As part of my research on Father De Pauw’s life, I had the opportunity to travel to Belgium this past March to visit the places where he spent his early life and priesthood.  Unfortunately, due to my responsibilities here at the CTM headquarters, I was not able to spend as much time as I would have liked.  Nevertheless, I packed in as much as I could in the time I had.

The trip grew out of the need to visit the graves of Father De Pauw’s parents.  Several years before he passed away there had been a terrible flooding rain storm and the grave stone and cover had been severely damaged.  He had contacted a company in Belgium to restore it to exactly the way it originally was set up.  He received pictures of it to ensure that the work had been done but it was always a concern of his that it be kept in good condition.  Because of this I decided to make the trip to Belgium and go to the grave to make sure that his wishes were fulfilled.  Although I had traveled to Belgium some years ago, I had never traveled to this section of the country and was unfamiliar with the area.  My preparations for the trip were made by some very kind members of the Belgian and Dutch communities here in the New York City area who also help me with translating the volumes of letters and diaries that are in Father De Pauw’s native language, Flemish.

As it worked out, one of the members of our Board of Directors was traveling in Europe at the same time and offered to meet me in Belgium and assist me.  The timing worked out perfectly and we were able to visit the grave on the exact date of Father De Pauw’s mother’s anniversary, March 15^th.

March 15^th was always a very important date in the life of Father De Pauw.  It was on that date at 9:20 a.m. that he left Stekene by cab for the Dutch port of Rotterdam. He was booked on the Dutch line ship the Veedam and scheduled to depart at 3 p.m. that afternoon.  It was on March 15, 1952 that his mother passed away.  Her life shortened just as her husband’s life was and who had died in 1946 by having to endure the hardships of two world wars.  After suffering a heart attack and a long bout with bronchitis she finally succumbed.  Father De Pauw, already in America and studying at the Catholic Universith of America received notification of his mother’s death by telegram.  Unfortunately, due to a strike by the Belgian National Airline, Sabena, he was unable to attend his mother’s funeral.

And of course it was on March 15^th, that Father De Pauw publicly launched the Catholic Traditionalist Movement raising the only flag of resistance at that time to the wrecking crew of the Second Vatican Council.  So, indeed it was very important and momentous for me to be in Belgium and Stekene on that very date.

Stekene is a small town (although having walked its entire expanse looking for his childhood home I can assure you it is not that small).  Nonetheless, on most maps of Belgium you will not be able to find the town of Stekene.  It lies in the northeast of Belgium near the border of Holland or more commonly known today as the Netherlands.  It is in the province of East Flanders.  It is bordered by farms but has a well developed town center with a beautiful town hall.  As with most European towns and cities the Church is at the center of town and its steeple can be seen from the approaching countryside.

It is not bustling with traffic since most of its citizens, especially the older ones, travel by bicycle.  It was described by one young Belgian who gave us directions as being a place where there is not much to do.  (Having a look at him, I think that is a good thing!)  Nevertheless, after some difficulty in locating the street due to a name change, we finally located the house.  It obviously had been renovated from the time of Father De Pauw and built up a lot more since those years.  But, this is the building where Father was born and grew up as a child.  It was from this house that he had to leave shortly after being born due to the ravages and starvation of World War I.  For the war planners in Germany, Belgium was seen only as a convenience to get to France.  Having one of the most sophisticated and dense rail systems in Europe, Belgium was seen as expedient.  They calculated that if they did not occupy Belgium on the way, the French would do it in coming after Germany.  Their occupation of Belgium is not well known but Belgian civilians valiantly resisted the occupiers.  Belgians who resisted the invading German army were met with immediate death.  Their homes were torched and all valuables stolen.  Despite being outnumbered and overpowered, Belgians resisted the occupiers and in many cases were slaughtered in places such as Louvain which saw one of the greatest tragedies of the war.  By October of 1918, when Father De Pauw was born, the war was almost over and the German invaders were retreating and laying more waste in their path back to Germany.  Belgium lay in ruins with its factories destroyed and farm lands ruined.  Food was scarce and extremely costly.  Belgium was starving.  It was these conditions which prompted Desiree De Pauw to take his family now with their youngest baby over the border into Holland so they would not starve.

