐1893) bishop Van den Bosch ordained him a priest at Ambala. When Fr. Edmond became ill in Adha on 15‐10‐1894 Fr. Vincent was asked to replace him. Adha was his first appointment. This will remain his priority as apostolate. Fr. Vincent is the “Apostle of Adha” in the history of Lahore diocese. On his arrival the situation in Adha was very disappointing. Bishop Pelckmans had seriously considered leaving Adha. The bishop was sending this young friar as a last attempt to save the mission station. Fr. Vincent succeeded wonderfully in his task. Within a few months the primary school was again full of children. He brought the grown‐up back to church every Sunday. Even on weekdays a good number of them came to church. He prepared many of them to receive Holy Communion. Thanks to this rapid and big change in the situation the bishop decided to build a big church and a priest’s residence in Adha. On 17‐2‐1897
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bishop Pelckmans laid the foundation stone of the church. On 18‐5‐18897 he arrived with the superior regular to bless the very first church for the Punjabi Christians in the Lahore diocese. In 1898 Fr. Vincent built the priest house and his second church for the Punjabi Christians at Sahowala. He began the publication of small prayer books and a catechism book in Urdu and Punjabi for his recent converts. He wrote a “Life of St. Francis”, and he translated parts of the New Testament in Urdu. To work more profitably and more efficiently among the Punjabi villagers he started a training school for catechists in Adha. In May 1898 he was transferred to the school at Dalwal. There he attempted to open a mission centre, but he did not succeed. Sick and exhausted by the strenuous apostolic work he left on sick leave on 15‐2‐1907. Back in Lahore on 9‐10‐1907 he returned to Adha as the priest in charge of the mission station. The following year he was appoint‐ted as military chaplain of Sialkot Cantt. Four months later he became the rector of the cathedral in Lahore. From 1901 up to 1906 he was appointed advisor to the bishop and to the superior regular. In 1906 the bishop appointed him inspector of the Catholic schools. For ten years he served as the “Defensor Vinculi” and the censor of religious Urdu and Punjabi books. He directed many retreats all over the Indian subcontinent. For six months he served as acting superior regular. On 3‐6‐1914 he became sick again and he was forced to take sick leave in Dalhousie. Two months later he went to Sialkot. In 1915 he conducted the annual retreat with his confreres. On 1‐9‐1916 he returned to Lahore as rector of the cathedral. A few months later he became extremely ill and very weak. On 5‐4‐1917 he was admitted as a patient in the sanatorium of Dalhousie. In 1921 he gave a talk at the Marian Congress at Madras about “The Congregation of Mary” as a very effective way to help the missionaries in their social activities. After a six months’ stay at Dalhousie he came back to Lahore as rector of the cathedral and military chaplain of Amritsar. Becoming very seriously ill he went on sick leave for Belgium on 23‐3‐1923. This was the end of his missionary life. He lived in our friary of Aalst. On 27‐9‐1927 he was appointed novice master of the lay brothers. In 1931 he was transferred from Aalst to the novitiate house in Enghien. In September 1932 he went to Bruges as vicar of the friary. He peacefully died in Bruges on 18‐9‐1938. Father Vincent had an iron will to execute his plans. He is very rightly called “The apostle of Adha”.
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23. Father Daniel from Houtem Henri Louwyck) He was born on 15‐9‐1863 He entered the Order on 2‐10‐1886 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐9‐1891 He was ordained a priest on 11‐6‐1892 in Dalhousie He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 31‐7‐1897 After arriving in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to finish his theological studies and to learn the languages of the country. In November 1893 he went with Fr. Felix to Maryabad to help him in the apostolic work and the build up the Christian village. He could not bear the excessive heat of the summer of 1895. He suffered from heat exhaustion and he was forced to leave the place. After a much needed rest at Dalhousie he returned to Maryabad. The following summer of 1896 he was again forced to go to Dalhousie. Feeling weaker and weaker on account of the fever, he left for Belgium on 5‐7‐1897. He did not return to the Lahore Mission.
24. Father Rochus from Turnhout (Eduard Malfait) He was born on 15‐2‐1869 He entered the Order on 14‐1‐1888 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐9‐1891 He died in the Gulf of Aden on 22‐10‐1891 Fr. Rochus was on his way by ship from Belgium to Lahore, via Bombay. When the ship was near the harbour of Aden in the Red Sea, Fr. Rochus became very sick. Within a few days he died on the ship in the presence of five other Capuchin missionaries who were travelling on the same ship. He was buried in the Gulf of Aden, at a place where the sea was 1000 feet deep.
25. Brother Joachim from Turnhout (Joseph Adriaensen) He was born on 23‐12‐1865 He entered the Order on 18‐11‐1889 He made his profession on 19‐11‐1890 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐9‐1891 He died at Dalwal on 10‐1‐1932 He was a real brother of Brother Maurus. He entered the Order as a tertiary. Two years later (18‐11‐1889) he was admitted in the novitiate as a Brother of the first Order. He left Belgium for India in the company bishop Van den Bosch on 20‐9‐1891. In Lahore he began the building of the bishop’s residence, St. Anthony’s school and the cathedral of the Sacred Heart. He became a very experienced builder. When the construction work of the new cathedral was under way (4‐10‐1903) he became the supervisor of all construction works. For four years he was seen on the building sites every day from morning till evening. He took care of the accounts and book keeping at night. From 1897 onwards he devoted himself completely to the victims of the plague and famine.
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He made twice a long journey to central India. On the first journey, in 1897, he went with Fr. Felix, Fr. Livin and two Sisters of Charity, Sr. Paula and Sr. Vernadine, to the provinces of Gujrat and Bengal. When they returned they brought with them more than one hundred orphan boys and girls. He opened St. Francis orphanage for the boys at Anarkali. Likewise the Sisters of Charity started with the girls St. Joseph orphanage school on Thornton Road, Lahore. During his journey and stay in the Bengal and Gujrat provinces, Br. Joachim kept a diary in which he gives a vivid picture of the famine and the misery in these two provinces at that time. During the second journey of mercy in 1900 he went to Ajmeer and two other provinces. The descriptions which he made of the living conditions in those three provinces were even more drastic than in Gujrat and Bengal. He brought more orphan children to Lahore and Maryabad orphanages. On his return to Lahore the good Br. Joachim was completely exhausted. He ran high fever and his body was covered with smallpox. He was taken to the hospital for treatment. He had lost much weight. After a stay of two months in the hospital he went on sick leave to Belgium. In October 1909 he returned to Lahore. He was appointed as science master in the school of Dalwal. He took over the work of his younger brother Maurus who had died three years earlier. There he started building one of the best science laboratories of the Punjab of that time. Br. Joachim worked for twenty‐two years as a science master. He taught during the school time. After the school hours he cared for house and for his own spiritual life through prayer and meditation in the chapel. He died in Dalwal on 11‐1‐1932. He was buried in the small garden of the priest house, where he had been living for more than twenty‐two years. He was a model of a hard working and deeply religious Capuchin. During his 45 years of religious life he practiced what he had learned in the novitiate: to be a poor and holy Capuchin.
26. Brother Maurus from Turnhout (Servaas Adriaensen) He was born on 18‐3‐1869 He entered the Order on 24‐11‐1891 He made his profession on 25‐11‐1892 He left Belgium for Lahore on 11‐12‐1894 He died at Dalhousie on 3‐8‐1906 He was the real brother of Br. Joachim. He was an old student of the Jesuit college of Antwerp. He left Belgium a few days after his solemn profession with the third group of missionaries going to the Punjab. He joined his elder brother Joachim who went to Lahore three years before him. He went first as a professor to St. Francis School at Anarkali. One year later he served in St. Anthony’s school near the cathedral. When bishop Pelckmans started the school at Dalwal he was appointed as the first science master in this school. He became very sick after a few months and he had to return to Belgium.
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As soon as his health was restored he returned to Dalwal to continue serving the school as science master. He relapsed after six months with Malta fever and he went on sick leave to the Dalhousie hills. He peacefully died in Dalhousie on 3‐801906 at the age of 37 years. He was buried in the graveyard of Dalhousie. He had been a hard worker in the Lahore diocese for twelve years.
27. Father Archange Mary from Turnhout (Alfons Swannet) He was born on 14‐9‐1870 He entered the Order on 21‐4‐1887 He was ordained a priest on 27‐5‐1893 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1895 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 18‐3‐1907 He died at Mons on 16‐4‐1936 After his ordination he was appointed for eight months as lector in the Capuchin seminary of theology at Antwerp (April 1904). He asked and obtained the permission to work as a missionary in Lahore diocese. When he reached Lahore on 23‐12‐1895, he was sent to Adha and Sahowala to help the priest in charge in the apostolic work. On 29‐1‐1899 he went to Dalhousie as lector of theology in the seminary for the young missionaries. While he was in Adha with Fr. Vincent he visited Sahowala. After a few months he was compelled to stay in Sahowala with Brother Constant. On 28‐2‐1901 he was appointed as military chaplain, first at Lahore Cantt. and then in Multan Cantt. (1‐8‐1901). One year later he fell ill and went on sick leave to Dalhousie (August 1902). On 28‐11‐1902 he went to Belgium on sick leave. After recovering he stayed in the friary of St. Clare of Bruges until he was transferred in 1907 to Verviers. The following year he left for Canada. He worked for two years in the parish of St. Boni‐face and then returned to Belgium. He left the Order and became assistant parish priest in Ellignies‐St. Anne, a village in the diocese of Tournai. He was re‐admitted in the Order in 1916 and lived in our friary of Verviers. He was sent to Warsaw in 1919 as the official Catholic chaplain of all the foreigners living there. He remained on duty in Warsaw from 27‐11‐1919 up to August 1920. Fearful of the severe brutalities of the Bolshevik troops he ran away and was later evacuated at the expenses of the French republic to Paris. He returned to Belgium and lived in our friary of Enghien where he cared for the third Order. He left with Fr. Bruno in April 1921 for the Seychelles Islands. Both of the returned to Belgium after six months. He remained as a preacher in our friaries of Louvain, Ciney and Mons. This perpetual pilgrim peacefully died in Mons on 16‐4‐1936.
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28. Father Marcus from Zeveneken (Ivo Dierinck) He was born on 14‐5‐1868 He entered the Order on 14‐9‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 8‐6‐1895 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1895 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1907 up to 1926 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in Mai 1926 He died at Antwerp on 15‐11‐1926 After his arrival in Lahore, his first appointment was in Sahowala. He tried his utmost to give his Christians a deeper knowledge of our faith. He formed a small group of Christian families with strong faith. The best catechists came later from these families. Every day he was spending many hours teaching them the catechism. However, due to an eye‐disease he became completely blind. He returned to Belgium on medical grounds. His eye‐sight was completely restored within a few months and he returned to Lahore. He was sent to Maryabad for the pastoral work. He was elected superior regular in 1907 and remained the superior for 20 years. He went to Belgium on sick leave on 1913. After a few months he was back in Lahore. A tremendous conversion movement had started since 1090 in the Lahore diocese. Fr. Marc, as superior regular, backed the work of his missionaries with fresh young priests from Belgium, with funds, and through his many pastoral visits to the far‐away mission stations. It was decided that in every parish house, next to the chaplain for the army and English speaking congregation, there should also be a missionary “ad paganos”, exclusively for the work among the Punjabis. Fr. Marc was encouraged and helped in his endeavour by Very Rev. Symphorian, the provincial of the Belgian province, who had just come on a canonical visit to the Lahore diocese. The numbers of the Catholic population had already greatly increased in 1911. Fr. March helped Fr. Livin in Anarkali to raise St. Francis School from a primary to a middle school. He also helped the bishop to open more schools. To increase the spiritual and temporal well‐being of the Christians he was in favour of starting more colonies, where the new Christians could live as better Christians. He laid the foundation‐stone of the new parish house at Montgomery on 4‐2‐1923. His health deteriorated from bad to worse in January 1926, so much so that the doctors advised him to return to Belgium for medical treatment. He agreed to go on sick leave in 1926. The first major surgical operation was a complete success but it did not cure him. After leaving the hospital he went for a long rest to Meersel Dreef. Feeling that he would never be able to return to Lahore, he handed in his resignation as superior regular. He shifted to the friary of Antwerp in November of the same year. Two weeks later he received the sacrament of the sick and he peacefully died on 15‐11‐1926. Fr. Marcus has been a great missionary and an ideal superior for his missionaries.
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29. Father Theodule from Ramskapelle (Constant Brion) He was born on 3‐3‐1873 He entered the Order on 14‐9‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 21‐9‐1895 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1895 He died at Lahore on 26‐5‐1932 Arriving in Lahore he studied the local languages for a few months. He was first appointed as chaplain at Dalhousie. He was transferred to Lahore Cantt. as military chaplain on 19‐9‐1899.He was appointed as parish priest of St. Anthony’s church four months later on 1‐1‐1900. This parish was to become the main field of his apostolate. He worked very hard for five years to visit his parishioners. He was sent to Multan on 29‐10‐1906 and one year later he returned to Lahore (1‐10‐1907) as the first rector of the newly built Sacred Heart Cathedral. Soon after taking over the parish he became unwell and was advised to take sick leave in Belgium (22‐4‐1908). After taking rest for one year he returned to Lahore and was appointed as military chaplain of Multan Cantt. on 1‐11‐1909. Thirteen months later on 10‐2‐1911 he went back to Lahore as parish priest of St. Anthony’s church, where he remained for 21 years till his death in 1932. In August 1921 he fell sick and he went for a second time on sick leave to Belgium. Within a few months he was back in his old parish of St. Anthony’s. During his stay in this parish he founded the diocesan paper “Catholic News” and for many years the editor and redactor. Fr. Theodule remained for 21 years an exemplary and much beloved parish priest, always at the service of anyone who needed his help. Fr. Theodule was taken to the Mayo hospital on 11‐4‐1932. During his last illness the parishioners came in big numbers to the hospital to inquire about his health. An official health bulletin was published every day in the newspaper. He received the sacrament of the sick at his own request on 7‐5‐1932, because he knew that cancer could not be cured. He died peacefully in the hospital on 26‐5‐1932. His funeral was a triumph journey through the streets of Lahore. Thousands of his old parishioners accompanied him to the graveyard to pay their last respects to their beloved parish priest. Later a grotto was built in the compound of the St. Anthony’s church as a memorial of Fr. Theodule, who had been the parish priest in St. Anthony’s for more than 20 years.
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30. Father Philip from Lier (Frans Vermeylen) He was born on 6‐4‐1869 He entered the Order on 24‐9‐1889 He was ordained a priest on 21‐9‐1895 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1895 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 6‐3‐1950 He died at Herentals on 5‐12‐1952 Two months after his ordination as a priest he arrived in Lahore on 22‐12‐1895. He went to Sialkot to learn the local languages. In the summer of 1896 he went to the hill station o f Dalhousie. This was his first and last visit to Dalhousie during his long missionary life of 55 years. His first official appointment was as assistant parish priest at Adha. He has been initiated in the missionary work at this mission station. He worked in Adha for four years. On 29‐10‐1899 he was transferred to Maryabad. Two years later he was appointed as the first parish priest of the new village of Khushpur. He built in one year the parish church, the priest house, the convent of the Sisters of Charity (Ghent) and a primary school for the Khushpur children. In February 1902 he went to Sahowala for five years. On 25‐1‐1907 he returned to Belgium for a rest. Eight months later (8‐10‐1907) he came back from home leave and was posted at Francisabad. He finished the construction of the local church building. This church was blessed by the bishop on 8‐7‐1909. On 6‐11‐1911 he came back to Khushpur as the parish priest. A few weeks later on 1‐2‐1912, however, he returned to Francisabad where he remained for sixteen years. On 25‐6‐1928 he went for the third time to Khushpur as parish priest. He remained in Khushpur until the village was handed over to the care of the Italian Dominican Fathers in 1935. Fr. Filip had been the very first parish priest of Khushpur after its foundation. In 1935 he was also the last Capuchin parish priest of this village. During his long active missionary life he always gave top priority to the religious instruction of the children in Francisabad and Khushpur. He was called by the people the “Dangwala” father because he always had a wooden stick with him and when necessary he used it. He handed over the parish work to a Dominican Father on 1‐11‐1935. He himself was transferred to Jullundur Cantt. In Jullundur Fr. Fillip started a training school for future catechists of our Lahore diocese and for many years he was the director. He published “Katolik Kalisiya ki Rasumat” for the liturgy and also a “Talim di Kitab”. The bishop made him a consulter of the diocese in 1933. He was appointed as “Censor librorum” in 1947. He was also an advisor of the council of the superior regular from 1933 till 1939. Completely exhausted on 17‐6‐1947 he went for a rest. Fr. Filip has always been a typical Capuchin missionary. He lived a life of poverty and was always caring for the spiritual and physical needs of his flock. He was a master in the Punjabi language and old customs. He understood his people and they understood him. He had a golden heart.
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He went back to Belgium on 6‐2‐1950 after 55 years of missionary life in the Punjab. He decided not to return but to pass the last months of his life among his confreres. He died peacefully in the friary of Herentals on 5‐12‐1952 at the age of 83 years. Fr. Filip has been a pioneer in our colonies of Francisabad and Khushpur. He always remained a poor Capuchin during his long missionary life.
31. Father Emilian from Ichtegem (Prosper Vereyck) He was born on 7‐7‐1872 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1891 He was ordained a priest on 18‐12‐1897 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐10‐1932 He died at Bovekerke on 23‐4‐1941 He was the real brother of Fr. Rembert. After finishing his theological studies in Belgium he left for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 where he worked as a missionary and military chaplain for 33 years. On arrival he was appointed as a teacher in St. Anthony’s school. He was transferred as a military chaplain to Lahore Cantt. in the summer of 1904. He was transferred in the same capacity to Sialkot Cantt. on 25‐1‐1907 and to Multan on 1‐10‐1908. When he returned on 5‐11‐1910 he went to Multan as military chaplain. In April 1914 he was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. from Sialkot Cantt. he came for a few weeks to Lahore cathedral to replace the sick Fr. Vincent on 1‐9‐1916. He returned to Sialkot as a military chaplain and from Sialkot he went to Naushera (N.W.F.P.). On 11‐8‐1919 he went as a chaplain with a military expedition to Afghanistan. A few weeks later he returned to Sialkot Cantt. He was transferred to Multan on 14‐4‐1920. He went on home leave on 29‐3‐1922. He returned a few weeks later and he became parish priest of St. Anthony’s church, Lahore. On 1‐3‐1923 he returned to Multan as chaplain. In January 1931 he preached the annual retreat for all the Capuchins of Lahore diocese. He left for Belgium on 4‐9‐1931 after a stay of 33 years in Lahore diocese mostly as a military chaplain. He remained for the last 10 years of his life in the friary of Bruges. While replacing the ailing parish priest of Bovenkerke, he collapsed and died in the convent of the Sisters of Bovenkerke on 25‐4‐1941. He was a typical military chaplain.
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32. Father Vital from Westkapelle (Kamiel De Wispelaere) He was born on 3‐9‐1874 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1891 He was ordained a priest on 21‐11‐1897 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 10‐8‐1919 He went as a missionary to the Seychelles Islands in December 1920 He returned to Belgium He died at Beernem on 19‐10‐1954 He asked and obtained (on 19‐12‐1898) the permission to work as a missionary in the Punjab. He left Belgium via Genoa (Italy) and Bombay in India for Lahore together with seven other new missionaries and four Sisters of charity. They all disembarked at Bombay on 14‐1‐1899. They arrived in Lahore on 18‐1‐1899. He stayed for a few months at the bishop’s house. On 29‐10‐1899 he got his first appointment for Adha. Within a year he became seriously ill and had to go on sick leave to Belgium on 27‐9‐1900. During his sick leave he stayed in our friaries of Herentals and Meersel. He returned to Lahore on 21‐11‐1906. Two months later he was again appointed for Adha. From June 1907 he also visited temporarily Sahowala station. He was transferred to Khushpur in December 1907. He returned to Adha three years later (13‐9‐1909) to take care of the many new converts in Sialkot district. He was called back to Lahore on 1‐12‐1910 to translate religious books in Urdu and Punjabi. He published his famous Punjabi booklet “Khudawand Yesu Masih di chhoti Talim” and his Urdu book of the “Imitation of Christ”. He was appointed as military chaplain at Amritsar on 1‐11‐1911. From there he was transferred to Dalhousie on 15‐12‐1913, and then to Jullundur Cantt. on 1‐2‐ 1915. He directed the annual retreat for the missionaries of the Lahore diocese in December 1916. He went first to Jullundur in 1918 and from there to Sangla Hill on 1‐7‐1918. On 10‐8‐1919 he left Lahore at his own request via Rome for Belgium. He stayed at the friary of Herentals. One year later in October 1920 he asked and obtained the permission from Fr. General to go as a missionary to the Seychelles Islands. He left on 10‐2‐1921 and remained in the Seychelles for one year. He became ill in November 1922 and was forced to return to Belgium. He stayed in our friaries of Mons (20‐11‐1922), Brussels (1926), Ieper (5‐8‐1931), Mons (1935, Aalst (1938), Brussels (2‐8‐1938) and Meersel Dreef (19‐11‐1951). On the advice of the doctor he was transferred to St. Amand Institute, Beernem, on 26‐1‐1954. He died there on 19‐10‐1954. Fr. Vital knew excellent Urdu and Punjabi. He translated in Punjabi the four gospels and managed to print them in Persian script. He also produced a catechism which was printed in the Gurmukhi script. After returning from Lahore to Belgium he devoted all his time for many years to collect funds for his beloved Lahore mission. He began in
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many cities of Belgium an eight days exhibition with slides, films and material from the Punjab. He gave conferences and helped all those who requested him to know better the work of our missionaries in the Lahore diocese.
33. Father Rochus from Wenduine (Oscar Bultiauw) He was born on 13‐6‐1873 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1892 He was ordained a priest on 30‐11‐1898 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐12‐1907 He died at Bruges on 26‐2‐1945 On arrival in Lahore he went directly to Dalhousie to complete his theological studies and to learn the local languages. He was appointed as military chaplain in Lahore Cantt. He was transferred to Amritsar as military chaplain on 25‐1‐1907. He became sick one month later and had to go on sick leave to Dalhousie. He returned to Belgium at the end of the year (14‐12‐1907).He did not return to Lahore. He died in our friary at Bruges.
34. Father Bernardin from Mortsel (Benedict Van Sundert) He was born on 22‐2‐1872 He entered the Order on 16‐9‐1893 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He was ordained a priest at Dalhousie on 18‐6‐1899 He died at Khushpur on 17‐7‐1914 After his theological studies and ordination at Dalhousie he left for Sahowala on 17‐12‐1900 and worked there for two years. He was transferred to Khushpur on 1902 and from there to Adha on 25‐1‐1907. A few months he was appointed in Anarkali and worked among the Punjabi Catholic families. Overworked he went on home leave to have a good rest on 9‐4‐1909. He returned to Lahore on 5‐11‐1909 and went to Adha as assistant parish priest. He took over as parish priest of Adha on 26‐12‐1910. He was transferred to Khushpur two years later in February 1912. F. Bernardin had a perfect knowledge of the Urdu and Punjabi languages. As an expert he was sent in 1913 to Tajpur to preach and to bless the new church built by the Raja of Tajpur for the benefit of his Catholic land tenants. Fr. Bernardin worked with heart and soul for the spiritual and material uplift of his poor Christians. He was so much loved by his Christians that, at his death in 1914, thousands of them from Khushpur and the far‐off villages came to pay their respects to him. They collected money for a beautiful grave. He had fallen ill in Khushpur and after a short illness he died there on 17‐7‐1914. He was buried near the church in Khushpur. He is called “The Apostle of Khushpur”.
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35. Father Mathew from Vlissingen (Hendrik Blondé) He was born on 13‐7‐1874 He entered the Order on 16‐9‐1893 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He was ordained a priest at Dalhousie on 18‐6‐1899 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1930 up to 1933 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in December 1948 He died at Meersel‐Dreef on 3‐4‐1960 He was the uncle of the old missionary Fr. Theodule The day after the ordination as a deacon by Bishop Van den Bosch in the abbatial church of Tongerlo, he left Belgium for Lahore on 18‐12‐1898 with seven other new missionaries, nl. Emilian, Vital, Rochus, Bernardin, Quirin, Brother Florentin and Idesbald. Each received the missionary cross in our church at Antwerp on 19‐12‐1898. After a last common meal with 50 confreres in the dining room of the friary they left for the railway station. They travelled by train to Genoa, Italy. They took the boat “S.S. Domenico Balduino” from Genoa and arrived safely in Bombay on 14‐1‐1899. They arrived by train in Lahore four days later. Fr. Mathew was sent to Dalhousie to complete his theological studies and to learn the local languages. He was ordained a priest on 18‐6‐1899 by bishop Pelckmans in the chapel of Dalhousie. He went to Dalwal as the principal of the school on 1‐3‐1900. He was at the head of the school for 30 years. The school was one of the best of the Punjab province. Many future leaders and military officers received their education in this school. He went for home leave for a rest in February 1909. He was back in Dalwal eight months later. He brought with him Brother Joachim, the real brother of the science master Brother Maurus. In later years Br. Joachim will continue the work started by his elder brother. Fr. Mathew was called to Lahore on 1‐11‐1920 as rector of the cathedral. The school in Dalwal, however, could not manage without him. So, on 1‐2‐1922 he returned to his old place, Dalwal, as the principal of the school. He was elected superior of the Capuchins on 7‐3‐1930. This forced him to leave his beloved school at Dalwal and to take up residence in Lahore. He replaced Fr. Ubald in February 1931 who went on home leave. Two years later, he came to Sialkot as chaplain of the Sisters. In 1934 he went to Dalhousie as military chaplain and for the spiritual care of the Sisters. He remained in Dalhousie till he returned to Belgium on 18‐12‐1948. Fr. Mathew passed the last 12 years of his life at Meersel Dreef. He celebrated there his golden priestly jubilee on 21‐6‐1949. He celebrated his diamond jubilee as a priest six years later on 16‐6‐1958. During the last months of his life Fr. Mathew suffered much pain in his leg. He had fallen from his horse in 1925. He remained in St. Joseph’s clinic at Mortsel from July 1957 up to 11‐2‐1960. He died in our friary of Meersel on 3‐4‐1960 one month after leaving the clinic. Fr. Mathew had educated thousands of Pakistani students. He was gratefully remembered by them. He spoke perfect English and Urdu. He was an
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excellent preacher. He was a member of the bishop’s council and the diocesan inspector of schools for many years. Dalwal School has been the work of his life. The school was considered as one of the best schools of the Punjab. Many future politicians and army officers had been his pupils. He upgraded the original primary school to a middle school in 1903. He upgraded the school to a high school two years later. He followed the Anglo‐Vernacular syllabus of the government. He built a complex of fifteen class rooms with separate boarding rooms for Christian, Muslim and Hindu students. The priest house and the chapel came next to it. He made a well of sixty meters deep for drinking water within the grounds of the school, boardings and the priest house. When Fr. Mathew left Dalwal in 1930 the school counted more than five hundred students. The educational work of Fr. Mathew had a very good indirect influence on the missionary work all over the Punjab. In thanks for his marvellous work in the education sector the Vice‐Roy of the Indian government bestowed on Fr. Mathew the golden “Qaisar‐e‐Hind” medal, which was the highest decoration he could receive.
36. Father Quirin from Bouwel (Emil Keersmaekers) He was born on 17‐12‐1876 He entered the Order on 16‐9‐1893 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He was ordained a priest at Dalhousie on 18‐6‐1899 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 10‐3‐1914 He died at Brussels on 29‐1‐1952 After his ordination as a deacon on 18‐12‐1898 he left Belgium the next day with a group of seven missionaries for Lahore. He was sent to Dalhousie to complete his theological studies and to learn the local languages. His first appointment, on 4‐6‐1900, was for Maryabad, where he worked for four years among the poor Punjabi Christians. He was appointed on 29‐10‐1904 as military chaplain first at Sialkot on 29‐10‐1904 and later at Dalhousie (1907‐1909). He went on home leave to Belgium on 9‐11‐1909. Six months later he took over as chaplain of Lahore Cantt. (1‐12‐1910); from there he went to Francisabad (1‐11‐1911), Adha (1‐2‐1912) and Lyallpur (10‐10‐1913). He preached the annual retreat for the confreres at Lahore in January 1914. His health was failing more and more on account of a liver infection. He went on sick leave to Dalhousie in February 1914 and by order of the doctor he left for Belgium on 10‐3‐1914. Fr. Quirin went to England for the welfare of the Belgian refugees during the First World War 1914‐1918. When Fr. General made an appeal for volunteers in 1919 to work as missionaries on the Seychelles Islands, Fr. Quirin obtained the permission to go there. However, he had to return to Belgium within two years for health reasons on 22‐9‐1922.
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After a few months of treatment and complete rest he worked for two years as a chaplain of the Sacred Heart Institute of Oudergem. He was transferred to Mons on 4‐9‐1925 and later to Antwerp as a preacher on 3‐8‐1925. He was appointed secretary of the missions on 23‐12‐1925. He worked very hard for six years for his dear mission of the Punjab. He returned to Brussels as a retreat preacher on 7‐9‐1931. He served there for six years as the superior of the friary (1937‐1943). He celebrated his golden priestly jubilee on 8‐7‐1948. He died in our friary of Brussels on 29‐1‐1952 at the age of 75 years, 59 years of religious life and 53 years as a priest. He was buried on the graveyard of Grimbergen. Fr. Quirin took many times an active part in the famous “Semaines missiologiques” at Louvain. He wrote many articles in mission magazines and the “Xaveriana” pamphlets. He published the “Franciskaanse Almanak” from 1933 up to 1939.
37. Brother Idesbald from Bruges (Alfons Lippens) He was born on 22‐1‐1864 He entered the Order on 17‐6‐1897 He made his profession on 20‐6‐1898 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 8‐12‐1904 He died in Belgium On his arrival at Lahore on 18‐1‐1899 he was appointed as a professor in St. Anthony’s school, next to the bishop’s residence. He went to Maryabad six months later to take charge of the orphanage which Fr. Felix had started for the orphan children of the famine stricken district of central India. Most of these children were very weak and needed special attention and care. Brother Idesbald cared for them as his own children. However, he was not made for hard mission‐nary work. His health deteriorated and he left Maryabad for Lahore on 28‐10‐1904. He went to Bombay one month later. He embarked on “Imperatrix” ship on his return to Belgium. He did not return to the Lahore mission.
38. Brother Florentin from Booitshoeke (Servaas Titeca) He was born on 30‐10‐1872 He entered the Order on 26‐7‐1896 He made his profession on 18‐8‐1897 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐12‐1898 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in April 1931 He died at Eggewaartskapelle on 29‐5‐1934 On arrival in Lahore he was posted at Sahowala. He opened a dispensary for the poor. He worked there till February 1909. Then he left for home leave in Belgium He returned to his dispensary at Sahowala in November 1909. The number of patients who came to him every day increased every year. During his second home leave in 1921 Fr. General requested him to go and work in Sardana in the archdiocese of Agra.
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He returned one year later to Lahore. He went to Sangla Hill in the district of Sheikhupura. He started here too a dispensary for the poor. This dispensary is still operating nowadays. He got two heart attacks in 1930. By order of the doctor he returned to Belgium for medical treatment on 8‐3‐1931. The brother who had taken of so many sick and who had called the priest so many times to administer the sacrament of the sick to the dying patients received neither a doctor nor a priest to assist him in his last hour. He died unexpectedly on the road near the house of his sister. Before any doctor or a priest could be contacted in Eggewaartskapelle, he passed away on 29‐5‐1934. Brother Florentin loved to care for the poor patients and the poor Christians of the Punjab. Whenever the people got sick they were convinced the “good doctor” would cure them of their infirmities. He was adored by his Punjabi people.
39. Father Bonaventura from Lier (Frans Calluy) He was born on 22‐1‐1845 He entered the Order on 25‐5‐1865 He was ordained a priest on 11‐9‐1870 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1900 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in 1913 He died at Aalst on 4‐12‐1925 Before going to the Lahore mission he served in the Belgian Capuchin province for six years as the guardian of our friaries of Mons (1873‐1876) and Bruges (1876‐1879) and further for nine years as a preacher. After this he became the director of the Seraphic seminary of Bruges till November 1900. At the age of 56 he went to the Lahore mission. He was posted successively as military chaplain in Sialkot (28‐10‐1904), Amritsar (15‐3‐1906) and Sialkot (25‐1‐1907). After passing twelve hot summers of the Punjab he was completely exhausted and was forced to return to Belgium to restore his health on 12‐2‐1913. He did not return to the Lahore mission. Fr. Bonaventura was a very good religious and a man of prayer. He died at Aalst a peaceful death on 4‐12‐1925.
40. Father Deodat from Saverne (F) (Antoine Darcourt) Born on 22‐2‐1858 He entered the Order on 4‐6‐1890 He was ordained a priest on 15‐7‐1883 He left France for Lahore on 17‐3‐1903 He died at Lahore on 25‐10‐1913 Fr. Deodat was a native from the Elzas. After his ordination as a priest he was assistant priest in Nancy during seven years before entering the Capuchin province of Lyon in 1890. After the expulsion of the religious orders and congregations in France in 1901 he received in 1903 the permission to leave for the Diocese of Lahore as a missionary.
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He was appointed as companion to F. Vincent from Ninove. With the help from benefactors in France they open a training centre for catechists. In 1907 Fr. Deodat arrived at Sahowala. He started visiting more villages farther away from the centre. He easily mixed with the poor people and lived with them according to their customs. He especially attracted the children with holy pictures, medals and small crosses. He planted a big cross in the midst of their bastis and celebrated Holy Mass under it. He opened schools in several villages and appointed a catechist to remain there and continue the teachings he had started. Fr. Felix opened in 1911 a new mission house at Sangla Hill. Fr. Deodat came from Sahowala to help him in his apostolate. F. Deodat dreamed of building a large magnificent church at Sangla Hill. He himself was struck down with exhaustion, from which he would never recover to build the church of his dreams. His sickness was the result of endless and restless travelling through the countless villages and bastis of the poor people. His fervent preaching and teaching, his care for the people dying of the horrible plague, and neglect of his own health had prematurely brought him down. The Superiors tried to save him by sending him to the cool hills of Dalhousie during the hot summer months. But at the end of August 1913 he returned to Sangla, where he soon broke down completely. He was taken to Lahore via Mariamabad where he died on 25 October 1913.
41. Father Gonsalf from Reet (Frans Rens) He was born on 5‐9‐1855 He entered the Order on 25‐9‐1874 He was ordained a priest on 22‐5‐1880 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐10‐1903 He was superior regular from 1903 up to 1907 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 28‐4‐1920 He died at Aalst on 24‐4‐1929 Before going to Lahore he was a preacher at Mons in 1883, a professor of theology in 1885 and the vicar of the friary of Mons. He was elected a definitor on 2‐4‐1888. He was elected the provincial of the Belgian Capuchin province in 1891. He became a custos after his term of three years. He stayed at Mons and Verviers. He was again elected minister provincial on 7‐5‐1897. In 1903 he became the superior of our friary of Verviers, which he had founded eight years earlier. He requested and obtained the permission to go to Lahore as a missionary. He left for Lahore on 12‐10‐1903 at the age of forty‐eight years. He was appointed the superior regular of the Lahore mission. Two months later bishop Pelckmans appointed him as vicar general of the diocese. He preached the annual retreat for the missionaries in Lahore in February 1904. On the death of bishop Pelckmans on 3‐8‐1904 he became the apostolic administrator of the diocese. Till 10‐12‐1905 when bishop Eestermans was appointed as the new bishop of the diocese. The new bishop appointed him again as the vicar general of the diocese. He remained in this office till 1920 when he retired and returned to Belgium.
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Fr. Gonsalf was a very capable administrator. He was a pious and excellent religious and very strict with himself, but he was always lenient and good with others. He was always ready to help his confreres in need of sick. He went back to Belgium at his own request on 28‐4‐1920.He lived in our friaries of Mons and Enghien. He was again elected a definitor in 1928 notwithstanding his age of 73 years. He died peacefully in or friary of Enghien on 24‐4‐1929. Fr. Gonsalf has been in a leading role for the most part of his religious life, sharing the major responsibilities in the province. He published in 1889 “Manuale theologiae dogmaticae”, explaining the theology of Alberto a Bulsano. He built the new friary of Verviers in 1893. He became the first superior of the friary. In 1898 he founded a house of studies in Louvain for the young Capuchin clerics studying at the university. This house was situated at Schapenstraat, 47. It served this purpose from 2‐9‐1899 up to 10‐8‐1919. He laid the foundation stone of the new friary and house of studies at Izegem in September 1899. In 8‐4‐1893 he made the arrangements for the new “Ceremoniale Romano‐Serafico” observed in the Belgian Capuchin province. He was the superior regular of the Lahore mission for three years and vicar general of the diocese for seventeen years. He remained the apostolic administrator of the diocese for two years.
