Augustine Van de Vyver

Augustine Van de Vyver (December 1, 1844 - October 16, 1911) was a Belgian-born American Catholic prelate who served as the sixth bishop of Richmond in Virginia from 1889 to 1911.

Biography

Early life Augustine Van de Vyver was born on December 1, 1844, in Haasdonk, Belgium. His parents were John Ferdinand Van de Vyver and Sophia (De Schepper). He attended the St. Joseph Minor Seminary in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, then went to the American College, Louvain in Leuven, Belgium, from 1867 to 1870.

Priesthood Van de Vyver was ordained into the priesthood in Brussels, Belgium, for the Diocese of Richmond on July 24, 1870, by Archbishop Giacomo Cattani. In 1881, he returned to Richmond to become pastor of the cathedral parish and vicar-general of the diocese.

Bishop of Richmond

Van de Vyver was appointed as bishop of the Diocese of Richmond by Pope Leo XIII on July 16, 1889. According to one account, he was reluctant to accept the appointment, but ultimately obeyed the pope.

On August 22, 1902, Joseph Anciaux a Belgian Josephite priest in Virginia wrote a letter to the Congregation of the Propaganda in Rome, condemning acceptance by the U.S. Catholic hierarchy of racial segregation in the United States. He called it a radical and non-Catholic policy, and accused Van de Vyver personally of timidity in the face of "negro haters". On October 28, 1902, Van de Vyver forced Anciaux to leave the diocese.

Due to illness, Van de Vyver sent letters of resignation as bishop to the Vatican in 1903 and 1905, but they were denied. He attempted again in 1908, but the clergy and parishioners in the diocese convinced him to withdraw his request.

Family

Van de Vyver was the uncle of Saint-Mary's pastor Reverend Louis Smet who went to Alexandria, Virginia. Smet had been ordained to priesthood by his uncle at the American College of Louvain.

Death In September 1911, Van de Vyver made a final visit to Belgium to visit his relatives. By the time he returned to Richmond, Van de Vyver was gravely ill. Augustin Van de Vyver died on October 16, 1911, in Richmond. He was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Richmond, a cemetery he founded as vicar-general of the diocese.