This is also the house during World War II which was partially occupied by some German soldiers.  The headquarters of the occupying unit for Stekene was across the street.  There was not enough room in that building and so they took over part of his house.  He described them as always polite and despite his sisters being in the home, they never made any attempts at indiscretions toward them.  However, when they made their hasty departure at the end of the war they stole numerous valuables from the home.

What those German soldiers did not know was that right under their noses the De Pauw family was assisting the Belgian underground.  It was also right under their noses that a young seminarian would come home on holiday.  What they also did not know was that he was an escaped prisoner and in possession of release papers which had been forged by the local underground after they stole the stamp used to make these papers official.  Led by his father, Desiree, they were keeping close watch on the comings and goings of German officers in and out of the headquarters across the street.  It was the job of Father De Pauw who at that time was bicycling between Stekene and Ghent where he was studying for the priesthood to take the reports of who came and went from that headquarters to the local commander of the underground on his way to Ghent.

Any messages the underground had for his father he would pick up on the return trip from Ghent.  Often it would be to watch out for some military figure who they believed would be passing through the area.  Confirmation of such a visit would lead them to believe certain other facts about the bigger picture of the war. 

It was also from this house that they would count the number of bombers crossing over to Germany on their way to bombing missions and recount them on the way back to see if any were lost.  This information would then be passed onto the underground and in turn sent to London.

While we were in Stekene we also were able to visit the Holy Cross Church which is the Church of Stekene.  This was the Church where Father was baptized, received his First Holy Communion and the Church where he said his first Mass of Honor.  The Church is bigger than most American parish churches and its interior is very beautiful until one’s eye is drawn to the table planted in the apse of the Church.  This monstrosity blocked the view of the beautiful main altar and sanctuary where Father De Pauw offered his first Mass.  The day we visited there was a funeral about to start and out of respect to the family we did not want to walk around taking pictures.  We also wanted to be out of the church before the mockery of the new Mass, Belgian style, began.

As described a year ago at the observation of his anniversary, Father De Pauw as a young student at the age of 17 became an active leader of the Catholic Student Movement.  This movement was set up by the Church to try and instill good Catholic values in the young boys.  At the time, young boys had two choices.  One was to join the scouts and the other was to join the Katholieke Studenten Actie or the KSA.  The motto of the KSA was “Vlaaanderen hernieuwen in Christus” translated means “renewing Flanders in Christ”.  The aim of the KSA then is obvious through its motto.  At the time, the rise of secularism was occurring all over Europe and the Belgian bishops saw the KSA as a way to counter this from happening.

Each diocese had a headquarters for the KSA.  The diocese in which Father De Pauw lived was Ghent and that is where his branch was headquartered.  We therefore wanted to check and see where this headquarters was and whether or not any remnant of this organization was still there.  Fortunately it was not hard to find and actually was one block from our hotel.  Of course, there was no semblance of any Catholic Action being there and apparently the building picture below was all apartments.

The KSA organized all sorts of activities and summer camps much as the scouts did but always with a Catholic flavor.  Leaders made speeches usually about Catholic action.  At the time the biggest spokesman for Catholic action was a Catholic priest named Father Cardijn.  To the young Belgians of the KSA and especially its young leaders, Father Cardijn was a hero and no doubt someone whom Father De Pauw as a young leader of the KSA admired greatly.  Father Cardijn traveled throughout Belgium giving speeches about Catholic action which were very popular among the young people.  He formed the Catholic Action organization for young people called Kristelijke Arbeidersjeugd, more commonly known by its initials the KAJ.  His goal was to ensure that there was no separation of religion from daily life.  He described religion as a whole life and through this life it should be united to Christ through HIM, in HIM and with HIM to give all honor and glory to HIM Who Reigns forever.

It is through this KSA organization that Father De Pauw met Canon Leo DeKesel.  He was the regional director of the KSA for Father’s area.  This is the man that Father De Pauw would credit with leading him to the path of the priesthood.  Much later Canon DeKesel would be consecrated Bishop and become the Bishop of Ghent during the time of the Second Vatican Council.  He would be one of the bishops that Canon Lawyer De Pauw would advise at the Council.  Through all the fury, hardship and hatred that Father would endure during those years after the Council, the close relationship and friendship that they had would endure.  They kept in touch by letter and by phone.  And it was an older Bishop DeKesel, knowing his time on earth was short, who wrote in one of his last letters to Father De Pauw, how right he had been.