42. Father Ubald from Lissewege (Jules Dhont) He was born on 6‐12‐1873 He entered the Order on 16‐9‐1893 He was ordained a priest on 26‐8‐1900 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐11‐1903 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 26‐3‐1954 He died at Bruges on 31‐12‐1965 Before arriving in Lahore he worked for two years as a lay teacher in the Seraphic school of Bruges which was recently opened. He witnessed there the farewell ceremonies of six Capuchin missionaries in our friary church on 23‐1‐1889. He asked Fr. Provincial for permission to enter the novitiate at Enghien. After completing his theological studies he was allowed at his request to go to India as a missionary. He left Brussels by train for Genoa (Italy) on his way to Lahore on 12‐11‐1903. He was accompanied by two other confreres missionaries, Fr. Emmanuel from Beernem and Brother Maurus from Turnhout. The three missionaries went by boat from Genoa to Bombay, called the “Gateway to India”. After a three‐day journey by train they arrived
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in Lahore on 11‐12‐1903. As soon as they reached the bishop’s house they were taken to the cathedral. Fr. Ubald and Fr. Emmanuel had to promise under oath that they would never go to the Syro‐Malabar rite. Fr. Ubald said many years later that he never understood the meaning of this oath. Fr. Ubald was asked to go to Sahowala on 1‐2‐1904 to be initiated in the missionary work. He was appointed as a teacher at St. Anthony’s school, Lahore, eight months later. He helped in the cathedral parish a weekends. He worked in the school and the parish for seven years, until the Irish Brothers of St. Patrick took over the school. He went on home leave to Belgium for a rest on 27‐9‐1911. During his stay at Bruges he helped to start the specialized school for boat‐men‐children. He left again for Lahore on 24‐5‐1912. He took with him three new missionaries: Fr. Alban, Fr. Stanislas and Fr. Rupert. They reached Lahore on 7‐11‐1912. Fr. Ubald went first to Maryabad for one month. When Fr. John Capistran of Lahore Cantt. fell ill, Fr. Ubald arrived to replace him in December 1912. He worked for many years as a military chaplain in Jullundur (25‐6‐1913 and Dalhousie (1‐2‐1915). During world war 1914‐1918 the German Jesuits had to leave their parishes on account of their German nationality. Fr. Ubald went to replace some of them in Sukkur and Quetta. Fr. Ubald returned to Lahore when the American Jesuits arrived to take over. He served as military chaplain in Amritsar, Dalhousie and Ferozepur. He was only 14 days in Ferozepur when he appointed rector of the cathedral of Lahore to replace the sick Fr. Vincent. He was also made the secretary general of the “Catholic Federation of North India” and the “Catholic Association” of Lahore. He started the publication of the weekly “Catholic News” on 19‐10‐1920. Fr. Ubald was replaced by Fr. Mathew. His old parishioners of the cathedral gave him on this occasion a splendid cycle “Special Triumph” as a farewell gift. He was called back as rector of the cathedral in the beginning of 1922. He installed during his second term the electrical lights and fans in the bishop’s house and the cathedral. On his silver jubilee of priesthood on 12‐11‐1925, Fr. Evarist was ordained a priest and he offered his first H. Mass in the cathedral. Fr. Ubald was transferred to Dalhousie on 13‐10‐1929 to replace the sick Fr. Walter who left on sick leave to Belgium. He fell ill himself in November 1932 and he was forced to come to Lahore for treatment in Mayo hospital. He went on sick leave to Belgium in November 1933 together with another sick confrere, Fr. Thomas. He returned to Dalhousie after a five month’s leave on 10‐3‐1934. He went back to Belgium in 1937 for a surgical operation. He returned to Dalhousie on 1‐4‐1938. When Fr. Mathew left Dalhousie for Belgium on 2‐12‐1953 he took over the parish work and became the chaplain of the Sisters of Charity. He remained in Dalhousie till his retirement and final return to Belgium in 1954. He celebrated his golden religious jubilee with great pomp on 8‐8‐1943, his golden priestly jubilee on 24‐8‐1950, and his diamond religious jubilee on 17‐9‐1952. He decided to return to Belgium in 1954 because his eyesight was getting very weak. He left on 13‐3‐1954 and travelled via Lahore, Karachi and Genoa and arrived in Antwerp (Belgium) on 26‐3‐1954. He had served the Lahore diocese for fifty years. He went to
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live in our friary of Bruges near his native place, Lissewege on 10‐8‐1954. He celebrated his 70 years of religious life on 11‐11‐1954. Fr. Ubald had specifically been working among the English speaking communities, nl. the Goans, the Anglo Indians of the Punjab and the military. He was known in Lahore as the friend and defender of the poor. He was an ardent propagator of the devotion of St. Anthony. Fr. Ubald died very peacefully in our friary of St. Clare at Bruges, on 31‐12‐1965 at the age of ninety‐two years, seventy‐two as a Capuchin and sixty‐five years as a priest.
43. Father Macaire from Nieuwkerken‐Waas (Alfons De Blanger) He was born on 10‐7‐1876 He entered the Order on 26‐9‐1895 He was ordained a priest on 21‐9‐1901 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐10‐1903 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 24‐5‐1960 He died at Antwerp on 24‐7‐1960 Fr. Macaire received the missionary cross together with ten other missionaries in our friary of Antwerp on 12‐10‐1903. Fr. Macaire and five missionaries of the group left the same day by train for Genoa (Italy) via Brussels. The leader of the group was Fr. Gonsalf, ex‐provincial, who joined the Lahore mission as superior regular. They went from Genoa by ship “Balduino” to Bombay. The six missionaries arrived in Lahore from Bombay three days later on 8‐11‐1903. Fr. Macaire worked in the Lahore diocese for the next fifty‐seven years first as a military chaplain and later as parish priest. On arrival he went to Anarkali to learn English and Urdu. He helped Fr. Theodule with the parish work. He was appointed four months later as an invigilator in St. Anthony’s school (Lawrence Road) on 1‐3‐1904. He was sent to Multan on 29‐10‐1904 as assistant chaplain in the service of the English and Irish soldiers. He served the army for more than thirty years as a chaplain in Multan (29‐10‐1904), Sialkot (1‐10‐1908, Jullundur (25‐11‐1911), Sialkot (27‐11‐1911), Multan (101‐2‐1913), Jullundur (1‐7‐1918), Ferozepur (1‐3‐1921), Multan (27‐2‐1931), Sialkot (1‐11‐1934), Multan (27‐2‐1935). Fr. Macaire was the last Capuchin chaplain at Multan. Fr. Benedict Cialeo OP, who became the first apostolic prefect of Multan, took over from Fr. Macaire in 1935. During the thirty‐five years that he served as military chaplain he also helped with regular parish work. He worked for a few months as parish priest of Anarkali. He worked in Antoniabad (1918) as assistant parish priest to Fr. Herman. He served as parish priest of Lyallpur from 1918 up to 1921. He visited the villages around Raiwind in 1928. Within three years (1923‐1926) he cared for more than one thousand new converts and some two hundred catechumens in the villages of Paji, Bohliana, Halloki and many more. He wanted to open a Catholic mission station in Raiwind, which was the headquarters and bastion of the Methodist church. The
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deputy commissioner of Lahore, however, refused to permit the purchase of land in the city, to build there a Catholic church and a parish house. He was appointed parish priest of St. Anthony’s church, Empress Road, Lahore on 1‐7‐1940. He was transferred ten years later to Lawrence Road as rector of the cathedral. In both places he cared for the English speaking parishioners. His assistant cared for the Punjabi Christians. During the fifty‐seven years of his missionary life he went only twice on home leave to Belgium, nl. in 1913 and 1927. He was appointed for the second time as rector of the cathedral at the age of 74 years. He was in charge for ten years more. Every Sunday he celebrated two masses with sermon. With the help of his old faithful driver David, he visited his parishioners in his old two‐seater car. The trio, parish priest, driver and car, were all of the same age and very famous in the city of Lahore. It is said that on account of the old age of all three, no spare parts were left over anywhere. He left Lahore for Belgium on 10‐5‐1960 to have a second eye operation, with the hope to be back in Lahore within three months. He took up residence in our friary of Antwerp. When the doctor informed him that nothing could be done for his impaired eye sight he got a psychological set‐back. During the last three weeks of his life he took no food or drink. His bishop of Lahore, Roger Buyse, gave him the sacrament of the sick. He died peacefully in his sleep on 24‐7‐1960. He did not receive his grave in the shadow of the Lahore cathedral, but on the graveyard of Hoboken (Antwerp). He was an excellent military chaplain and even a better parish priest. He could fight like a lion, but he had a heart of a lamb. For all who have known him he will always remain “The Grand Old Man”.
44. Father Alban from Pittem (Alois Veys) He was born on 27‐9‐1876 He entered the Order on 26‐9‐1895 He was ordained a priest on 21‐9‐1901 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐10‐1903 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 7‐4‐1933 He died at Bruges on 12‐11‐1939 After finishing his theological studies he asked and obtained the permission to join a group of four missionaries leaving for Lahore. He left Belgium for Lahore 12‐10‐1903 together with Fr. Gonsalf, Fr. Macaire, Fr. Floribert and Fr. Cajetan. After learning the local languages for two months he started his missionary life at Maryabad on 1‐2‐1904. He was transferred two years later to Adha on 11‐1‐1906 to help Fr. Vincent in his apostolate. He fell ill in October 1907 and went for a three months rest to Dalhousie. Then he returned to Maryabad and from there to Sahowala on 1‐11‐1911. His health deteriorated from bad to worse. He was forced to go on sick leave to Belgium on 5‐1‐1912. Back from home leave on 7‐11‐1912 he returned to Sahowala to work in the villages. He built the lovely church of Kapurwali in 1913. He went back to Maryabad in October 1914 where he took care of two mission stations, Maryabad and Sangla Hill. However, he could not stand the pace for long. He had a complete break‐down on 5‐5‐
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1926 and he went again on sick leave to Belgium. On his return from sick leave he went again to Maryabad where he worked for another six years. He went for the third time on sick leave to Belgium on 8‐3‐1933. Because of the deterioration of his health he did not return to his dear Maryabad where he had spent fifteen years of his missionary life. He passed the last six years of his life in the friary of Bruges, where he passed away on 12‐11‐1939. Notwithstanding his broken health Fr. Alban has always been a very hard worker and a real apostle in the villages around Maryabad.
45. Father Floribert from Mechelen (Joseph Jespers) He was born on 22‐3‐1877 He entered the Order on 30‐9‐1896 He was ordained a priest on 20‐9‐1902 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐10‐1903 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 26‐9‐1911 He died at Herentals on 28‐7‐1943 His first and only appointment after reaching Lahore was Dalhousie. He worked as a professor of theology and assistant to Fr. Victorius, the director of the theological seminary. He always had a poor health during the eight years of his stay at Dalhousie. His health had deteriorated so much on 26‐9‐1911 that he had to leave for Belgium on sick leave. He would never return to the Lahore diocese. He lived for twenty‐five years in the friary of Herentals, where he became assistant parish priest. He was transferred to Antwerp on 30‐8‐1936 as vice procurator of the missions and secretary of the Seraphic work of the H. Masses. He returned to Herentals on 19‐12‐1940, where he died in the friary on 28‐7‐1943. Fr. Floribert could not work very much. He suffered from the work in the Lahore diocese.
46. Father Cajetan from Westkapelle (Leopold Hongenaet) He was born on 20‐6‐1878 He entered the Order on 3‐10‐1897 He was ordained a priest on 6‐6‐1903 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐10‐1903 He died at Amritsar on 30‐6‐1914 He left for the Lahore mission on 12‐10‐1903 soon after his ordination. His first appointment was with Fr. Felix in Khushpur. There he learned and fully adopted the missionary method of Fr. Herman. He visited the Christians in their villages, lived with them and instructed them in the truths of our religion. He cycled with one of the catechists from village to village and cared for the sick. He was transferred to Lyallpur on 25‐1‐1907 after three years of hard work. He was called to Anarkali, Lahore, in June 1912 to replace the ailing Fr. Livin, who went on sick leave to Belgium. When Fr. Livin
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returned in September 1912, Fr. Cajetan was transferred to Sahowala. He travelled again on cycle from village to village to visit the people. Barely after one year was he so exhausted by the work that he had to go on sick leave to Belgium. He returned to Lahore on 24‐4‐1914 and he was posted at Amritsar. He suffered from enteric fever less than two months after his arrival in his new place. He died in Amritsar on 29‐6‐1914. He was buried the next day in the graveyard of Amritsar. Fr. Cajetan has done excellent work as a zealous missionary and a beloved social worker wherever he was posted.
47. Father Victorius from Appeltern (Gerard Banken) He was born on 18‐6‐1848 He entered the Order on 9‐9‐1866 He was ordained a priest on 23‐12‐1871 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1903 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 11‐10‐1911 He died in Rome on 27‐2‐1918 He entered the Order under the name of Fr. Victor in the Dutch‐Belgian province, sixteen years before the separation and the erection of the Belgian province. Before going to the Lahore mission he worked as a lecturer in the Capuchin seminary, as guardian in the friary of Meersel Dreef and as definitor in the Irish province.Fr. Victor was the guardian in Meersel Dreef when the Capuchin friars were chased out of the friary by the French revolutionary guards. They took refuge at “Slikgat”. Fr. Victor returned with his confreres to the friary on 9‐7‐1879 when the buildings of the friary had been purchased by Miss Roelofsen from Antwerp and given back to the Order. Fr. Victor asked and received the permission to go to Trebizonde in 1882, where he served for two years as a parish priest. Then he went to Ireland to be a lecturer in the Irish Capuchin seminary. In the following chapter he was elected a definitor in the newly erected Irish Capuchin province. He left in 1887 he left with Fr. Engelbert for the diocese of Allahabad in India. He worked there for six years. When he got paralyzed he was forced to return to his province in Holland. With the permission of the two provincials he shifted in 1897 from the Dutch province to the newly erected Belgian province and he took the name of Fr. Victorius. He was appointed lecturer of canon law and liturgy in the Capuchin theological seminary. During this time he wrote and published “Manuale Liturgicum” in 1901 and “Juris Compendium” in 1903. He returned to the Lahore mission in 1903 and worked there till 1911. He wrote and published “Manuale Missionaries in 1909 and “A handbook for Catholic chaplains and Missionaries” in 1910. He served as a military chaplain in Dalhousie and Multan (25‐1‐1907). He went with Fr. Felix to Nain Thal to prepare the papers for the beatification of
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bishop Hartmann. He could no longer bear the excessive heat of the summer in 1910. He asked the permission to return to Belgium. Fr. General, Fr. Pacificus of Sejano, called him to Rome on 11‐10‐1911 to work on the revision of our “Ceremoniale Romano‐Seraphicum”. He wrote and published three books in Rome: Compendium praelectionum Juris Canonici P. Piati in 1913, “Celebrantis Socius” in 1913 and Sacrae Liturgicae Promptuarium” in 1914. He became “Censor” of the Liturgical Academy on 15‐11‐1913. He was made a consultant of the Congregation of the Rites on 5‐12‐1917. Fr. Victorius died in Rome on 27‐2‐1918.
48. Father Emmanuel from Beernem (Victor Roets) He was born on 14‐11‐1875 He entered the Order on 27‐9‐1894 He was ordained a priest on 1‐6‐1901 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1903 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 15‐10‐1925 He died in Brugge on 10‐10‐1955 After studying the local languages for one year he was appointed in May 1904 as a professor of St. Anthony’s school, Lahore. He was appointed three years later on 12‐6‐1907 as a military chap‐lain at Jullundur and Amritsar. He was working as assistant parish priest of the cathedral at Lahore on 1‐11‐1911. He accompanied just before the war the sick Fr. Quirin to Belgium on 10‐3‐1914. He went to England during the war of 1914‐1918 and cared for the spiritual needs of the Belgian refugees residing at Reading (England). He returned to Lahore on 4‐9‐1919. When he arrived in Bombay, however, he returned to Bombay with the same ship that had brought him to Bombay. He stayed in our friary St. Clare at Bruges. He left again by boat from Antwerp on 29‐1‐1921 together with Fr .Silvan and Rufin. He arrived in Lahore on 15‐2‐1921. He went to Sialkot as military chaplain on 1‐3‐1921. He became the parish priest of St. Anthony’s church, Lahore, on 18‐10‐1921. Bishop Eestermans and the superior regular asked him to represent Lahore diocese in the international exhibition in the Vatican (Rome) on 15‐10‐1925. He represented all the Capuchin dioceses of India, i.e. Lahore, Simla, Delhi, Agra, Allahabad and Ajmir. He took with him many historical books about the people and mission work in India from the Lahore government library and the diocesan library. Most of these books were later sent to Izegem (Belgium) to build up the mission library in the theological seminary. Fr. Emmanuel remained in the Vatican till the end of the Holy Year. Then he left Rome for the U.S.A. on 26‐7‐1926 where he took over the mission centre of St. Benedict Labre among the Red Indians (Cheyennes tribes). This is where the famous Belgian Jesuit Fr. P. Desmet had worked and died. The Jesuits had given up the
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centre. Only a few Ursuline Sisters remained on the post. Within a few months the long journeys and exceptionally cold weather made him so weak that he was forced to return to Belgium. He went to life in our friary of Bruges. Two years later, he asked his superiors for the permission to go to the new mission in Canada. He left together with Brother Angelic on 24‐9‐1929 and reached St. Boniface on 18 October 1929. Together they started the new mission post of Plumas, Manitoba. The parish was begun by the Capuchins to take care of the many immigrants of different nationalities: Dutch, Flemish, Germans, Hungarians, Rumanians, Spanish, Italian, Czeck and Bohemians. They converted a small school into a church and a parish house. Every Sunday he celebrated Holy Mass for this cosmopolitan‐tan congregation. He visited them during the week at home. He visited in summer the far‐off parishioners by car and in winter on a sledge or on foot. He went from farm to farm to instruct the children and to meet the parents. After one year of working in Plumas he started a new centre at Tenly, some twenty km. away from Plumas. He took over an unused Lutheran church. Fr. Emmanuel was transferred on 21‐1‐1934 to Blenheim and a few months to St. Boniface. He returned to Belgium to rest. On his return to Canada he was posted at Blenheim on 10‐9‐1937 as economist and chaplain of the Ursuline Sisters living at Chatham He visited every fortnight the Belgian colony at Leanington, some 70 km away from Blenheim, and the island of Pelee. On 28‐8‐1943 he became the director of the philosophy at the St. Bonaventura house in St. Boniface and he left for home leave to Belgium on 26‐9‐1947. He was back in Canada in April 1948 and was sent to Princeton in 1948 and St. Boniface. There he cared for the many pilgrims who came to the Lourdes Grotto. He left Canada on 25‐11‐1949 to pass the last years of his life in his native Belgium. He celebrated his golden priestly jubilee in the St. Clare friary of Bruges on 12‐1‐1955. Fr. Emmanuel was always a wanderer, searching for souls for more than fifty years of missionary life. Nowhere could he stay within the confines of a friary. Whatever he did, he did it wholeheartedly and with devotion to his work, wherever he was: either in the Punjab, or in the USA or in Canada. He considered himself in the service of God. This perpetual wanderer died peacefully in our friary of Bruges on 12‐10‐1955.
49. Father Honoré from Voorde (Theodule Dupont) He was born on 5‐6‐1880 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1898 He was ordained a priest on 28‐5‐1904 He left Belgium for Lahore on 7‐12‐1906 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐9‐1920 He died in Brugge on 11‐4‐1925 Fr. Honoré travelled to the Lahore mission together with Frs. Dominic, Anthony, Constant and Br. Ivo. He went to Dalwal to learn Urdu and Punjabi. He became a teacher there in the school. He became sick on 20‐6‐1915. He was appointed military chaplain at Amritsar on 15‐10‐1918. Two years later he suffered a cerebral disease,
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which forced him to resign as chaplain. He went to Dalhousie for rest. He went on sick leave to Belgium on 14‐9‐1920. He died on 12‐4‐1925 in the psychiatric institute of St. Michiels, Bruges.
50. Father Constant from Bogaarden (Jan Baptist Derycke) He was born on 6‐2‐1879 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1898 He was ordained a priest on 28‐5‐1904 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐12‐1906 He died at Sialkot on 6‐8‐1916 On his arrival in Lahore on 25‐1‐1907 he was posted at Khushpur to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. One year later he came to Lahore as a professor in St. Anthony’s school. He was transferred to Adha on 1‐9‐1908, where his real missionary life started. A group of protestant families went to see him in March 1910. He visited first Bholer on the advice of Fr. Deodat. From there he went on to Pasrur. He left his catechist there, asking him to instruct all those who were interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church. Fr. Constant went back to Pasrur soon after this first visit. He remained there in a rented house. He started in and around this city a big conversion movement from the protestant American mission towards the Catholic Church. He went on cycle from village to village to instruct the new catechumens in the Catholic faith. He became the first Catholic priest of two hundred villages around Pasrur. He baptized many thousands of new converts. He ate the food of the poor people and he slept in their villages. He suffered all kinds of persecutions from the protestant padris. He purchased a plot of land on 6‐10‐1914 just outside the city. He started building at once a church, a priest house, and a kitchen with a small store room. Fr. Constant has been the real founder of Pasrur mission station and the first Catholic priest living there. There were officially 1575 Catholic baptized people and 3.800 catechumens in 1915. When enteric fever caused many dead in and around Pasrur in 1916, Fr. Constant cared for his Christian people until he himself was infected with fever. He went to the military hospital in Sialkot and died there on 6‐8‐1916.He was buried in the military graveyard on plot C‐Nr. 2. Fr. Constant was an example of a devoted missionary, giving himself without reserve to his flock. For them he lived, for them he died.
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51. Father Marcian from Paris (Ernest De Clercq) He was born on 25‐4‐1879 He entered the Order on 3‐10‐1897 He was ordained a priest on 6‐6‐1903 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1908 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 30‐4‐1935 He died in the railway station of Brussels on 19‐3‐1953 He worked after his theological studies as a preacher in Izegem and Ciney. On 30‐6‐1908 he asked and obtained the permission from the provincial to work in Lahore diocese. He left Belgium for Lahore together with Frs. Romuald, Herman, Arnold and Capistran. He went first to Dalhousie to learn Urdu on 10‐12‐1908. His first appointment was on 19‐4‐1909 as professor in the school in Dalwal. Five years later he became assistant parish priest at the cathedral on 10‐3‐1914, later parish priest at St. Anthony’s church in November 1915 and Anarkali on 23‐1‐1916. On 21‐4‐1920 he was appointed military chaplain at Dalhousie and from there he went to Jullundur. He went on leave to Belgium in 1923. Back in Lahore on 6‐2‐1924 he replaced Fr. Mathew as acting manager of the school at Dalwal. He became the parish priest and rector of the Lahore cathedral on 19‐1‐1925. He became military chaplain at Dalhousie in 1926 and Jullundur in 1928. Fr. Marcian left Lahore for Belgium on 15‐3‐1935 and became a member of the friary of Ciney. He lived the last twenty years of his life in this friary. When his old confrere missionary Fr. Silvan died in our friary of Bruges he travelled by train from Ciney to Bruges for the funeral. When he arrived in the station of the Midi at Brussels to take the train to Bruges at platform nr. 9, he suffered a heart attack, collapsed and died on the platform in the arms of a ticket collector standing nearby. Fr. Guardian of the friary of Brussels was called and he took the dead body to the friary. The funeral took place at Ciney. Fr. Marcian was an example of a good and happy Capuchin. He himself repeated many times: “I am a happy man in the friary”. He started his apostolic work at Ciney. After twenty‐seven years of hard missionary work he had returned to Ciney to pass the last twenty years of his life. He died on 19‐3‐1953.
52. Father Romuald from Bruges (Anton Neutens) He was born on 14‐8‐1880 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1898 He was ordained a priest on 28‐5‐1904 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1908 He died at Multan on 14‐3‐1920 He arrived in Lahore on 8‐12‐1908 together with Frs. Marcian, Herman, Capistran and Arnold. He was appointed military chaplain at Sialkot Cantt. in April 1909. He started
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working among the Punjabis in Sialkot. He built the church of Lalkurti on 8‐12‐1913 in honour of our Lady. He did much to spread the catholic faith in the villages around Sialkot city. He was transferred to Lyallpur in 1914. He visited regularly more than one hundred villages around the city. Every Sunday he cared for the spiritual needs of the soldiers. During the week he visited the villages of the district. He was transferred to Multan Cantt. after four years of very hard work. He cared for the Europeans and Punjabis with an undivided heart. He visited every month five outstations. He travelled mostly by train to cover the lengthy distances. He was very much loved by his flock, who saw in him a ‘man of God.’ Fr. Romuald felt unwell after a pastoral visit to Khanewal on 2‐3‐1920. Back home in Multan, he remained in the church to whole evening to hear confessions and to celebrate his last holy mass. He felt completely exhausted on reaching his house. He was suffering from high fever. His confrere, Fr. Sigismond, administered him the sacrament of the sick and took him to the military hospital. He died two days later peacefully of pneumonia. His funeral took place with military honour. The protestant military chaplain, Rev. Campbell, preached the eulogy, because “many of my flock considered Fr. Romuald and loved him as a father”. After the funeral service the coffin, covered with the British flag, was taken by six military officers to the military graveyard with the sound of “The last Post” and with the prayers of the six confreres who were present. He was buried in Multan. The real brother of Rev. Campbell, who was full of admiration for the life of Fr. Romuald, became a catholic. Later h entered the congregation of the Redemptorists and was ordained a priest. He aunt of the same Rev. Campbell became an Ursuline Sister.
53. Father Herman from Herentals (Eugene Dubois) He was born on 6‐10‐1881 He entered the Order on 21‐9‐1900 He was ordained a priest on 9‐6‐1906 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1908 He died at Rahmpur on 26‐10‐1920 There are only eleven years between the dates of his arrival and his death Rahimpur. He did wonderful work, however, within this short time through his burning love for those entrusted to his care. On arrival in Lahore his first task was to understand deeply the thinking of the souls of the Punjabi people. Therefore the ate, lived and worked with heart and soul among the poor Punjabis. He smoked their pipe (huka). He listened to their stories, parables and songs till late in the night. He stayed for a short time at Dalhousie where he learned the Punjabi language. He went to Khushpur in September 1909 to be initiated in the missionary work. He worked there for seven years among the Punjabi villagers. He went on horseback from village to village to instruct the new converts and to administer the sacraments to the baptized Catholics. During these six years of stay at Khushpur he built a community of 4.400 baptized and more than 5.000 non‐baptized Catholics. In 1913 he started building a large church at Gojra, a place that
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would become after some years an independent mission station. Fr. Herman took over the pastoral care of the village after the death of Fr. Bernadine on 17‐7‐1914. Exhausted by the excessive heat and the hard work, he was forced to go on sick leave to the Dalhousie hills in May 1915. He was back in Khushpur four months later to continue his work. He was called to Antoniabad, near Okara, in February 1916 to replace Fr. Felix who had been asked by Rome to take over the administration of the Bettiah mission. He followed again the same missionary method of evangelization as in Khushpur. His most famous convert was Francis Anthony, who became the first Punjabi Capuchin priest. He wanted to extend his missionary field after three years of intensive apostolic work at Antoniabad. He took over from the government eight acres of agricultural land near Antoniabad. He distributed this land among the Christian farmers. He called the new settlement “Rahimpur”. He started and founded here a congregation of Punjabi Sisters “The Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order”, nowadays known as the Maryabad Sisters. Fifteen young girls of Rahimpur village (Chak 6) came to live in community in a simple house built by the villagers. They begged in the village for their food. They started very soon instructing the children, teaching them prayers and catechism. Fr. Arsene took the Sisters to Maryabad three months after the death of their founder, Fr. Herman. The diocesan congregation received canonical recognition on 24 June 1922. The first twelve novices made their profession on 26‐6‐1923. Twelve new novices started their novitiate the same day. The work was flourishing, but Fr. Herman had demanded too much from himself. As he came back from another village on horseback at the end of October 1920 he fell extremely ill. The Sisters and the villagers cared for their sick Father, but they were unable to stop the delirium. Fr. Herman was in agony for three days. There was no priest to administer the sacrament of the sick. He died in his mud house, surrounded by his beloved Sisters and parishioners. As soon as the news of his death reached Lahore, his confreres came to Rahimpur and buried him at the side of parish church. When he died he was thirty‐nine years old and had worked less than twelve years as a missionary in the Lahore diocese. Fr. Herman sacrificed his life for his dear Punjabi people whom he loved as a father loves his children. Sixty‐five years later his bones were exhumed on 29‐11‐1985 in the presence of the bishop of Faisalabad and many priests and Sisters, and put in the new church of Rahimpur, Chak 6. His brother wrote a very interesting biography of Fr. Herman in Dutch.
54. Father John Capistran from Antwerp (Emil Miroen) He was born on 4‐6‐1880 He entered the Order on 19‐9‐1902 He was ordained a priest on 23‐8‐1908 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1908 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 10‐5‐1946 He died at Antwerp on 8‐8‐1946
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On his arrival in Lahore on 18‐12‐1908 he went to Dalhousie to study Urdu and Punjabi. He worked as a military chaplain at Dalhousie (1‐11‐1909) Lahore Cantt. (10‐5‐1910) and Ferozepur (1‐10‐1910). He became parish priest of Khushpur On 27‐10‐1911 and Francisabad on 1‐2‐1912. From here he started visiting all the villages around Sargodha city. He went back to Lahore Cantt. on 2‐3‐1912 as military chaplain and parish priest of the Punjabi Christians. He suffered from enteric fever on 12‐12‐1912 and was admitted in the military hospital. He went on sick leave to Dalhousie three months later, and stayed there for six months. He went to Sargodha after a long rest and became the first residential priest at Sargodha. He took a house on rent in the Civil Lines. One year later he caught on 1‐8‐1914 and went to the military hospital of Sialkot Cantt. to recuperate. He built the church of Topkhana during his stay at Sialkot. He was appointed military chaplain at Sialkot on 18‐10‐1921. Fr. General appointed him on 19‐2‐1922 as novice master and superior of the friary at Sardhana (District Meerut India). His health caused him a lot of trouble. He resigned as novice master and superior in November 1923 and he left Meerut and went on sick leave for Belgium. He returned to Lahore on 12‐11‐1927 and went for the third time to Sialkot as military chaplain. He remained in Sialkot till 6‐4‐1946, when he left for Belgium with the intention not to return to the mission. He stayed the last month of his life in the friary of Antwerp. He died of cancer in the clinic of the Sisters of Charity on 8‐8‐1946. Fr. John Capistran had always been during his thirty‐eight of his missionary life an example of a simple and hard working Capuchin, wholeheartedly devoted to the poor Christians of the Punjab.
55. Father Arnold from Brugge (Louis Cordy) He was born on 21‐1‐1884 He entered the Order on 19‐9‐1902 He was ordained a priest on 23‐8‐1908 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐11‐1908 He died at Lahore on 30‐5‐1944 When he reached Lahore on 10‐12‐1908 he went to Dalhousie to study Urdu and Punjabi. He went to Sahowala nine months later on 13‐9‐1909 to be initiated in the apostolic work. He worked very hard but neglected his health. He got enteric fever after four years of work. He became so sick and weak that the doctor advised him to go on sick leave to Belgium. When his superior, Fr. Marcus, asked him what he wanted to do, he answered him: “I will obey, but if I may choose, then I stay.” The superior decided to keep him in the mission and he sent him on sick leave to Dalhousie. He was appointed there as professor of theology and of the local languages for the Capuchin students coming from Belgium.
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Fr. Arnold took over the direction of the catechists’ training school at Adha. For five years he trained young boys to become good catechists and spiritual leaders of their people. He went from Adha to Khushpur on 15‐11‐1918; one year later to Sangla Hill on 4‐11‐1919 and Anarkali on 1‐3‐1921 to care for the spiritual needs of the people. He returned to Dalhousie on 1‐10‐1921 as a military chaplain. After a short home leave in Belgium on 20‐11‐1922 he went back to Sangla Hill on 26‐3‐1923. When the Capuchin novitiate was started at Sardhana (Dt. Meerut) Fr. General asked Fr. Arnold to go there on 28‐11‐1923 as novice master and professor of church history. He was back in the Punjab one year later and was appointed as a teacher in the mission school of Dalwal for a few months. He went back to Sangla Hill and he went to Anarkali (Lahore) on 20‐6‐1928 as parish priest to replace Fr. Hector Catry who had been nominated Bishop of Lahore. He worked as a military chaplain at Multan in 1931. He was appointed secretary to the new bishop on 1‐9‐1932. This was a job he kept till his death in 1944. During the last years of his life he worked very hard to solve the problems of the Catholic press, especially the “Katolik Naqib”. He was the editor of this Catholic magazine for many years. He suffered much during the last ten years of his life, but he never complained. He taken to hospital on 31‐10‐1943, where he peacefully died of a heart attack on 30‐5‐1944.
56. Father Sigismond from Kampenhout (Frans De Coster) He was born on 2‐2‐1883 He entered the Order on 19‐9‐1902 He was ordained a priest on 5‐6‐1909 He left Belgium for Lahore on 5‐10‐1910 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 28‐2‐1928 Very little is known about Fr. Sigismond in the history of the Lahore mission. He was transferred from Khushpur to Lyallpur in February 1914. He was transferred from there to Sargodha in August 1914. For all purposes he had been the founder of the Sargodha mission station. He left Sargodha for Maryabad on 18‐4‐1926. From there he went to Rahimpur, near Okara. He left Lahore for Belgium on 26‐2‐1928. He did not return to the Lahore mission.
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57. Father Stanislas from Borgerhout (Eugene Pauwels) He was born on 9‐5‐1885 He entered the Order on 19‐9‐1902 He was ordained a priest on 5‐6‐1909 He left Belgium for Lahore on 6‐10‐1912 He died at Sialkot on 2‐11‐1944 On arrival at Lahore he went to Dalhousie on 7‐11‐1912 to learn Urdu and Punjabi. Fr. Stanislas has been working among the Punjabis for thirty‐two years, the whole time of his missionary life. He started his apostolic work at Francisabad on 15‐6‐1913. He went to Maryabad from Francisabad to care for the spiritual and temporal needs of the villagers. He had also to care for Sangla Hill mission station. He was transferred to Sahowala on 14‐10‐1914 where he lived for more than twenty‐seven years. He came on a short visit to this place a few months before he was transferred from Sangla Hill to Sahowala. After a long talk with his confrere, he told him jokingly: “If ever I was posted here I would hang myself the next day on that high tree there.” He got transferred there less than one month later.” He passed there the happiest years of his life. He lived in Sahowala without electricity and without a proper access road to the house. He lived all alone most of the twenty‐seven of his stay there. He had opened a small dispensary and the “Doctor Sahib with his “Lal Kitab” became very famous in these days in the villages of Sialkot district. He said that one day he received a very difficult case. He told his patient: “Have a little patience, I will go and consult my “Lal Kitab”. He went off with his breviary walking in the garden. He prayed with his breviary for twenty minutes. Then he came back to the patient and told him the medicine that would cure him. The man came back a few months later, completely cured. He thanked “Doctor Sahib” with a big ‘Kukar’ (Cock) as present. Fr. Stanislas spoke Punjabi perfectly and he knew their customs better than any Punjabi. His confreres could never persuade him to write an article about it, or to read a book. When he came to Lahore for the annual retreat in January 1935 he went to his superior and told him: “I have finished reading the book you gave me last year, and I want to return it to you.” “Very well, said the superior, but what book did I give you?” Fr. Stan, as he was called, took out his old liturgical calendar of readings of the previous year and gave it back to his superior. He went for a few weeks of rest to Maryabad on 1‐2‐1939. His bad health and old age made life miserable for him. While he was waiting for the train in the railway station of Begowala on 15‐10‐1944 he saved at his own risk a mother and child from a deadly accident. The train nearly had crushed mother and child to death. The deputy commissioner of Sialkot, in the name of the Indian government, awarded him for his heroic act with a Catholic Encyclopedia. He left his dear Sahowala in October 1941 on account of heart trouble and came to live
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in nearby Sialkot Cantt. He died there suddenly on all souls day on 2‐11‐1944. Fr. Stanislas never went back on home leave to Belgium during his thirty‐two years of missionary life.
