Jozef Vermoesen (1935-2025)
Born in Dottignies on January 26, 1935.
First vows on September 8, 1954.
Ordained priest on August 2, 1959.
Missionary in the Congo (Kinshasa) and in Belgium.
Died in Sint-Pieters-Leeuw on January 8, 2025
at the age of 89.
Born on January 26, 1935, into a family of 12 children in Dottignies (Hainaut), Paul made his first profession of vows on September 8, 1954, and was ordained a priest on August 2, 1959.
In 1960, he left for Congo for the first time. He was active there for 45 years, in two periods. From 1960 to 1967, he worked in the parishes of Saint-Pierre, Sainte-Thérèse and Saint-Augustin. In 1967, he was called back to his Province of origin (BM) for missionary work. At the Scheut house in Obourg—Saint-Denis, he worked with a team of fellow brothers from the BM Province. In 1972, he returned to Kinshasa, where he worked in the parishes of Saint Augustin, Saint Lwanga, and Saint Kizito. From 2005 to 2007, he was rector of the Provincial House in Kinshasa, and from 2007 to 2010, he was rector of the parish of Menkao.
In 2010, he joined the CICM Embourg community. He lived there modestly but remained helpful despite his diminishing strength. He was the one who went to the pharmacy to get medicines for the other members of the community. In August 2022, he joined the CICM community of Zuun, where he lived discreetly. Due to his eyesight problems, he spent his days listening to books read on records.
It was in this same discreet manner that he passed away on the morning of Wednesday, January 8.
Paul was very much integrated into the culture and customs of the people of Kinshasa. He made many friends there; he felt as much at home with them as he did at home. On his return from Congo, he remained very close to his Congolese friends. He was invited there several times by his Kinshasa friends and even stayed for a few months. Later, when he could no longer travel, several Kinshasa people visited him where he was. Paul was a good and faithful servant.
May he enter into the joy of his Master.
- Jozef Matton
