• 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).

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The issue of migration, together with the pandemic and climate change, has clearly demonstrated that we cannot be saved alone and by ourselves: the great challenges of our time are all global. It is thus troubling that, alongside the greater interconnection of problems, we are seeing a growing fragmentation of solutions. It is not uncommon to encounter unwillingness to open windows of dialogue and spaces of fraternity; this only fuels further tensions and divisions, as well as a generalized feeling of uncertainty and instability. What is needed instead is a recovery of our sense of shared identity as a single human family. The alternative can only be growing isolation, marked by a reciprocal rejection and refusal that further endangers multilateralism, the diplomatic style that has characterized international relations from the end of the Second World War to the present time.

Excerpt from the Address of Pope Francis to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See for the Presentation of New Year's Greetings on 10 January 2022.

Pope Francis' Full Address to Members of the Diplomatic Corps

The incarnation of the Word inspires us as we engage in the missionary task of the Church.

Christ Jesus, “being in the form of God, did not count equality with God something to be grasped at.

But he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, becoming as human beings are” (Phil. 2:6-7). CICM Constitutions, Art. 12

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2022

 Christmas is not past history; it is a burning actuality!

Readings: Phil 2, 1-11; Mt 28, 16 b-20

On this day, 159 years ago, the missionary adventure of Théophile Verbist officially began …

We have experienced ourselves, I think, that the history of our Congregation is a history of people, for people and, above all, with people. And where people are involved, there are failures and mistakes. We are all human beings.

This means that in addition to beautiful achievements, there are also failures and mistakes. There is brotherly solidarity and, unfortunately, narcissistic traits, tensions and quarrels sometimes, but also forgiving and forgetting and continuing together the same way.

In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul indicates that being a Christian, living as a Christian, and bearing witness as a Christian includes humility and humanity…

It would be a pity to be so preoccupied with the internal problems of the Congregation that we no longer see the missionary challenges that surround us or have the strength to respond to them. Throughout the history of our Congregation, confreres have never been afraid of taking on new challenges…

Honestly, it is very painful to see today that personal ambition, personal enrichment, power, and influence are sometimes more important than the corporate commitment to the mission and congregational solidarity for some confreres. As a result, the three religious vows have lost all their value and religious inspiration…

We must ask some important and urgent questions, individually and as a congregation as a whole.

• Is evangelizing in a CICM spirit still our joy?
• Are we ready for reconciliation on several levels of life?
• Are we ready to live and engage in an intercultural context that bears witness to the universality of salvation?

 Excerpt from the homily of father Jozef Matton, General Councilor for the CICM Foundation Day 2021

Father Jozef’s homily full text

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