58. Father Rupert from Turnhout (Jaak Verspaandonck) He was born on 2‐4‐1885 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1904 He was ordained a priest on 10‐6‐1911 He left Belgium for Lahore on 16‐10‐1912 He died at Khushpur on 30‐10‐1918 Fr. Rupert was the nephew of Fr. Eduard, the old superior of the Lahore mission. After studying Urdu and Punjabi after a few months at Dalhousie, he was appointed as a director of the orphanage near St. Francis church at Anarkali, Lahore, on 27‐1‐1913. He was transferred one year later on 7‐2‐1914 to Khushpur to help Fr. Herman in the apostolic work. He found in him an excel‐lent teacher to show him, not by words by deeds of his own life and example, how a Capuchin could become a good missionary. When Fr. Herman left Khushpur two years later on 23‐1‐1916 for Antoniabad, Chak 6, near Okara, Fr. Rupert took over as parish priest of Khushpur and some two hundred villages in the district. Fr. Rupert remained in Khushpur till his death on 30‐10‐1918. He devoted himself completely to the flock entrusted to his care. He was at the disposal of his flock day and night. When the epidemic of influenza broke out in Khushpur in 1918 he himself cared day and night for the many victims of the epidemic. More than four hundred became sick within one week, and many of died. He himself fell victim of his zeal and charity. He died of influenza on 30‐10‐1918. He was buried at the graveyard of Khushpur. Fr. Rupert has been working in the Lahore diocese for only six years. He has, however, won in these six years the love and hearts of those for whom he has been working and given his life. He realized in his life what is written in the gospel “Nobody has greater love than the one who gives his life for his flock.”
59. Father Arthur from Bruges (Joseph Van der Schueren) He was born on 28‐2‐1885 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1904 He was ordained a priest on 10‐5‐1911 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐1‐1913 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 19‐2‐1951 He died at Bruges on 5‐6‐1962 After his theological studies he asked and obtained the permission to work as a missionary in India. He wrote a few years later in one of his very few letters to Belgium: “During my formation I never thought of becoming a missionary. When Fr. Evarist, our provincial, asked in one of his letters for six volunteers to work in our
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Lahore mission, my heart started beating very hard. I thought the whole night about it. I gave my name the next morning. The farewell party took place at Izegem on 12‐1‐1913. The six volunteers left by train the next day for Genoa (Italy): Fr. Arsene, Fabian, William, Theodore, Anastas and Arthur. They reached Lahore on 6‐2‐1913. Fr. Arthur and Arsene were sent to Sialkot to learn Urdu and Punjabi. This was the time when the first real conversion movement in Lahore diocese had started around the different centers: Pasrur, Narowal, Sar‐godha, Khushpur and Francisabad. Fr. Arthur was sent after a few months to Multan as visiting chaplain. He visited every month seven places where he offered H. Mass and administered the sacraments. He was transferred to Amritsar as military chaplain on 1‐8‐1914. A few months later he took over as parish priest of Anarkali (Lahore). He went on 23‐1‐1916 to Khushpur to replace Fr. Herman who was sick. He worked very hard in Khushpur ilaqa for eight years. He cared for the influenza victims during the months that this terrible epidemic raged in the village. He himself was infected with influenza but survived. He went to the Dalhousie hills for three months to restore his health. He became the parish priest and mayor of Khushpur village in 1921. He succeeded Fr. Rupert who had died. He was transferred to Sangla Hill three years later on 10‐12‐1924 and from there to Rahimpur (Okara) on 2‐14‐1925. He went to Sialkot on 1‐11‐1928. He was asked to take over as parish priest and mayor of Francisabad on 16‐3‐1930. After two months he became sick and exhausted by the heat. He was forced to take two months of complete rest at Lyallpur. When his health was restored he was asked to go to Maryabad as parish priest and mayor. He was always on the move as usual. Fr. Arthur received the nickname of ‘Sotawala’ father, because he always had a big stick with him to chase away the many stray dogs and to use for the children. Fr. Arthur, aged and sick, went back to Belgium in 1951 in the company of Fr. Provincial (Fr. Martiniaan) and his secretary, Fr. Ildefons. Fr. Arthur passed the last years of his life in the friary of Bruges. He passed away on 5‐6‐1962. The life motto of Fr. Arthur was: “Domine, da mihi nesciri, et pro nihilo reputari”, which means: “Lord, grant that I may be ignored, and be counted for nothing.” He did not talk much but was always ready for any service. During the thirty‐eight years of his missionary life he never returned to Belgium for a rest. He lived without any comfort in all these years. He had no electricity in his house; he never knew the luxury of an electric fan in summer; he had no car or motorcycle to travel; he went to the villages on horse‐back or on cycle. In Khushpur, Maryabad and Francisabad he lived the poor and quiet life of the Punjabi villagers for whom he cared. He was the Dangwala Father” (Father with the stick) for his Punjabi people and his confreres knew him as “Tuurke”. The Punjabi people loved him, but they also knew that he could be very strict, the “Dangwala Father”. Fr. Arthur had very few things of his own, i.e. a few books and his personal clothes. The whole of his life, at home in Belgium as well as in the Punjab, he lived a poor, simple life of his model and founder, St. Francis of Assisi.
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60. Father Arsene from Berlare (Basil Roggeman) He was born on 31‐12‐1886 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1904 He was ordained a priest on 10‐6‐1911 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐1‐1913 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1933 up to 1949 He died at Sialkot on 30‐3‐1982 When Fr. Evarist, the provincial of the Belgian province, made an appeal for six volunteers to work in the Lahore diocese, Fr. Arsene volunteered against the explicit will of his father. He left Bel‐gium on 12‐1‐1913 with five other confreres and arrived at Lahore 6‐2‐1913. He went to Sialkot to learn Urdu and Punjabi. This was the time of the first big conversion movement around Sialkot and Khushpur. He worked at Sahowala on 15‐12‐1913, Sialkot on 3‐6‐1914 and Khushpur on 1‐8‐1914. He succeeded Fr. Herman who had left Khushpur for Rahimpur (Okara). At the death of Fr. Herman in October 1920 he went to Rahimpur and Antoniabad to take over the pastoral work of late Fr. Herman. He tried hard to solve the financial problems at Rahimpur. With the consent of the bishop he arranged to transfer the congregation of the Indian Sisters, started by Fr. Herman, from Rahim‐pur to Maryabad. He preached the retreat of the same Sisters on 24‐6‐1922 and accepted twelve in the novitiate twelve new girls of Okara region. Thanks to his efforts the new diocesan congregation became a good and solid administration, which helped much to obtain official recognition. After a short stay in Lyallpur in 1928 and Montgomery in 1923 he returned to Rahimpur on 25‐2‐1928. He went to Belgium for a rest on 15‐4‐1930. Back in Lahore at the end of 1930 he was sent to Lyallpur. He was appointed superior regular of the Lahore mission three years later on 14‐2‐1933. He brought the missionary work of the diocese to an extraordinary development during his thirteen years as superior regular. He came to live in the bishop’s residence at Lahore, where he built in July 1935 above the dining room a wing of three rooms for the superior regular of the Lahore mission. He became the right hand of bishop Catry. He always visited and helped his confreres mis‐sionaries in their work. He helped in finances to run the famous ‘first communion committees’, which helped so much in the religious instruction and formation of the Punjabi converts. He helped his confreres to build more churches and schools in the villages all over the Punjab. He helped them also during the riots in 1947 whenever and wherever they were in danger. He went on home leave for the last time on 24‐3‐1949. He made a vow that he would not return to Belgium anymore, if his brother received the grace of conversion before his death. Back in Pakistan at the end of 1949 he passed the last thirty‐two years of his long missionary life at Adha. He celebrated very quietly his golden and diamond jubilees. He always helped the Maryabad Sisters at Adha in the formation and the management of
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the school and boarding. He was the ‘Old wise Man’ for the parishioners. He was made a ‘Commander of the Order of Leopold II’ in 1977 on the occasion of his seven‐five years of religious life as a Capuchin. He became increasingly deaf and blind during the last year of his life. His mind, however, very sharp. He identified himself completely with the Punjabi people whom he considered his brothers and sisters. As a special favour he asked to be buried, not as the rich people in a box, but as the poor Punjabi people in a piece of cloth according to the local customs. On the last days of his life he was taken from Adha to Bethania hospital of Sialkot. He died there very peacefully on 30‐3‐1982 at 9 a.m. at the age of ninety‐six years, seventy a priest and missionary. His funeral took place at Adha where he had been living for the last thirty‐three years. He has been buried in a simple cloth in the presence of Cardinal Cordeiro, 4 bishops, some 100 priests and Sisters, and more than 2000 Christians. His grave is in the front of the church at Adha. May the great guru of the Christians rest in peace!
61. Father Fabian from Meerle (Jan Faes) He was born on 7‐6‐1885 He entered the Order on 13‐9‐1906 He was ordained a priest on 1‐6‐1912 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐1‐1913 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 13‐5‐1963 He died at Meersel‐Dreef on 17‐11‐1969 Fr. Fabian was the elder brother of Fr. Rufin and the uncle of Fr. Liberius, and the nephew of bishop Eestermans. On arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to finish theological studies and to learn Urdu and Punjabi. He received via Fr. General from Rome the papers of ‘missionarius apostolicus’ (nr. 2403/1912). His first appointment was Maryabad on 13‐11‐1913 as a helper of Felix, who introduced him to the missionary work among the Punjabi people. This was the time of the first real conversion movement among the Punjabi lower caste people in the diocese of Lahore. He visited every week Burianwala, Ratti Tibi and some twenty other villages. When Fr. Felix started the new foundation of Antoniabad, near Okara, Fr. Fabian took over the work at Maryabad. He was transferred on 15‐10‐1914 to Sangla Hill to replace Fr. Deodat. There he had to visit, on horse‐back, more than one hundred villages around Sangla Hill. He contracted malaria fever in July 1916 and he went to Maryabad to recuperate. He returned to Sangla Hill after one month of sick leave at Dalhousie to continue his apostolic work in the villages. He ate the same food as the poor Christians, once in the morning and once in the evening. The food was sometimes so strongly spicy that he could not eat it. When Fr. Constant died in Pasrur of typhoid fever (11‐9‐1916) he was sent there to take over the work. He had as residence only two small rooms attached to the chapel. Fr. Superior allowed Fr. Fabian to build a verandah around the rooms and to improve the roof of the building. He felt very lonely in the beginning in this new place. In 1920 he shifted to a new building constructed by Br. Ivo. Fr. Superior asked him to initiate the new missionaries, who had come from Belgium, to the missionary work. These
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eight years, from 1916 till 1924, were the happiest years of his missionary life. There were also many difficulties and disappointments. He built up a flourishing centre of Catholic life thanks to his hard and persevering efforts. He witnessed twice the deadly disease of the plague from during the years of 1916 and 1924. He was affected by typhoid fever in 1917 which nearly sent him to the grave. The Spanish influenza raged everywhere in 1918. It caused many deaths. This was also the time of political agitations against English colonialism in 1919. He started a ‘Catholic Union’ and a primary school in Pasrur city and in the village of Jabboke. His main work, however, always remained his visits to the villages. He first used a camel and a tent. Later he used a Tonga and horse for his transportation. While in Pasrur he started the work of the ‘committees’ in preparation for baptism and first holy communion. This method of apostolic work, which was financially backed by the superior regular, has been a great help to deepen the faith of the new converts. Fr. Fabian visited by 1924 two hundred and eighteen villages around Pasrur. There were 2928 baptized Catholics and 3115 catechumens. He also visited from Pasrur some villages around Narowal city. He prepared the grounds for a new mission station over there fifteen years later. He purchased a plot of land near the Tehsil of Narowal. While he was building a church over there the plague victimized many people in the city. His uncle, bishop Eestermans, came to bless the new church on 21‐10‐1924. The bishop announced to the faithful that from this date onwards Narowal would be considered a separate mission station. Fr. Roger came to stay there two months later as the first resident priest of Narowal. On 4‐12‐1924 Fr. Fabian was transferred to Khushpur as parish priest and mayor of the village. This village had been founded and built by Fr. Felix. Some ten thousand Catholics were living in Khushpur and two hundred villages around it. Eight catechists assisted the parish priest in his work. Some Christians had mortgaged their land to Hindus to redeem their mortgages. Fr. Fabian started a cooperative bank. He started with the help of the Sisters of Charity a school of embroidery for girls, another school for boys and girls and a hospital, all under the care of the Belgian Sisters of charity. He purchased a plot of land in Gojra and built a church on it. Fr. Fabian was transferred on 4‐7‐1928 from Khushpur to Francisabad, where he replaced the old Fr. Philip. He contracted pneumonia during the severe winter of 1928‐1929. The Sisters cared for him but could not cure him. Fr. Fabian went on sick leave to Belgium on 14‐4‐1930 together with Fr. Arsene. He returned six months later to Lahore with Fr. Arsene and five new missionaries. Fr. Fabian went to Pasrur on 23‐11‐1930, a place he knew very well. Three months later, however, the bishop asked him to go to Antoniabad near Okara to solve the financial problems of Chak 6 and Chak 10. He started in both the chaks a primary school. The English governor, however, forced him to close both schools. Antoniabad was handed over the newly founded diocese of Multan, which was given to the care of the Roman Dominican Fathers.
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Fr. Fabian went to Anarkali, Lahore, as parish priest of the Punjabi Christians. The Anarkali parish was divided in two parts: Fr. Prudent took under his care the eight hundred Catholic families living near the railway station along St. Anthony’s parish church; Fr. Fabian cared for the four hundred Catholic families living in the old city along the Anarkali parish church. Fr. Fabian worked for more than ten years (1935‐1946) to build up this parish of the Punjabi community at Anarkali. They all belonged to the Chura caste and the Balmiki caste. He cared for more than fifteen hundred families within ten years. He started a ‘Catholic Union’ and the third order of St. Francis to ameliorate the local and religious condition of his converts. He paid regular visits to the patients in Mayo hospital and two other hospitals. He cared for St. Francis middle school and boarding for boys, the St. Joseph middle school with boarding for girls and the Sisters of Charity Convent. So many responsibilities of the parish became too much for him at his age. He asked for a transfer and was sent to Amritsar as military chaplain on 15‐5‐1946 to replace Fr. John Capistran who had recently died. The year 1947 was called ‘the year of calamity and misery. He witnessed during this year the killings of thousands of people in the city of Amritsar and surrounding villages. Four million Muslim refugees passed through Amritsar on their way to Paki‐tan. As many Hindu and Sikh refugees came from Pakistan to India. He went for a rest on home leave on 19‐6‐1951. As it became increasingly difficult to cross the border between India and Pakistan, the part of the Lahore diocese situated in India was entrusted to the English Capuchins and formed the new Apostolic Prefecture of Jullundur. Fr. Fabian handed over the Amritsar mission to the English Capuchins on 14‐1‐1953 and went to Lahore. He was appointed two weeks later to the new St. Joseph parish, in the Civil Lines in Gujranwala. He lived together with Fr. Fidentian in a rented house on the Daska Road, opposite the Tehsil. He cared for the spiritual needs of St. Mary’s school and the Sisters of Charity. He cared every month for the one‐day instruction of the twenty‐four catechists of Gujranwala district. He was transferred six months later to Sheikhupura as superior of the house. Fr. Frank was murdered in Maryabad on 2 November 1953. The bishop asked Fr. Fabian to replace him as parish priest and mayor of the village. He held both the jobs for more than ten years. He resigned on the occasion of his golden priestly jubilee on 23‐10‐1962 as mayor and parish priest of Maryabad and went back to Belgium. He passed the last seven years of his life in the friary of Meersel‐Dreef. He celebrated in 1965 his diamond jubilee of religious life. He died peacefully at Meersel‐Dreef on 17‐11‐1969. Fr. Fabian has been working for full fifty years to build up the church in the Lahore diocese. He returned only twice to Belgium for a rest. His life work has been the
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‘committees’ in preparation for baptism and first holy communion, which he started as a young missionary in Pasrur in 1921. He has deepened through this new method of evangelization the faith of the Punjabi converts in the young church of Lahore.
62. Father Willem from Bruges (Petrus Van Meenen) He was born on 26‐08‐1885 He entered the Order on 13‐9‐1905 He was ordained a priest on 1‐6‐1912 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐1‐1913 He died at Lahore on 29‐1‐1978 The farewell party of six missionaries for Lahore took place at Izegem on 12‐1‐1913. These missionaries were the following: Frs. Arthur, Arsene, Fabian, Willem, Theodore and Anastas. The group travelled via Genoa and Bombay and arrived in Lahore two months later. He passed the first month in Dalhousie to learn the languages. He was sent to Sahowala on 10‐11‐1913 and from there to Adha in December 1914, where he would work for more than thirty‐seven years. He went on sick leave to Belgium in May 1929. He was back in Adha on 27‐1‐1931. His second home leave was two years later. Fr. Willem was a gifted horse rider. He liked, for relaxation, to go to hunt wild boar along the river and the canals. When the Minor Seminary was started on Masson Road, Lahore, he joined on 11‐7‐1951 the staff, first as professor and later as the spiritual director of the seminary. Fr. Emmerick, the superior regular, appointed him as his private secretary, first at the bishop’s house, and later, when the superior shifted to the new residence, he went with him to Gulberg. He regularly visited the patients in the United Christian Hospital, the Ganga Ram hospital, and occasionally in other hospitals. He celebrated his golden priestly jubilee on 1‐7‐1962. He celebrated a few years later his diamond jubilee of religious life. The Belgian king conferred on him on this occasion, the medal of “Knight of the Order of Leopold II”. He suffered a heart attack on 29‐1‐1973 and was taken to the U.C.H. He died peacefully two hours later in the hospital. He was buried the same day on the graveyard on Jail Road. He was ninety‐three years old and a missionary in the Punjab for sixty‐five years.
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63. Father Theodore from Kampenhout (Joseph De Coster) He was born on 14‐8‐1886 He entered the Order on 13‐9‐1905 He was ordained a priest on 1‐6‐1912 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐1‐1913 He died at Maryabad on 28‐10‐1918 He is the brother of Fr. Sigismond, missionary in the Punjab. He first worked for a few months in the orphanage of Anarkali (Lahore). Then he went to Sangla Hill and from there to Lyallpur. He spent himself completely during the influenza epidemic caring for the sick. Feeling unwell he went to Maryabad, hoping that the loving care of his brother priest and of the Sisters would restore him to good health. He died, however, in Maryabad two weeks later. He was known as a saintly priest and a very hardworking missionary.
64. Father Anastas from Oedelem (Karel Maenhout) He was born on 4‐3‐1888 He entered the Order on 13‐9‐1905 He was ordained a priest on 1‐6‐1912 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐1‐1913 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 26‐3‐1949 He died at Bruges on 19‐11‐1963 On arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to learn Urdu. His first appointment was at Khushpur on 6‐11‐1913. Six months he went to Anarkali (Lahore) for a few months and then to the school of Dalwal. He assisted Fr. Mathew for eight years in the management of the school and boarding. He went on home leave to Belgium on 20‐11‐1922. During his seven years of stay in Belgium he worked as a professor in the Seraphic Seminary of Bruges. He returned to Lahore on 29‐10‐1929, in the company of Fr. Ludolf. He was appointed manager of the Anarkali School and boarding. He went to Dalwal four months later to replace Fr. Mathew who went on home leave. He returned to Anarkali on 9‐11‐1938 as manager of the school and boarding. He worked for many years in this school. Fr. Anastas has worked in the schools for the education of the Christian boys the whole of his thirty‐six years of his missionary life. He was allowed to return to Belgium at his own request on 24‐3‐1949. He lived in the friary of Bruges and died there on 19‐11‐1963.
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65. Father Simon from Ronse (Arthur De Keyser) He was born on 28‐2‐1887 He entered the Order on 25‐9‐1903 He was ordained a priest on 21‐5‐1910 He left Belgium for Lahore on 10‐11‐1913 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in 1919 He died at Louvain on 30‐1‐1928 On arrival in Lahore he went to Francisabad to learn Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was at Lahore Cantt. on 1‐3‐1914 as visiting chaplain of Multan. He took up residence at Multan Cantt. five months later. He went to Dalwal School one year later to replace Fr. Honoré, who became sick and was taken to hospital. He took over as manager of St. Francis School and boarding at Anarkali (Lahore) on 1‐9‐1916. Suffering from tuberculosis on 3‐3‐1920 he was taken to the sanatorium of Dalhousie to restore his health. After a few months in the sanatorium he was sent to Belgium for treatment. He died at Louvain on 30‐1‐1928 at the age of forty‐one years. He has worked in the Lahore diocese for seven years.
66. His Excellency Mgr. Hector Catry from Ledegem Fifth Bishop of Lahore Born on 27‐10‐1889 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1907 He was ordained a priest on 6‐6‐1914 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1919 He became the fifth bishop of Lahore on 28‐10‐1928 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 16‐4‐1946 He resigned as bishop of Lahore on 18‐7‐1946 He died in Izegem on 18‐3‐1972 Just before world war 1914‐1918, Fr. Hector completed his military service. On 10‐8‐1918 he was taken prisoner of war near Mechelen. During the four years of the war he served as a male nurse in the hospital of Louvain. On 23‐4‐1919 he received the permission for the Lahore mission. The fare‐well party for 13 missionaries for the Lahore and Congo missions took place in the friary of Antwerp on 17‐11‐1919. Frs. Hector, Theofane, Guido, Gothard and Calasans arrived in Lahore on 4‐1‐1920. Fr. Hector went for four months to Dalhousie to learn Urdu and Punjabi. In April 1920 he arrived in Anarkali (Lahore), where he started his missionary work. He cared for the parish and St. Francis School with the boarding. After one year he was transferred on 1‐3‐1921 to Sangla Hill to replace the sick Fr. Arnold. On 30‐1‐1922 he was sent to Dalwal School as a professor. In 1923 he became ill and went on sick leave to Dalhousie. After four months of rest he was again in Anarkali as the parish priest. (1‐10‐1923). Four years later, he was infected with smallpox and was admitted for five weeks as a patient at the famous hospital for infectious diseases at Balal Ganj, Lahore.
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He succeeded Bishop Eestermans on 28‐03‐1928 as the fifth bishop of Lahore. To prepare himself to take on the heavy burden of the diocese, Fr. Hector retired for six weeks to Dalhousie. On 28‐10‐1928 he was consecrated a bishop in the Lahore cathedral by Mgr. A. Kanealy, archbishop of Simla. Two years later he went “at limina” to Rome, and from there on home to Belgium. Fr. Felix accompanied him. On 2‐12‐1930, he returned to his diocese of Lahore in the company of Brother Raphael. On 27‐12‐1937 Lahore diocese was divided. The Italian Dominicans officially took over the southern part of the diocese which became the Apostolic of Prefecture of Multan. In 1938 the whole diocese of Lahore celebrated its GOLDEN JUBILEE. – On 17‐4‐1946 bishop went on home leave. While he was in Belgium he resigned as bishop of Lahore on 18‐7‐1946. He became titular bishop of Semta on 24‐7‐1946. During his twenty years as bishop he encouraged the great conversion movement through‐out the diocese, especially in the Kasur, Gujranwala and Sialkot districts. The diocese was divided a second time in 1939. The districts of Sargodha, Shahpur, Gujrat and Jhelum were handed over to Rawalpindi diocese. From 1946 till his death in 1972 he lived in retirement in our friary at Izegem. He died in his sleep on 18‐3‐1972. He had a great devotion for our Lady. During his years of stay at Izegem, he went every year on pilgrimage to Lourdes. He went many times to Dadizele to venerate our Lady there. He spoke Urdu and Punjabi perfectly. Through the promotion of refresher courses and monthly instructions he prepared the catechists to assist the parish priests in the spiritual work all over the diocese. In Liturgical ceremonies he was solemn and “his Lordship” was the perfect prince of the Church. He was a good man, a holy priest and a very hard‐working missionary. He laid the foundations of the work on which the missionaries would go on building the church in Lahore diocese. He has sown the seed, others are reaping the harvest.
67. Father Theophane from Antwerp (Eduard Van Hoeyweghen) He was born on 1‐7‐1887 He entered the Order on 25‐9‐1908 He was ordained a priest on 25‐4‐1915 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1919 He died at Lahore on 13‐6‐1968 He worked among the Belgian refugees in England during the First World War from 1916 till 1919. Fr. Theophane asked and obtained on 12‐9‐1915 the permission from his superiors to go to India as a missionary. He received a ‘laisser passer’ document from the Belgian consul at Maastricht (Holland) on 29‐9‐1915 that says “allant á la mission catholique belge du Punjab (Indes Anglaises) par l’Angleterre, la France et l’Italie.’ His luggage consisted only of his breviary, an umbrella and forty‐two Belgian francs. He accompanied on 5‐2‐1919 a large group of refugees back to Belgium. He returned to England for six months. He left for India with the first‐post war group of five missionaries. They reached Lahore on 4‐1‐1920. During his first year of his
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missionary life he worked in Multan Cantt., Sialkot (14‐4‐1920) Ferozepur (24‐1‐1921), Lyallpur (1‐3‐1921) and Sialkot. He became the inspector of the mission schools in the Lahore diocese from May 1922 till 1935 to replace Fr. Vincent who was taken ill. He was transferred to Dalhousie on 1‐10‐1922. He came to Lahore five years later (13‐10‐1929) as rector of the cathedral. He went for the first time to Belgium for a rest in 1931. He returned back to Lahore together with Fr. Donatus, the provincial of the Belgian Capuchin province. He took over as parish priest of St. Anthony’s. He built a grotto in the church com‐pound in remembrance to the late parish priest Fr. Theodule. Fr. Theofane became famous as a preacher of sermons and retreats. The bishop made him editor of ‘Catholic News’. He kept up for thirty years this local weekly paper, with all the news, good and bad, of the diocese. He went on 5‐4‐1936 to the bishop’s house as rector of the cathedral and parish priest of the English speaking community. He was deeply involved in ‘Catholic Association’. He was the secretary and treasurer of the Marian club for the youth of the parish. He animated the devotion to St. Anthony and to our Lady in the parish. He introduced the famous thirteen Tuesdays before the feast of St. Anthony. In the cathedral he put above the altar of St. Anthony the very beautiful stained glasses, which are still there today. He had his third home leave to Belgium on 18‐4‐1950. Back in Lahore he was asked by the bishop to start the St. Mary’s Minor Seminary at Masson Road, Lahore. The blessing and inauguration took place on 12‐6‐1951. The seminary started with four students and a staff of three professors: Fr. Gothard was appointed as rector, Fr. William and Theofane. Fr. Theofane acted as treasurer and professor of English. He left the seminary at the age of seventy‐seven on 19‐8‐1963 and he resigned as editor of ‘Catholic News’. He asked to pass his last days in the bishop’s house, where he had been living for so many years. His health was deteriorating, his eye‐sight got weak and his heart gave him trouble. He suffered a psychological depression in April 1968. He died peacefully on 13‐6‐1968, the feast of his beloved St. Anthony. Fr. Theophane, small in size, was called the ‘big troubadour of God and St. Anthony’. The whole of his life was spent among the English speaking community. He had a good sense of humour. He liked to tease the young missionaries who were forced to go to Dalhousie on sick leave. As parish priest of St. Anthony’s church and the cathedral he was day and night at the disposal of his parishioners. He answered every sick call, and he helped the poor as much as he could. He liked to preach and his sermons were to the point. As editor of “Catholic News” he was very famous, not only in Lahore, but all over Pakistan. He put in his paper articles “only for men” or “ladies only”, because he knew that, in this way all would read that article. His heart remained very young and his mind sharp. For his grave he made this epigram:
His lies the old beggar, now silent and still But from God in heaven, he begs for us still.
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68. Father Guido from Egem (Arthur Van Ackere) He was born on 21‐2‐1890 He entered the Order on 25‐9‐1908 He was ordained a priest on 2‐5‐1915 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1919 He died at Sialkot on 23‐6‐1980 He was the real brother of Fr. David, a missionary in Zaire Fr. Guido left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1919 with the first group of missionaries after the war of 1914‐1918. They reached Lahore on 4‐1‐1920. He never went back to Belgium on home leave, i.e. from 1920 till 1980. He learned Urdu and Punjabi for three months at Anarkali. He went to Khushpur on 14‐4‐1920 where he was initiated in the mission work. From there he went successively to Narowal on 29‐10‐1925, to Khushpur on 14‐6‐1928, to Sangla Hill in 1933, to Maryabad in 1950, to Gujranwala St. Francis and back to Sangla Hill on 23‐1‐1953. He remained in Sangla Hill for twenty‐two years till 1975. He was transferred to Maryabad on 1‐1‐1976 where he lived for four more years. Sick and elderly he was taken to Bethania hospital where he died on 23‐6‐1980. During the eighty years of his missionary life in the Punjab, he always remained the “Padri Sahib of the poor”. He worked for most of these years in the villages around Sangla Hill and Maryabad where he was called everywhere “the big Baba”. He always travelled on cycle, a cycle as old as himself. He administered until the end of his life two sacraments the two sacraments of baptism and marriage. He was known by his parishioners as “the Prophet”, who always tried to predict the exact date of the end of the world. He prophesied about God and Magog, about the three dark days preceding the second coming of the Lord and the big calamities in the last month of August before the destruction of the world. He knew all the old prophecies and the last predictions of the new prophets of our times. Fr. Guido lived a life of poverty and humility in the spirit of St. Francis, as a real servant of the poor and the needy. He celebrated in Sangla Hill his golden jubilee of religious life on 13‐2‐1958. He came to Lahore to celebrate in the cathedral his diamond jubilee as a Capuchin on 25‐10‐1969. The Belgian government made him a “Ridder in the Kroonorde” (A Knight in the Order of the Crown” on 15‐11‐1973. He celebrated his diamond jubilee as a priest on 15‐7‐1975. The next day he was transferred to Maryabad as a resting priest. His old beloved parishioners came to Maryabad from far and near to see their “Old Baba”. They considered him a prophet and came to receive his blessings. He was feeling unwell in June 1980. Fr. Superior took him to Bethania hospital in Sialkot. He died there peacefully on 23‐6‐1980 at the blessed age of ninety years. His funeral took place at Adha, where he is buried in front of the church.
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Fr. Guido was a man of prayer. He was “The wadda Pir” and “The prophet of God” for Christians and Muslims alike. He will always be remembered as the apostle of Sangla Hill. In Maryabad he is known as “The Prophet of the end of the World”.
69. Father Gothard from Izegem (Michel Daenens) He was born on 4‐11‐1890 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1909 He was ordained a priest on 11‐6‐1916 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1919 He died at Lahore on 22‐11‐1974 He was granted the permission to work as a missionary in Lahore diocese on 23‐4‐1919. Thirteen missionaries for the Punjab and for the Congo receive the missionary cross in the Capuchin church of Antwerp on 7‐11‐1919. The four new missionaries for Lahore left Belgium on 28‐11‐1919 via Switzerland and Italy (Venice) for Bombay. They arrived in Lahore on 4‐1‐1920. Fr. Gothard and Hector were appointed parish priests of Anarkali and surrounding ilaqa. Fr. Gothard became sick after four months of hard work and was forced to take complete rest in the hills of Dalhousie. He fell there from a rock and broke his leg. Three weeks after returning to Anarkali he contracted typhoid fever and was admitted in Mayo hospital for four weeks. Fr. Gothard was sent to Sialkot in November 1920 to recuperate. He learned the Punjabi language during this period of rest. He was transferred to Pasrur in the beginning of 1921 as an assistant to Fr. Fabian. Under the guidance of Fr. Fabian he polished his technique and working program among the villagers for the rest of his fifty years of missionary life. He became here a “missionary ad paganos”. He started and organized with Fr. Fabian the famous “first communion committees” in the church compound of Pasrur. The new method of evangelization, strongly recommended and financially backed by the superior regular, will be for many year to come the method followed all over the diocese with the object of in‐creasing the faith and religious knowledge of the new converts. He was transferred to Sangla Hill in March 1922 to replace Fr. Hector. After a few days, how‐ever, he became sick and was taken to Mayo hospital in Lahore. He had fallen from his horse on a visit to a certain village. Knowing the way home he went back without its jockey. The Christians went to search for him and after a few hours they found him lying on the side of the road, bleeding from his right ear. This was the reason for his remaining semi deaf for the rest of his life. He was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. in April 1922, in charge of the Punjabi Christians from Jammu up to Gujranwala and Hafizabad. Fr. Gothard was the first Catholic priest visiting Gujranwala‐la, a stronghold of the Protestant American Presbyterian Church. He built a church and a catechist house in the centre of the city (Dogri basti). He purchased a plot of land on the Hafizabad road (out‐side the city) with the intention of building there a new mission centre for this district. He went on home leave to Belgium on 27‐9‐1928 and collected enough money to build a church in the city and the priest house on the Hafizabad Road. Back in Sialkot on 29‐3‐1929 he started at once the
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construction work of a beautiful church in Gujranwala city notwithstanding the violent opposition of the Protestants of the place. The Belgian provincial, Fr. Donatus, blessed the church on 2‐3‐1932 and approved the plans for a new mission centre on the Hafizabad Road, outside Gujranwala city. Fr. Francis Xavier, the assistant of Fr. Gothard at Sialkot, went to live in the servants quarters and supervised the construction work of the priest house and a small church. Fr. Gothard started the “Indian Catholic Union” in Sialkot and built the schools of Attari, Lalkurti and Topkhana. He took up a special training course for catechists. This training school was later transferred to Jullundur under the supervision of Fr. Filip. It was closed down during the world war. Fr. Gothard was asked to replace Fr. Boudewijn in Ferozepur when he suddenly died on 25‐4‐1942. He served the military as chaplain and the local population as their beloved “Padri Sahib”. He was assisted in his pastoral work by Fr. Ronald D’Souza, a young priest who had just finished his theological studies at the papal seminary of Kandy (Sri Lanka). The partition of the subcontinent took place on 15‐8‐1947. Fr. Gothard put himself completely at the service of the refugees, Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs alike. Fr. Gothard returned to Sialkot Cantt., where he lived with Fr. Francis Xavier. Fr. Got‐hard fell ill during the summer of 1949 and went on sick leave to Belgium. He stayed in his home country for one year. He returned to Lahore via Rome where he witnessed on 1‐11‐1950 the dogma declaration of “Our Lady taken up to heaven in body and soul”. His health remained not too good. He underwent a surgical operation and went on sick leave to St. Mary’s, Gujranwala. He left Gujranwala after a few weeks and went to stay in Gulberg, Lahore. After the death of Mr. Gonnissen he took over as director of the “small revolving loan scheme”. He helped thousands of poor Christians to start an independent job to earn their living. When Fr. Emmerick became superior regular he re‐placed him for five years as parish priest of St. Mary’s parish. He resigned as director of the loan scheme in 1974. He celebrated in Gulberg his golden jubilee as a religious on 11‐6‐1974. His parishioners gave him on this occasion a new cycle to replace the old one. He received at his own request the sacrament of the sick on 10‐12‐1973. He died in his sleep on 22‐11‐1974 in Bethania hospital at Sialkot, the city where he had been working for so many years. His funeral was a triumph march of the old missionary and friend of the poor. Fr. Gothard has been an example of a devoted missionary. He admired and imitated the saintly Belgian priest Edward Poppe, living very poor and completely at the service of the poor. He was the promoter and director of the weekly hour of adoration for many years. He was a Capuchin, not only by name, but much more in his way of life. He served his God among the Punjabi brethren during the whole of his missionary life.
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70. Father Calasanct from Antwerp (Jules Slembrouck) He was born on 20‐11‐1883 He entered the Order on 12‐9‐1911 He was ordained a priest on 30‐4‐1918 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1919 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 3‐8‐1949 He died at Herentals on 12‐9‐1952 Both his parents were from West Flanders (Blankenberge and Oostende) who had emigrated to Antwerp for employment. Jules worked in an office from the age of sixteen years in an office of an expedition company for twelve years. During this time he became a member of the third Order of St. Francis. He learned Latin and Greek in his free time. He gave up his job in the company on 8‐9‐1911. He entered the novitiate of the Capuchins at Enghien four days later. After finishing his theological studies he obtained the permission to go to Lahore as a missionary. The farewell party took place at Antwerp on 7‐11‐1911 and he arrived in Lahore on 4‐1‐1920. He went to Anarkali to learn Urdu. He left for Adha after three months to be initiated in the missionary work. Six months later, he was sent to Bettiah, in the district of Patna, as chaplain of the orphanage and to care for the printing press. He returned one year later to Lahore as parish priest of St. Anthony’s church and assistant to the parish of Anarkali. He takes over as parish priest of Anarkali two years later. He is sent as “missionary ad paganos” first to Sangla Hill on 28‐11‐1923 and later to Pasrur on 29‐9‐1925. He went on home leave to Belgium on 30‐3‐1931. Back in Lahore he is posted at Anarkali as parish priest of the Punjabi community. He is transferred to Maryabad on 13‐5‐1935, to Sahowala on 15‐3‐1940, to Sialkot on 12‐11‐1944, and to Ferozepur on 15‐3‐1945. His health deteriorated. He asked and obtained the permission to return to Belgium. He left Lahore on 24‐6‐1949. He stayed in the friary of Antwerp till his death on 12‐9‐1952. He has always been a hardworking priest. Anyone who came to him for a service was sure to be helped. Notwithstanding his high blood pressure he was always ready to do any job.
