- Born on June 12, 1823, in Antwerp, Belgium.
- Ordained Priest for the archdiocese of Mechelen by Cardinal Sterckx on September 18, 1847.
- He worked as Supervisor of the minor seminary of Mechelen. He was the Chaplain at the military school in Brussels, and the Sisters of Notre-Dame de Namur, and the National Director of the Holy Childhood in Belgium.
- Dreaming of founding an orphanage in China, he founded the CICM Missionary Institute on November 28, 1862.
- Died of typhoid fever on February 23, 1868, at Laohugou, China, at the age of 44.
Inspired by Théophile Verbist’s example, for more than 150 years since his death, CICM Missionaries working in multicultural communities continue to proclaim and live the challenging Good News in this changing world.
“Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (Jn 12, 24).
