Charles Croix

Background

He was born at Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke and was educated at the seminary in Ghent.

Career

After the fall of Napoleon"s empire, de la Croix resumed his studies and was ordained in Ghent by Bishop Dubourg of Louisiana, whom he later followed to the United States along with several other seminarians and some Flemish workmen. In May 1818, he was sent to Perry County, Missouri, to superintend the building of a seminary for the Louisiana diocese as well as begin his missionary duties. Missionary After the arrival of Father Rosati, president of the new seminary, de la Croix went to Florissant, Missouri on December 3, 1818.

He labored among both the Catholic families and the Osage Nation of the plains.

The following year, he returned to Belgium and used funds he had collected there to build a church in the United States, which was completed in 1832. In 1833, he returned to Belgium once more, where he became a canon of the cathedral of Ghent, a position he held until his death 36 years later.

Connections

companions:

Van Quickenborne