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71. Father Silvan from Bruges (Joseph Strubbe) He was born on 11‐2‐1892 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1909 He was ordained a priest on 23‐12‐1916 He left Belgium for Lahore January 1921 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 24‐5‐1948 He died at Bruges on 16‐3‐1953 He was the real brother of Fr. Hilarin. During the First World War he finished his theological studies at Breust in Holland. He received his order for mobilization and left for Tilbury, England. He left the next day by ship for Calais, France, and joined the military camp of Auvours. He left for the front lines on 17‐1‐1918 to serve as a male nurse. He was ordained a priest at Boulogne‐sur‐Mer on 23‐12‐1916. After the war he was appointed as a missionary for the Lahore diocese. His farewell party took place at Antwerp on 8‐12‐1920. He went with Fr. Emmanuel and Fr. Rufin to Bombay via Marseille and arrived in Lahore on 15‐2‐1921. He first served as assistant in Lahore cathedral. He was later transferred to Sialkot on 18‐10‐1921 and to Ferozepore on 15‐5‐1927. He worked as a “missionary ad paganos” at Montgomery on 14‐4‐1928. He went for the first time on home leave to Belgium in 1932. Back in Lahore he went as chaplain to Dalhousie and Amritsar. He was transferred to Montgomery on 31‐5‐1935. He went the following year as parish priest to St. Anthony’s parish in Lahore. He took over as military chaplain of Sialkot Cantt. in 1940. He underwent a surgical operation (acute appendicitis) in the military hospital of Sialkot on 15‐7‐1942. He resigned as chaplain on 15‐6‐1948 for health reasons and went back to Belgium on 24‐5‐1948. He lived in retirement in the friary of Bruges, where he died on 16‐3‐1953.
72. Father Rufin from Meerle (Henri Faes) He was born on 2‐2‐1892 He entered the Order on 20‐9‐1910 He was ordained a priest on 1‐8‐1920 He left Belgium for Lahore January 1921 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 16‐5‐1965 He died at Antwerp on 25‐12‐1967 He was the real brother of Fr. Fabian and nephew of bishop Eestermans. Fr. Liberius was his nephew. He continued his studies during the First World War in Breust, Holland. He went in 1915 via Vlissingen and Tilbury, England, by ship to Calais, where he joined the Belgian army as a male nurse. He was taken prisoner of war by the Germans near Merkem, Belgium, on 17‐4‐1918. He stayed in the camps of Dulmen, Sennelager and Munster. When the armistice was signed he returned to Belbium. He obtained the permission to join the Lahore mission on 19‐9‐1920. He went to
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Dalhousie to finish his theological studies and to learn Urdu. He was appointed at Khushpur in January 1922, where Fr. Guido initiated him into the missionary work. He went to Lyallpur in June 1922 and worked there for seven years. He went to Anarkali in October 1929 and cared for the villages in Lahore and Sheikhupura districts. He visited for many years three hundred villages entrusted to his care. Because of the very long distances Fr. Rufin dreamed of starting a new mission station in Sheikhupura city. He purchased there a plot of land in the Civil Lines. He went for a rest on home leave to Belgium on 24‐3‐1934. During these six months he collected the funds which he needed to build up the new centre at Sheikhupura. He went back to Anarkali on 23‐9‐1934. He started at once the construction work of a priest house and church at Sheikhupura. Fr. Rufin was the first residential priest and founder of the Sheikhupura mission station. He worked very hard in this district for thirteen years and laid solid foundations of the Catholic Church in Sheikhupura district. He was asked to replace FR. Eugene in Sangla Hill on 1‐4‐1947. From there he went to Gujranwala in 1948. He went on home leave on 23‐2‐1950. After his leave he went to Lahore Cantt. as military chaplain. He was appointed parish priest at Anarkali four years later. He returned to Sheikhupura in April 1957 as parish priest and director of the local St. Peter’s school. He enjoyed for a few years the fruit of the seed he has sown in hard labour some twenty years earlier. Sheikhupura was by then a fully established parish centre with many Catholic families living in some two hundred villages around the city. There was also a Catholic school run by the Ma‐rabid Sisters. There was also a housing colony called Gloriabad with more than one hundred Catholic families. Fr.Rufin celebrated his golden jubilee of religious life on 5‐12‐1959. Fr. Rufin went on home leave to Belgium in May 1960. When he returned from home leave he went to Sheikhupura, the child of his dreams, where he had toiled for so many years. His heart, however, deteriorated and the doctor advised him to return to Belgium for medical treatment. He left Lahore on the 30th of April 1965 in the company of Frs. Diego, Clarence and Fr. Benedict. This was the end of Fr. Rufin’s forty‐four years of missionary life. He would not return to Lahore. During the last two years of his life he was repeatedly in and out of hospital. He died of cancer in the Leopold II clinic of Antwerp on Christmas of 1967. His funeral took place at Meersel Dreef, his birthplace, on 27‐12‐1967. Fr. Rufin had been a very hardworking missionary. The seed has to die before it comes to bear fruit. Fr. Rufin has been sowing the good seed. His successors are reaping the fruit of his zeal.
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73. Father Walter from Bruges (Eugene Corty) He was born on 22‐8‐1876 He entered the Order on 16‐9‐1893 He was ordained a priest on 26‐8‐1900 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐11‐1921 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 28‐4‐1931 He died at Zelzate on 24‐2‐1940 After his ordination he served the German speaking people at Verviers for a few years. He was also assistant parish priest in the parish of Brussels. He cared for the Belgian refugees in France during the First World War. He went as a missionary to Lahore on 24‐11‐1920 at the age of forty‐four years. He served as a military chaplain in Multan on 15‐1‐1922, in Jullundur on 1‐10‐1924 and at Dalhousie in February 1928. As his health was faltering he was forced to return to Belgium on medical reasons. He left Lahore on 6‐4‐1931. He stayed first in the friary of St. Clare at Bruges. As his health was deteriorating rapidly he was admitted as a patient in the clinic of the Brothers of John of God. He was then transferred to Zelzate where he died on 24‐2‐1940. His funeral took place in the church of the friary of St. Clare at Bruges.
74. Father Hugolin from Grobbendonk (Henri Luyten) He was born on 20‐9‐1890 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1909 He was ordained a priest on 17‐6‐1916 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐11‐1921 He died in Lahore on 21‐6‐1939 When world war started in 1914 he left for Breust (Holland). He was ordained a priest at Maastricht (Holland) and left, via England, to France to start his military service. He served during the rest of the war as a male nurse on the front lines around Diksmuide. He left for the Punjab mission and arrived in Lahore on 8‐1‐1922. He learned for a few months Urdu and Punjabi in Dalhousie. His first appointment was Pasrur on 22‐2‐1922. He was sent from there to Anarkali on 1‐4‐1922 for the village work. He was then transferred to Sargodha, back to Pasrur, and then as parish priest to St. Anthony’s church, Lahore in 1934. He assisted Fr. Macaire visiting the villages around Raiwind. He went on home leave to Belgium at the end of 1936. Back in Lahore he was appointed as military chaplain of Ferozepur. He fell sick on 17‐6‐1939 and was brought to the A.V. Mayo hospital in Lahore complaining of abdominal pains. He underwent a surgical operation for appendicitis on 18‐6‐1939.He died the same day at 10 p.m.
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Fr. Hugolin has been the right hand of Fr. Macaire in the conversion movement around Raiwind and Chunian.
75. Father Silvester from Jabbeke (Medard Algoet) He was born on 1‐8‐1893 He entered the Order on 12‐9‐1911 He was ordained a priest on 19‐2‐1921 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐11‐1921 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 24‐1‐1962 He died at Izegem on 24‐5‐1977 When the First World War started Fr. Silvester was studying philosophy with the other students. He went via Bruges to Breda to continue his studies. He went from there to France via Tilbury (England) to join the Belgian army as a volunteer. He completed four months of intensive training as male nurse in the camp of Auveurs. He went to Adinkerke on 3‐11‐1915 to be incorporated in the artillery of the Belgian army. He was sent to Reninge and Diksmuide sector. During his military service on the front line he was mentioned three times in the “Ordre du Jour” for his courage. Discharged from the army on 15‐8‐1919 he went to Aalst and Izegem to finish his theological studies. He was appointed on 8‐6‐1921 as a missionary for the Punjab. He left Antwerp on 23‐11‐1921 together with bishop Eestermans, Fr. Hugolin, Fr. Walter, Br. Rafael and Br. Angelic. They arrived in Lahore via Karachi on 23‐12‐1921. After a stay of three weeks in Lahore he went to Pasrur to study the language and to help Fr. Fabian in his pastoral work. He received his first appointment for Sangla Hill on 17‐3‐1922 to replace Fr. Gothard who was taken to Mayo hospital after a fall from his horse. He was transferred from Sangla Hill after one year 0n 4‐4‐1923 to Montgomery as first residential priest of the new mission centre. He was appointed six months later on 2‐10‐1923 for the school of Dalwal where he has worked for thirty‐six years, first as manager of the Catholic hostel and later as the principal of the school on 1‐4‐1932. This school at Dalwal was the only high school of the diocese for a long time. After serving this school for twenty‐eight years as the principal he handed over the management of this school to the diocese of Rawalpindi on 1‐11‐1960. He went twice on home leave, first on 27‐3‐1938 and then on 17‐6‐1951. After the school had changed hands Fr. Silvester went to live in St. Mary’s, Gulberg, and Lahore, where he celebrated his golden religious jubilee on 14‐2‐1961. He left one year later on 9‐1‐1962 and returned to his native country to pass the last years of his life peacefully in Belgium. He lived for some time in the friary of Bruges and then in Izegem. He was admitted as a patient in St. Joseph clinic of Izegem in August 1974. Two months later he went to live in a home for the aged at Kachtem. He died there peacefully on 24‐5‐1977.
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Fr. Silvester was a saintly priest and Capuchin. He always boasted that his memory never failed. He was a giant man during his missionary life in the Punjab, but he was only skin and bones when he was taken to the grave.
76. Brother Angelic from Sint‐Maria‐Oudenhove (Désiré Ghys) He was born on 10‐10‐1884 He entered the Order on 5‐3‐1911 He made his profession on 6‐3‐1912 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐11‐1921 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in May 1928 He left Belgium for Canada on 27‐9‐1929 He left Canada for Belgium on 18‐9‐1937 He died at Leuven on 25‐8‐1955 Before joining the Capuchins Désiré was a member of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity. He entered the Capuchin Order as a postulant on 4‐3‐1909. He made his solemn profession on 7‐3‐1918. He lived in our friaries of Bruges (5‐3‐1911), Aalst (24‐9‐1919), Antwerp (23‐1‐1920), Mons (14‐9‐1920) and Bruges (22‐11‐1920). His request to join the Lahore mission was granted on 8 June 1921. He left Antwerp with Mgr Eestermans and five other confreres on 23‐11‐1921. They arrived in Lahore via Bombay on 19‐12‐1921. He helped Fr. Stanislas in the dispensary work for seven years. He was an excellent male nurse and he was very devoted to the patients. He devoted himself completely to his work of mercy during the plague of 1923, and he saved many from death. Br. Angelic was also a learned botanist. He started the famous “Herbarium Exoticum”. He collected many trees and plants from all over the Punjab and the Himalaya in what has been called in later days “The Lawrence Gardens”. He wrote a book about the Indian flora, and another book about the different plants in the Bible. He left the Lahore mission at his own request on 30‐5‐1928. Back in Belgium he lived in our friary of Ieper. He left for Canada together with Fr. Emmanuel one year later on 27‐9‐1929. There he built the new mission centre of Plumas and later also Toutes‐Aides Meadow Portage and Cayer, where he lived with Fr. Gilbert and Fr. Peter. He returned to Belgium with Fr. Gerulf on 18‐9‐1937. He cared for his sick and old confreres in the friaries of Bruges, Antwerp, Aalst, Brussels and Lou‐vain. He died unexpectedly in Louvain on 25‐8‐1955. Brother Angelic had been for many years the beloved “Doctor of the poor” in the Punjab and during the deadly epidemic at Toutes‐Aids as well. After returning from the missions of the Punjab and Canada, he cared with much love and competence for his own sick and old confreres in Belgium. He liked to be called “Fra Angelico”, and in reality he earned the name of “The Angel of the Sick”.
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77. Brother Rafael from Geraardsbergen (Victor Brouckaert) He was born on 12‐5‐1889 He entered the Order on 9‐3‐1912 He made his profession on 10‐3‐1913 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐11‐1921 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 16‐4‐1946 He died at Geraardsbergen on 16‐7‐1968 On his arrival in Lahore he was appointed to care for the needs and the upkeep of the bishop’s house. He was transferred to Dalhousie a few months later on 28‐11‐1922 and then to St. Francis school, Anarkali, Lahore. From Anarkali he went to Adha to help the old Brother Martin in his dispensary work. He returned to St. Francis School, Anarkali, on 27‐10‐1927. When Fr. Hector Catry became the bishop of Lahore Br. Rafael was chosen to be his “Companion” on 27‐10‐1928. When bishop Catry went on home leave two years later Br. Rafael accompanied him. He remained with the bishop as his “Companion” till 1946. He became sick and was taken to hospital on 18‐12‐1935, but he recovered soon after. He was covered with sores all over the body on 16‐3‐1943, which was caused by infection. He left with Bishop H. Catry for Belgium on 18‐12‐1946 and did not return to Lahore. He died at Geeraardsbergen, his native place, on 16‐7‐1968. He was the shadow of bishop Catry for twenty years. Where you saw the bishop, there you met Br. Rafael as well. He was always full of humour and jokes. After returning to Belgium he was serving the provincial curia at Antwerp as mendicant friar of the friary for more than twenty years. He was an excellent ambassador of the ideal Capuchin Brother in the Punjab and among the Belgians as well. He was very grateful for any help he received from the people who were always very generous. He was a pious friar; he would get up early in the morning to start his prayers and private devotions. He was delighted to serve the Mass of his confreres priests. He was a happy Capuchin.
78. Father Oscar (Anscharius) from Pamel (Gustaaf Hertveldt) He was born on 5‐2‐1887 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1904 He was ordained a priest on 10‐5‐1911 He left Belgium for Lahore on 24‐10‐1922 He died at Lahore on 16‐1‐1948 Before going to Lahore he was a lecturer in the theology seminary at Izegem from 1913 till 1922. He went to Lahore in 1922 and went to Dalhousie for a few months to learn Urdu. He was sent from there to Sardhana as companion to the novice master. He became extremely sick after a few months and returned to Lahore on 4‐4‐1923. He went to Maryabad after five months of rest as parish priest and administrator of the village on 22‐9‐1923.
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He went on home leave to Belgium after one year of stay at Maryabad. He returned to the Punjab after six months of rest. He suffered from a crisis of neurasthenia only three months later. This forced him to return to Belgium on sick leave on 8‐8‐1937. His condition improved after fifteen months of complete rest. He seemed to be fully cured and he returned to Lahore on 18‐10‐1938. He was appointed as professor of economics at St. Francis High School of Anarkali, Lahore. He became the secretary of the bishop and the chancellor of the diocese after the death of Fr. Arnold in 1944. He relapsed into neurasthenia on account of the troubles in the city and all over the country in 1947. He had to be admitted in Mayo hospital for medical treatment. He broke his leg in the hospital and sustained internal injuries which caused him great pain. He died in hospital on 16‐1‐1948. Fr. Oscar wrote a number of articles in magazines.
79. Father Gaspar from Aalst (Jan Baptist De Gols) He was born on 5‐3‐1888 He entered the Order on 25‐9‐1908 He was ordained a priest on 2‐5‐1915 He left Belgium for Lahore on 24‐10‐1922 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 17‐4‐1947 He died at Aalst on 11‐3‐1952 Before arriving in Lahore he worked for five years as preacher at Izegem and Enghien. He assisted Fr. Tillo in the school for bargemen’s children at Bruges from September 1919 till 1921. He received the permission to go to the Punjab on 22‐8‐1922. He reached Lahore on 23‐11‐1922. He went to Dalhousie to learn Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was Khushpur on 5‐3‐1923 where he was initiated in the missionary work. He was transferred six months later to Montgomery which was a stronghold of the American Presbyterian Church. He went to Antoniabad after two years where he worked for seven years. He was transferred to Narowal on 27‐2‐1925. He went on sick leave to Belgium on 3‐11‐1932. Back in Lahore he went to Sargodha on 27‐10‐1933. He worked there until the mission station was handed over to the diocese of Rawalpindi on 1‐2‐1939. Then he went to Sangla Hill. He became extremely sick in December 1941 and he was admitted in Mayo hospital, Lahore, on 24‐12‐1941. His condition remained critical. It was a matter of life‐and‐death. He recovered very slowly and he was too weak for the hard missionary work in far‐off villages. He was, therefore, transferred on 1‐9‐1946 to Anarkali to help in St. Francis high school. He long stay in Mayo hospital had completely ruined his health. He asked the permission to return to his home country. The sick man left Lahore on 27‐3‐1947. He went to live in his native town, Aalst, to pass the last years of his life in the solitude of the friary. He died peacefully in the morning o 11‐3‐1952.
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Fr. Gaspar was a great missionary; he never gave up a project that he had started. He was alone in Montgomery where four American missionaries and sixty‐seven protestant padris opposed him. The Punjabi Christians liked him very much. They said: “You came to us without a car and without a family, just as a faqir; when you call us “brother”, you mean what you say. It was in Sangla Hill that he knew the peak of his missionary life. It was here too that his health broke for‐ever. He lived for years in a small, damp house. He suffered from bronchitis and asthma every winter. He suffered from a double pneumonia and malaria in December 1941. This forced him to leave the mission field and to return, as a broken man, to Belgium, after a stay of twenty‐five years in the Lahore diocese.
80. His Excellency Mgr. Marcel Roger Buyse from Izegem Sixth Bishop of Lahore Born on 22‐08‐1892 He entered the Order on 20‐9‐1910 He was ordained a priest on 20‐5‐1917 He left Belgium for Lahore on 24‐10‐1922 He was consecrated bishop of Lahore on 28‐10‐1947 He resigned as bishop of Lahore on 10‐4‐1967 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 17‐11‐1973 He died in Izegem on 29‐5‐1974 When he was playing as a small boy in the store room of the house with other children, he fell in a heap of quick‐lime and some lime touched his eyes. This damaged his eye‐sight for the rest of his life. After finishing his theological studies at Izegem in 1917, he obtained with great difficulty from the German commander a permit to travel to Bruges for his priestly ordination. He travelled to Bruges under the custody of a German Feldwebel, together with Fr. Policarp and Brother Rafael. They were the only witnesses of Fr. Roger’s ordination to the priesthood in the private chapel of bishop Waffelaert on 20‐5‐1917. In 1919 he went to Rome for higher studies. Three years later he was promoted doctor in theology from the Gregorian University (17‐7‐1922). One month later he received the permission to go to India as a missionary (22‐8‐1922). On arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to study Urdu and English. In March 1923 he went to Pasrur to help Fr. Fabian in his conversion movement around Pasrur and Narowal. Together with Fr. Fabian he started the new mission station near the Tehsil at Narowal. He cared for 76 villages around this city. He was the first resident priest at Narowal (4‐12‐1924). He enjoyed the pioneer’s work in this place, but his help was more needed elsewhere. On 31‐8‐1925 Fr. General asked him to join the newly erected Major Seminary at Missouri (archdiocese of Agra) as a professor of theology. In this seminary of the Capuchin Order all the candidates for the Capuchin Order came from all over India to prepare themselves for the priesthood. Two years later all the students were transferred to the seminary at Breust in Holland. Fr. Roger returned to the Punjab. On 6‐6‐1927 he was appointed parish priest of Lyallpur (Faisalabad). When Mgr. Catry was consecrated bishop of Lahore on 28‐10‐1928 Fr. Roger became his secretary, vice chancellor of the
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diocese and member of the Episcopal council. In February 1931, at the death of Fr. Leopold, he succeeded him as vicar general of the diocese. For more than 25 years he was the right hand of the bishop of Lahore. He came to know all the needs and problems of the local church. In 1934 he star‐ted the edition of the ”COLLECTANEA LAHORENTIA” (1934), which he later called “THE COLLECTANEA PUNJABENSIA”, On 1‐2‐1933, Fr. General appointed him councillor to the Superior Regular, which he remained till he was appointed bishop of Lahore in 1947. On the occasion of the silver jubilee of the Capuchins in Lahore, he published “PAUPERES EVANGELIZANTUR” which is a critical examination‐on of the conversion movement in the Punjab during the last 50 years. On 1‐8‐1946 bishop H. Catry resigned as bishop of Lahore (12‐6‐1947). Pope Pius XII nominated Fr. Roger as the sixth bishop of Lahore (12‐6‐1947). On 22‐8‐1947 he took possession of the throne and on 28‐10‐1947 he was consecrated bishop in the Lahore cathedral. His coat of arms was “SENTIRE CUM ECCLESIA” When he took over the administration of the diocese the political situation in the Punjab was very tense, even violent. Eight million Muslim refugees arrived from India to the new state of Pakistan. As many Hindus and Sikh refugees left Pakistan to take refuge in India. Thousands of people in the cities and villages all over the Punjab were murdered in this revolution for independence. For 20 years (1947‐1967) bishop Marcel Roger was the head of the Lahore diocese. During these 20 years there was a big conversion movement all over the diocese. Thousands of low caste Hindus and Sikhs in the village joined the Catholic Church. Thousand of Protestants (Church of England and American Mission) asked to enter the Catholic Church. New mission stations were opened at Gujranwala (St. Joseph), Sialkot City, Hafizabad, Kasur and Bhai Pheru. In Lahore city three new parishes were started: Samnabad, Kot Lakhpat and Gulberg. The number throughout the diocese doubled. In 1951, Bishop R. Buyse founded St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, at Masson Road, Lahore, to prepare Punjabi boys for the priesthood. On 16‐1‐1967, at the age of 75, he resigned from the Episcopal seat. For six more years he remained in Lahore as a member of the diocesan curia and national president of Caritas Pakistan, of which he is the co‐founder. On 17‐11‐1973 he returned to Belgium to pass the last six months of his life in our friary of his native place, Izegem. On 29 May he went to Dadizele to bless the children who had come there on a pilgrimage. After the ceremonies he went to the parish house as he was feeling unwell. He was urgently taken in an ambulance to St. Joseph’s clinic of Izegem, where he died within a few hours after his arrival on 29‐5‐1974. His funeral service was grandiose. Among those present were the bishops of Bruges, Ghent, Antwerp, Lahore (bishop Raeymaekers), Molegbe (Zaire), bishop Vandekerkhove, and many priests and religious. Bishop Buyse received from the Belgian government the distinction of “COMMANDANT OF THE CROWN ORDER” (14‐11‐1973). During his episcopate he worked very hard to propagate education among the youth of Pakistan, especially among the Christians.
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He went on 3‐9‐1965 to Rome to attend the sessions of Vatican II. On 25‐10‐1969 He celebrated his diamond Jubilee of religious life.
81. Father Innocent from Bruges (Louis Van Heuverswijn) He was born on 15‐9‐1892 He entered the Order on 7‐9‐1914 He was ordained a priest on 12‐2‐1922 He left Belgium for Lahore on 24‐10‐1922 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 15‐1‐1932 After his arrival in Lahore he went to Dalwal to learn Urdu and to teach in the school. He was appointed as assistant to Fr. Hector in Anarkali parish, Lahore, on 18‐3‐1925. He went to Antoniabad as assistant to Fr. Gaspar on 8‐8‐1925. He was transferred to Ferozepur one year later to help Fr. Macaire in his work. He became sick there and he was advised by the doctor to return to Belgium. He left for Belgium on 24‐3‐1932 to get better medical treatment. He did not return to Lahore.
82. Father Florian from Menen (Germain Kestens) He was born on 29‐9‐1897 He entered the Order on 7‐9‐1914 He was ordained a priest on 12‐2‐1922 He left Belgium for Lahore on 24‐10‐1922 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 1‐3‐1932 He died at Edingen on 16‐4‐1983 He was the real brother of Fr. Romuald. On his arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to learn the local languages. His first appointment was Khushpur on 1‐10‐1923. He was, however, asked after one month only to take over the management of the new colony of Rahimpur near Okara. He stayed there till 9‐11‐1928 and then he went to Montgomery (Sahiwal). He was transfer‐red on 27‐2‐1931 as parish priest of Anarkali, Lahore, to restore his health. He admitted to Mayo hospital in January 1932. He left on sick leave for Belgium one month later, in the company of Fr. Donatus, the Belgian provincial. He did not return to the Lahore mission. He lived in the friaries of Beernem (4‐4‐1932, Ieper (1932), Brugge St. Clara (16‐10‐1933) where he became the novice master of the lay brothers and guardian. He also stayed in Enghien (till 5‐8‐1937) and Ieper (1940). He was appointed provincial procurator at Antwerp on 27‐10‐1941. He became the mission procurator five years later. He became the assistant parish priest of the parish at Brussels in 1949. He went to Enghien on 28‐7‐1973 where he passed the last ten years of his life. He lived an exemplary Capuchin life and died peacefully on 16‐4‐1983. He founded the “Movement ouvrier chrétien” during his stay as assistant parish priest in Brussels.
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83. Father Masseo from Heist‐aan‐Zee (Frans Bogaert) He was born on 16‐7‐1893 He entered the Order on 14‐7‐1915 He was ordained a priest on 23‐12‐1922 He left Belgium for Lahore on 22‐9‐1924 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 29‐4‐1936 He left for Canada on 6‐8‐1937 He left for France on 11‐11‐1951 He left for Ireland on 6‐4‐1953 He left for France on 8‐8‐1955 He died at Clermont Ferrand (France) on 26‐3‐1969 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to learn Urdu and Punjabi. He was appointed as a professor at the school of Dalwal on 14‐3‐1925. He worked successively at Khushpur (15‐10‐1925), Sangla Hill (14‐5‐1928) and Narowal (1‐7‐1933). Fr. Masseo was a builder; he had a brick in his stomach. He built St. Anthony’s church at Gujranwala (1931‐32), the new wing of St. Francis School at Anarkali (1932), the new mission centre of Gojra with church and parish house (1933), a church at Topkhana, Sialkot (1933) and the church with priest house at Sheikhupura (1934). He went on home leave to Belgium on 24‐4‐1936 together Fr. Oscar, Fr. Boudewijn, and Fr. Hugolin. During his vacation at home he decided not to return to Lahore. He asked and obtained the permission to go as a missionary to Canada and to work there among the Polish immigrants. He left for Poland with Fr. Willibrord to learn Polish. He worked as an invigilator in the college of Lemza. He left for Canada via Cherbourg (France) on 6‐8‐1937.On arrival he started working among the Poles in St. Boniface parish. Later he became the parish priest of Blenheim in 1938, Toutes Aides (1941‐1946) and Princeton (1946‐1951). He was known in Blenheim as a popular priest among the Belgian people of the section of Ontario. He finished the construction work of the church and the priest house in Toutes Aides. He also built there another house for the Capuchins of Quebec, who were helping the Belgian Capuchins in their ministry. He repaired the parish house and church in Princeton. He went on home leave to Belgium 0n 29‐9‐1948. After returning to Canada he became the procurator of the Canadian custody on 6‐4‐1950. He left Canada for Belgium on 24‐4‐1951 and he said farewell to the missionary life. He went to Garganville in, France, on 11‐11‐1951 and stayed for two years in “La maison de retraite de la Congregation de la Fraternité sacerdotale”. He left for Lyon and from there for Dublin (Ireland) on 6‐4‐1953, where he started teaching in the Capuchin college of Raheny. He returned to the province of Lyon on 8‐8‐1955. He was first professor at Caluire Cuire and then in St. Etienne. He became sick in 1963 and he was admitted in hospital at Lyon. He was diagnosed with heart trouble and TB of the lungs. He came to live in the friary of Clermont Ferrand after a few months of stay in the hospital. He suffered from internal pains in the abdomen. He died in exile at Clermont Ferrand on 26‐3‐1969.
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Fr. Masseo was the perpetual traveller in search for souls. He went from Belgium as a young priest to the Punjab (India); from there to Canada, France, Ireland and back to France. May he, who never could rest here on earth, now find his everlasting peace in heaven.
84. Father Prudent from Lichtervelde (Alfons Vandomme) He was born on 20‐12‐1898 He entered the Order on 17‐9‐1915 He was ordained a priest on 20‐1‐1924 He left Belgium for Lahore on 22‐9‐1924 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 6‐6‐1961 He died at Bruges on 9‐10‐1970 He was the nephew of Fr. Eleuthere, who strongly influenced the young boy and won for him the missionary life. He joined the Seraphic Seminary at Bruges during the First World War. When the German army took over and occupied the school buildings in 1917, the young Alfons had just finished his humanities and he was admitted in the novitiate at Enghien. After finishing his theological studies at Izegem, he asked and received the permission to work as a missionary in Lahore (India). He reached Lahore via Liverpool and Bombay on 21‐10‐1924. He went to Dalhousie to learn Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was Sargodha on 18‐4‐1925 as assistant parish priest. He went to Lyallpur three months later to replace Fr. Rufin who had become sick and was taken to Mayo hospital in Lahore. He was appointed “Missionarius apostolicus ad paganos” by Rome in August 1925. He was transferred to Anarkali as assistant to Fr. Hector and as manager of St. Francis school. He contracted typhoid fever in October 1926 and was hospitalized for one month. He started publishing a monthly magazine called “the Catholic Naqib” together with some confreres in January 1929. This was the first Urdu Catholic paper in the Punjab. It was a great help in the material and spiritual uplift of the Catholic Punjabi people. The first number was printed and published on 15‐1‐1929, and nowadays it appears twice a month. He was asked in May 1929 to visit and care for the many new converts in the villages around Raiwind. He was transferred to Khushpur for the ilaqa work on 13‐10‐1929. He started from there building up the church and parish house of the new mission centre of Gojra, which was started a few years earlier by Fr. Herman. With the help of Fr. Benedict Cialeo, the future bishop of Multan, he started the construction work and also the primary school. Fr. Prudent was the first residential priest of Gojra. He visited from Gojra Montgomerywala, a protestant village of the Salvation Army. There were a great number of converts in the surrounding villages. Therefore, he started building a church and priest house there. This became an independent mission station after a few years. The theological disputes with Dean Harres became famous and caused a lot of tension between Catholics and Protestants all over the Punjab.
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When the Khushpur region was handed over to the Dominicans of the newly created diocese of Multan, he was transferred to Lyallpur (Faisalabad) on 1‐4‐1933 to succeed Fr. Arsene who went to Lahore as Superior Regular. He went on home leave to Belgium in August 1934. He was appointed parish priest at Anarkali (Lahore) after his return to Lahore in February 1935.He worked very hard for thirteen years among the Punjabi Christians and the Balmikis of his parish. The Punjabi Catholics were allowed to worship in St. Anthony’s church. This church was first exclusively reserved for Anglo‐Indian and Goan people. He shifted from Anarkali parish to St. Anthony’s parish on 1‐11‐1935 as the priest in charge of the Punjabi families. He started collecting funds in 1945 to build a school next to the parish house. This was the birth of the recent famous Don Bosco School. He started the primary classes in an old bungalow. He opened another primary school in Wassanpura and another primary school on the other side of the railway line. He went on home leave in May 1948 together with Frs. Exupere, Silvan, Benno, Salees and the sick Fr. Ligori. There were twenty‐three missionaries on the same plane, who were evacuated from the camps in China. It took them three days to reach Belgium. Back in Lahore on 6‐4‐1949, Fr. Prudent to Ferozepur as a chaplain to replace Fr. José who had left for Belgium on sick leave. This was an exile for Fr. Prudent. He had the impression that he was not wanted in Lahore city. He was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. on 30‐3‐1950 after one year of stay in Ferozepur. He worked again among his dear Punjabi Christians. He reorganized the St. Anthony’s primary school in Attari (Sialkot city) which had been started by Fr. Gothard a few years earlier. He brought it to new life. He upgraded the primary school to a middle school. His successor Fr. Ligori converted it later into a high school. The primary school of Lalkurti was transferred to the parish church compound to enable more children to attend the school. The superiors entrusted to Fr. P: rudent the training and initiation of many young friars in the missionary work, who went from Belgium to work in the Punjab. He opened in Sialkot a Saving Bank and a Co‐operative Union (I.C.U.) for his poor Christians to save them from the clutches of the Pathans. His health was not too good. The doctors advised him to return to Belgium to get better treatment. He agreed on 14‐4‐1955 and he left on sick leave to Belgium. He returned to Lahore for the fourth time on 20‐2‐1956 after one year of treatment. He was posted in Sialkot Cantt. as parish priest and the director of three schools. He remained there for the last five years of his missionary life. Dr. Wolf treated him in Gujranwala for a stomach sore in April 1957. Four years later he was taken to the Holy Family Hospital at Rawalpindi on 10‐3‐1961 for the treatment for an ulcer in the duodenum. His condition became worse after a second blood transfusion. He was urgently taken to Belgium n6‐6‐1961 for another operation of the stomach (stomach perforation). Dr. Maenhout of St. Joseph clinic in Bruges performed the operation on 24‐6‐1962, which was successful. Fr. Prudent was now an old and broken man. He decided on 15‐9‐1962 not to return to Lahore. He passed the last days of his life quietly in the friary of Bruges. He had been a fighter during the whole of his missionary life. He passed away on 9‐10‐1970. He always defended the poor against social injustice. He liked to work among the poorest of the poor Punjabis. He worked for the uplift of those entrusted to his care through the education of the children. He dared to defend many times his Christians in the court or
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in the police stations, when injustice was done to them. He was not soft with his words on those occasions. He dared to say the truth. One day Rev. Mother, who got in trouble with Fr. Prudent, answered him: “Your name Is Prudent, but it was not always with prudence whatever Fr. Prudent said or did.” Fr. Prudent has been a great missionary and a fighter for his faith and for social justice.
85. Father Evarist from Nederhasselt (Ernest Raes) He was born on 13‐2‐1897 He entered the Order on 27‐10‐1917 He left Belgium for Lahore on 22‐9‐1924 He was ordained a priest in Lahore on 15‐2‐1925 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 17‐1‐1975 He died at Aalst on 25‐3‐1980 He left Belgium as a sub‐deacon. On arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to complete his theological studies. He was ordained a deacon on 20‐12‐1924 and a priest in Lahore on 15‐2‐1925. He was the first to be ordained in the cathedral of Lahore. His first appointment was at Ferozepur on 16‐12‐1925. He was appointed four months later as assistant parish priest of St. Anthony’s church at Lahore, and as visiting chaplain of Amritsar. He goes to Khushpur on 7‐4‐1926 as the priest missionary in charge of the villages in Gojra. He is transferred on 13‐10‐1929 to Lyallpur, on 1‐3‐193‐ to Maryabad, on 26‐3‐1935 to Jullundur, and on 4‐11‐1936 to Pasrur. He became sick in Pasrur and underwent an operation of appendicitis, followed by sick leave to Belgium on 25‐5‐1937. Back from sick leave he was transferred to Amritsar on 12‐11‐1937. He contracted enteric fever six months later and remained in hospital till September 1938. He went to Dalhousie to recuperate. He was transferred to Jullundur on 15‐5‐1946 for the village work. He went to Anarkali on 1‐4‐1951 as editor of the “Catholic Naqib”, in charge of the “Catholic Truth Society” and spiritual director of St. Francis High School. He was appointed on 1‐6‐1954 as an active member of the com‐mission to translate the Catholic Bible into Urdu. This commission consisted of three priests and two laymen: Fr. Liberius OFM, Fr. Salvator O.P., Fr. Evarist OFM Cap., Yaqub Mathias and Paul Ernest. The commission worked for three years very hard and every day (19563‐1956) to translate the complete Catholic Bible into Urdu according to the Hebrew and Greek approved texts. The bible was printed and published in 1959 by the “Society San Paolo” in Rome. The very first translation of the New Testament in Hindustani was the work of the Capuchin Bishop Mgr. Hartmann in 1800. In 1924, Dr. Uttarid, a convert from Lahore, made the first translation in Urdu of the Old Testament according to the Arabic texts. Fr. Evarist not only helped in the translation of the bible into Urdu, he also translated in Urdu, Persian script, “The Prayer of the Church, printed and published by Lannoo, Tielt, in 1974. During the translation of the bible he remained in Lahore. When the translation work of the bible was over on 30‐4‐1956 he returned to Anarkali (Lahore) as the editor of the “Catholic Naqib” and in charge of more than two hundred
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villages of the parish. He was transferred after two years of hard work to be parish priest, first at Gujranwala on 10‐11‐1956, and then to Lahore Cantt. on 1‐5‐1958. He went on home leave on 9‐5‐1960. After coming back he went to Adha on 12‐12‐1961 and to Gujranwala (St. Joseph parish).He suffered from typhoid fever on 18‐4‐1966 and was taken to hospital. He celebrated his golden jubilee of religious life in Adha on 12‐10‐1967, and his golden priestly jubilee on 15‐2‐1975. He went on sick leave to Belgium Exactly one year later. He did not return to Lahore on medical grounds and he accepted the sacrifice to say farewell to his missionary life. He went to live in the friary of Aalst. He had lived for fifty‐two years as a missionary in the Punjab. He underwent three operations in St. Elisabeth hospital in Mijlbeek on 6‐8‐1976. He shifted then to a home in Herdersem, where the Sisters cared for him with much love. A few before his death he went back to the friary of Aalst at his own request to pass the last year of his life among his confreres. He died in Aalst as a saint on 25‐3‐1980. Fr. Evarist has been during his whole life an example of a poor and holy Capuchin. He was a man of prayer and great living prayer. He was the spiritual director of the Maryabad Sisters for many years. The Sisters were founded by another Capuchin, Fr. Herman from Herentals. He taught his illiterate Punjabi Christians to pray and to believe in Christ as their Saviour. He kept holy poverty as the jewel of his priestly life. At the end of his life he told a friend: “do you the most beautiful, sincere and essential idea of my personal life? We are good and fruitful missionaries in as far as we are good Capuchins.” Through his exemplary life as a Capuchin he lived for fifty‐two years his fruitful and missionary life. Before he preached through his sermons he practiced what he preached through his way of everyday living. May he who lived here on earth for God alone and fulfilled his holy will every day, enjoy for all eternity the presence of his God and Creator.
