Josephites of Belgium

The Josephites ("Sons of St. Joseph") of Belgium (abbreviated C.J.; Latin Institutum Iosephitarum Gerardimontensium) are a Roman Catholic clerical religious congregation of pontifical right (for men) devoted to the Christian education of youth, founded in the Diocese of Ghent (Belgium) by Canon van Crombrugghe, in 1817.

Josephites of Belgium
Constant Van Crombrugghe, Founder of the Josephites
AbbreviationC.J.
EstablishedMay 1st, 1817 (May 1st, 1817)
FoundersFr. Constant Guillaume van Crombrugghe, CJ
Founded atRoman Catholic Diocese of Ghent
TypeClerical Religious Congregation of Pontifical Right (for Men)
HeadquartersKarmelietenstraat 57, 9500 Geraardsbergen, Belgium.
Coordinates41° 54′ 4.9″ N, 12° 27′ 38.2″ E
Members
113 members (84 priests) (2004)
Superior General
Fr. Jacob Beya Kadumbu, CJ
Patron saint
St. Joseph
Websitewww.josephite.community

While their primary apostolate is the education of youth, they also have a missionary past in Africa. Their headquarters is at Karmelietenstraat 57, 9500 Geraardsbergen, Belgium. The organisation is a Congregation of Pontifical Right.

History

The Josephites were founded in the Diocese of Ghent by Canon Constant van Crombrugghe in 1817. Members of the congregation use the initials "C.J." after their names.

The purpose was the education of children from poorer backgrounds who might not otherwise go to school. The congregation set up a commercial school and an industrial school.[1]

As of 2017 the congregation had established four schools in Belgium, two in England, one in the United States, and nine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.[2]

Superiors general
  • Founder: Father Constant Guillaume van Crombrugghe (1817) (Belgium)
  • Ignatius van den Bossche (1817 – 1851)
  • Stanislas De Haeck (1851 – 1850)
  • Remi de Saedeleer (1860 – 1869)
  • Félicien Campe (1869 – 1893)
  • Gustave De Meyer (1893 – 1898)
  • Felix Vlieghe (1899 – 1922)
  • Antonin Wicart (1922 – 1932)
  • Théophile De Paepe (1933 – 1938)
  • Hilaire Sterckx (1938 – 1950)
  • Hubert Trévis (1950 – 1956)
  • George Kean (1956 – 1962)
  • Emmanuel Devroye (1962 – 1974)
  • Leonard de Kort (1974 – 1983)
  • John Mayhew (1983 – 1989)
  • Jean-Marie Vander Stricht (1989 – 1990)
  • Guillermo C. García (1990 – 1996)
  • J Richard Lear (1996 – 2001)
  • Robert D. Hamilton (2001 – 2016)
  • Jacob Beya Kadumbu (2016 – )

Statistics

In 2004, they had 14 houses, with 113 members including 84 priests.

Prelates from their ranks
Deceased
  • 1988: Marcel Evariste van Rengen, C.J., Apostolic Prefect (1957 – 29 September 1964) and later promoted first Bishop (29 September 1964 – death 15 March 1988) of Mweka (Congo-Kinshasa)

References
  1. Catholic Encyclopedia article
  2. Our Schools, www.josephite.community. Accessed 27 June 2017.
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