Fr. Charles Vermeulen, C.Ss.R., a Catholic Priest who worked in Dominica for close to 60 years, will be laid to rest on Thursday.
Before that, on Wednesday, December 14, a Wake Service will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Newtown.
It will begin at 6:30 pm.
On Thursday, December 15, the day he will be laid to rest, viewing of the body will begin at 1:00 pm.
At 2:00 pm, Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the Cathedral Chapel in Roseau.
Burial will follow at the Roseau Catholic Cemetery.
Fr. Charles passed away at the Princess Margaret Hospital on Sunday, December 4.
He arrived in Dominica by boat in 1959 from his native Belgium.
He has worked in many parishes across Dominica and is well known among Catholics on the island.
In 2006, he was awarded the Sisserou Award of Honour, Dominica’s second highest award.
Fr. Charles was a member of the Redemptorist Congregation, a religious order which has a presence in more than 77 countries around the world.
He was born on January 14, 1931 in Ouwegem, Belgium, the sixteenth child of Alphonse and Irma Vermeulen.
Fr. Charles professed his Religious vows on September 15, 1952 in St. Truiden, Belgium.
He was ordained a priest on September 15, 1957 in Louvain, Belgium.
A few highlights from Fr. Charles life :-
1959: Fr. Charles was appointed to the West Indies by Fr. De Ceuninck and arrived in Dominica where he was the assistant priest at the Cathedral
1960-1961: Assistant priest in Basseterre, St. Kitts
1961-1964: Assistant priest in St. John’s Antigua
1964-1965: Acting Dean of the Cathedral and Superior of the Redemptorists
1966-1969: Parish priest of St. Alphonsus Church, Goodwill
1970-1986: Dean of the Cathedral and Vicar General of Diocese
1985-1989: Fr. Charles spent a lot of his time and energy building the Holy Redeemer Retreat House which was officially opened in May 1991
1989: Parish priest of Wesley for three months
1991-1994: Parish Priest of St. Louis, Marie Galante
1994-1995: Parish priest of Soufriere
1995-1999: Parish Priest of St. Ann, Massacre
1999-2002: Director of the Holy Redeemer Retreat House, Eggleston, Dominica
2002-2008: Parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima, Newtown
As good and holy as we appear to be and to others, God knows us better than others know us and we even know ourselves.
No one is really perfect in his eyes. All have some sort of frailties even though they are known to God and God alone. This is why we Christian Catholics pray for the departed.
Everyone who looks at Fr. Charles picture might say he is looking at them. And so, as I did, I got the inclination to type this prayer.
It is one of my favorite, Prayer For The Departed –
Fr. Charles has departed Lord, after having loved You, a sinner who had asked you for pardon. I can help him to get back to Your presence soon. I implore You in prayer for him. Of myself I have but little to offer for him, but in Christ I have the infinity of His merits. Accept them as a deduction from his debt.
Lord, I offer my prayers for those who gave me life, for those who fed me, taught me, cared for me, for those who opened Your way of love to me.
I offer You my prayers, for all those to whom I did good, and for those whom I may have afflicted.
Enter him, Lord, into Your place of rest, into that peace and joy without end, which You have prepared for him from all eternity. May he enter into Your infinite glory. Amen!
Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Charles, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen!
May the soul of Fr. Charles and other souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen!
Thank you DNO for the update on the celebration of Fr. Charles Vermeulen. C.Ss.R.
I am due to travel tomorrow at 9:00 am. and due to arrive at Charles/Douglas Airport at 2:30 pm. I heard that LIAT upgraded the seating accommodation, so I am looking forward to that. If all goes well I should make it to the wake. May His Soul Rest in Peace!
I wondered if you would be going to D/ca. I even thought, being in T & T you would not be able to attend.
Happy to know you will be traveling to Dominica for Fr. Charles Funeral.
Dd you hear that Fr. Standaert (I hoped I spelled the name correctly) recently died in Germany? Long ago he was a Priest in Roseau.
Thought I would mention, I spoke to a few relatives and friends n T & T. I was told, where they reside, not close to each other, they felt the earthquake but nothing happened to them. All of you were fortunate, for a 6.2 quake.
A few months ago I met your sister and husband. We attended Richie Hill’s funeral.
Safe flight to D/ca and back. Have a pleasant stay, though it will be a sad one.
God bless!