The relationship between Father De Pauw and Canon DeKesel was truly one of a spiritual father and son during those early years.  As Father De Pauw’s path to the priesthood became clearer, the relationship grew stronger.  Canon DeKesel eventually became the director of the great seminary in Ghent.  Father De Pauw entered the minor seminary in 1936.  Canon DeKesel gives him the spiritual direction needed to make his vocation successful.  However, in March of 1938, Hitler entered Vienna and Germany Annexs Austria through a “vote” which is known as the “Anschluss”.  Panic waves occur throughout Europe as the rise of Germany once again brings the fear that Germany will make a repeat of what happened during the First World War.  Europeans and especially Belgians are still dealing with the affects of what Germany did to Belgium during that war. 

Belgium now is for all intensive purposes a divided country culturally.  It is comprised of the Flemish who are Dutch speaking in the north and the Walloons who are French speaking in the south.  The Flemish and their language are considered as a minority while the Walloons live on the past glory of French culture which is already then waning.  Nevertheless, all official communications from the Belgian Government are in French.  All orders given by military commanders in the army are given in French.  Educated Flemings who spoke both languages have no problems but the poorer farmer young boys who spoke only Flemish had a very difficult time. 

The Flemish people and Flanders is a lot more industrious and is on the move both politically and socially with grassroots movements springing up known as the Flemish Nationalist Movement.  There are calls for a new Flanders and in some quarters of that movement they call for doing away with the king.  Although Father was sympathetic to aims of the Nationalist Movement, he was not in favor of doing away with the king.  It was through organizations like the KSA which was not a nationalist movement but did call for “renewing Flanders in Christ”.

During the years of 1936 through 1938, Father is giving religious instruction classes to young students.  In his spare time he attends many of  the speeches given by leading members of the nationalist movement.  One popular leader who was also a well known leader in the Catholic Action Movement was Leon Degrelle.  Degrelle believed that Europe should become as one.  Not in the socialist economic model of today’s so-called united Europe but as a united Catholic Europe.  He believed this was the way to counter the Godless Communists of the Soviet Union.  But while he followed nationalist developments all of his time is eventually spent toward his studies under the spiritual care of Canon DeKesel.  In June of 1938 his life would change.  After Hitler takes Austria, the Belgian government orders the “mobilization” period for military service.  No one is exempt from military service, not even those studying to become priests.  The leaders of the Belgian Church wanted the seminarians to serve in the army.  Not to be in combat but in other areas where they could be of service.  As it was explained to Father De Pauw, he was told that once he becomes a priest his whole life would be a life of privilege and people would cater to him.  Therefore, during this mobilization the Church wanted its candidates to the priesthood to do the hardest jobs in caring for the ill.  He gladly joined the

army and he volunteered to work nursing soldiers who were stricken by contagious ailments.  The young seminarians are told that it is in the hospitals where you will come in contact with so many different kinds of people and therefore have innumerable occasions to prepare for your spiritual work as a priest by simple acts of kindness and care for suffering people.  This work eventually put his own health in danger and he became seriously ill.  The section he volunteered for was known as the C.I.B.I. (Centre D’Instruction Pour Brancardiers Infirmiers) which is the Belgian Army Red Cross Division.  He was stationed near Leopoldsburg which is northeast of Brussels in a small town called Beverlo.  While he has accepted his assignment, it was a source of discouragement because it took him away from advancing his studies for the priesthood.  The daily routine of course, was quite different and several times throughout his service at the C.I.B.I., he expresses his concern to Canon DeKesel about not being able to live in the manner in which a young seminarian in preparation for the priesthood should be living.  Canon DeKesel sends him books and reading material for him to read that will help him through this difficult time.  He gives him advice which will help him to carry out his duties and also continue with his studies and preparation for the priesthood.  But as time is moving on and the situation with Germany becomes more threatening it appears that he may never achieve his goal.  Throughout 1938 and 1939, through letters and through regular visits when he had leave, his contact with Canon DeKesel kept him positive so that eventually he would see his goal fulfilled.  In a letter dated April 1939, on the Saturday before Good Shepherd Sunday, Canon DeKesel writes him that during the Mass for that Sunday and especially during the Gospel on the Good Shepherd he will be thinking of him, the one whom he watches over.  He asks Father De Pauw to pray for him so that he may may bring

