January 20
William C. Van Breda, O.S.A.
  1922-2002

January 20 is the anniversary of William C. Van Breda.

William Cornelis Van Breda, son of Cornelis Van Breda and Gertrude Picard, was born in Tilburb, The Netherlands, on July 8, 1922. He began his early education by attending the parochial school at the Broeders Van Liefde from 1928 to 1933, and later attended high school at the Pensionaat St. Louis from 1933 to 1935. From 1935 to 1942 he studied philosophy at the Augustinianum Eindhoven, and theology at the Theologicum Culemborg and Nijmegen. He entered the Augustinian novitiate on September 9, 1943, professed vows on September 10, 1944, and made solemn profession three years later. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 19, 1950 in Nijmegen.

Father Van Breda’s first assignment was to Saint Augustine Parish, Nieuwendam, Amsterdam, and in 1951, he was sent to the Institute Catholique in Paris, for graduate work. In 1952, he was assistant pastor at Saint Nicholas in Witmarsum, The Netherlands. In 1954, Father arrived in the United States and became an assistant at Saint Genevieve, Parish in Flourtown, Pa., and then, from 1955 to 1956 he taught at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, N.Y.

From 1956 to 1973, Father Bill began his long career as teacher of classics, French, German, and religion at Monsignor Bonner High School, Drexel Hill, Pa. From 1973 to 1974, he taught at Austin Friars in Carlisle, England, and from 1975 to 1982, he worked as hospital chaplain while at Saint Augustine Parish, Philadelphia, Pa. He also served as assistant pastor in the parishes of St. Nicholas of Tolentine, Jamaica, N.Y., St. James Minor, Carthage, N.Y., and St. Genevieve, in Flourtown, Pa. In 1995, he became hospital chaplain at the Southeastern Pa. Veterans Center until he became too ill to continue ministry. Father Van Breda retired to the Health Care Unit of St. Thomas Monastery, Villanova, Pa., where he died on January 20, 2002.

Students remember Father Van Breda as an excellent and demanding teacher. Gifted with a subtle sense of humor he encouraged everyone to be the best they could be, both intellectually and spiritually. Through his faith, scholarship and experience he developed a sense of self awareness that flowed over into his religious dedication. When he felt he spent his talents in a given ministry or location, he moved on to encourage parishioners and students in several province commitments.

On January 23, the Liturgy of Christian Burial was celebrated for Father Van Breda in St. Thomas of Villanova Church on the campus of Villanova University, followed by his burial in the Augustinian plot at Calvary Cemetery, West Conshohocken, Pa.

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Share your own reflection on this friar by filling out the following form. Reflections will be posted to this page soon after your reflection is received. Thank you for taking part in this interactive necrology.
 
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Reflection by Paul Epperlein:

When I was a postulant at Augustinian Academy, Father Van Breda lived at the end of the hallway. He always had the time to counsel and encourage me and, over many years, I have learned over and over again that he was most certainly the source of some of the best advise I ever received in my life. He described to me once life in Holland during the Second World War in terms I shall never forget; for instance, the rapt attention mixed with revulsion while listening to Hitler speak on the radio. I never saw Father after that time but I have never forgotten him.

Reflection by George Roy:

I would like to echo Paul Epperline's assesssment of Fr.van Breda. I did not have as personal relationship with him but I admired him greatly. He was a very religious almost mystical person who fervently prayed daily. His Christian commitment was inspiring to all. He was a severe academician who pushed me to the limits of my capabilities (can anyone remember the five possible meanings of the Greek, einai?). He could also clown around with us and tolerate our adolescent behaviors when we called him "Fritz". He had great balance in his life. He was a man of strong convictions about the Holocaust and politics. In the 50's he believed that a benevolent dictatorship was the best form of government and we argued constantly. He was certainly one of the people who made a significant impact on my life.

Reflection by Emil A. Mucchetti:

I do not have many warm memories about my four years at Augustinian Academy. However, Father Breda has my respect for so many reasons. He was there for us. I wish I could say that about so many of our other teachers. He was a model teacher who had high standards, yet his Latin and Greek classes were open and fun. He cared for us as persons. Even when we were out of line and had to copy Dutch word for word, he had a way of making he "punishment" pleasant. My wish is that I could have spoken with him and let him know how much I admired him.
Reflection by Thomas J. Higman:

I wish to comment on the life of Father William C. Van Breda. I can remember Father's service to the people of St. James Minor Church in Carthage, NY. His humility and simplicity of life was (and still is) an inspiration in my life, as I now aspire to holy priesthood. Father Van Breda as well as the other 3 Augustinian Priests at St. James are a great inspiration to me, and I pray now that Father Van Breda interceed for me to the Great High Priest, Jesus Christ!