Théophile Verbist

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Théophile Verbist (born June 12, 1823 in Antwerp ; † February 23, 1868 in Laohugou, Gansu ) was a Belgian Roman Catholic clergyman, founder of the order and missionary in China . He stands at the beginning of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary CICL (Scheuter Missionaries).

life and work

Verbist attended the Jesuit college in Antwerp, studied theology in Mechelen and was ordained a priest in 1847. In 1853 he was appointed chaplain of the Military Academy in Brussels and spiritual director of the School Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur . As the Belgian director of the Children's Mission , he became aware of the situation of orphans in China and in 1862, with the support of Cardinal Engelbert Sterckx, founded the Congregation of Scheutvelder Missionaries in Scheut (district of Anderlecht ). After three years of preparation, he went to Inner Mongolia with four colleagues in 1865 , where the group to be looked after grew to 400 children in a short time. Just three years later he died of typhus in 1868 at the age of 44. In 1930 the remains were transferred to Scheut. There the Mission Museum keeps his portrait, as well as that of 3000 other Scheuter missionaries who have worked since then.

His immediate successors as superiors of the order were Frans Vranckx (1869–1888), Jeroom Van Aertselaer (1888–1898, is considered the second founder) and Adolf Van Hecke (1898–1908).

Works

  • La correspondance de Théophile Verbist et ses compagnons , ed. by Daniël Verhelst and Hyacint Daniëls. Lions 2003.

Literature (selection)

  • Nestor Pycke: Théophile Verbist's adventure (1861–1868). A pioneer in Chinese Mongolia . Ferdinand Verbiest Institute, Leuven 2009.
    • (French): L'aventure de Théophile Verbist, 1861–1868. Un pionnier en Mongolia chinoise . Lions 2009.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Verbist, Théophile
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Belgian Roman Catholic clergyman, founder and missionary in China
DATE OF BIRTH June 12, 1823
PLACE OF BIRTH Antwerp
DATE OF DEATH February 23, 1868
Place of death Laohugou, Gansu