84. Father Balduin from Sint‐Gillis‐Brussels (Henri Tinel) He was born on 17‐2‐1891 He entered the Order on 25‐9‐1908 He was ordained a priest in Lahore on 25‐4‐1915 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐11‐1925 He died at Lahore on 25‐4‐1942 He was the real brother of Fr. Edgard and Fr. Dominic. During the First World War 1914‐1918 he worked as a young priest among the Belgian refugees in Hazebroeck and Pas‐de‐Calais in France. When his superiors called him back to Belgium after the war, the bishop of Bruges went appealed to Fr. General in Rome and requested him to allow Fr. Balduin to work for a few months among the Belgian refugees. After coming back in the Belgian province he worked for four years as a preacher of retreats in Belgium and in France. He received on 1‐9‐1925 as a reward for his apostolic work the permission to go as a missionary to the Lahore diocese. He travelled by boat via Marseille to Bombay. He arrived in Lahore on 10‐12‐1925. After learning English and Urdu in Dalhousie he received the first appointment on 1‐10‐1926 as military chaplain of Sialkot Cantt. He collected money among his well‐to‐do English speaking parishioners to help his
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confreres who were working among the poor Punjabi speaking villagers. Many churches were built in the villages of Sialkot district with his financial help. He was transferred on 6‐6‐1928 to Narowal to work among the Punjabi Christians. He went for one year as military chaplain to Ferozepur Cantt. He was called to serve as rector of the cathedral in Lahore on 1‐10‐1932. He worked for four years very successfully in the cathedral parish till he went on home leave to Belgium in April 1936. Back in Lahore in October 1936 he was appointed military chaplain at Ferozepur Cantt. where he worked for six years. He collapsed on Good Friday during the religious service in the church. He was taken to the military hospital of the place. The doctor diagnosed a congested liver, and T.B.C. of both the lungs and the bowels. He was in and out of the hospital for many months. He refused to believe how sick he was and he wanted to go on with his work. He refused to take the rest which he needed to restore his deteriorated health. When his superiors had made arrangements for him to stay in Dalhousie during the summer months, he asked, as a favour, to postpone his departure for a few weeks and to allow him to stay in his parish for the services of the Holy Week and Easter of 1942. Fr. Superior agreed to his proposal. His departure was postponed till after Easter but the Lord did not agree with it. He collapsed on Good Friday on 6‐4‐1942 at 3 p.m., just before the prayers of the Stations of the Cross would start. He was taken to the military hospital. The diagnosis was highly advanced T.B.C. of the lungs and the bowels. He was transferred after a few days to the Mayo hospital in Lahore. He received the sacrament of the sick on 24‐4‐1942. He died peacefully at the age of fifty‐one years on 25‐4‐1942 at 8 p.m. the twenty‐seventh anniversary of his priestly ordination. He was buried in the evening of the same day in the Christian graveyard of Lahore. He loved the sick and the poor during his whole missionary life. He was an angel of mercy for them. He was an artist and a very good musician.
87. Father Michael from Bruges (Marcel Lams) He was born on 24‐11‐1892 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1909 He was ordained a priest in Lahore on 21‐5‐1916 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐11‐1925 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐3‐1937 He died at Mons on 8‐11‐1956 The young Fr. Michael served in the Belgian army at Calais (France) in July 1915. He was ordained a priest by Mgr. Lebbedey, bishop of Arras, in the chapel of the Carmelite Sisters of Bologne‐sur‐Mer on 21‐5‐1916. He served for one year as an assistant parish priest at Calais and he was at the disposal of the “Aumonerie du Pas‐de‐Calais” for the Belgian refugees. He started the famous “les enfants de l’Yser” for the children of the refugees. He helped many refugees to return to their original home town in Belgium. The French government gave him on 19‐11‐1921 the “Croix de la Légion d’Honneur” in recognition of his good services. Michael returned to the friary of Mons in October 1919. Bishop Croy of Tournai nominated him 1‐9‐1920 as the first parish priest of the newly erected parish of St. Lazare, entrusted to the Capuchins. He became the superior of the friary of Mons the following year. He received his letter of obedience on 31‐8‐
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1925 appointing him as missionary for the Lahore diocese. He stayed for one full year in Dalhousie to learn English and Urdu. He became assistant parish priest on 29‐9‐1926 for a few months at Anarkali and then at the cathedral. He was transferred two years later on 7‐7‐1928 to Lyallpur. He was working in the school of Dalwal in 1936. He left for Belgium on 25‐3‐1937 and did not return to Lahore. He worked as a parish priest in Brussels. He lived in the friaries of Ciney and Mons where he peacefully died on 8‐11‐1952. Fr. Michael was one of the famous group of military chaplains in the Punjab during the pre‐partition time. He was renowned as a preacher in Belgium and in France. He preached many retreats and recollection days to cloistered Sisters ‐ Poor Clares and Carmelites.
88. Father Damian from Mons (Henri Reumont) He was born on 6‐1‐1892 He entered the Order on 25‐9‐1908 He was ordained a priest on 25‐4‐1915 He left Belgium for Lahore on 27‐9‐1926 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium in Juny 1934 He died at Mons on 27‐08‐1965 On arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to learn the languages, English, Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was on 20‐6‐1927 for Anarkali, Lahore, as the assistant parish priest. He was transferred in July 1933 to Sargodha. One month later, however, Fr. Provincial of the newly elected Walloon province called him back to Belgium and appointed him as professor at the theological seminary of Ciney. During the Second World War 1940‐1944 he became a member of the Belgian secret army, which was very active around Ciney. He was taken prisoner by the Germans and was sent to the concentration camps in Germany. He was liberated when the war ended and he returned to Ciney. He was a skeleton, less than half the weight before his imprisonment. He lived in the friary of Banneux, near the place where Our Lady of Banneux had appeared. He died at Mons on 27‐8‐1965
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89. Father Ludolf from Izegem (Marcel Hostens) He was born on 16‐1‐1902 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1921 He was ordained a priest on 2‐6‐1928 He left Belgium for Lahore on 10‐10‐1929 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐7‐1962 He left Belgium for Zaire on 8‐3‐1965 He left Zaire for Belgium on 23‐6‐1972 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐10‐1972 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 15‐8‐1977 He died at Roeselare on 16‐8‐1978 After finishing his theological studies at Izegem he received the permission to work in the Lahore mission. On his arrival in Lahore he went to Anarkali to learn the local languages. After a few months he was appointed parish priest of Pasrur and the surrounding villages. He propagated very successfully the three days retreat at the mission center, preparing the catechumens for baptism and first communion. He built the churches with the catechist houses in Akbar in 1936, Budha Goraya in 1922 and four other villages. He was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. on 14‐11‐1936 after three of intensive work in the villages. He became sick after a few months and he went to Dalhousie for health reasons. He went on home leave to Belgium in 1939. He returned to Lahore after the war with five new missionaries. He was appointed on 18‐3‐1946 for two months at Jullundur and then as parish priest of Anarkali, Lahore. He worked very hard for two years in this parish and in the St. Francis School. He was transferred to St. Anthony’s parish in May 1948. He built the Don Bosco High School next to the parish house, where he started and English and an Urdu section. He was a very successful preacher. He went back to his old Anarkali parish in March 1957 to replace Fr. Eubert who had been transferred to Jamke Cheema. He was appointed a member of the council of the superior regular from 1946 till 1962 and of the bishop’s council in 1959. He went on sick leave to Belgium on 14‐7‐1962.He lived in the friary of his home town, Izegem. Three missionaries were murdered by the rebels in our mission of Zaire in 1946. Fr. Ludolf offered to go as a missionary to the Ubangi diocese in Zaire. He left for Zaire on 8‐3‐1965. He was a professor in the schools of Gemena, Kota Koli (1968‐1972, and Bwamanda in 1969 where he cared for the seminarians of the diocese. He celebrated his golden jubilee as a religious in Kota Koli on 30‐1‐1972. He returned to Belgium on 23‐6‐1972. He went back to Lahore diocese four months later. He remained for six months in charge of the first two Capuchin seminarians at the Karachi major seminary. He was appointed parish priest of St. Joseph parish in Gujranwala on 5‐4‐1973. He was also the manager of the new St. Joseph middle school, which he upgraded to a full high school. He became rector of the cathedral and parish priest on 24‐9‐1974. He went on home leave two years later. When he returned he was again appointed in the cathedral parish. He was asked many times to preach retreats or recollection days in the parishes
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of Lahore. His health was faltering for the next two years. He asked the permission to return to Belgium after much hesitation. He left Lahore for the last time on 14‐8‐1977. This was the end of his thirty‐six years of missionary life. He died one year later on 16‐8‐1978 of a heart attack in the clinic of Roeselare. Fr. Ludolf has been a very successful missionary, preacher and educator of the youth.
90. Father Thomas from Pamel (Jan Van Laer) He was born on 26‐2‐1898 He entered the Order on 3‐10‐1918 He was ordained a priest on 29‐11‐1925 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐11‐1930 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 22‐11‐1933 He left Belgium for Canada on 9‐9‐1946 He left Canada for Rome in January 1963 He left the Vatican for Belgium on 25‐6‐1965 He died at Edingen on 27‐10‐1965 After finishing his theological studies at Izegem he went for higher studies to Rome in 1925. He received his doctorate in Canon Law in 1928 from the Gregorian University. He asked and obtained the permission to work in the Lahore diocese on 23‐7‐1930. He left Belgium with a group of seven new missionaries on 8‐11‐1930. He left Belgium on 8‐11‐1930 via Brindisi (Italy) and Bombay India with a group of seven new missionaries and reached Lahore on 23‐11‐1930. He went to Sialkot to learn the local languages. Fr. Thomas served only for three years in the Lahore diocese. His first appointment was Pasrur in 1931. He went to Dalwal as a teacher in 1932, and then to St. Francis School in Anarkali, Lahore. His health was not good from the very first days of his arrival. He was admitted five times as a patient in the Mayo hospital in Lahore. He underwent three times an operation. The doctors advised him to return home to Belgium after a liver operation. The reason was that he could adapt to the climate of the Punjab. He left Lahore on 6‐11‐1933 together with the sick Fr. Ubald. His main apostolate in the mission had been an apostolate of suffering. Back in Belgium he went to the seminary of Izegem to teach moral theology. He started a course of missiology for future missionaries. He was one of the editors of the book “In het land van de vijf rivieren” (In the Land of the five Rivers), published on the occasion of the silver jubilee of the Lahore diocese. He was teaching English and Religion of the higher classes at the diocesan college of Izegem in 1939. He was appointed in 1940 guardian of the friary of Herentals, and the director of “Eloquentia Sacra” of the students of the last year of theology. He became the guardian of the friary of Aalst in 1943 and of the friary of Brussels in 1946. He became the mission procurator with residence at Antwerp in 1946. Fr. General appointed him three months later as Custos‐Provincial of the Central Canada Province. He succeeded Fr. Damas who finished his term of six years as Custos. He headed the Canadian custody for seven years. After finishing his term as Custos he
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remained for six years more in Canada as first assistant to the new Custos. Fr. Thomas was very active during his thirteen years of stay in Canada. He started the novitiate for the Capuchins in Sr. Boniface. He took over three flourishing parishes. He became the parish priest of the H. Cross parish in Georgetown (1956‐1960. Then he became the rector of the St. Francis Minor Seminary at Blenheim (1060‐1962. Fr. General sent him the news in January 1963 that the Holy See had appointed him as spiritual director in the Ethiopian college at the Vatican. He worked for two years in Rome. He entered the polyclinic for a general check‐up on 15‐3‐1965. He underwent a stomach operation fifteen days later and took sick leave in the Capuchin international college. He had to return to the same clinic on the 28th of May due to a sceptic wound and for a blood transfusion. The doctors advised the superiors to send Fr. Thomas back to Belgium for health reasons. He returned to Enghien (Belgium) on 25‐6‐1965. He was again admitted in hospital after two months. He peacefully died in the morning of 27‐10‐1065. His last wish before dying was: “no speeches and big funeral ceremonies after my death! Only a wooden cross on my grave.” This last wish of the dying Fr. Thomas has been respected by the superiors, friends and relatives. No speeches were made near the grave. The bishop of Hamiltan (Canada) said of him: He was an example of solid piety, of obedience, a man of supernatural insight, one always concerned with the things that are God’s.” Fr. Thomas said of himself: “I am really a “Peregrinus super terram” (a pilgrim on the earth), and “nothing is as serious as a serious man.” He had a very high sense of responsibility. He was above all a real Franciscan and a very humble Capuchin.
91. Father Eugene from Geetbets (Frans Dillen) He was born on 12‐4‐1900 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1921 He was ordained a priest on 1‐8‐1926 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐11‐1930 He died at Lahore on 31‐3‐1978 After his theological studies he became a teacher at the Seraphic school at Lommel, which he had started under guidance of Fr. Alfred. He was transferred to the school at Bruges a few months later. Fr. Eugene received the permission on 23‐7‐1930 to go as a missionary to the Lahore diocese. He left Belgium with six other missionaries on 8‐11‐1930, and reached one month later. He went to Sialkot for six months to learn the languages. He worked at Antoniabad and Rahimpur from April 1931 up to July 1933. He was transferred to Sargodha in July 1933 to care for Chak 36 and the surrounding villages. He also visited Lala Musa and Malikwal as the chaplain of the railway personnel, who were mostly Anglo‐Indians. In July 1111937 he was a professor at the school of Dalwal and the person in charge of the Catholic boarders. He was transferred to Pasrur in July 1941, and later to Sangla Hill. After the war was over he went with the first group on home leave to Belgium.
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Back in Lahore on 5‐2‐1948 he became the parish priest at Anarkali, Lahore, and the director of the “Catholic Truth Society”. He also taught catechism in all the classes of St. Francis High School, and in St. Joseph School (Thornton Road). When bishop Buyse opened St. Mary’s Seminary at Masson Road on 12‐11‐1951, Fr. Eugene joined the staff of professors and he shifted from Anarkali to the bishop’s house. He was also the chaplain of two hospitals and the central jail. He also served as the spiritual director of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary. He started teaching philosophy and cosmology to the seminarians. He became a full‐time professor at the seminary together with Fr. Elias and Fr. Lidwin. He shifted from the bishop’s house to the seminary on Masson Road. He went on home leave to Belgium on 13‐4‐1956. Returning to Lahore he remained in the seminary for four years more. He returned to the bishop’s house on 13‐5‐1960 and became the rector of the cathedral and successor to Fr. Macaire who left on sick leave to Belgium. He started repairing the cathedral and improving the compound in the same year. He remained the rector of the cathedral for four years. After his home leave in 1964 he went to Maryabad as parish priest and manager of the Estate. He became the spiritual director of the Maryabad Sisters and helped the congregation in the education and formation of the younger Sisters. Bishop Raeymaekers made him a member of the bishop’s council and consultant of the diocesan board of education. He returned to St. Mary’s Minor Seminary in 1969, first as professor and later as rector. He celebrated in Gulberg his golden jubilee as a Capuchin on 17‐9‐1971. He died unexpectedly in the seminary six in months later on 31‐3‐1978 at 11 a.m. He is buried in the Christian graveyard of Jail Road. Fr. Eugene has been the beloved adviser of the two bishops of Lahore and the spiritual director of many Sister congregations in Lahore.
92. Father Agnello from Meer (Corneel Koyen) He was born on 4‐3‐1903 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1921 He was ordained a priest on 2‐6‐1928 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐11‐1930 He died at Sialkot on 14‐7‐1956 After finishing his theological studies at Izegem he asked for the permission to work in Lahore diocese. He left for Lahore on 3‐11‐1930. He went to Sialkot to learn the languages. His first appointment was Sargodha. He was successively transferred to Sangla Hill (1933‐1936), to Montgomery (1936) and Adha where he worked from 1936up to 1947. On 20‐7‐1941 the Belgian consul, residing at Bombay, ordered him and three other Belgian Capuchins to join the Belgian army for military service. He was discharged from military service after having waited for a few weeks for a ship to take them to France via England. He returned to Adha to continue his pastoral work. Fr. Agnello went on home leave to Belgium in 1947.
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He returned to Adha after his holidays on 5‐2‐1948. The village work, however, had become too strenuous for his deteriorating health. He was transferred to Sialkot Cantt, in November of the same year. He cared for the city parish and the convent school. He served as military chaplain as well. Fr. Agnello travelled in the ilaqa on cycle. Not even in his old age did he ever request his superior for a car or motorcycle though he suffered from heart trouble and high blood pressure. He collapsed in his room on 10‐7‐1948 after returning from the convent on cycle. He was taken to the mission hospital where the doctor diagnosed a cerebral haemorrhage. Fr. Agnello received the sacrament of the sick. He peacefully died in the hospital on 14‐7‐1956 at 3 p.m. Fr. Agnello was a very quiet and loving person. He built up Christian communities around Adha for thirteen years and for nine years in Sialkot city. He never refused any service. He went in the hottest days on cycle to the far‐off villages to perform marriages. He devoted himself completely to the work entrusted to him. He will be remembered for many more years by all those to whom he had devoted his life. He was buried on the military graveyard next to the graves of his confreres Frs. Stanislas and Constant.
93. Father Francis Xavier from Antwerp (Maurice De Vooght) He was born on 4‐12‐1902 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1923 He was ordained a priest on 25‐5‐1929 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐11‐1930 He died in Lahore on 3‐5‐1957 On arrival in Lahore on 23‐11‐1930 together with a group of six new missionaries, he went to Sialkot Cantt. to learn the local languages and to help Fr. Gothard in the conversion movement in the districts of Sialkot and Gujranwala. He left Sialkot on 1‐4‐1933 to live in a small one‐room house on the land that Fr. Gothard had bought in Gujranwala, Hafizabad Road. He started building St. Francis Xavier church and a priest house. Fr. Francis Xavier was the founder and first residential priest at Gujranwala. This was the glorious time of the mass conversions in the district of Gujranwala. He registered within a few years thousands of converts in the city and villages of Gujranwala district. He visited together with Fr. Clarens and later with Fr. Frank the villages on cycle from Monday morning till Saturday morning. He visited every day his Christian in two or three villages. He ate their food and he slept in their houses or in open air within the compound. Sunday was the “Day of the Lord” and a day of rest in the mission centre. This was also the day when people came to him with their difficulties and troubles. He lived the life of a “Faqir of the Great King” for seven years, going from village to village to preach the gospel, to baptize the new‐born children and to perform their marriages. After carrying the burden of the work alone for three years the young Fr. Clarens arrived to be his helper in the apostolic work. Fr. Clarens was replaced after a few years by Fr. Frank. Every month some twenty to forty catechumens from the villages, who had learned the prayers and the catechism, came to the centre at Gujranwala. Fr. Francis
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gave them further instruction for three days in preparation for baptism and first Holy Communion. The catechumens received baptism and Holy Communion on the last day of the retreat. When possible the bishop administered to them the sacrament of confirmation. These men and women went back to their village with renewed courage to become themselves apostles of their new faith. Fr. Francis spoke Punjabi fluently. He tries to bring Punjabi in the liturgy and he liked to preach in Punjabi with enthusiasm. He returned to Sialkot on 5‐5‐1919 as the parish priest of the city. Fr. Francis went to Pasrur after two months to replace Fr. Egbert when he was called to join the Belgian army. Fr. Francis followed here the same method of evangelization as in Gujranwala. He visited the villagers every week from Monday to Saturday from September up to March. He held his “committee” once a month to prepare the catechumens for baptism and Holy Communion. He went on home leave to Belgium on 27‐3‐1947 after seventeen years of very active missionary life. Back in Lahore in January 1948 he returned to Sialkot Cantt. He was appointed in Sahowala two months later. During the terrible of August 1953 the mission compound was flooded and the water had entered the priest house. Without informing Fr. Francis Fr. Superior went to Sahowala to visit his confrere and to see how he could help him. When he entered the house by a backdoor he found Fr. Francis and his cook sitting on top of his dining table surrounded by two feet of water in the room. They were taking their meal together. He remained in Sahowala till his next home leave on 26‐3‐1954. Back 10‐12‐1954 he was transferred to Lahore. He started building a large new church in oriental style according to the building plans of Fr. Diego. He built a school for girls as well. How‐ever, the Lord made his own plan. Fr. Francis went to Lahore to have his motorcycle repaired. The mechanic told him that it would take three days of work. Fr. Pius, the assistant parish priest at Anarkali, was asked by the superior to take the sick Fr. Ligori by car from the Mayo hospital to Sialkot Cantt. Fr. Francis proposed to accompany them to Sialkot and then return to Lahore with Fr. Pius. After leaving Fr. Ligori in Sialkot the two Fathers came back via Gujranwala to Lahore. When they reached Kala Shah Kaku, near Shahdarah, ten km. away from Lahore, the car swerved off the road and overturned. Both the Fathers got out of the car and were lying on the road badly wounded, next to the car. Some passers‐by gave them water to drink. After three hours of waiting a bus took both of them to the Mayo hospital in Lahore. Fr. Francis sustained head injuries and a big wound on the spine. He died three days later in the hospital. The funeral service took place in the Catholic cathedral in the presence of the bishop, some thirty priests and a very large crowd of faith‐full disciples of St. Francis. He is buried on the Christian graveyard of Gulberg, Lahore. Fr. Francis Xavier had always worked very hard in the villages of Gujranwala and Sialkot districts during his twenty‐seven years of missionary life. He was an ardent propagator of the Punjabi language in religious services, and in the “committees“ in preparation for baptism and holy communion. He was a perfect master of Punjabi and of the old customs of the Punjabi Christians. He is the author of the Punjabi “Prayer book for the people” and the “ritual” in Punjabi for the priests. The Punjabi translation of the New
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Testament and of the “Sunday Missal for the faithful” was ready for printing when he met with the accident and the Lord called him to his eternal reward. May his fighting soul now rest in the peace of the Lord!
94. Father Hermes from Ronse (Maurits Van Butsele) He was born on 1‐4‐1905 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1926 He was ordained a priest on 26‐12‐1929 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐11‐1930 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 10‐5‐1946 He died at Edingen on 16‐6‐1970 When he had finished his humanities in the local college of Ronse he applied for admission as a novice in the Congregation of Scheut, because he wanted to become a missionary at any cost. His parents, however, objected very strongly and refused to grant him permission. He, therefore, entered the diocesan seminary of Gent. After the holidays of August‐September 1926 he left home. Everybody, his parents included, thought he had gone back to the seminary to continue this studies. But he went by train straight to Enghien, where he asked for permission in the novitiate of the Capuchins. He received the habit of St. Francis on 15‐9‐1926. He started his novitiate with seventeen other candidates; one of them was Fr. Clarence from Rumbeke. After finishing his novitiate he studied philosophy for three years and theology for four years. On 15‐10‐1928 he requested the superior for permission to work as a missionary in the Punjab. This was granted on 23‐7‐1930 while he was a student at the University of Louvain. He left Belgium on 2‐11‐1930, via Brindisi (Italy) and Bombay (India) to reach Lahore on 23‐11‐1930. There were six other new missionaries with him for the same diocese. He went to Sialkot to learn the local languages and he was introduced in the missionary life. His first appointment was in April 1931 at Anarkali (Lahore) to help Fr. Anastase in the management of St. Francis School and boarding. This kind of work, however, did not satisfy the dreams of Fr. Hermes. He asked and obtained the following year his transfer as a missionary to Montgomery to replace Fr. Silvain. He was parish priest, daura Father and military chaplain. He was transferred to Lyallpur (Faisalabad) on 1‐4‐1933 to help Fr. Prudent in his apostolic work. He had an excellent master in Fr. Prudent, who knew the Punjabis well and taught Fr. Hermes how to be the “faqir of God” for the people. He went back to Montgomery after a few months. When the mission station was taken over by the Italian Dominican Fathers in August 1934 he returned to Anarkali as ilaqa Father in charge of more than hundred and fifty villages around Lahore. In those days he took with four “Disciples of Jesus”, the nucleus of a new Indian Brother congregation. When the Anarkali parish was divided many villages of the Anarkali parish were attached to the Lahore Cantt. Parish. Fr. Hermes shifted in 1936 with his four “Disciples of Jesus” from Anarkali to Lahore Cantt.
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church. Two “Disciples of Jesus” received a special habit on 15th August 1936. They made private vows to form a “Societas in communi viventium sine votis publicis”. The number of the “Disciples of Jesus” increased up to twelve. They were called “The Brothers of St. John the Baptist”. Their main object was to teach the Bible to the village Christians through preaching and their exemplary way of living. Fr. Roger, the parish priest and future bishop of Lahore, made the rules and regulations of the new congregation. Fr. Hermes had changed and adapted an old servant quarter in the church compound into a nice small house where they lived together with him. He ate their food and slept in the common room. They visited two by two the villages to teach the new converts the prayers and catechism. Fr. Hermes accompanied his Disciples many times on foot from village to village, playing the flute and singing Punjabi songs. During these years of stay at Lahore Cantt. he fully realized the dreams of his youth to be the “Troubadour of the Great King” as his Father Francis had lived in Italy. His health, however, started failing; his eye‐sight deteriorated. He was forced to take sick leave in Dalhousie on 1=8‐1944. After three months of rest he returned to Lahore Cantt., to his beloved Brothers. He went again to Dalhousie one year later to restore his health. The first signs of Parkinson disease appeared. His eyes were continuously closing and his eye‐sight went from bad to worse. As soon as the war was over Fr. Hermes was sent to Belgium for medical treatment on 16‐4‐1946. He travelled with the sick Fr. Capistran. Fr. Hermes never expected the end of his missionary life in the Punjab. The doctors could do very little to cure him or to alleviate his suffering. He lived for twenty‐two years more as a broken man in the friary of Enghien i.e. from 1948 till 1970. He did the work of doorkeeper and sacristan. He died in this friary as a saint on 16‐6‐1970. His funeral took place in the friary of Enghien, in the presence of two bishops and many confreres missionaries. Fr. Hermes was and is still very well known in the villages around Lahore Cantt. He visited for many years those villages as “The Faqir of God”. Accompanied by some of his Brothers of St. John the Baptist he walked from village to village announcing the good news of the gospel. He played the flute to attract the Christians to the prayers. They sang together the “Zaburs” (Psalms) and other Punjabi songs. He lived with the Christians, eating their food and drinking un‐clean water, which they were forced to drink. He was venerated by his people as “The Man of God”. He trained and instructed his Disciples of St. John the Baptist to pray to God, and to live in simplicity and poverty. After returning to Belgium he spent most of his time in prayer and meditation. He did not talk much, but he was always ready for any service that was asked of him. Fr. Hermes lived and died as a saint in his missionary life and later in retirement in Belgium.
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95. Father Egbert from Nieuwerkerke (Gustave Van Laethem) He was born on 13‐6‐1904 He entered the Order on 22‐4‐1921 He was ordained a priest on 2‐6‐1928 He left Belgium for Lahore on 6‐10‐1932 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 2‐4‐1946 After finishing his theological studies he worked in the Seraphic school at Bruges. Her asked and obtained from his superiors the permission to work as a missionary in the diocese of Lahore. He learned the local languages for six months at Dalhousie. His first appointment was as assistant parish at Amritsar. He went on sick leave to Dalhousie during the summer of 1936 (16‐6‐1936). He was transferred to Pasrur one year later for the village work. He received on 20‐9‐1941 orders from the Belgian consul at Bombay to join the Belgian army in France. He left Pasrur one month later, via Karachi, for England. While he was waiting in Karachi for transport, he became very sick with dysentery, which forced him to return to Lahore for medical treatment. After improving a while he went on sick leave to Dalwal. When the war was over he left Lahore for Belgium on 11‐3‐1946. He travelled with the sick Fr. Tryphon. He did not return to the diocese of Lahore.
96. Father Exupere from Essen (Frans Sanders) He was born on 4‐4‐1907 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1925 He was ordained a priest on 21‐5‐1932 He left Belgium for Lahore on 6‐10‐1933 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1949 up to 1955 He left Lahore and arrives in Belgium on 10‐4‐1988 He died at Meersel on 19‐10‐1988 On arrival in Lahore he went for six months to Ferozepur to study the languages. His first appointment was on 45‐4‐1934 for Adha to help Fr. William in his missionary work. After six months of training in the village work he was transferred on 15‐10‐1934 to St. Francis High School at Anarkali, Lahore. He looked after the Catholic Truth Society, the publication of the “Catholic Naqib” and the religious instructions of the Catholic Boarders of the school. He has been working in Lahore for the rest of his fifty‐four years of his missionary life. He was appointed on 11‐5‐1949 for three years the superior regular of the Capuchins in the Lahore diocese. Bishop Marcel Roger appointed him on 27‐1‐1950 as vicar general of the diocese. He remained in this function or thirty‐four years under three bishops until he resigned on 5‐1‐1984. Each time the bishop left the country he was responsible for the administration of the diocese. He became more and more involved in the matters of the diocese and shared the work of the bishop over the years. He was appointed principal of St. Francis high school, Lahore, on 1‐4‐1951. For many years he
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was put in charge of the catechists working in the diocese, and also in charge of the marriage cases in the diocese. He shifted from Anarkali to the bishop’s house to become the rector of the cathedral on 28‐11‐1966. He worked as parish priest of the cathedral ilaqa for twenty‐two years. He received from the Belgian government the medal “Ridder of the Kroonorde” (Knight of the Order of the Crown) on this occasion. He celebrated his golden priestly jubilee on 21‐5‐1982. He received from the Pope the medal “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” on this occasion. He built a primary school with a prayer on top of it in Saydan Shah which is a housing colony of more than three hundred Catholic families, two miles away from the cathedral. He celebrated every Sunday the holy Mass in this colony for his Christians living there. He repeatedly requested the bishop to relieve him from the charge of vicar general. The bishop postponed each time the decision until 5‐1‐1984 when he accepted the resignation of Fr. Exupere as vicar general. His health deteriorated rapidly. He resigned as rector of the cathedral on 1‐12‐1985 and he went to live in St. Mary’s friary, Gulberg. He celebrated here his diamond jubilee of sixty years of religious life. He visited the patients in the United Christian hospital (U.C. H.) and other hospitals during his three years of retirement in Gulberg. He suffered much during the last year of his life. His memory was failing and he had much pain in the spine. As the pain was in‐creasing he agreed to return to Belgium on sick leave. He underwent an operation in Belgium. This relieved him from the pain. He went to Meersel Dreef after a three months’ stay in the hospital to pass the last days of his life. He died peacefully on 18‐10‐1988. Fr. Exupere has been the soul and animator of the “Catholic Truth Society” and the “Catholic Naqib” for many years. He translated many interesting religious books from English into Urdu. He could read and write Urdu fluently. The “Catholic Truth Society” at Anarkali became gradually a big concern under his management, where the missionary priests could get all the books and printed forms which they needed for their parish work. Fr. Exupere has always been a very quiet and humble priest. He was always ready to help anyone who went to him with difficulties. He was very generous to the sick and the poor. His parishioners will remember him as the quiet humble Capuchin, always happy and ready to serve.
97. Father Bonaventure from Helmond (Jan Van Roy) He was born on 25‐9‐1989 He entered the Order on 28‐2‐1926 He was ordained a priest on 21‐5‐1932 He left Belgium for Lahore on 6‐10‐1933 He died at Karachi on 25‐1‐1945 Fr. Bonaventure was a late vocation. He held a government post before entering the novitiate. He went to Antwerp on 7‐12‐1925 where he started learning Latin. He asked for the permission to work in the Lahore diocese after his ordination to the priesthood on 21‐5‐1923. On his arrival in Lahore he went to Sialkot to learn the local languages.
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He was first appointed as military chaplain at Ferozepur Cantt. He worked for eighteen months as a professor in the mission schools at Anarkali (31‐3‐1938) and Dalwal (9‐11‐1938). He went from Dalwal as a missionary to Ferozepur (15‐3‐1940), Adha (1‐8‐1941) and Sialkot (2‐10‐1941). He became increasingly sick with the years, suffering from high blood pressure, neuro sclerosis and heart disease. He was repeatedly admitted in and discharged from different hospitals of Lahore. He could not go to any hill station on sick leave because of his weak heart. Therefore, he went to stay in Karachi in June 1944 where the FMM Sisters cared for him in the nursing home. When he became paralyzed on one side on 22‐1‐1945 he requested the sacrament of the sick, which he received with piety and fully accepting the will of God. He fell into a coma for twenty‐four hours two days later. He peacefully died the next day on 25‐1‐1945. He was buried on the Christian graveyard at Karachi.
98. Father Clarens from Rumbeke (Florent Vinckier) He was born on 27‐12‐1905 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1926 He was ordained a priest on 10‐6‐1933 He left Belgium for Lahore on 18‐10‐1934 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐10‐1981 He died in Lahore on 13‐11‐1986 He finished his theological studies on 22‐3‐1934. Then he asked for the permission to work as a missionary in the Punjab. He left Belgium for Lahore on 18‐10‐1934. He studied the local languages at Ferozepur. His first appointment was at Amritsar on 15‐4‐1935. He was then successively transferred to Narowal on 5‐4‐1936, Amritsar on 15‐6‐1936, Gujranwala on 14‐11‐1936, Amritsar on 1‐6‐1938, Gujranwala on 9‐11‐1938, Anarkali on 15‐3‐1940 and Gujranwala on 1‐6‐1942. In all those places he had to care for the spiritual needs of the Christian villagers. He has always been very active, working day and night to visit the people entrusted to his care. The highest point of his missionary life came in Gujranwala where he lived and worked for five years together with Fr. Frank (1942‐1947). Fr. Frank did most of his work at home, while Fr. Clarence was always visiting the villages. Most of the time during these five years Fr. Clarens was leaving home on Monday morning and came back home on Saturday morning. He visited every day two or three small villages during the daytime and passed the night in a larger, more populated village. He went on cycle or motor‐cycle for many years during the marriage season in summer (June‐July) to perform marriages in the villages. Both the priests devoted themselves day and night to the spiritual and material needs of the Christians. Protestant families (American Presbyterian church) in hundreds of villages became members of the Catholic Church. The two priests started a conversion movement in Gujranwala district at the same time as Fr. Francis Xavier and Fr. Salees did in Sialkot district and Fr. Diego in Lahore district. He went on home leave for a rest on 9‐10‐1947 after eleven years of very hard work. Back in Lahore on 24‐6‐1948 he was transferred to Sheikhupura and from there to Ferozepur on 10‐4‐1950, to Narowal on 4‐3‐1953 and to Dalhousie on 15‐3‐1954. He returned to Gujranwala (Daska Road) on 17‐7‐1954 where he started building a new
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priest house for the parish of St. Joseph. He started the St. Joseph English School in a rented house with the help of Mrs. Phantom. When the new buildings were ready he shifted the school to the new premises of Daska Road. He made an English and Urdu school up to matriculation level with the help of the Dutch Brothers. After his home leave in 1965 he shifted his own residence from the rented house opposite to the Tehsil to the new building near the Urdu St. Joseph School on Daska Road. (15‐9‐1967. He remained in charge of the parish of St. Joseph, and of the spiritual care of the Sisters of Charity, living in the Civil Lines. He was appointed parish priest of Anarkali, Lahore, after his home leave on 6‐11‐1969. He was transferred one year later to Sialkot, in charge of the city parish. He was transferred to Maryabad on 10‐6‐1977 to take care of the spiritual and temporal needs of the Christian village. He became the parish priest of Sangla Hill two years later. He returned to Sangla Hill after his home leave in 1980. He suffered there a stroke and was paralyzed on one side. He was forced to go on home leave to Belgium on 14‐10‐1981 on medical grounds. He never expected that this sick leave would be the end of his missionary life. Fr. Provincial informed him on 22‐4‐1982 that he would not return to the Punjab because of his health. He passed the last four years of his life in the friary of Izegem. Fr. Clarens was longing all those years to return to Sangla Hill and to pass the last days of his life in the Punjab, where he had been working for forty‐seven years. His superiors, however, did not agree. What seemed impossible for him was possible for God: “Baba Clarens” who had worked for so many years in the diocese of Lahore would return to the Punjab and die in Lahore. Some forty visitors from Belgium travelled to Lahore for the centenary celebrations of the Lahore diocese. One of them was “Baba Clarens”. During his two weeks stay he visited Maryabad, Sangla Hill and Gujranwala, the old places where he had been working for so many years. All the visitors made themselves ready on the last day to leave Lahore, and to return to Belgium via Karachi on an evening flight. Fr. Clarens was in Gulberg that very morning celebrating holy Mass. He went to the dining room after the Mass to take his breakfast. He was in a happy mood, joking with the confreres. He felt un‐well at the end of his breakfast. He had pain in the chest. He went back to his room with the help of two confreres. He collapsed near the door of the room on account of heart failure. Fr. Clarens passed away before any medical help could be given. His funeral service took place in the same afternoon in the presence of many priests, friends and the twenty‐seven visitors from Belgium. He was buried on the graveyard of Jail Road, in the land that had become his own country. Immediately after the funeral service was over the twenty‐six Belgian visitors left from the graveyard to the airport to fly to Belgium via Karachi….without “Baba Clarens”, who got his last wish fulfilled: he remained in the Punjab forever. Fr. Clarens was not a big talker, but he was a very hard working missionary. He was always good for the poor, the sick and for anyone who got into hot water for one reason or the other. He was rightly called by his confreres: Gunahgaronki Panah” (Toevlucht der zondaars).
