Victor Scheppers

Msgr. Victor Scheppers (25 April 1802 in Mechelen – 7 March 1877 in Mechelen) was the founder of the Brothers of Mercy of Mechelen and the Scheppersinstituut Mechelen. He was declared "venerable" by the Roman Catholic Church in March 1987. His feast day is 7 March, the date of his death.

Biography

Victor Scheppers father was a landowner and brewer in Mechelen. Victor studied in Mechelen and then in Aalst. His mother died in 1813, his sister in 1815 and his brother in 1817. He took over the management of the brewery. He made several pilgrimages to the Shrine de Notre Dame de Montaigu before deciding to become a priest. Scheppers was ordained in 1832 and celebrated his first Mass at the Cathedral of Mechelen.

As Belgium was in the midst of an industrial revolution, the poor youth of the cities were confronted with alcoholism, prostitution, delinquency and misery. Very early his vocation is oriented towards neglected youth. His father buys him a house in Mechelen so that he can take care of boys from the working classes. He teaches classes and opens a free professional workshop, then organizes a Sunday school for young people aged 17–18.

In 1838 the first postulants present themselves. They are two young artisans. Cardinal Sterckx helped him to found his congregation in 1839. Canon Scheppers directs his apostolate to the prisons, especially the minors' quarters, with the support of the Ministry of Justice. In 1851, he sets up a boarding school in Mechelen. He is pursuing his social and educational commitment and is thinking of bringing together more lay young people to help him.

Cardinal Pecci calls him to Perugia to open an establishment, and Bishop de Merode presents it to Pope Pius IX in 1854, who conferred on him the title of prelate of His Holiness in 1856. Soon the congregation spread to England, Manitoba, Spain and the Netherlands. Later it also worked in Africa.

A small group of brothers obtained special permission to enter the priesthood in 1949, with the obligation to respect the lay spirit of the congregation. After an extremely difficult period in the years 1970–1990, the congregation continues today in seventeen houses in Belgium, Italy, Argentina, Uruguay and Burundi .

Victor Scheppers was declared venerable in 1987.