- ST.
NORBERT ABBEY
- DE
PERE, WISCONSIN, U.S.A.
- Rev.
William J. DeVries, O. Praem.
- b. Sunday, May 21,
1882 – d. Tuesday, Apr. 8, 1958
Our
brother William DeVries was born in Schijnddam (SKAYN-dam),
Holland
in 1882. He entered the Order at
Berne Abbey in 1902, arrived in the
United States
in 1907, and was solemnly professed in DePere that same year.
In
1909, he began his ministry as chaplain at the reformatory in
Green Bay
and was on the college faculty. In 1916, he became the first Norbertine
chaplain to minister at
St. Joseph
Academy
, a position formerly held by the Franciscans.
In
1920, William became pastor of Holy Cross in Bay Settlement and in 1922, the
duty of chaplain to the nuns there was added.
While pastor, a new parochial school, church, and large addition to the
convent were made.
William
died Tuesday,
April 8, 1958, at
the age of 75.
