14 Facts About Theophile Meerschaert

Theophile Meerschaert was a Belgian-born prelate of the Catholic Church.

Theophile Meerschaert served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Oklahoma in the United States from 1891 until his death in 1924.

Theophile Meerschaert was born on 24 August 1847 in Russignies, a farming village near Renaix, in the province of East Flanders in Belgium.

Theophile Meerschaert was the eighth of nine children of the peddler from Renaix, Pierre Francois Meerschaert, and his wife from Russeignies, Marie Therese Gabreau.

Theophile Meerschaert left for the United States in September 1872, arriving at Natchez, Mississippi in the following October.

Theophile Meerschaert was appointed to Hancock and Harrison Counties in November 1872, and transferred to Ocean Springs in August 1874.

In October 1875, Theophile Meerschaert was felled by yellow fever and his case thought hopeless, but he eventually recovered.

Theophile Meerschaert worked in Bay St Louis for a year before returning to Natchez in August 1880.

Theophile Meerschaert became vicar general of the Diocese of Natchez on 18 April 1887, and later apostolic administrator after Bishop Francis Janssens was promoted to Archbishop of New Orleans in 1888.

On 2 June 1891, Theophile Meerschaert was appointed Vicar Apostolic of Indian Territory in Oklahoma and Titular Bishop of Sidyma by Pope Leo XIII.

Theophile Meerschaert dedicated about 100 new churches and recruited around a dozen American-born clergy during his tenure.

Theophile Meerschaert was named the first Bishop of Oklahoma on 23 August 1905, when Pope Pius X raised the vicariate to the rank of a diocese.

For thirty-two years as the Bishop, Theophile Meerschaert kept a detailed diary about his life and career in Oklahoma.

Theophile Meerschaert died on 21 February 1924 at St Anthony's Hospital in Oklahoma City, aged 76.