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99. Father Meinard from Antwerp (Gaston Luijtens) He was born on 24‐4‐1909 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1926 He was ordained a priest on 10‐6‐1933 He left Belgium for Lahore on 18‐10‐1934 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 4‐11‐1947 He died in Herentals on 20‐7‐1980 He received on 22‐3‐1934 the permission to go to Lahore as a missionary. He left Belgium on 18‐10‐1934. He reached Lahore, via Bombay, on 5‐12‐1934. He went to Ferozepur on 5‐12‐1934 to study the local languages and English. His first appointment was Gujranwala on 21‐5‐1935 as assistant parish priest. This was the time of the big conversion movement that started in Gujranwala district. He was transferred from Gujranwala on 14‐11‐1936 to Anarkali, Lahore, where he had to care for more than hundred and fifty villages around Lahore. He had villages situated along the Multan Road sixty miles away from Lahore city. He cared for all the villages up to twenty‐one miles away along the G.T. road towards Gujranwala. He cared for villages within a sixteen miles radius along the road going to Sheikhupura. He cared for the villages thirty‐five miles away from Lahore up to Reanwala along the Faisalabad road. He made his visits to the villages either by cycle or by motor cycle. When Fr. Ludolf left for home leave on 15‐3‐1940. Fr. Meinard was transferred from Anarkali to Sialkot as military chaplain, parish priest and principal of St. Anthony School in the city. He went on home leave to Belgium in 1947 for a rest and to restore his health. He never suspected that he would never return to his dear Punjabi people. He became a member of the community in the friary of Antwerp, Bruges (17‐5‐1948) and back to Antwerp. He became actively involved in the work of the home “Nieuw Leven” (New Life) for young delinquents in trouble with the court. He remained in Antwerp till 12‐8‐1958. He was transferred to Louvain as chaplain of the hospitals. He was transferred to Herentals in 1964 as preacher. He became a member of the “Week of the Mission Conferences” at Louvain in 1955. He remained in the committee for more than ten years. Fr. Meinard remained a missionary his whole life even after he had left the Lahore diocese. He helped to start the mission procure at Antwerp on 29‐7‐1953. He was officially appointed the secretary for the missions on 24‐11‐1954. He started mission exhibitions in many cities of Belgium. He was a visiting professor of missiology in the seminary of theology at Izegem from 1963 till 1964. He was transferred from Antwerp to Herentals. He fell ill in the days of July 1980 and was admitted in the local hospital. He received the sacrament of the sick and died in the hospital the following day on 20‐7‐1980.
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100. Father Benno from Herentals (Denis Van Doninck) He was born on 7‐6‐1910 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1927 He was ordained a priest on 29‐5‐1934 He left Belgium for Lahore on 7‐10‐1935 He died in Sialkot on 28‐8‐1993 After studying the local languages for six months he received his first appointment for Sialkot, where he has been initiated in the pastoral work. He was transferred to Sahowala a few months later on 14‐11‐1936 where he stayed for more than eleven years. He got enteric fever two years after arriving at Sahowala. He was admitted in the military hospital at Sialkot Cantt. on 1‐7‐1938.He went on home leave to Belgium on 20‐5‐1948 after a stay of twelve years in the mission. During his long at Sahowala, where he live without electricity he became a master in the Punjabi language. When he returned from home leave on 8‐1‐1949 he was sent to Sangla Hill and from there to Pasrur on 301‐1950. After a stay of three years at Pasrur he was transferred on 1‐9‐1953 to the new parish of St. Joseph, Daska Road, Gujranwala. He started the Urdu section of St. Joseph school in a rented house at Khokharke (Gujranwala). On his return from home leave in Belgium on 28‐6‐1957 he went to live with Fr. Florimond at Sahowala, a place that was well known to him. He was transferred to Pasrur on 8‐6‐1961 to replace the sick Fr. Wigbert who left on sick leave for Belgium.Fr. Benno organized the festivities of the golden jubilee of Pasrur mission station on 25‐3‐1963. He did much to help the Sisters in their school work. After a stay of nine years at Pasrur he was transferred to Sheikhupura on 30‐8‐1972 to care for the city parish, the school and the Sisters. When he returned from home leave in Belgium on 12‐2‐1976 he was posted for the third time at Pasrur to replace Fr. Lambert who became sick and went on home leave to Belgium. He was made a “Knight of the Order of King Leopold II” the following year on 30‐11‐1977. He remained for four years at Pasrur. He was transferred to Adha on 3‐5‐1981. He went on home leave to visit his sick sister Rosa at Herentals on 7‐4‐1984. When he returned to Adha he did not keep good health. He was transferred to Bethania hospital, Sialkot, on 26‐12‐1984. He celebrated his golden jubilee of missionary life in Sialkot on 2‐12‐1985. Since then he lives in retirement in the house of Adha. Fr. Benno has always been a very active missionary, very devoted to his pastoral duties and an example of a pious Capuchin.
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101. Father Tryphon from Essen (Frans Huybrecht) He was born on 18‐4‐1909 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1927 He was ordained a priest on 26‐5‐1934 He left Belgium for Lahore on 26‐10‐1936 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 2‐4‐1946 He died in Brasschaat on 15‐2‐1985 Before arriving in Lahore he worked as a professor in the seraphic school at Lommel (12‐8‐1935). He received the permission to work in the diocese of Lahore on 30‐7‐1936. He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐10‐1936. He went to Dalhousie for six months to learn the local languages and English. His first appointment was for Pasrur on 15‐2‐1937 to help Fr. Evarist in his pastoral work. He was successively transferred from there to Sialkot (15‐11‐1937), Gujranwala (5‐5‐1941), Ferozepur (12‐12‐1941) and Jullundur (1‐5‐1942). He visited in all those places the Christians in the villages of the mission station and administered the sacraments. He was admitted in the Mayo hospital at Lahore on 61‐2‐1943. The doctors diagnosed tuberculosis in the bones, in one knee, in the spine and in the lungs. He remained under treatment in the hospital for three years until he could return to Belgium to follow a more efficient treatment. He left Lahore for Belgium with Fr. Egbert on 11‐3‐1946. The missionary life was over for both the missionaries. They would not return to Lahore. Fr. Tryphon first stayed in the friary of Meersel Dreef on 23‐3‐1946. A few weeks after his return to Belgium he underwent a successful operation on the spine in St. Camillus hospital at Antwerp. He became the guardian of the friary of Meersel from 1949 till 1955. He organized pilgrimages from Holland to the grotto of our Lady in the park. He built the open‐air fourteen Stations of the Cross in the same park. He was transferred from Meersel Dreef to Antwerp where he stayed from 1955 till 1958. He was transferred to the new friary of Boom on 23‐8‐1967 and to Aalst on 1‐10‐1968. The last years of his life were spent with his two brothers in Merksem and in Brussels. He died peacefully in the house of his brothers at Merksem on 15‐2‐1985.
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102. Father Salees from Eindhoven (Jaak Murkes) He was born on 16‐11‐1909 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1928 He was ordained a priest on 9‐6‐1935 He left Belgium for Lahore on 26‐10‐1936 He left Lahore and arrives in Belgium on 12‐6‐1959 He died in Aalst on 6‐1‐1989 After his theological studies he obtained the permission to go to Lahore diocese as a missionary. He studied in Dalhousie for six months the local languages or Urdu and Punjabi. His first not too happy appointment was for the Dalwal School as superintendent of the hostel of Catholic boys on 18‐1‐1937. He left very soon, however, for Sargodha on 11‐7‐1937 where he started his pastoral work in the villages. He was transferred to Narowal one year later on 31‐3‐1938. He started in Narowal with Fr. Francis Xavier the conversion movement of Protestants towards the Catholic Church. Both the priests were animated by the same ideal. They were completely devoted to the pastoral work of the Christians entrusted to their care. Narowal Tehsil was a neglected flood area and the roads in the huge parish were very bad or non‐existent. Fr. Salees purchased, therefore, a camel and a big tent. He went from village to village on cycle accompanied by two or three catechists and he visited the Catholic families living there. In the evening he went to a larger and more populated village. The servant had to arrive there in the afternoon with the camel and the tent. Before Fr. Salees reached the village the tent was put up in a quiet corner of the village near the Christian houses. When Fr. Salees reached the village with his catechists in the evening, he always went from house to house to visit each family and greet all the members of the house. He could see the sick and hear many complaints and difficulties. He invited them all to come to his tent after meals for the evening prayers, religious instruction and songs. He went then quietly for a walk in the fields all alone to pray his rosary and breviary. After the people had eaten their food they went to the meeting place where Father had put up his tent. The prayed together till late at night and sang Punjabi songs and “zabur” (psalms). This was the time when Father had to hear the confessions of all those who receive Holy Communion the next morning. After the songs were over the women and children re‐turned to their houses. The men stayed on to talk about the disputes and difficulties in the “bradari” (community). This went on till late at night and Father had to be their judge. He celebrated the holy Eucharist early the next morning. He left after breakfast with his catechists for the next village. The servant packed the tent on the camel and left for the village where Father would pass the following night. Fr. Salees visited every day two or three small villages and he passed the night where there were a larger number of communicants. He returned to the mission station on Saturday. Sunday, the day of the Lord, was a day of rest. This was his life from the month of September up to Christmas, and from February up to the harvest time in the month of May. He started together with Frs. Francis Xavier and Diego the card system in order to keep all information of each family up‐to‐date. Each family had its family card on which was
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found all information of the family: names, parents’ names, baptism, marriage, children’s names with date of birth, of baptism, etc. It was a full documentation of each family. This was the glorious time of Narowal when big crowds came every month to the mission station for religious instruction and to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, etc. He protected during the partition time of 1947 the Muslim refugees migrating from India, as well as the Sikhs and Hindus going to India from violence and killing. He was commonly called in the region: “The Lion of Narowal”. He led more than once a large crowd of Hindus and Sikhs from the refugee of Narowal to the Pakistani‐Indian border, seven miles away, to protect the refugees against attack and killing. Nobody dared to touch of kill the refugees in his presence. When he returned from home leave on 6‐4‐1949 he was transferred to Sahowala. During this period he built a large church in the village Kopra. He was sent back to Narowal after the accident of Fr. Francis Xavier near Shahdarah to replace him and to initiate Fr. Louis in the pastoral work. Thanks to his twenty years of very hard work the Narowal mission station has a few thousand of Catholic families spread over more than two hundred villages of Narowal Tehsil, visited by thirteen catechists to keep up the work. Fr. Salees was transferred the following year from Narowal to Gujranwala, Hafizabad road on 1‐6‐1958 to replace Fr. Wigbert who had to leave for Belgium because of sickness. Fr. Salees left the diocese of Lahore for Belgium at his own request on 10‐6‐1959. He has lived in the friaries of Bruges and Brussels for many years. He remained a missionary even at home and was very attached to the Lahore diocese. He helped the mission secretary to collect funds for the mission work through mission exhibitions and conferences. He died very peacefully in the friary of Meersel Dreef on 6‐1‐1989. He was rightly called by the people “The Lion of Narowal”. He is rightly called “The Apostle of Narowal” by his missionaries confreres.
103. Father Diego from Aalst (Ferdinand Van Schuylenbergh) He was born on 29‐5‐1907 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1928 He was ordained a priest on 9‐6‐1935 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐10‐1937 He died in Sialkot on 16‐11‐1983 After finishing his theological studies at Izegem Fr. Diego went to Antwerp and worked for one year in the offices of “Franciskaanse Standaard”. He designed some Franciscan pictures during this period which were printed and published. He asked and obtained on 5‐8‐1937 the permission to work as a missionary in Lahore diocese. He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐10‐191937. He learned the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi in
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Dalhousie. His first appointment was for Sangla Hill on 4‐4‐1938. He was transferred three months later to Gujranwala (St. Francis Xavier) and from there to Sahowala on 12‐1‐1939 and back to Gujranwala on 15‐3‐1940. The Belgian consul in India requested him on 20‐7‐1941 during the Second World War to join the Belgian army in England. He left Lahore for Bombay with two confreres, but they reached Bombay the ship on which they had to sail had already left the harbour. All three returned to Lahore and Fr. Diego went back to his parish at Gujranwala. These were the years of the great conversion movement which was started in Sialkot district. It spread very soon to Gujranwala district and Lahore district. Fr. Diego visited on cycle together with Frs. Frank and Clarence the many villages of the district. Fr. Diego was transferred to Anarkali on 1‐6‐1942. He was again involved in the big conversion movement around Pattoki and Chunian. Fr. Diego, rather small in stature, drove a heavy black B.M.W. motorcycle on which he visited the very far‐away villages of Chunian and Pattoki. Thousands of Balmikis, Mazbi Sikhs and Protestants joined the Catholic Church. As the bishop could not afford to give him more catechists Father Diego engaged private catechists whom he paid from his own resources and from the gifts he was receiving from his benefactors in Belgium. During the months of partition time (1947‐1948) he went on his motorbike day and night the new Catholic families wherever they were in trouble. Fr. Diego returned to Lahore on 4‐1‐1950 after a good rest of six months in Belgium. He was posted at Sangla Hill. He planned and rebuilt the old parish church on 13‐4‐1951 in oriental style. It is one of the most beautiful churches of the diocese. He was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. on 1‐9‐1952. The priests were asking Fr. Diego more and more to design the building plans or to supervise the construction work wherever a church, school or house had to be built. He made the building plans of the new church at Jamke Cheema. He had typhoid fever on 1‐10‐1955 and he took him many months to recuperate completely. During his sick leave he produced some documentary films on the Punjab and the different activities of the church in Lahore diocese. H supervised the construction work of the new St. Anthony’s school and church in Mianapura in Sialkot city. During his home leave of 1956‐1957 he helped to organize the mission exhibition which was held in many cities of Belgium. This exhibition became for many years the great financial help to support the mission work in the Lahore diocese and in Zaire. After his vacation he returned to Lahore and was first posted at Lahore Cantt. in 1957 and later at Gujranwala Hafizabad road on 1‐5‐1958. He did not keep good health and he could not do village work anymore. He remained mostly at home making new building plans and helping the younger confreres wherever new buildings were needed. He accompanied Fr. Ivan who had to go on sick leave to Belgium on 16‐8‐1959. He returned after two months and was posted at Narowal. He demolished the old church and built a lovely large church in oriental style. He celebrated his silver jubilee of missionary life on 11‐11‐1962. He had been working very hard for twenty‐five years as a “daura” (touring) Father, visiting the Christians in their villages near and far away. He
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was well known by now for the many original building plans he had designed and the many buildings he had constructed. He was a member of the “All India Christian Art Council” on the occasion of his silver jubilee. He had made the building plans of the churches in Sultanki, Gazipur, Paji, Shahdarah village, Sialkot city, Sangla Hill, Wahin, Nat Kalan, Narowal, Jamke Cheema, Kopra, Hafizabad, Pasrur, Gujranwala St. Joseph on the Daska road and many other places. He planned and constructed the schools of Gujranwala St. Joseph, Sialkot city, Sheikhupura, Kasur and Jamke Cheema. He built the convent of the Sisters of Charity at Gujranwala. After his home leave of 1964 he was posted at the new place of Gulberg Lahore to make the building plans and to supervise the construction work of St. Mary’s and St. Lawrence schools with a residence for the new parish priest and the staff of the new schools. As soon as the job was completed he began the building plans of the new St. Mary’s Seminary on Masson Road, Lahore, and he supervised the construction work. He planned and supervised in 1970 the construction work of the St. Joseph parish church, Gujranwala, the Urdu school and a big hostel. He built the new parish church and St. Anthony’s high school, Sialkot city, in 1972. This was the new building designed, planned and built under his supervision in his missionary life. He stood on the scaffoldings of St. Anthony’s high school in Sialkot city on his sixty‐fifth birthday. He resided the following year (1973) at Kot Lakhpat to build the new parish church dedicated to St. Francis. After his home leave of 1974 he was transferred to Adha near Sialkot on 3‐6‐1974. He supervised from Adha the construction work of the new Bethania hospital in Pakka Garth, Sialkot. He went home to Belgium to celebrate his golden jubilee of religious life in September 1978. He was made a “Knight of the Crown” on this occasion on 4‐12‐1978. This was his last visit to his dear ones in Belgium. Back in Lahore on 20‐12‐1978 he went to Sialkot Cantt. as a resting priest. His heart had become very weak. He died suddenly in Sialkot Cantt. of a heart attack in the early morning of 16‐11‐1983, at the age of seventy‐six years of which he passed forty‐six years in the diocese of Lahore. His funeral took place in the afternoon of the same day. He was buried near the church of Adha. Fr. Diego was an artist and a builder. He built more than one hundred churches, schools, convents and parish houses all over the diocese. He was an ardent defender of Punjabi as the local language in the daily prayers and the liturgy of the church. He wrote in his last letter to his relatives in Belgium: “Today is the eleventh of November and the feast of St. Martin, patron saint of Aalst. It is also the forty‐sixth anniversary of my arrival here in the Punjab; no flowers and no crowns. I thank the Lord for all these years that I could work for the Church. Humanly speaking I did a lot. I built for the Lord more than one hundred churches, schools and other buildings and I never neglected the pastoral work in the one hundred to one hundred and fifty villages which were entrusted to my care. I may say in all sincerity of heart: I have built a lot but I never neglected the spiritual work of the villages. I have no village work anymore the last few years. Now I have entered the quietness of the late evening of my life. Fr. Diego passed
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away five day after writing this letter, even before the letter reached Belgium. He has exchanged this temporal life for the everlasting life in heaven.
104. Father Nathanael from Kasterlee (Frans Puts) He was born on 5‐12‐1911 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1929 He was ordained a priest on 6‐6‐1936 He left Belgium for Lahore on 23‐10‐1937 He left Lahore for Belgium on 3‐2‐1986 He died at Louvain on 7‐3‐1986 He was the elder brother of Fr. Jean Marie O.F.M.Cap. After his theological studies he left Belgium as a missionary in the Punjab. On his arrival in Lahore on 23‐10‐1937 he was sent to Dalhousie to study the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was for Amritsar on 4‐4‐1938 to care for the Christians in more than one hundred villages of the districts of Amritsar and Gurdaspur. When Fr. Hermes became sick in Lahore Cantt. on 15‐5‐1946 and had to return to Belgium on the advice of the doctor Fr. Nathanael was asked to replace him and to take over the pastoral work in the villages of Lahore Cantt.‐ilaqa. During these very difficult months of partition in 1947‐1948, Fr. Nathanael had to care for thousands of refugees going to and coming from India. The new international border line, separating India from Pakistan, went through many villages of his parish. He took over on 15‐12‐1950 for a few months the management of St. Francis High School and Boarding. He was transferred four months later to Maryabad on 1‐4‐1951 for the village work and as spiritual director of the Maryabad Sisters. He helped the Punjabi Sisters to get higher training and better proficiency in English. He did also much to bring the local Urdu school, which was under the administration of the Sisters, first to Middle standard, and later to Matric standard. While he was on a visit to two villages during these years, he became involved in a motor accident and dislocated his shoulder on 9‐5‐1952. He was present in the church on 2‐1‐1953 when Fr. Frank was murdered. He gave the first news of it in the P.S. of Khanqa Dogran, and he went to Chahur Khana hospital to fetch a doctor. After the murder of Fr. Frank and the riots in Maryabad village, Fr. Nathanael needed a transfer and a rest. He was first sent to Sheikhupura on 1‐12‐1953.One year later he went to Lahore Cantt. as military chaplain and parish priest of all the villages attached to the parish. Fr. Nathanael was convinced of the importance of education and schools for the future of the Church in Lahore diocese. Education became his life commitment for the next thirty years of his missionary life. He planned and built the St. Joseph school in Lahore Cantt. Church compound. He worked very hard to give the best education to the boys and girls attending the school. He went many times to the classrooms to teach himself, and to supervise the teaching of the teachers. He brought the school finally up to Matric standard. When the old church collapsed on 11‐7‐1964 he started building a new and larger church in oriental style, and also a new parish house. He collected every rupee and penny to finance the construction work of the
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school, church and parish house. After the St. Joseph school became nationalized in 1972 and after a stay of more than twenty years in Lahore Cantt. parish he was transferred to Kot Lakhpat as the principal of St. Francis High School in 1975. He worked very hard to bring the school up to Matric standard and to make it a first class school of education. The king of the Belgians bestowed on him on 30‐11‐1977 the medal of “Knight of the Order of Leopold II” Fr. Nathanael suffered severe pain in his knees and hip a few months later. He asked for admission in Bethania hospital in December 1982, hoping that medical treatment would alleviate the pain. When he returned to Kot Lakhpat he started building an up‐to‐date science room in 1983, which he furnished with all the required laboratory instruments. Father became increasingly restless with pain all over his body. He attended his office of the school until the last day before being admitted in United Christian hospital of Gulberg. At that time there were more than two thousand boys and girls registered. He was admitted in United Christian Hospital for a surgical operation on 29‐11‐1986. The diagnosis of the doctor was inflammation of the pancreas. He did not recover after the operation. He accepted the decision of the superior two months later to go home for better medical care. He left the United Christian Hospital on a stretcher on 3‐2‐1988 on his way in an ambulance to the airport of Lahore. He flew from Lahore to Belgium via Karachi. He was admitted in St. Lucas clinic in Louvain, Belgium. He underwent another surgical operation and he died two days later in the clinic on 7‐3‐1986. Fr. Nathanael was fully dedicated to the education of the Punjabi boys and girls. He gave the best years of his life for them.
105. Father Frank Joseph from Ronse (Henri Van Butsele) He was born on 13‐8‐1913 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1930 He was ordained a priest on 22‐5‐1937 He left Belgium for Lahore on 18‐10‐1938 He was murdered in the parish church of Maryabad on 2‐11‐1953 After finishing his theological studies he obtained the permission to work as a missionary in the Lahore diocese on 2‐8‐1938. He went to Amritsar to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. He was appointed as assistant parish priest in Maryabad on 1‐5‐1939. He worked in Gujranwala two years later on 1‐8‐1941. He started a big conversion work together with Fr. Clarens in the villages of Gujranwala district. He spoke Punjabi fluently. He defended the poor Christians in the villages against the greed and injustices of the rich landowners. He went to the village panchayat and the district courts to defend the legal rights of his poor people. He was so successful in his work that some started saying: “Fr. Frank has brought the court to his house.” He was in very high esteem among the judges and the magistrates of Gujranwala, because he knew so well the civil and criminal penal code. They asked Fr. Frank many times to bring reconciliation between the two fighting parties. Fr. Frank had also a very nice voice and he could sing the Punjabi songs as well as any Punjabi.
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When he visited the villages he liked to smoke the huka pipe and to sit with his people till late at night, singing Punjabi songs and psalms. He went to greet the numbardar in every village where he visited his Christians. Fr. Frank was the first Catholic priest in more than one place to enter the village and to offer the holy Eucharist. He started in the village Natt Kalan the first housing colony of the diocese for the social uplift of his poor people. The Sikh numbardar of the village gave the land and Fr. Frank helped some fifty families build their own houses. Fr. Frank had doubled the number of Catholic families during his five years stay in Gujranwala. He was transferred to Amritsar on 15‐5‐1946. Thousands of people were uprooted during the partition days. The Muslims of the Punjab came in huge numbers to Pakistan. The Sikhs and Hindus of Pakistan left for India. Seven million refugees lived in the most miserable conditions and distress. Fr. Frank always helped wherever he could. Completely exhausted by the very heavy work he went on home leave to Belgium on 24‐3‐1949. He returned after six months of holidays and was appointed in Maryabad as parish priest and administrator of the village. He started in August 1950 in the village on a very small scale a procession through the streets of Maryabad in honour of our Lady, Mother of God. The procession with the Blessed Sacrament was organized by Fr. Frank with the help and cooperation of all the villagers to ask God’s blessings over the village, just as it was done in Belgium in old times. This annual procession attracted within a few years thousands of Christians from all over Pakistan. Maryabad with its grotto became a national pilgrimage place of the Christians. More and more Christians attended every year the annual “Ziyarat” of Maryabad. Fr. Frank did much for the social uplift of the villagers. He started an agricultural project to improve the cultivation of the land. He introduced new methods of cultivation with the active cooperation of experts of the government. He made a fish pond outside village abadi for the benefit of the villagers. He started carpet weaving and built a sewing centre for the women. He brought some two hundred acres of waste saltpeter land under cultivation with the technical advice of agricultural engineers. He rebuilt many houses in the village and improved the living conditions of the people. All this was stopped the day when Fr. Frank was killed in the church. It happened in the evening of All‐Souls day on 2‐11‐1953. Many people of the village were together in church around four p.m. according to the old custom. They were there together with the school children to pray for the repose of the souls of those who had died. The village councillors had gathered together in the morning of that same day and had decided during the meeting that Diwan Masih, ex‐military man, who wanted to give his married sister in a second marriage to another man, had to leave the village. Fr. Frank, who was the official head of the village, went to the house of Diwan to inform him about the decision of the elders. Diwan was not at home and Fr. Frank gave the message to his sister who gave him the message of the elders. Diwan went out to the fields without saying a word. He took a knife with him and went to the church. Fr. Frank was kneeling on the prie‐dieu near the main entrance of the church. Diwan went behind Fr. Frank and leaning over the shoulder of Fr. Frank he put the big knife in Father’s heart. Father fell down with a loud cry and was dead. During the panic that
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followed the murderer ran out of the church but he was caught by the gardener and handed over to the police. The funeral took outside the church the next day on the third of November. Fr. Frank was buried near the church, next to the grave of Fr. Felix, the founder of Maryabad. Fr. Frank was a born leader and a good talker. He knew Punjabi to perfection and spoke it very fluently. During the fifteen years of his missionary life he always worked very hard wherever he was sent his superiors for the spiritual and social uplift of the Christians, entrusted to his care. He was “The right Man in the right Place”.
106. Father Zeno from Gullegem (Omer Deroo) He was born on 21‐12‐1916 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1934 He was ordained a priest on 12‐4‐1942 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐1‐1946 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 2‐7‐1960 He went from Belgium to Canada on 19‐9‐1961 He died at Izegem on 26‐6‐1995 When he reached Lahore he went to Sheikhupura on 15‐3‐1946 to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. He felt very lonely very soon when he had to take charge of the pastoral work at the mission station. He had to work very hard as a new and young missionary. He had a very difficult time during the first months after independence of Pakistan. There were plenty of murder cases and looting of properties. When the “sack of Sheikhupura” took place by a Baloch regiment, Fr. Zeno was nearly killed. Under the pretext that somebody had been shooting at the military, the soldiers came in the church compound and took Fr. Zeno into custody and interrogated him. He was brought back to his residence with great difficulty and on the orders of the English Deputy Commissioner of Sheikhupura. His residence had been looted in his absence. Fr. Zeno was transfer‐red from Sheikhupura to Sangla Hill and Anarkali, Lahore on 17‐1948. He built churches in Sultanki and Ghazipur. He became assistant parish priest of St. Anthony’s church at Lahore on 15‐3‐1953. He returned to Sheikhupura on 10‐12‐1954, where he had started his apostolate a few years earlier in such a dramatic way. He built the St. Peter’s church and the convent of the Maryabad Sisters. He left Sheikhupura after a stay of three years and was transferred on 11‐5‐1957 to St. Anthony’s church at Lahore, as parish priest. He was transferred to St. Francis Xavier church, Gujranwala, on 10‐6‐1959 to care for more than hundred and fifty villages attached to this church. When he went on home leave to Belgium on 30‐6‐1960 he decided not to return to Lahore, but to go to Canada as a missionary. He went to Canada in 1961. He died as a member of the Canadian province in Izegem on 26‐6‐1995.
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107. Father Theodule from Vlissingen (August Pyckevet) He was born on 1‐9‐1910 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1932 He was ordained a priest on 3‐6‐1939 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐2‐1946 He left Lahore and arrives in Belgium on 13‐3‐1976 He died at Izegem on 25‐9‐1991 On arrival in Lahore with a group of six other missionaries he went to Dalhousie to study the local languages. He was posted at Anarkali on 14‐5‐1946 to help Fr. Anastase in the school work. He went from there to Sangla Hill on 11‐9‐1952, to Sahowala on 22‐12‐1948, to Sialkot Cantt. on 30‐3‐1950, to Sangla Hill on 1‐9‐1952, to Pasrur on 28‐10‐1955, to Kasur on 4‐7‐1960, to Anarkali on 4‐4‐1961, to Maryabad on 8‐2‐1964, to Lahore Cantt. and Sialkot Cantt. on 20‐4‐1966. He was in charge of the spiritual needs of the many villagers in all these places. When he returned from home leave on 20‐9‐1968 he was posted at Hafizabad as ‘Rector Ecclesiae’. He was transferred to Gujranwala on 26‐5‐1969, to Jamke Cheema on 26‐3‐1973, to Sheikhupura on 31‐10‐1975. He went on home leave to Belgium on 12‐3‐1976 and decided not to return to the Lahore mission. He lives in the friary of Antwerp since 1976. He was later transferred to the friary of Izegem, where he died on 25‐9‐1991.
108. Father Ligory from Wortel (Louis Janssens) He was born on 17‐1‐1914 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1933 He was ordained a priest on 4‐8‐1940 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐2‐1946 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1970 up to 1976 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 4‐5‐1985 He died at Antwerp on 15‐4‐1987 On arrival in Lahore with the first group of missionaries after the war on 18‐3‐1946 he was sent to Ferozepur to learn the local languages and to help Fr. Gothard in the apostolic work. He worked for two years very hard and visited hundreds of new villages in the districts of Ferozepur and Lahore. He completely exhausted himself in the apostolic work. He started converting many Mazhabi Sikhs and Churas in the villages around Chunian and Pattoki. He remained sometimes away for many days without going home. He got a flat tire during a very hot summer day along the small irrigation canal between Chunian and Pattoki. Completely exhausted he left his motorcycle along the canal bank and walked to a village three miles away. He suffered from high fever for two days and remained with the Christians in the village. In the meantime some passers‐by saw the motorcycle lying on the canal bank and informed the police station of Chunian. The police found out after investigation that the motorcycle belonged to a priest living in Ferozepur. The police officer sent one of his
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men to Ferozepur, forty‐three miles away from Chunian. Fr. Gothard received the news from the police man that the owner of the motorcycle was dead in an accident along the canal. Fr. Gothard sent word to the Christians of Ferozepur that Fr. Ligory died in an accident and that there would a funeral service in the church the next morning. While Fr. Ligory was sick with fever in the village, the catechist managed to get the flat tire repaired. Fr. Ligory hurried home early the next morning to Ferozepur, fifty miles away from the village where he had been sick for two days. When he drove his motorcycle into the mission compound of Ferozepur, Fr. Gothard had nearly finished the memorial service for Fr. Ligory. Big surprise!! Fr. Ligory was there, back alive!! Fr. Ligory, however, was sick; even more sick than what he himself believed. He had contracted tuberculosis on both the lungs. The doctor advised the superior to send him for treatment back to Belgium as soon as possible. He left Lahore on 20‐5‐1948 and was a patient for three years in a sanatorium near Poperinge in Belgium. He was completely cured of his tuberculosis and he lived in the friary of Herentals and Antwerp. He returned to Lahore on 20‐5‐1950 and was posted at Sheikhupura. He was then transferred to Sialkot Cantt. to care for the city parish. He built there the priest house next to the parish church and St. Anthony’s High School. The bishop came to bless the new building on 25‐10‐1956. He contracted another infection of tuberculosis in January 1957. He went for treatment to Dr. Patrick Wolfe at St. Mary’s, Gujranwala. He started building Bethania hospital for T.B.C. patients in 1966. This hospital has been his life work for many years. He was elected superior regular of the Capuchins in Lahore diocese from 1970 up to 1976. He purchased during this period a plot of land in Kot Lakhpat and built the Capuchin friary and novitiate. He lived from 1976 up to 1985 in Sialkot Cantt. and city caring for the parish and as administrator of Bethania hospital that he had built into a well‐organized two hundred bed hospital. He went home to Belgium for an eye operation in 1977. He returned to Sialkot within a few months. He resigned as administrator of Bethania hospital on 1‐10‐1984. He said farewell to the Lahore diocese six months later. He returned to Belgium on 4‐4‐1985. He did not return to Pakistan. He lived for two years in the friary of Antwerp. He died of a heart attack on 15‐4‐1987. Fr. Ligory was a man of few words, but of great deeds.
109. Father Fidentian from Egem (Valere Van den Broucke) He was born on 13‐8‐1916 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1935 He was ordained a priest on 19‐12‐1942 He left Belgium for Lahore on 13‐2‐1946 He left Lahore and arrives in Belgium on 12‐3‐1994 He died at Izegem on 12‐9‐2004 On his arrival in Lahore he was sent to Jullundur to learn Urdu and Punjabi. He was introduced to the pastoral work by Fr. Evarist. His first appointment was on 15‐5‐1946
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for St. Francis Xavier parish, Hafizabad Road, Gujranwala, to replace Fr. Clarence who was going on home leave to Belgium. He got the “Barandari” in 1949, a bit Hindu historical building situated in the Civil Lines, Gujranwala. It was first allotted to the bishop and sold to the bishop two years later to be used for a school and dispensary under the administration of the Belgian Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary. He started together with Fr. Fabian St. Joseph’s parish on 2‐2‐1953 in a rented house opposite to the Tehsil building on the Daska Road. He was transferred from Gujranwala to Anarkali (Lahore) to care for the ilaqas from Khori village up to Pattoki and Kanganpur. He went to live in a mud house with Fr. Jerome at Kasur on 4‐4‐1961. The territory, however, to be visited and cared for was the same as in Anarkali. He purchased seven acres of land in Bhai Pheru along the Multan Road in 1964. He started building a new mission station in Bhai Pheru. He lived there for one year in one room of a mud house in the place where the Christians were living. He visited the three and twenty villages of the twelve ilaqas together with his faithful catechist Budha Mal. He also supervised the construction work of the priest residence outside the village. He was transferred to St. Joseph parish, Gujranwala, on 6‐9‐1968. He was transferred again two years later to Lahore Cantt. for the care of the Christians in the villages. He shifted to Kot Lakhpat as superior of St. Francis friary. He went from Kot Lakhpat to the bishop’s house to care for Pakki Thatti parish and a part of the cathedral parish. He purchased land in Sadat Colony near Pakki Thatti in 1978. He started building Dar‐ul‐Sukun, a home for physically handicapped children, mostly polio victims. He also built the Sr. Alfons church of the new parish of Samnabad. The Francis‐can Missionaries of Christ the King came from Karachi to take over the administration of this home for handicapped children. He started later with the T.S.A. (a protestant organization) a home for mentally handicapped children on the premises of T.S.A. (Technical Services Association). When he returned from home leave in 1986 he was put on the retirement list and transfer‐red to St. Mary’s friary in Gulberg, Lahore. He became the chaplain of the M.C. Sisters of Mother Theresa. He visits two jails and mental hospitals in the city. He was later transferred to Lahore Cantt. and returned from there to Belgium for good. He died in Izegem on 12‐9‐2004.
