Felix-Joseph Barbelin

The Reverend Felix-Joseph Barbelin, S.J., (30 May 1808 – 8 June 1869), called the "Apostle of Philadelphia",was a 19th-century Jesuit priest influential in the development of the Catholic community in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States.

Life

Holy Trinity Georgetown DC

Barbelin was born at Lunéville, (then in the Province of Meurthe, now Meurthe-et-Moselle), in the Alsatian region of France, the oldest of seven children born to Dominic and Elizabeth Louis Barbelin. His father was the Secretary to the Revenue Department of the district of Luneville. All but one of his siblings chose to enter religious life. His youngest brother, Ignace-Xavier, also became a Jesuit.[1]

Barbelin received his early training at the home of a reverend grand-uncle, and at the age of nineteen took up his philosophical and theological studies in a seminary in Nancy where another grand-uncle was president,[2] and received minor orders in 1829. He then Prefect of Studies at the minor seminary at Pont-à-Mousson.[1]

He sailed from Le Havre on December 21, 1830, just before being conscripted, and landed in Norfolk, Virginia. From there he went to Georgetown, and entered the Society of Jesus on 7 January 1831, at their novitiate in White Marsh, Maryland. Subsequent to that, for some years he was stationed at Georgetown University, where he served as assistant prefect and professor of French.[2] He was ordained in September 1835.

In 1836 he became assistant pastor of Holy Trinity Church in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., and in 1838 was transferred as assistant to St. Joseph's Church in Philadelphia. In the spring of 1844, anti-Catholic riots swept Philadelphia. Barbelin was advised to disguise himself and remove to a place of safety. Although St. Michael's and St. Augustine Church were burnt down, St. Joseph's was spared. When some rioters proposed to sack it, their leaders were heard to say, "Oh no, that little Frenchman won't hurt anybody".[1] Philadelphians held a partiality towards the French because of the assistance they had provided during the Revolution. Barbelin was named pastor of St. Joseph's in August of that year.[3]

Old St. Joseph's Church Entrance

For more than a quarter of a century he was pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Willing's Alley, which became, mainly during his term of office, the centre from which radiated Catholic influences throughout the city and diocese. He founded Saint Joseph's Hospital (closed 2015) in his adopted city, and was the first to establish sodalities for men and women and for the young. In 1852 he was appointed the first President of Saint Joseph's College, which is now known as Saint Joseph's University. Barbelin Hall at that university is named in his honor.[2]

Around 1856, he and Father Thomas Lilly S.J. founded of the first Catholic school in Philadelphia to serve the educational needs of African American students. It later became St. Peter Claver School.[4]

Barbelin died in Philadelphia on June 8, 1869.

References

1. Donnelly, Eleanor C., Amemoir of Father Felix Joseph Barbelin S.J., New York, Christian Press Association Publishing, 1886 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
2. Spillane, Edward. "Felix-Joseph Barbelin." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 14 January 2019
3. "19th century", Old St. Joseph's
4. "Sister Karen Dietrich SSJ Receives The Molyneux-Lilly Award January 25, 2018", SSJ of Chestnut Hill

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Felix-Joseph Barbelin". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.