Fr. Richard Vissers, O.Carm.
♰ March 8, 1992
Today, March 8, we remember Fr. Richard Vissers, O.Carm., the very first Dutch Carmelite missionary to the Philippines.
In October 1957, Fr. Vissers, who was a missionary to Indonesia, together with the Prior Provincial of the Dutch province, Fr. Brocardus Meijer, came to the Philippines to explore the possibility of opening a mission in the country.
Their goal was to assist the local church, to have a base in Asia in case the Dutch missionaries were forced to leave Indonesia, and to establish the Order in the country.
They heeded the invitation of Bishop Epifanio Surban of the Diocese of Dumaguete and so on March 15, 1958, the Order settled in the country taking in two poor parishes in the Diocese of Dumaguete – Saint Anthony Parish in Toboso and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Escalante, both in Negros Occidental.
Fr. Vissers was joined by Fr. Werenfried Viester, Fr. Teodulf Vrakking, and the first Filipino Carmelite, Fr. Fidelis Limcaco, who decided to leave the Order in the same year.
Fr. Vissers was the first superior of the Order in the Philippines and saw the expansion of the Order into different ministries, as well as mission areas.
He joined our creator on this day in 1992.
Let us remember Fr. Vissers in our prayers.