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Belgians in the Civil War

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BELGIANS IN AMERICA:    Biographies of Belgian settlers  

Monseigneur Edward JOOS : The son of Bernard and Mary (De Weird) Joos, was born April 9, 1825, at the village of Somergen, East Flanders, Belgium. His early education was received in the parish schools of Somergen, in the Flemish and French languages. Until at the age of thirteen he went to the College of Thielt in West Flanders, where he received a classical education, and in 1843 entered the Ecclesiastical Seminary of Ghent, where he studied philosophy and theology for five years, ad on June 17, 1848, was ordained in the famous Cathedral of St. Bavo. He exercised the ministry for two years in Wachtebeke, East Flanders, and in the city of Eecloo for seven years. He came to America in 1856, and was at once assigned to Old St. Anne's Church in Detroit, where he remained until November, 1857, when Right Rev. P. P. Lefever, Bishop of Detroit, sent him to Monroe to take the charge of the French and English congregation at St. Mary's Church, and also having charge of the numerous missions in the county, and in which capacity he served in the vineyard of the Lord for fifteen years. Father Maes, now Bishop of Covington, Kentucky, was sent to assist him in his arduous duties in 1870, when he gave his services as director of St. Mary's Convent, under the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 1873 Father Maes organised St.. John's Church for the English, and the Rev. B. G. Soffers (whose assistant Monseigneur Joos was in 1856), was appointed pastor of the French portion of St. Mary's congregation. When the Right Rev. Bishop Borgess, of Detroit. went to Rome in April, 1877, Father Jaw was appointed administrator of the diocese with the title of Vicar-General. Again, in April, 1887, on the resignation of Bishop Borgess, he was called to the same position, in which he served until November, 1888, when Bishop Foley succeeded to the bishopric.
In ail the several positions with which he has been honored; his duties have been performed with acknowledged ability and acceptance to his superiors by whom he is held in esteem, and who have bestowed on him many tokens of their friendship and regard. Bishop Foley, on his accession to the See of Detroit, appointed him as Vicar-General of the Diocese. His faithful services have not been overlooked by the Papal a autorithies in Rome, as in January 1889, the Pope raised him to the dignity of a Domestic Prelate to His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII, which last honor makes him one of the family of His Holiness the Pope.
Source : Wing, Talcott E.; History of Monroe County, Michigan; New York: Munsell & Co., 1890, 726 pgs.