110. Father Concordius from Loppem (Jules Demaré) He was born on 16‐5‐1915 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1933 He was ordained a priest on 28‐7‐1940 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐3‐1946 He left Lahore and arrives in Belgium on 6‐3‐1950 Very little is known about the activities of Fr. Concordius in the Lahore diocese. He first appointment was at Amritsar on 16‐5‐1946, where he was the assistant parish priest in
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charge of the Christians living in the villages around Amritsar. He got typhoid fever one year later on 8‐11‐1947 and he was admitted for treatment in the military hospital of Sialkot. He went on sick leave to Ferozepur Cantt. He went back to Belgium from here at his own request on 6‐3‐1950.
111. Father Wigbert from Schilde (Anton Luijtens) He was born on 24‐10‐1914 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1933 He was ordained a priest on 6‐6‐1940 He left Belgium for Lahore on 20‐3‐1946 He left Lahore and arrives in Belgium on 9‐7‐1970 He died at Meersel‐Dreef on 11‐4‐1993 After learning the local languages for six months he was appointed at St. Francis Xavier church, Gujranwala. He visited the villages of the district during the troubles of the partition days in 1947. He helped the refugees day and night and he tried his utmost best to keep the peace in the villages. He was transferred to different mission stations: to Pasrur on 15‐3‐1948, to Gujranwala, Daska Road on 6‐5‐1955, where he built lovely church at Hindu Chak. He shifted then to Sialkot Cantt. on 1‐6‐1958, then back to Pasrur on 4‐7‐1960. He got a nervous breakdown and went to Dalhousie on sick leave on 8‐61961. He returned to Pasrur after getting better. His health, however, deteriorated and he went on sick leave to Belgium on 16‐8‐1961. When he returned from Belgium he has been working consecutively in Sialkot Cantt. on 9‐7‐1963, in Narowal on 3‐4‐1966, in Jamke Cheema on 4‐3‐1970 and Gujranwala, St. Francis Xavier church on 1‐5‐1970. He got again a nervous breakdown in Gujranwala. He returned to Belgium on the medical advice of Dr. P. Wolfe on 8‐7‐1970. He did not return to the Lahore diocese. He lived in the friary of Meersel Dreef where he died on 11‐4‐1993. Fr. Wigbert was a big friend of the poor Punjabi Christians. He worked everywhere whole‐heartedly and with much enthusiasm.
112. Father Andrew from Abele (Rafael Boerhave) He was born on 23‐11‐1908 He entered the Order on 2‐9‐1928 He was ordained a priest on 13‐10‐1935 He went first to the Ajmeer Mission on 18‐7‐1946 He went to Lahore on 27‐11‐1946 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 7‐7‐1966 He died in Poperinge on 31‐1‐1993 His first appointment was for Sahowala. He was transferred successively to Adha on 15‐3‐1947 and back to Sahowala on 7‐2‐1948. The Deputy High Commissioner for U.K.
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in Pakistan presented him on 14‐7‐1948 with the “King’s Medal” for the services he rendered in Belgium and saving the lives of British airmen during the second world war of 1940‐1945. He was appointed parish priest of Anarkali on 27‐1‐1950. He worked for five years to make it a model parish. He visited all the families in his extensive parish. He started youth groups and brought many children to school. He was loved by his people. He was transferred after five years on 16‐9‐1955 to St. Anthony’s church as the parish priest. He constructed new classes in Don Bosco School and upgraded it to a High School. The new school buildings were solemnly blessed by the bishop of Lahore on 14‐11‐1956. Fr. Andrew always defended wholeheartedly the cause of his parish with all concerned people. He was a fighter by nature. He was never afraid of the work that had to be done. He went on home leave on 30‐6‐1962 and did not return to Lahore. He became a diocesan priest in the diocese of Rijsel (Lille) in France on 1‐3‐1970. He died in Poperinge on 31‐1‐1993.
113. Father Elias from Antwerp (Albert Van der Stichelen) He was born on 25‐12‐1915 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1934 He was ordained a priest on 12‐4‐1942 He left Belgium for Lahore on 2‐5‐1947 He died at Lahore on 15‐8‐1973 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to study the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. He worked successively at St. Francis Xavier church, Gujranwala, on 9‐9‐1947, Lahore Cantt. on 11‐2‐1950 and Dalwal on 9‐4‐1951. He took over as superintendent of St. Francis School and boarding at Anarkali, Lahore, on 1‐4‐1952. He worked as parish priest in St. Anthony’s church and was at the same time teaching in St. Mary’s Minor Seminary at Lahore. He worked after his home leave of 1956 successively in Sangla Hill on 20‐1‐1956, Sheikhupura on 14‐5‐1957, Sialkot City on 1‐7‐1961, and Sialkot Cantt. on 13‐7‐1962 and Gujranwala in October 1963. He became for the second time parish priest of St. Anthony’s church, Lahore, and the principal of Don Bosco School on 14‐10‐1968. He was transferred four years later on 27‐10‐1972 and was appointed as rector of the cathedral. He suffered a heart attack and died in a private clinic on 15‐8‐1973. Fr. Elias has been a councillor to the superior regular for many years. He was acting superior four times during the absence of the superior. He has been active in all kinds
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of apostolate during his thirty‐five years of missionary life. He has worked in the villages for many years. He has been a teacher and principal of a high school. Fr. Elias was ready to do any work that he was asked by his superiors.
114. Father Liberius from Meerle (Alois Broeckmans) He was born on 3‐4‐1919 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1938 He was ordained a priest on 19‐8‐1945 He left Belgium for Lahore on 2‐5‐1947 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 21‐5‐1968 He died at Tilburg (Holland) on 15‐9‐1999 He went to Dalhousie on arrival in Lahore to study the languages of Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was on 9‐9‐1947 for Lahore Cantt. as assistant parish priest to help Fr. Nathanael in his pastoral work for the Christians living in the villages around Cantonment. He was transferred from there successively to Ferozepur on 7‐2‐1953, to Amritsar on 1‐3‐11948, to Dalhousie on 18‐1‐1953, to Anarkali on 17‐2‐1953 and to Maryabad on 1‐12‐1953. He cared for the spiritual and social welfare of the Christians at Maryabad for nine years. Fr. Liberius has been the numbardar of the villages for seven years. He helped the farmers to improve the cultivation of their lands. He rebuilt some of their houses. He was posted after his home leave in 1964 first at the bishop’s house, Lahore, on 27‐9‐1964, and after it at Sialkot as parish priest of the city on 7‐11‐1965. He shifted to Sialkot Cantt. one year later on 20‐11‐1966 and from there to Anarkali on 16‐1‐1967.He looked after St. Francis school and hostel. He went on home leave to Belgium on 18‐8‐1968. He sent a letter to the superior regular during his holidays informing him that he would not return to the Lahore mission. He then lived in the friary of Meersel Dreef. Fr. Liberius has always been very active and hardworking during the more than twenty years of his missionary life in the Lahore diocese. He was an expert builder. He was the nephew of the two missionaries of the Punjab, i.e. Fr. Fabian and Fr. Rufin.
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115. Father Reinfried from Oedelem (Gaston Raeman) He was born on 8‐4‐1912 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1931 He was ordained a priest on 11‐6‐1938 He left Belgium for Lahore on 2‐5‐1947 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 25‐3‐1972 He died at Bruges on 8‐4‐1985 On arrival in Lahore he went to Dalhousie to learn the local languages Urdu and Punjabi. He was posted after two months successively at Dalwal on 24‐1‐1947, Narowal on 7‐2‐1948 and Pasrur in 1951. He built in Pasrur the new parish church according to the building plans made by Fr. Diego. He was posted after two years at St. Francis Xavier church, Hafizabad Road, Gujranwala on 4‐3‐1953 where he was put in charge of more than one hundred villages to be visited. He was transferred to Sangla Hill on 3‐1‐1955. He was transferred from there to Gujranwala, St. Joseph Church, and Daska Road. He then cared for the villages of Anarkali parish, Lahore, for a few months. After his home leave on 13‐2‐1957 he went to Maryabad, Sangla Hill on 15‐4‐1957, Kasur on 13‐1‐1960 and Gujranwala on 4‐7‐1960. He preached the annual retreat to the Capuchins friars in April 1966. He went for the third time to Maryabad after his home leave on 2‐9‐1968. He remained there for four years. Fr. Reinfried always cared for the spiritual welfare of the Punjabi villagers. He was always very jolly and he liked the very simple village life. He knew the tricks of the Punjabis very well; just he liked to play his tricks on them. He decided to retire from active life at the age sixty and to prepare himself for his creator. He left Lahore for Belgium on 25‐3‐1972. He died at Bruges on 6‐4‐1985.
116. Father Emmerick from Izegem (Georges Blondeel) He was born on 10‐4‐1905 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1924 He was ordained a priest on 30‐5‐1931 He left Belgium for Lahore on 9‐1‐1948 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1955 up to 1970 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 30‐4‐1983 He died at Izegem on 1‐5‐1987 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Anarkali to learn Urdu and to help the parish priest in his pastoral work. He went to the bishop’s house four months later on 1‐5‐1948 as secretary of the curia and rector of the cathedral. He was the first to open the doors of the cathedral for the Urdu speaking as well as English speaking congregations. He started building the Sacred Heart Cathedral School in the Cathedral compound, first the Urdu section and later the English section of the school. This school became very soon one of the best schools in the city. He was taken to the hospital with typhoid fever on 8‐3‐1955.
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He was appointed by Fr. General as superior regular of the Capuchins in the Lahore diocese on 3‐4‐1955. He remained in the job for more than fifteen years. When the city of Lahore started planning the new housing scheme of Gulberg, Fr. Emmerick obtained a plot to build St. Mary’s English High School. After obtaining the official approval of the building plans in November 1958 he started constructing St. Mary’s school as English medium school, and St. Lawrence School as an Urdu medium school. Both the schools were a success from the very beginning. He built a house behind the schools, which served as the residence of the superior regular and of the Capuchin friars residing in Gulberg. When the superior regular shifted his residence from the bishop’s house to the new residence in Gulberg on 20‐2‐1966 Gulberg became a new parish separated from the old cathedral parish. Fr. Emmerick was appointed by the bishop as the first parish priest of Gulberg. All the work as superior and builder of the two new schools and residence had exhausted him completely. He went on sick leave. While he was in Belgium he underwent a surgical operation on the spine. On his return to Lahore from sick leave on 23‐5‐1961 Fr. General appointed him for the third time as superior regular. When his term was over on 1‐12‐1970 he requested not to be reelected as superior regular. He remained in Gulberg as the parish priest. He went to Sheikhupura on 18‐9‐1971 to replace the parish priest there. He returned to Lahore on 30‐8‐1972 as parish priest of St. Anthony’s church. He wrote and published a “Short History of the Lahore Diocese” during his stay over there. He replaced on 1‐6‐1973 Fr. Arnold, who was on leave, as novice master in Kot Lakhpat and as parish priest. Fr. Emmerick has always been working for the education of the children. Wherever he was posted he had a school where he cared for the education of the boys and girls. It was for him very hard to see that the mission schools were nationalized and completely neglected. He resigned from all his official jobs at the age of seventy‐five on 20‐4 1980. He retired as a resting priest staying at Gulberg where he had worked so hard for many years. He went for a few months to Sialkot and Jamke Cheema to replace a priest, but he then returned to Gulberg. His memory started failing and caused much suffering. He said farewell to Lahore on 29‐3‐1983 and returned to Belgium to pass the last years of his life in his native town, Izegem. He peacefully died at the age of eighty‐two years. Fr. Emmerick has always been pleading and working for more and better schools, where the children could get a good education. He has been superior regular for fifteen years and a very close cooperator of the bishop of Lahore.
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117. Father Lidwin from Oud‐Turnhout (Jan Caers) He was born on 9‐5‐1921 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1939 He was ordained a priest on 2‐2‐1947 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐1‐1948 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 13‐7‐1960 He died at Meersel‐Dreef on 5‐3‐1989 When he reached Lahore he went to Anarkali to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. He received his first appointment for Sialkot four months later on 1‐5‐1948. He spent the first term of his missionary life in Sialkot district. He was transferred to Narowal on 31‐5‐1949; then back to Sialkot in June 1952; then back to Narowal in September 1952. An accumulation of difficult‐ties in the pastoral work caused a nervous break‐down. He went on sick leave to Dalhousie to restore his health on 1‐6‐1953. He was appointed on 15‐8‐1953 assistant principal of St. Francis High School at Anarkali (Lahore) and boarding master. He became professor of philosophy in the minor seminary on 1‐4‐1954, but he kept his residence at Anarkali. He was transferred to the cathedral as assistant parish priest on 18‐4‐1955, in charge of the Urdu speaking congregation. He remained professor of philosophy in the minor seminary. He went back to Anarkali three years later on 12‐1‐1958 as principal of St. Francis High School. He got another nervous break‐down two years later He went on sick leave to Belgium on 4‐7‐1960. He did not return to Lahore on the advice of the doctor. He lived in the friary of Meersel Dreef for many years, where he died on 9‐3‐1989. Fr. Lidwin has been struggling with poor and deteriorating health during the twelve years of his missionary life and the twenty‐eight years after his return from the Punjab. He was very punctual in all that he did. He was not a big talker. He loved to do everything well.
118. Father Maurin from Sint‐Andries Brugge (Albert Vandierendonck) He was born on 10‐11‐1918 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1937 He was ordained a priest on 3‐6‐1944 He left Belgium for Lahore on 29‐1‐1949 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 2‐3‐1999 He died at Izegem on 6‐9‐2008 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Anarkali to learn the local languages. He was transferred to Sialkot on 31‐5‐1949, then to Adha on 1‐11‐1949 and back to Anarkali on 15‐10‐1950. He was asked to study and prepare himself for B.A. exams. He went to Dalwal for this purpose on 9‐4‐1951. He returned to Lahore after some time and passed the exams with flying colours. He was appointed the manager of St. Francis
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High School at Anarkali on 1‐4‐1952. He remained there till 1957. Then he went to Dalwal for one year. He was transferred to St. Anthony’s church, Lahore, on 26‐1‐1959 as assistant parish priest and manager of Don Bosco High School. He became five years later on 16‐4‐1964 the rector of the Catholic cathedral and the priest in charge of Pakki Thatti ilaqa. He was transferred to Adha after his home leave of 1966, where he lived with the old Fr. Arsene. He was asked to take over the management of Don Bosco School in Lahore. He became professor at St. Mary’s Minor Seminary from September 1967. Fr. Maurin has been teaching at the Minor Seminary of Lahore for many years. He was appointed the first guardian of St. Mary’s friary at Gulberg, Lahore on 5‐12‐1981. He became sick in the 1999. The superior regular, Fr. Mahboob Evarist, accompanied him by plane to Belgium. He was taken straight from airport of Brussels to the hospital in Bruges. He lived for quite a few years in the friary of Bruges. He was then taken to ‘t Pandje in Izegem where he died on 6‐9‐2008.
119. Father Ivan from Sart‐lez‐Spa (Emile Baudron) He was born on 4‐8‐1918 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1935 He was ordained a priest on 26‐7‐1942 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐3‐1949 He died at Chak Jhumra on 12‐1‐1971 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Dalwal to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was for Sangla Hill on 15‐10‐1949. He was transferred to Amritsar as assistant of Fr. Liberius on 17‐6‐1951. He cared for the Christians in the villages of Amritsar district. He was transferred to Dalhousie two years later on 1‐1‐1953 to assist Fr. Ubald who was the military chap‐lain. Then he went to Sheikhupura on 18‐3‐1953, to Anarkali on 23‐12‐1954 and back to Dalhousie as military chaplain. He went to St. Anthony’s church, Empress Road, Lahore on 8‐5‐1955 to help Fr. Elias in the parish work. He worked also: in Sialkot Cantt. on 16‐10‐1956, in Maryabad on 28‐11‐1966 and Chak Jhumra on 14‐9‐1970. He always devoted himself completely to the pastoral work. He liked to go fishing and hunting during his free time. While he was posted at Sialkot, he went for shooting wild boar one night. Thinking that the wild boar was moving in the thick jungle he shot the windscreen of his car to pieces. Fr. Ivan died suddenly of a heart attack in the office of his residence at Chak Jhumra. He is buried near the church at Maryabad.
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120. Father Engelbert from Châtillon (Albert Thiry) He was born on 9‐1‐1916 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1937 He was ordained a priest on 3‐6‐1944 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐3‐1949 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐4‐1955 He died in Ciney on 15‐12‐1966 When he arrived in Lahore he went to Dalwal to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. He worked in Sialkot on 2012‐1949, in Sahowala on 30‐3‐1950, in Pasrur on 1‐9‐1953 and again in Sahowala on 15‐9‐1954. He visited the Christians in the villages of all those places and he administered the sacraments to them. While he was in Sahowala on 12‐4‐1955 he suffered a nervous break‐down and heat exhaus‐tion. He went on sick leave to Belgium. He did not return to the Lahore diocese on the advice of the doctor. He stayed in the friary of Ciney, Belgium, where he died on 15‐12‐1966.
121. Father Eubert from Torhout (Gerard Pollentier) He was born on 25‐2‐1921 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1941 He was ordained a priest on 25‐7‐1948 He left Belgium for Lahore on 26‐11‐1949 He was vice provincial from 1988 up to 1994 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 31‐5‐1998 He died at Izegem on 28‐3‐2007 On arriving in Lahore he stayed in the bishop’s house and in Anarkali to learn the local languages. His first appointment was for Pasrur on 16‐4‐1950. He was transferred to Adha a few months later on 15‐10‐1950, where he worked for eleven years. He started from Adha in 1961 the new mission station and parish Jamke Cheema, five miles away from Adha. He built there a large church, a parish house and a High school with boarding for boys. The school was called St. Mary’s High School. He purchased later five more acres of land and built a girls school, dispensary and a convent for the Dominican Sisters. When he returned from home leave in April 1970 he was appointed parish priest of Anarkali (Lahore). He went back very soon to his beloved place, Jamke Cheema. He went to the Philippines for two months on 9‐8‐1980 and returned to Jamke Cheema. He built five churches in the villages of the ilaqa during his long stay in Jamke Cheema. He suffered a heart attack on 12‐8‐1982 and went on sick leave to Belgium. He underwent a heart operation and received three bypasses. He was back in Jamke Cheema on 12‐5‐1983. He also built a housing colony fro forty Bihari families.
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He took over from Fr. Ligory the administration of Bethania hospital at Pakka Garh, Sialkot. He has been the secretary of the catechist commission for many years in the Lahore diocese. He was elected as the vice provincial of Pakistan with a large majority in the Capuchin Chapter of 1988. He resided in Gulberg but he went every week to Bethania hospital, Sialkot, for the administration work till the arrival of Fr. Emiel from Belgium, the new administrator of the hospital on 25‐2‐1989. He went for two weeks to Manila (the Philippines) in February 1989 to attend the general meeting of all the Capuchin Major Superiors of South East Asia. He was transferred to St. Francis friary of Kot Lakhpat in 1994 after finishing two terms as vice provincial. He returned to Belgium on 31‐5‐1998.
122. Father John Bosco from Werken (Albert Vanhove) He was born on 12‐7‐1922 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1941 He was ordained a priest on 25‐7‐1948 He left Belgium for Lahore on 26‐11‐1949 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 13‐3‐2005 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Anarkali to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was for St. Anthony’s church as assistant parish priest on 16‐4‐1950. He was taken to the hospital with typhoid fever one year later in April 1951. He was transferred to St. Francis Xavier church, Gujranwala, after a sick leave of three months. He cared for more than two hundred villages in the district of Gujranwala. He was out from Monday till Saturday to visit the Christians in the far and near villages. He taught them catechism in very simple words which the illiterate villagers could understand. He made most of the tours and visits to the villages on cycle and rarely on motorcycle. He was transferred to Maryabad after one year of hard work. He followed here the same method of visits to the villages as in Gujranwala. He went to Sialkot city on 15‐11‐1956. Fr. John Bosco was a very good preacher and he liked to preach in Punjabi, the mother tongue of the common people. The faithful listeners complained sometimes that he preached far too long. He went of home leave in 1966 for a long rest. While he was in Belgium he decided to join the Trappist monks and stayed in the abbey of Westmalle for a full year. When he returned to Lahore on 17‐8‐1967 he was appointed at Sialkot Cantt. for the village work. He was transferred to Jamke Cheema on 16‐9‐1968 and to Maryabad in 1971. He built a large church in the village Ratti Tibi. He built smaller chapels in other villages according to the number of Christian families in the village. He was appointed by the bishops of Pakistan on 24‐9‐1974 as spiritual director of the Major Seminary at Karachi. When he returned from Karachi on 7‐11‐1978 he went to
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Bhai Pheru to care for the Christians of over hundred villages entrusted to his care. He started visiting notwithstanding his advanced age each and every village where the Christians were living. He prepared many catechumens for baptism and Holy Communion. He was very strict for administering baptism. Only those who knew doctrine and had learned the Christian prayers were eligible for baptism. He was very much liked by the people. He was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. after six years of hard work on 1‐10‐1984 and to then Adha. He retired from active life and was transferred to St. Mary’s friary at Gulberg, Lahore. He went on home leave on 22‐5‐1987. He decided not to return to Lahore. He became the guardian of the friary of Edingen. He returned to the Lahore diocese on 25‐4‐1991. He worked in Adha and other mission stations. He retired from active pastoral work and stayed at St. Mary’s friary, Gulberg, for some time. He returned to Belgium for good on 13‐3‐2005. He has been living in the friary of Izegem, Bruges and is now for the moment (year 2011) residing in the home of the aged,‘t Pandje. Fr. John Bosco was throughout the thirty‐eight years of his missionary life an example of a poor, pious and simple Capuchin, dedicated to the spiritual uplift and education of the Christians in the Lahore diocese. He was a very good and popular preacher.
123. Father Jerome from Opwijk (Marcel Godefroy) He was born on 18‐12‐1922 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1941 He was ordained a priest on 13‐2‐1949 He left Belgium for Lahore on 4‐1‐1950 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 6‐6‐2001 He died at Turnhout on 30‐1‐2002 On his arrival in Lahore he stayed at Anarkali to learn Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was for Maryabad on 16‐4‐1950, where he was introduced to the pastoral work. He was transferred to Lahore Cantt. on 4‐11‐1951 for the village work. He purchased two acres of land at the outskirts of Kasur in February 1956. He leveled the ground and built fifty very simple houses of two rooms with a verandah for the Catholic families of Fatuiwala. These families had lost their houses in the village during the big rains and floods of 1955. This housing colony was the first one the diocese of Lahore. He left Lahore Cantt. on 6‐1‐1957 and went to live in Kasur. He lived among the poor Christians in a mud house that served as church, residence, store and kitchen. He purchased four more acres of land to build the parish church with a residence for two priests, a convent for the Sisters of Charity and a High School for girls. He added later a dispensary.
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He suffered from enteric fever on 29‐11‐1957 and went to St. Mary’s in the civil lines, Gujranwala, till he recovered. Then he went to Sialkot for a rest. He was back among the Christians in Kasur on 31‐1‐1958. He finished the work of the housing colony. The official blessing of the housing colony was on 10‐3‐1958. This was a grand day for the founder of the Kasur mission. He organized in October 1956 the first priest conference of the diocese and the first “Parhai” (instruction) of all the catechists of the diocese. Fr. Jerome and his confrere, Fr. Luke, stayed with the Christians in Kasur during the war between India and Pakistan in 1965, although the city was bombarded by the Indian artillery. When he returned from home leave in 1967 he was transferred to Jamke Cheema on 1‐4‐1967, to Sialkot on 11‐9‐1968, to Bhai Pheru on 23‐7‐1984 to help Fr. Luke. He has been working in Adha parish since 1988. After retiring from active apostolic work he has been living in St. Mary’s friary, Gulberg, Lahore, before leaving for good on 6‐6‐2001. Fr. Jerome has been visiting the villages during his whole missionary life. He has always been working with great enthusiasm and very devoted his apostolic work.
124. Father Vincent from Meeuwen (Jan Evens) He was born on 2‐2‐1924 He entered the Order on 31‐7‐1943 He was ordained a priest on 6‐8‐1950 He left Belgium for Lahore on 15‐12‐1951 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 1‐5‐1987 He died at Herentals on 23‐8‐2008 On his arrival he went to Anarkali to study Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment for Pasrur on 10‐4‐1952. He built the church and catechist house at Bholer. He underwent eye operation of cataract. He was transferred to Sangla Hill on 7‐5‐1959. He did much to upgrade and to improve the teaching in the school of the Maryabad Sisters. He built new buildings for the school and hostel in 1964. The girls school became one of the best in the diocese. He returned to Pasrur on 7‐11‐1978. During his second stay at Pasrur he built the St. Vincent school and hostel. He helped the local Sisters of Christ the King to upgrade the school and to improve the teaching. He also remained for a short time at Bhai Pheru. After his home leave he was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. on 2‐10‐1984. He went on home leave on 15‐1‐1987 with the intention not to return to the diocese of Lahore.
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125. Father Cherubin from Hoge‐Zwaluwe (Holland) (Egied Vermeulen) He was born on 10‐6‐1924 He entered the Order on 12‐6‐1944 He was ordained a priest on 29‐7‐1951 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐12‐1952 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1981 up to 1985 He was nominated as the first vice provincial on 1‐4‐1985 up to 1988 He left Lahore for Rome in 1988 as Definitor General He returned to Lahore diocese in 1994 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 1‐5‐1997 He died at Tilburg on 17‐1‐1998 On his arrival in Lahore, he went to Sialkot Cantt. to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi, and to help the parish priest in his pastoral work. He was introduced to the methods of the missionary work under the guidance of the old Fr. Prudent. He started working in our mission schools on 1‐6‐1953, first in Dalwal as assistant manager, and then as superintendent of St. Francis school and boarding at Anarkali, Lahore. He was transferred to the cathedral as the parish priest of the Urdu speaking congregation on 1‐5‐1957. He also became the principal of the local Urdu school three years later on 8‐2‐1960. He went back to Anarkali parish on 15‐12‐1961 as parish priest. He was transferred to St. Anthony’s church as parish priest three years later. Fr. Cherubin has trouble with his stomach for a long time. He underwent an operation in the H. Family hospital of Rawalpindi on 11‐2‐1957. He was transferred to Sialkot city as parish priest on 12‐9‐1973. He built the church and the priest residence. He returned to Lahore as parish priest of St. Anthony’s church two years later on 12‐9‐1973. He was very popular among his parishioners. He went to Gulberg as parish priest on 27‐3‐1976. He was very regular in visiting his parishioners and in caring for the sick. He went to Manila, the Philippines, on 31‐4‐1979 for two months to look after the Pakistani Capuchins, who were studying in the seminary of theology. He was elected superior regular of the Capuchins of the Custody of Pakistan on 25‐11‐1981. He went as Custos to the general meetings in Guam on 8‐9‐1982 and Rome on 5‐6‐1983. He was present at the provincial chapter in Belgium. When the Custody of Pakistan became a vice province he was nominated as the first vice provincial by the general of the Capuchins on 1‐4‐1989. He visited as such Papua New Guinea and New Zealand on 23‐8‐1986. He also visited the Middle East on his way to Belgium on home leave on 13‐5‐1987.When the general chapter took place in Rome in 1988 he was elected definitor general for the Asian countries. He left Lahore for Rome in September 1988, where he took up his appointment. He served a term of six years till 1994. He returned to Lahore on 1994. He was appointed in the Capuchin house of Lahore, which is the minor seminary of the Capuchins. The students are the candidates for the Capuchin Order. He returned to Belgium for good due to sickness on 1‐5‐1997.
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Fr. Cherubin has always been working hard in the city parishes of the diocese of Lahore during his fourty years of missionary life. He was an excellent parish priest, completely devoted to his pastoral duties.
126. Father Louis from Ieper (Louis Van Hee) He was born on 4‐8‐1926 He entered the Order on 26‐8‐1944 He was ordained a priest on 30‐9‐1951 He left Belgium for Lahore on 3‐12‐1952 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 22‐5‐1971 He died at Schaarbeek on 8‐12‐1991 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Sialkot to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was for Narowal on 1‐6‐1953. The two old missionaries, Fr. Clarens and Fr. Francis Xavier, introduced him to the missionary work. These two old missionaries were transferred very soon. Fr. Louis remained alone with another young priest, Fr. Emiel, with all the pastoral work in the thirteen ilaqas of Narowal. Fr. Louis saw the heartbreaking misery and poverty of the Christians who were getting deprived of the land which they had been cultivating for many years. There‐fore he applied to the government in 1956 and obtained more than five hundred acres of agricultural Hindu land in the village of Kulla Madiala. He distributed the land for cultivation to the Christian tenants. He installed two tube wells with diesel motors to give water to the land and to cultivate rice. He started a boarding for boys in Narowal. He purchased a plot of land just outside the city and built a school with boarding for girls, a dispensary and a convent for the Franciscan Sisters of Christ the King, whom he called from Karachi to run the dispensary and the school with boarding. He has been working very hard for the church in Narowal Tehsil for fourteen years. He did much of the education of the children and for the social uplift of the poor Christians in the villages. He was transferred to Bhai Pheru on 20‐10‐1967 after his home leave in 1967. He built the parish church, a primary school with a small hospital and a convent for the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary (FMM). They Sisters were put in charge of the hospital and the school with the boarding. He went on home leave in 1971. He decided not to return to Lahore after his home leave. He followed a training course of sociology at the University of Louvain for one year. Fr. Louis has always been working very hard for the social uplift of the poor Christians during his twenty years of missionary life.
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127. Father Stanislas from Stokkem (Paul Gonnissen) He was born on 7‐11‐1927 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1945 He was ordained a priest on 5‐10‐1952 He left Belgium for Lahore on 30‐11‐1953 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 5‐11‐1994 He died at Herentals on 7‐2‐2002 He went to Dalhousie on 3‐1‐1954 to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was on 6‐4‐1054 for St. Francis Xavier church, Hafizabad Road, Gujranwala city. He built his first church at Talwandi Rahwali. He purchased seven acres of land from the government at Hafizabad on 1‐10‐1956. He built a priest house, a Sisters house, a church, a school with a hostel for girls and a dispensary. The Charity Sisters helped him in the pastoral work. He purchased near the church compound five more acres of land for Issanagar housing project with one hundred and forty Catholic families around the church. He built in the ilaqa of Hafizabad mission station some thirty‐two churches and five housing colonies along the main roads where more than seven hundred families have built their homes. He underwent a surgical operation on the spine in Belgium on 23‐7‐1984. He had another operation on the hip in 1987. He stayed in Hafizabad most of the time all alone from 1956 till 1986. He was transferred to Sialkot Cantt. when he returned to Lahore after his sick leave of 1986. He returned for good to Belgium on …. Fr. Stanislas is known as the founder and first residential priest of the mission station of Hafizabad.
128. Father Pius from Wichelen (Guillaume) Derde He was born on 25‐3‐1927 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1947 He was ordained a priest on 29‐8‐1954 He left Belgium for Lahore on 9‐1‐1956 He died at Lahore in a car accident on 3‐5‐1957 On arrival in Lahore he went to Lahore Cantt. to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. He received his first appointment five months later on 1‐7‐1965 for Anarkali, Lahore, as assistant parish priest. He was appointed parish priest of Sheikhupura on 29‐4‐1957. He was first asked to take the sick Fr. Ligory to Sialkot. He travelled by car with Fr. Francis Xavier on 1‐5‐1957. The car slipped, overturned and crashed into a ditch on their way back between Shahdarah and Kala Shah Kaku. Both the Fathers were badly wounded. The police of Shahdarah arranged to take both the Fathers to Mayo hospital, Lahore. Fr. Francis died on 3‐5‐1957 and Fr. Pius died on 13‐5‐1957.
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The death by accident of the old Fr. Francis Xavier and the young Fr. Pius was a great loss for the Lahore mission.
129. Father Florimond from Meeuwen (Jan Van Dyck) He was born on 3‐1‐1928 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1947 He was ordained a priest on 1‐8‐1954 He left Belgium for Lahore on 31‐1‐1956 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 3‐2‐1966 On his arrival in Pakistan he went to Lahore Cantt. to learn the local languages of Urdu and Punjabi. His first and only appointment was for Sahowala. Fr. Florimond was a very keen botanist. He knew the names of all the plants and trees of the Punjab. He planted and cared for the plants in the church compound with great love. He became sick on 25‐10‐1956 and was taken to Holy Family hospital at Rawalpindi. He was released from the hospital after one month and went back to care for his parish of Sahowala, but with residence at Sialkot Cantt. He returned to Sahowala on 18‐11‐1957 and lived there till he went on home leave in 1963. Fr. Florimond lived there as a hermit and left the place very rarely. He returned to Sahowala after his home leave and went on with his life in solitude. The magistrate of the court at Sialkot asked him to leave the country due to a long overstay in Pakistan without renewing his residential permit. He left Lahore and Pakistan on 19‐1‐1966. He did not want to return to the Lahore diocese. Fr. Florimond was the last residential priest of Sahowala mission station. After Fr. Florimond had left all the pastoral work of Sahowala and surrounding villages was taken over by the priests living at Jamke Cheema. He lived first in the friary of Aalst for many years as confessor and gardener. He was transferred to the friary of Herentals on 16 December 2000. He is still residing in this friary for the moment, i.e. March 2011. Fr. Florimond was known to be a very calm person. He passed all the years of his missionary life in Sahowala. He lived there alone for many years. His main apostolate has been a life of prayer and meditation.
130. Father Arnold from Vollezele (Hubert Stalpaert) He was born on 7‐2‐1929 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1948 He was ordained a priest on 2‐10‐1955 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐12‐1956 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 9‐5‐2008 He died at Herentals on 24‐12‐2008
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On his arrival in Lahore he went to Sialkot Cantt. to learn Urdu and Punjabi. His first appointment was for Anarkali, Lahore, on 26‐51957. He cared for all the villages on the other side of the Ravi river. He cared for the city ilaqa on 14‐12‐1965. He was appointed on 11‐9‐1968 after his home leave as assistant parish priest of the Cathedral church. Fr. Provincial appointed him as novice master of the Capuchins at Kot Lakhpat on 13‐8‐1971. He became a member of the first canonically constituted community of the Capuchin friary of Kot Lakhpat. He resigned as novice master on 22‐8‐1973 and went to Sialkot Cantt. as parish priest of Sialkot city. He was transferred to Lahore Cantt. as parish priest and also in charge of the ilaqas. He went Manila for six months on 11‐11‐1980 to care for the Pakistani Capuchin students. On his return from Manila he was appointed parish priest at Gulberg, Lahore. He took over the parish of Lahore Cantt. on 1‐1‐1987. He was transferred to Sialkot City in 1994. He left for good on 8‐5‐2008 because he was suffering from bone cancer. He stayed in the friary on Herentals where he died on 24‐12‐2008. He has always been a very devoted parish priest and was loved by the parishioners.
131. Father Benedict from Denderhoutem (Walter Houtman) He was born on 25‐2‐1929 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1949 He was ordained a priest on 5‐8‐1956 He left Belgium for Karachi on 31‐8‐1957 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 24‐5‐1987 When he reached Pakistan he stayed for one year in the Major Seminary of Karachi to finish his fifth year of theology. He also studied the Urdu language. He went to Lahore after finishing his studies. He was appointed in Narowal on 31‐5‐1958. Fr. Louis initiated him in the apostolate. Fr. Benedict came in contact with the very hard life of a missionary. He was out for days at a stretch to visit the Christians in the villages and to care for their spiritual needs. He was transferred successively to Pasrur on 15‐5‐1960, to Sialkot Cantt. on 4‐7‐1960, to Sialkot City on 10‐11‐1960, back to Narowal on 4‐4‐1961, Sahowala on 14‐12‐1961, to Sialkot city on 13‐7‐1962, back to Narowal on 16‐11966, to Gujranwala on 30‐6‐1966, to Jamke Cheema on 19‐9‐1973, to Adha on 19‐9‐1976, to Sialkot Cantt. on 12‐5‐1983, and back to Adha on 1‐5‐1985. Fr. Benedict cared for all the village people in these places, for their spiritual needs and for the sick people. He health was always very weak from the very beginning of his missionary life. He was a keen botanist and he liked to admire the flowers, plants and birds in God’s free nature. He had a soul of an artist. He went on home leave to Belgium on 22‐5‐1987. He decided not to return to Lahore on account of a nervous breakdown. Fr. Benedict was a missionary who always worked
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very hard. He liked to admire God’s creation in the jungle. He knew the birds by their name and he could explain for long hours how they lived. He has been living for many years in the friary of Aalst. He was transferred to the friary of Brugge on 1 September 2000 when the friary of Aalst was closed down. He is still residing in this friary for the moment, i.e. March 2011.