him closer to God and watch his progress toward the priesthood in greater resignation to God.  He tells him to “servite Domino in laetittia”, serve God with joy in whatever his assignment is with the C.I.B.I.  By late summer war is looming in Europe once again and the regular leaves every 8 days are now expanded to every 14 days and naturally his visits to Ghent to see Canon Dekesel are also becoming fewer and further apart.  The Canon tells Father De Pauw that he stands with him united as brothers and to trust in the Lord. 

His vocation is certain and he is destined for something special.  Father De Pauw tells the Canon that he has accepted his assignment as the work of Providence but depends greatly on his spiritual advice and care.

By September they both realize that war is inevitable and that it will be horrific.  They also realize that their regular contacts and visits will be seriously affected.  In September of 1939, Poland is invaded and the possibility of returning to the seminary appears further and further remote to him.  The next year 1940, on May 10^th, Belgium is invaded by the Nazis.  His unit, the 3^rd Battalion of the Regiment of the Marching Marines, moves to the northwest to the Dutch frontier and to the west of Stekene where the Nazi army is rushing in.  His unit is now on the front line of the fight to try and save Belgium.  His unit sees serious action at the Canal Ghent-Terneuzen and Schipdonk Canal which are northwest of Ghent.  His assignment is a stretcher bearer removing wounded and dead soldiers from the battlefield.  It is a very dangerous work and during one instance he barely escapes being killed by a mortar.  As the Nazi army overwhelms the Belgian army his unit is told to move northwest again into the area of Brugge near the North Sea coast.  They are told to try to catch up with British units exiting there and at Dunkirk.  His unit makes their way to Dunkirk but the British would not allow them on the boats leaving for England.  Some soldiers swam out to the boats and tried to grab on but British soldiers beat their hands with the rifle butts to get them off and prevent them from sinking the already overcrowded boats.  With all hope lost of escaping to England, his unit commanders tell them to remove their uniform insignias.  Certain capture is inevitable and since the 3^rd battalion of the Marching Marines had put up quite a fight at the canal, the unit commanders are worried about brutal retaliation.  Before taking them as prisoners, the unit commander of the Nazi army tries to convince them to join the fight on their side.  He tells them that the Flemish look and speak like Germans and have been poorly treated by their king and government.  He tells them there is no reason to continue to fight as Germany is destined to take all of Europe and England too.  But Father had already made that choice much earlier when Leon Degrelle who had formed the Rexist party asked young Belgians to join him and the Nazi army in fighting the Godless Communists of the Soviet Union.  Both Father De Pauw and Canon Dekesel saw both the Nazis and the Communists as evil.  This choice would play a very critical role in his life and the life of his family in the future.  Now he and his unit all refused the bait and are taken prisoners.  They are marched back into Belgium in the summer heat through the very towns where they live.  The sympathetic civilians whom they know as their neighbors place water buckets out on the side of the road for the “prisoners” to drink but a German military motorcycle goes ahead of the march and kicks them over with his booted foot.

Father De Pauw and his unit are brought to a camp that he described as being near where his family had vacationed.  It is at this location where a sympathetic Austrian in the Nazi army who was guarding him gives his uniform and allows him to escape.

After returning to Stekene he keeps a low profile and lives right under the nose of the unit occupying Stekene.  He joins the AB resistance section in Stekene.  When he escapes he tries to contact Canon DeKesel only to find out that the seminary is closed due to the occupation and is threatened with being occupied itself by the Nazi army.  Canon DeKesel tells him the authorities in Ghent have no idea when it will reopen.

Our next stop then would take us to the seminary in Ghent where I will continue in our next issue.  It will be at this seminary where I got my greatest shock.  While I was prepared for what I saw in the churches in Belgium, I was not prepared for what I saw in this once beautiful seminary.

Coming In future issue:

The forged Nazi release document…

Desecration of the Holy Altars…

The sound of boots…

The first parish…

The white and black…