132. Father Emil from Izegem (Gerard Deprez) He was born on 9‐3‐1931 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1951 He was ordained a priest on 27‐7‐1958 He left Belgium for Karachi on 2‐9‐1959 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐11‐1975 One year after his ordination he went from Belgium to Karachi on 1‐10‐1951. He stayed in the Franciscan friary of Karachi from October 1959 till July 1960. He followed courses of Urdu, English, Exegesis of the Koran and Islamology at the Major Seminary. After finishing his courses at the Major Seminary he was appointed at Narowal as parish priest of ten ilaqas with ten catechists from Narowal to Kalakhatai. Fr. Louis introduced him to the missionary work. Since Narowal parish is part of the Punjab, the pastoral work in the different ilaqas was performed in the local language of the people i.e. Punjabi. This was a difficult start for Fr. Emil, since he had been studying Urdu as a preparation for his pastoral duties. It was the custom in those days that the friars were allowed home leave in Belgium after eight years. The war between Pakistan and India started in 1966. It was a war which took part mostly in the border areas of Narowal, Pasrur and Sialkot. Narowal is situated all along the border with India. Fr. Emil was allowed home leave after the war of 1966. He went back to Narowal to rejoin his parish work after his home leave. Since foreigners were no more allowed by the Pakistani government to stay in the border areas he was appointed at St. Francis Xavier church, Hafizabad Road, Gujranwala, in August 1970. He became in charge of six different ilaqas under the pastoral care of the Capuchin friars. After about ten months, in 1971, the bishop of Lahore appointed Fr. Emil as the person in charge of the diocesan farm village of Maryabad to manage and develop a most intensive farm project, star‐ted by Fr. Sylvan Beyen, who had left the Capuchin Order and returned to Belgium. Fr. Emil quit the project after one year on account of the non‐cooperation of the local farmers and quite some misunderstandings with the bishop. Fr. Emil was appointed at Lahore Cantt. as parish priest in charge of five ilaqas. It was again a parish situated on the border with India. He was allowed to stay in this parish with special permission of Pakistani government. The year 1972 will be remembered as yet another year of war between Pakistan and India. This war was not limited this time to the border areas of the two countries but the war was all over the country. The
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government of Pakistan and most people for that matter presumed that this war would be a very heavy, intensive and dangerous war. The Pakistani and Indian governments allowed a day of ceasefire to give all foreigners the possibility to leave the countries at war. Airplanes came and went. The two Belgian communities had long and extensive discussions as usual before it was decided to send a plane and rescue their citizens. In the mean‐time no permission was granted to land on Pakistani or Indian soil. So the Belgian ambassador had to charter a bus to take all Belgian citizens who wanted to leave and travel to the airport of Kabul in Afghanistan via the Khyber Pass. Fr. Emil chose to take the occasion leave, since no work could be done in the border villages and the foreigners were forced to stay at home. Fr. Emil was back in his parish after a short stay in Belgium. He now started the rehabilitation of thousands of people in the different border villages. Everything had been destroyed not only by the war but also by a huge flood which completed the devastation of these villages. Fr. Emil rebuilt houses, schools and churches in the different villages along the border with substantial aid from Misereor, Germany, and the goodwill of the local people. Fr. Emil became the parish priest of the city ilaqa at Anarkali on 5‐4‐1973. – He was then appointed as parish priest at St. Mary’s parish, Gulberg, in Lahore. He was in charge of four ilaqas. He was asked by the superior to supervise the building of a new friary, a novitiate and a church on a newly bought land at Kot Lakhpat. He assisted Fr. Diego who drew the plans for the whole project. Since most of the Christians in Gulberg parish dwelled in slum areas Fr. Emil planned with Fr. Ligory, the superior, a rehabilitation project. It would be a huge project which could be carried out only if the government was willing to make place available. The president, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, agreed to make enough land available at different places adjoined to different villages. A plan was drawn up and sent to Misereor in Germany. Misereor sanctioned 2, 5 million DM for the project after thorough investigation. The project was started with the assistance and cooperation of the Capuchin friars from the parishes of Lahore. It would take longer than expected to finish the project. Fr. Emil was exhausted and decided to return to Belgium for a sabbatical. He left Pakistan on 13‐11‐1975. Back in Belgium he stayed at Lommel where he joined the community, consisting mostly of parish priests. Fr. Emil dropped his religious name and was now called Fr. Gerard, which is his baptismal name. He got enrolled in at the University of Louvain as a free student for different postgraduate courses. He assisted his confreres in Lommel in different parishes as chaplain of youth groups.Fr. Emil was appointed assistant parish priest of the deanery of Lommel in June 1976. He was appointed parish priest of a completely new parish, St. Paulus Heeserbergen, in 1977. He was back at Gulberg parish, Lahore, for two months in 1984 to help during the holidays of the local parish priest. He was again in the same parish for three months in 1986 to allow Fr. Arnold to go for home leave to Belgium. A new church, a new school and a youth centre were built in the parish of Lommel. The parish was now well established with enthusiastic parishioners after eleven years of hard work.
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Fr. Emil was back in Pakistan on 25‐2‐1989 because the bishop of Lahore was waiting for somebody to supervise the building of a new extension of Bethania TB hospital and a day clinic with a maternity department. He was also asked to be the administrator of Bethania hospital. Knowing that the necessary grants would not be enough the bishop asked Fr. Emil to take up this task, because he knew that Fr. Emil was the right man to finish serious project. The work was started in 1989 and finished at the end of the year 1991. Fr. Emil returned to Belgium and was allowed to join the staff of the NGO Memisa in Itterbeek, Brussels, as the responsible person for communications and fund raising. He is still on the same job in 2011, but no more as administrator of communications.
133. Father Lambert from Beverlo (Felix Thielemans) He was born on 16‐1‐1933 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1951 He was ordained a priest on 27‐7‐1958 He left Belgium for Karachi on 2‐9‐1959 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 7‐3‐1986 He died at Lommel on 10‐6‐1986 One year after his ordination he went from Belgium to Karachi on 1‐10‐1951. He stayed in the Franciscan friary of Karachi from October 1959 till July 1960. He followed courses of Urdu, English, Exegesis of the Koran and Islamology at the Major Seminary. After finishing his courses at the Major Seminary he drove with Fr. Emil on motorcycle from Karachi to Lahore. His first appointment was for St. Francis Xavier parish at Gujranwala on 4‐6‐1960.He was introduced to the missionary life and to the work in the villages under the guidance of Fr. Clarens. He gave his first “committees” in preparation for baptism and first Holy Communion to the catechumens. He started visiting the villagers to check the work of his twelve catechists. He started building his first churches in different villages. When Fr. Stanislas went on home leave 1962 Fr. Lambert cared for the pastoral work of Hafizabad parish. He built the church, catechist house and school at Kamoki. He started a project to help the poor Christians run their own businesses. He purchased ten bullock carts with tow bullocks for each cart with the financial help of the “small revolving loan scheme’. He gave them to the people to be paid back in easy installments. The scheme worked for two years, but it soon failed and had to be stopped. He was transferred from Gujranwala to Pasrur in 1970. He also built here some village churches and he continued the work of the “committees”. He was appointed parish priest of Sialkot City. He started building the famous school of Fatehgarh. He called the Daughters of the Cross from Karachi to manage the school. While he was on home leave in Belgium in 1985 he was told by the doctor that he had contracted cancer of both the lungs and that he had only six months to live. He immediately returned to Pakistan and worked for six months in the parish of Sialkot. He was so weak after six months that the doctor advised him to return to Belgium. He
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left Lahore for Belgium in the company of the sick Fr. Fidentian on 8‐3‐1986. He died of cancer in the clinic of Lommel on 10‐6‐1986 During the twenty‐six years of his missionary life Fr. Lambert has been working very hard. It was said of Fr. Lambert that he was a bear of a man with a heart of a lamb.
134. Father Theotiem from Staden (Daniel Suply) He was born on 3‐12‐1932 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1952 He was ordained a priest on 12‐7‐1959 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐11‐1960 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 7‐6‐2010 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Sialkot Cantt. to learn Punjabi under the guidance of Fr. Prudent. His first appointment was for Pasrur where he was introduced to the missionary work by Fr. Benno on 1‐7‐1961. He was in charge of seven ilaqas with seven catechists. He had to regularly more than two hundred villages. There were practically no hard roads in his ilaqa. He first used a motorcycle of five horsepower to tour all the villages. After one year he purchased a second hand Willy’s jeep to do the hard work of village touring. He built in cooperation with Fr. Diego the new church in Pasrur in 1964. One year later he built a large boarding house for boys and girls of the primary section. He also built in 1966 at Chawinda the church, a catechist house and a dispensary. There was the Indian Pakistani war in 1965. Chawinda was occupied by the Indian army for some time. The five-week war caused thousands of casualties on both sides and was witness to the largest tank battle in military history. The Christians of the parish of Pasrur were accused of being Indian spies by the Muslims. Fr. Benno and Fr. Daniel stayed in Pasrur during the battle of Chawinda which was very much appreciated by the Christians. They felt encouraged by the presence of the two friars in the mission station of Pasrur. He went on home leave on 3‐4‐1967 for six months. On his return to Pakistan he travelled with four other friars by car over land all the way from Belgium to Pakistan. It took them thirty‐five day to cover the distance. It was a very enjoyable journey. They were the first ever friars to undertake this journey by land. On his return he was posted at Hafizabad with Fr. Stanislas in the month of October of 1967. He was transferred to Narowal on 1‐1‐1968. He worked together with Fr. Emil. He was in charge of seven ilaqas. He bought a second hand Land‐rover jeep for touring the villages. On 3‐10‐1969 he got a slipped disc (hernia in the spine). He went twice to be treated by a British Jewish doctor, Dr. Simcox. He stayed for about a month in Karachi. He stayed in the newly opened “Dar‐ul‐Sukun” which is a home for disabled people, run by the congregation of the Sisters “Franciscan Missionaries of Christ the King”. Fr. Daniel was the very first person to stay in this home for revalidation. – On his return from Karachi he was unable to do the village work on account of his slipped disc.
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He was then transferred to Jamke Cheema in the month of April 1969. He was parish priest of the village Jamke Cheema only. He was also the principal of St. Mary’s Urdu boys high school of the mission station. He was also in charge of the boys’ hostel in which more than one hundred boys were staying. They attended St. Mary’s middle and high school. Fr. Daniel built a swimming pool in the mission compound. The swimming was a great delight for the boys of the hostel, especially in summer when temperatures rise above forty degrees Celsius. Fr. John Bosco was first staying with Fr. Daniel in the mission. When Fr. John Bosco was transferred from Jamke Cheema, Fr. Leopold Evens joined him in Jamke Cheema. Two friars joined them somewhat later, nl. Fr. Carlos Dubaere and Fr. Frans Labeeuw. Fr. Daniel has been teaching these three young friars the Punjabi language for about one year. Fr. Daniel went on home leave in the month of April 1971. He had asked and obtained the permission to do an updating course of Islamic studies. So he went to Oxford in October 1971. He stayed there for nearly two years. He also updated his theology during his holidays by following courses in Soesterberg, Holland. Fr. Daniel returned to Pakistan and was appointed as professor of St. Mary’s minor seminary of Lahore. This minor seminary was under the auspices of the bishop of Lahore. It was and still the minor seminary of the diocese of Lahore, but seminarians of other dioceses were also allowed to attend it. During the summer vacation Fr. Daniel went to the Philippines to follow a three months course of liberation theology and formation. When Fr. Leopold, the rector, was called by the Capuchins to be novice master, Fr. Daniel took over as rector of the minor seminary in 1977. He has been the rector of the minor seminary till 1981. During his tenure there were about 85 minor seminarians. They hailed from different dioceses, i.e. the dioceses of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan. The Capuchin candidates were also residing in the minor seminary since the Capuchins had no minor seminary of their own at that time. The candidates of Dar‐ul‐Naim were also attending the lessons. Dar‐ul‐Naim was and still is the minor seminary of the Franciscan Friars (OFM). In this way there were more than one hundred students following the courses in St. Mary’s seminary. It goes without saying that that the formation of so many future priests is a very special, delicate and absorbing ministry. Fr. Joe Coutts was appointed as the successor and rector of the minor seminary in the year 1981. Fr. Joe Coutts is priest of the diocese of Lahore and is at present the bishop of Faisalabad. Fr. Daniel was transferred to Sr. Francis friary of Kot Lakhpat. He carried on with his teaching in the minor seminary. He has been teaching in the minor seminary for more than thirty years. Fr. Daniel was transferred from Kot Lakhpat to Gulberg in the year 1983. Fr. Daniel also started teaching in 1981 at the joint novices course of the Sisters congregations residing in Lahore. The venue of this course was Dar‐ul‐Naim of the Franciscans. Fr. Daniel started teaching at the Juniorate course of the Sisters in 1994. This was a joint venture of the Sisters congregations from all over Pakistan. The first academic year made a start in September 1994. Fr. Daniel has also been teaching in the Capuchin novitiate and also in the novitiate of the Maryabad Sisters for many years. Teaching was his life. He was excellent in Urdu, Punjabi and English. He has been teaching many different subjects in the minor seminary: English, many kinds of history: Biblical history, Franciscan history, Islamic history etc. His special
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subject with the joint novices course and the juniorate course of the junior Sisters was theology of Religious life. He has been teaching at these two courses till the year 2010. Fr. Daniel has been the guardian of St. Mary’s friary of Gulberg from 1994 till 2010. He has been the secretary of the Capuchin vice province from 1989 till 2010. He has been a member of the vice provincial council from 2005 till 2008. He celebrated his golden priestly jubilee in 2009. Against all expectations he has celebrated it eight times, once in Belgium with his family and the Capuchin friars. It was celebrated seven times in Pakistan by many different groups, .e.g. the Capuchin fraternity, the joint novices course, the Junior Sisters, the fraternity of the diocesan priests etc. This shows that the people have appreciated very much his contribution to the Church of Pakistan during his fifty years as a missionary in Pakistan. He decided to return to Belgium after fifty years of missionary work in the Lahore diocese. He left Lahore on 7‐6‐2010. The archbishop of Lahore, Lawrence Saldanha, wrote in The Link (Newsletter of the Lahore archdiocese): Fr. Daniel has been forming generations of priests and religious. In a farewell party of Fr. Daniel on 4‐6‐2010 Fr. Abid, the vice provincial of the Capuchins, praised Father Daniel’s teaching abilities, calling him “a man of languages” capable of influencing others through “discipline and dutifulness”. On the same occasion Fr. Andrew Nisari, the vicar general of the diocese, made the following statement: Fr Daniel Suply, who worked for more than thirty years to train seminarians and nuns, has multiplied himself in his students and the “Pakistani Church will always be grateful to him”. He has been appointed secretary of the Flemish Capuchin province in Belgium. He resides in the provincialate of Antwerp.
135. Father Vivens from Vorselaar (Alfons Wouters)
He was born on 19‐8‐1933 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1952 He was ordained a priest on 12‐7‐1959 He left Belgium for Lahore on 28‐10‐1960 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 21‐9‐1971 After arriving in Lahore he was sent to Sialkot Cantt. to learn the Punjabi language under the guidance of Fr. Prudent. He was appointed in Sheikhupura in the month of July 1961 to help Fr. Rufin in the pastoral work. He was introduced by Fr. Rufin in the methods of the missionary work. He built a church and a catechist house at Bhikkhi in 1962. He built more chapels in different villages. He was posted at Sangla Hill on 2‐5‐1967 after his home leave. He was transferred back to Sheikhupura on 10‐11‐1967.He purchased a few acres of land near the railway line with the financial help of Misereor, Germany, and he started building a housing colony of more than one hundred houses, which is nowadays called “Gloriabad”. This housing scheme was one of the first in the Lahore diocese. There is a large parish church and a high school for Christian children in the colony. He also built the new church at Youngsinabad. Fr. Vivens has been working very hard to build up “Gloriabad”. He left Lahore for Belgium on 13‐9‐1971. He did not return to Lahore.
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136. Father Henri from Egem (Willy Van den Broucke) He was born on 17‐12‐1930 He entered the Order on 15‐1‐1951 He was ordained a priest on 14‐7‐1957 He left Belgium for Lahore on 29‐8‐1961 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 1‐5‐2002 He died at Izegem on 11‐2‐2003 Before going to the Lahore diocese, he went for higher studies to Oxford University, in 1958‐1961. He received his M.A. Degree. He was appointed on his arrival in Lahore as principal of St. Mary’s high school (English), Gulberg. He remained principal of the school for twenty‐three years. He went on home leave on 3‐4‐1967. He was in the first group of four friars travelling over land from Belgium to Pakistan in three cars (Citroen, two horse‐power). It took them three weeks to reach Lahore. It was an enjoyable journey. Fr. Henri started a primary school in Township, Lahore. He called the Maryabad Sisters to run the school. He also built St. Peter church in the same place. He built more churches and small village schools in Biron 24‐5‐1970, Halloki, Sadoke and some twenty other places. He left for home leave by car in the company of his nephew doctor. On his return to Lahore he started many housing schemes and colonies in Bahar Colony, Henrike, and Yuhannabad. He promoted passionately primary education among the Catholic boys and girls. He was transferred to from Gulberg to Lahore Cantt. on 20‐11‐1984. He cared for more than one hundred villages. He started again new small village schools for Christian children. He was feeling unwell and left for Belgium on 30‐3‐2001. He had an operation of the pancreas which seemed to be non‐malignant. He returned to Pakistan on 30‐11‐2001. He was transferred to St. Mary’s friary of Gulberg. He was relieved from all pastoral activities. He gradually became more and more sick. He left Pakistan on 1‐9‐2002. He was in the friary of Izegem where he died of cancer of the pancreas on 11‐2‐2003. He has been a very hardworking friar and a pioneer for the education of the Christian children in all places where he was stationed.
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137. Father Silvan from Veurne (Michel Beyen) He was born on 29‐3‐1933 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1953 He was ordained a priest on 17‐7‐1960 He left Belgium for Lahore on 16‐11‐1961 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 23‐9‐1970 His first appointment was for Lahore Cantt., where he helped Fr. Nathanael in his pastoral work and learned the local languages. He was transferred to Jamke Cheema on 7‐11‐1965 where he cared for the school and the ilaqa. He was appointed parish priest of Sialkot city one year later on 20‐11‐1966. He went on home leave on 3‐4‐1967. He came back over land from Belgium to Pakistan with four other friars. They travelled in three two‐horse power Citroen cars. He was posted at Maryabad after his holidays on 20‐10‐1967. He cared for the spiritual and social welfare of the village. He asked and received permission after a few months to go to the University of Halifax, Canada, where he followed a special training course of one year. After finishing successfully the course he returned to Maryabad. He did a lot for the uplift of the villagers. He went on home leave on 23‐9‐1970. He did not return to Lahore.
138. Father Luke from Vorselaar (Frans Wouters) He was born on 23‐9‐1934 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1954 He was ordained a priest on 16‐7‐1961 He left Belgium for Lahore on 7‐12‐1962 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 28‐9‐1993 On his arrival in Lahore he stayed in St. Mary’s friary, Gulberg, Lahore, to learn Punjabi. He first appointment was for Kasur on 17‐1963. Fr. Jerome had just started the mission station at Kasur. Fr. Jerome introduced Fr. Luke in the pastoral work. His main work was visiting the Christians in the many villages around Kasur. He went on home leave on 29‐3‐1968. He went back to the same place after his home leave on 29‐9‐1968. He was transferred to Anarkali parish, Lahore, one month later to care for the Christians in the villages of Anarkali parish. He built a beautiful church in the new housing colony of Shahdarah. He was transferred to Bhai Pheru on 30‐8‐1972 after his home leave of 1972 to help Fr. Agnello in the pastoral work. He went on home leave in 1975, 1978, 1981, 1984 and 1987. He returned to Bhai Pheru after each home leave. He built during his long stay in Bhai Pheru a boarding for girls and another boarding for one hundred boys. He built some twenty churches in different villages of the parish of Bhai Pheru. He made Bhai Pheru a model mission centre of which he is very proud. He returned to Belgium on 28‐9‐1993.
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He has been living in the friary of Meersel Dreef since his return from Pakistan. He is the guardian of the friary and the parish priest of the place.
139. His Excellency Mgr. Alfons (Felicissimus) Raeymaekers from Westmeerbeek Seventh Bishop of Lahore Born at on 12‐3‐1915 He entered the Order on 15‐9‐1932 He was ordained a priest on 3‐6‐1939 He became auxiliary bishop of Lahore on 29‐8‐1963 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐1‐1964 Bishop of Lahore 10‐4‐1967 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 2‐1‐1976 He died in Lier on 24‐6‐1978 After his theological studies at Izegem, he went to the University of Louvain and became doctor in theology. He was appointed first a lector and later as director of our seminary at Izegem. In 1961 at the age of 46 years he was elected provincial. He was re‐elected minister provincial in the following chapter of 1958. During his term as provincial he visited our mission in Canada (April 1956), Zaire (February 1957) and Lahore (November 1959). He erected the hospitium in Gent (21‐1‐1958). On 4‐6‐1959 the Belgian Capuchin province was divided in two provinces: the Flemish and the Walloon provinces. On 29‐5‐1958 he made the friary church of Ieper a parish church. In May 1958 he went to the General Chapter in Rome. In 1960 he settled with the Catholic bi hop of Lahore the creation of the “Domus Ordinis” at Gulberg, Lahore, the Sacred Heart Cathedral School (built by Fr. Emmerick) and the “Domus Ordinis” at Dalhousie. When his second term as provincial ended in the chapter of 1961 he was appointed the director of our philosophy seminary at Bruges. He remained there till his nomination as auxiliary bishop of Lahore on 10‐8‐1963. He was consecrated in Rome on Mission Sunday in 1963 by Pope Paul VI. He took as adagium “Ad Auxilium Domini”. He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐1‐1964 at the age of 48 years. He became co‐adjutor with the right of succession on 29‐9‐1966. He succeeded Bishop Marcel Roger as the seventh bishop of Lahore on 104‐1967. Bishop Raeymaekers was a very good administrator. He also wrote many letters to his benefactors abroad to ask for the financial help he needed to support and develop the pastoral work. After nine years as bishop of Lahore he resigned from the seat of Lahore to give the administration of the diocese to his auxiliary, Bishop Armando Trindade, the first Pakistani and eighth bishop of Lahore. He went back to Belgium on 29‐12‐1975. He died unexpectedly on 25‐6‐1978 of heart failure. In the morning of 24‐6‐1978 he had offered Holy Mass in the chapel of the Sisters at Westmeerbeek. After taking breakfast he became unwell. He went to his nephew, Dr. Walter Spiegen, for consultation. The doctor sent him to a specialist at Heist‐op‐den‐Berg. The bishop drove his own car. During the consultation with the doctor he collapsed. He was urgently taken in an ambulance to the clinic in Lier. There
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he died at 1.00 p.m. of heart failure. The funeral service took place in the church of Westmeerbeek in the presence of Cardinal Danneels, bishop Schoenmaekers, Bishop Van Valenberg, Bishop Delaere and many Capuchin confreres. He was buried in the graveyard of his village. Bishop Raeymaekers always considered himself as the one who has been sent to serve. His Pakistani secretary wrote of him: “He was a bishop to serve and nothing else”. The diocese of Lahore was promoted to archdiocese on 23‐4‐1994 with Armando Trindade as the first archbishop.
140. Brother Crispin from Smeerebbe‐Vloerzegem (Joseph Meersman) He was born on 17‐6‐1926 He entered the Order on 20‐4‐1949 He made his profession on 21‐4‐1950 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐9‐1964 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 8‐4‐1972 When he arrived at Lahore he was appointed for Jamke Cheema. He helped Fr. Eubert in the construction work. He opened a dispensary for the poor villagers around Jamke Cheema. When Fr. Stanislas bought land in Hafizabad to build a new mission station Br. Crispin went to Hafizabad to help Fr. Stanislas in the construction work of a large church, a priest house, a convent of the Sisters of Charity and the school with hostel for girls. When Fr. Stanislas purchased more land Br. Crispin helped him in the planning and construction of a housing colony. He was for many years the companion and caretaker of the founder of Hafizabad mission centre. He went on home leave to Belgium on 8‐4‐1972 and decided not to return to Lahore. Br. Crispin was a very hardworking brother and an excellent confrere to live with. He is now living in the friary of Herentals (March 2011).
141. Father Alban Maria from Emelgem (Norbert Maertens) He was born on 1‐1‐1937 He entered the Order on 11‐9‐1956 He was ordained a priest on 13‐7‐1963 He left Belgium for Lahore on 17‐12‐1964 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 24‐4‐1999 On arrival in Lahore he stayed in Gulberg to study Punjabi. His first appointment was Adha on 22‐4‐1965. He was transferred to Jamke Cheema on 27‐11‐1966 and back to Adha on 1‐4‐1967.He visited all the villages entrusted to his pastoral care. He built many churches in different villages. He returned to Adha after his home leave on 11‐9‐1969. He built a very large church at Wazirabad. The bishop of Lahore blessed the church on 3‐3‐1970 in the presence of a
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large crowd of Catholics. He returned to Adha after his home leave on 28‐4‐1973 to continue his pastoral duties. He went for the third time on home leave on 30‐4‐1977. When he returned to Lahore he was transferred Jamke Cheema on 19‐9‐1977. He built in these years the convent of the Dominican Sisters and a school for girls in Jamke Cheema. He went on home leave again in 1985. He was transferred to Karachi on his return to Pakistan to start a friary of the Capuchin Order for the Capuchin students, who were studying in the Major Seminary. He was appointed the first guardian of the Capuchin friary on 13‐6‐1986 after he had a house near the Major Seminary. He has always been helping the local parish priest in the pastoral work during his stay in Karachi. He regularly visited the Punjabi families nearby. He went on sick leave to Belgium on 25‐11‐1995 and returned to Pakistan on 21‐9‐1996. After his stay in Karachi he has been living for a certain time in St. Francis Friary, Kot Lakhpat, and Lahore. He was later transferred to Adha, and then he left Pakistan for good on 23‐4‐1999. After his return to Belgium he has been appointed in the friary of Izegem on 20‐8‐1999. He was appoint‐ted as “Rector Ecclesiae” on 20‐8‐2000. He was appointed as guardian of the friary on 23‐4‐2003 and is still guardian up till now (March 2011). Fr. Alban has always been and still is an example of a Capuchin missionary and is very active in the pastoral work.
142. Father Gratian from Hamme (Paul Segers) He was born on 7‐9‐1937 He entered the Order on 11‐9‐1956 He was ordained a priest on 14‐7‐1963 He left Belgium for Lahore on 25‐9‐1966 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 2‐11‐1988 His first appointment was for Bhai Pheru on 1‐10‐1966. When the new language school was erected in the Cathedral compound of Lahore on 6‐2‐1967 he joined the school and he took up his residence at Lahore Cantt. He was transferred to Pasrur three months later on 3‐4‐1967. He stayed and worked in parish of Pasrur for seven years. He built the church at Randhawan, which was blessed by the bishop on 1‐4‐1970. He was transferred to Gujranwala after his home leave of 1971. He stayed at the St. Francis Xavier church, Hafizabad Road, Gujranwala and shifted later to St. Joseph church, Daska Road, Gujranwala. He built a church in Kurikot and in other villages. He started building in 1974 a school in Salim colony, a few kilometers outside the city of Gujranwala. He was well known for his visits to the Christians in the villages and for his care to administer the sacraments. He worked very hard in Gujranwala district for eight years.
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When he returned from home leave on 29‐9‐1980 he was appointed parish priest of St. Francis church, Kot Lakhpat, Lahore. He was appointed guardian of the friary too. He worked very hard in this parish and made his parish a model parish. He remained day and night at the service of his parishioners and he was very much loved by the people. St. Francis Parish of Bahar colony, Kot Lakhpat, became one of the biggest parishes of Lahore through his dedicated work and zeal. He became discouraged by the many daily difficulties in 1987. He went to home leave to Belgium on 15‐12‐1987. He decided not to return to Lahore. After a few weeks of rest he was appointed parish priest in the parish attached to the Capuchin friary of Ieper. He was transferred to the friary of Aalst on 28‐1‐1990. He was installed as parish priest of the parish on 9‐9‐1990. He is still the parish priest at this very moment (March 2011).
143. Father Agnello from Wiekevorst (Theofiel Van der Steen) He was born on 20‐9‐1936 He entered the Order on 11‐9‐1956 He was ordained a priest on 14‐7‐1963 He left Belgium for Lahore on 18‐4‐1967 He was superior regular of Lahore from 1976 up to 1981 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 19‐8‐2000 Before going to Lahore diocese he went to Rome for three years to study Canon Law. He went to Lahore on 17‐4‐1967. He studied Punjabi in Maryabad. He was appointed at St. Joseph church, Daska Road, Gujranwala on 20‐10‐1967. He was transferred on year later on 6‐9‐1968 to Bhai Pheru to replace Fr. Fidentian who was transferred to Gujranwala. Fr. Agnello built the church with catechist house at Kot Radha Kishan. His main work in Bhai Pheru was the visits to Christians living in the many villages of the six ilaqas around the mission centre. Fr. Agnello served two terms as superior regular from 8 March 1976 till 24 November 1981. He was asked to represent the Lahore diocese in a meeting of the Capuchin Superiors Regular at Taizé (France) on 8‐2‐1973. He stayed in St. Mary’s Gulberg, Lahore, after the Capuchin chapter. He went for one month to Lahore Cantt. on 1‐1‐1982. He left for the Philippines on 12‐2‐1982 to stay for six months with our students and to guide them in their theological studies. When he returned to Pakistan on 1‐7‐1982 he was appointed as a professor in the Major Seminary, Karachi, and superior of the Pakistani Capuchin students, living in the seminary. He attended the C.P.O. at Mettle (Switzerland). Fr. Agnello lived in Karachi with the Capuchin students and he teaches in the Seminary. Before taking up his duties as a professor at the Major Seminary of Karachi, he went to the Philippines to follow a four months’ training course. He became guardian of Kot Lakhpat on 27‐4‐1996. He was appointed as novice master in Kot Lakhpat on 14‐8‐1999.
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On his return to Belgium he was appointed in Herentals as preacher and in the service of the pastoral field. He has been suffering from cancer of the lymph glands. After a long treatment of chemotherapy he was miraculously cured. He was appointed as guardian of the community of Herentals on 5‐5‐2009. He became the fourth member of the provincial council in 2009.
144. Father Laurens from Izegem (Joseph Dubaere) He was born on 26‐7‐1940 He entered the Order on 10‐9‐1959 He was ordained a priest on 9‐7‐1966 He left Belgium for Lahore on 12‐1‐1969 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 14‐8‐1973 On his arrival in Lahore he went to Sialkot to Urdu and Punjabi. He received his first appointment for Adha on 2‐5‐1969 to replace Fr. Alban who went on home leave. He joined a few months later the Franciscan training centre at St. Mary’s friary, Gulberg, Lahore, as its director. He had a serious infection of the kidneys in September 1970 and was forced to go on sick leave to the Murree hills. After a recovering he took up his duties again as the director of the Franciscan centre at Gulberg, Lahore. He had the same kidney trouble two years later. He left Lahore for Belgium after long hesitation and on the explicit medical advice of the doctor. He did not return to Lahore. He could bear the heat of the Punjab. He left the Capuchin Order in 1980 and became a priest in the archdiocese of Brussels‐Mechelen. He has been working as a chaplain of the central jail of Brussels, Belgium.
145. Father Hugo from Meeuwen (Leopold Evens) He was born on 16‐5‐1938 He entered the Order on 10‐9‐1957 He was ordained a priest on 12‐7‐1964 He left Belgium for Lahore on 1‐3‐1970 On arrival in Lahore he was posted at Sialkot Cantt. to learn Urdu. His first appointment for Jamke Cheema on 24‐9‐1970 to help Fr. Daniel in the pastoral work. He followed lessons of Punjabi with Fr. Daniel together with Fr. Frans Labeeuw and Fr. Carlos Dubaere. He went later to St. Francis church, Hafizabad Road, Gujranwala, to care for the villages around the city. He contracted tuberculosis and was for several months under treatment in Bethania hospital in Sialkot. He was appointed by the bishop of Lahore as rector of the Minor Seminary of Lahore on 24‐9‐1974. He took over as novice master at the Capuchin Novitiate in Kot Lakhpat on 15‐5‐1977. He took three Capuchin Brothers to the Philippines on 13‐2‐1980 for their theological studies. Fr. Leopold returned to Lahore in July of the same year.
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The bishop appointed him as Episcopal Vicar of the Maryabad Sisters on 15‐3‐1983 for the duration of three years. He went to Rome to follow a one month course of novice masters. He is a member of the diocesan council since 30‐1‐1985. He was also a member of the vice provincials’ council for quite some years. He has been a professor in the minor seminary, Lahore, and was fully engaged in the formation work of the Capuchin candidates. After his home leave in 1988 he was transferred to Bhai Pheru. He is running a boarding of about one hundred boys for the primary school. He has built dozens of chapels in the villages of the parish of Bhai Pheru. He has started dozens of primary schools in the villages to promote education for children. He has started schools on the brick kilns to free the children from slavery of the landowners. He is an ardent promoter of the education in the area of Bhai Pheru where education has been very much lacking up till the present times.
146. Father Bernard from Roeselare (Frans Labeeuw) He was born on 24‐5‐1942 He entered the Order on 21‐1‐1963 He was ordained a priest on 29‐6‐1969 He left Belgium for Lahore on 19‐9‐1970 He made the journey from Belgium to Lahore by car in the company of his brother Paul. After a journey of twenty‐three days they reached the border town of Torkham of Afghanistan‐Pakistan on 9 October 1970. They stayed the night at Peshawar and reached Lahore the following day on 10 October 1970. When Frans reached Lahore on 10‐10‐1970 he stayed in St. Mary’s friary of Gulberg for two months. He moved to Jamke Cheema on 5‐12‐1970 to learn Punjabi under the guidance of Fr. Daniel. His first appointment was for Lahore Cantt. on 15‐3‐1971. He cared for all the villages of Lahore Cantt. ilaqa. He was transferred one year later to St. Joseph church on the Daska Road, Gujranwala. His main apostolate was in the villages. He returned to the same place at Gujranwala after his home leave on 27‐5‐1978 to continue his work in the villages of the district. He purchased seventy‐two acres of land on 7‐5‐1982 on the main road from Gujranwala to Sheikhupura, five miles outside the city of Gujranwala. He started building a huge housing colony, called “Francisabad”. He was reappointed at the same place on 7‐5‐1982 after his second home leave in Belgium. He continued building up the housing scheme of “Francisabad”. He was transferred from Gujranwala to Jamke Cheema on 3‐2‐1986 to care for the hostel and the ilaqa. He remained in charge of “Francisabad” and he visited the place every week. He built a swimming pool for the boys of the hostel in Jamke Cheema.
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He left Jamke Cheema on 13‐8‐1993 and followed a sabbatical year in Belgium. He returned to Pakistan in September 1994 and was appointed at Lahore Cantt. as parish priest for the villages. He still residing in the same place (March 2011). He built twenty churches and two schools, one school in Mahmood Buti comprising six classes. He built a school in Lidhar comprising thirty‐nine classes, two computer labs and a hall. He expanded another school in Maddi Shah di Khui. He has been a member of the housing scheme commission of the archdiocese for twenty years. The archbishop appointed him the main responsible person when the Estate Department was established in 2004. This office is responsible for all the properties of the archdiocese, buildings as well as land. Frans has been the bursar of the vice province of the Capuchins for five years. He has been a council member of the vice provincial council since 2008. He is the last Capuchin missionary who was sent by the Belgian Capuchin Province to the diocese of Lahore.
147. Father Philip from Izegem (Carlos Dubaere) He was born on 28‐4‐1942 He entered the Order on 10‐9‐1961 He was ordained a priest on 6‐7‐1968 He left Belgium for Lahore on 30‐1‐1972 He left Lahore and arrived in Belgium on 15‐12‐1972 He died at Gagnes (France) on 15‐5‐1982 Fr. Carlos has been working the diocese of Lahore for only one year. After staying for two months in St. Mary’s friary of Gulberg, Lahore to study Urdu, he went to Jamke Cheema to study Punjabi with Fr. Daniel. His first appointment was for Sheikhupura on 15‐3‐1971. The war broke out a few months later between India and Pakistan. Fr. Carlos was terribly scared. He left Lahore for Islamabad to get the protection of the Belgian Embassy. The Belgian Ambassador made arrangements to evacuate Belgian nationals via Kabul, Afghanistan. Frs. Carlos, Emil and Paul joined the evacuees on 8‐12‐1971. The war in Pakistan was over on the very day they arrived in Belgium. Fr. Carlos returned to Lahore after two months‐stay at home. He stayed in Pakistan only for a few months and returned to Belgium for good.
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