From the Archives

In every photo contained in the archives of the archdiocese, Father Willibrord Vooghden, O.S.B., possesses the same dour visage seen in the accompanying picture. This, from all accounts, is sadly misleading. 

He was admired and beloved by the people he so gladly served. A parishioner in Perry wrote on the occasion of his 50th jubilee of ordination: “Father Willibrord is one of the pioneers, a pioneer for Christ, a standard bearer for civilization, a champion of right, a herald of peace. He preaches today, as of old, the gospel of love and peace and goodwill. Today, as in the past, he has nothing but zeal for the faith, love for mankind, boundless faith in God.” 

High praise indeed for this venerable servant who arrived in 1889 to serve in the Prefecture Apostolic of Indian Territory with four other Benedictines who had been in Bengal, India. The mission had closed and so these men arrived to serve the Church in what is now Oklahoma. All came originally from Afflighem Abbey in Belgium and were not affiliated with the already established Benedictines of Sacred Heart Abbey near Konawa.

His friend and confrère, Father Ildephonse Lanslot, describes the rigors of missionary life that Father Willibrord faced: “Southern Indian Territory was the scene of his early years. The most necessary of his belongings were then in his saddle bags, while a shanty in Ardmore housed a trunk suspended from a rafter to prevent mice and rats from demolishing the contents during a prolonged absence of the missionary.”

After working in three other parishes for a short time, he was assigned by Bishop Meerschaert to be the pastor of Perry where he served for 36 satisfying years. He had no illusions about himself or stifling ambition and was content to be with his flock through many hardships.     His vitality and boundless energy brought about the building of a beautiful parish church and finally a school, which was a great source of pride and accomplishment for both he and the parish.

In retirement, he was chaplain at Saint Joseph’s Orphanage, and when he was near death, he received all of the last sacraments and was well prepared for the end. The Southwest Courier, the diocesan newspaper of the time, offered this touching eulogy upon his death in 1937: “His sacrifices were unlimited, his kindness abounding, his simplicity most appealing. He never thought of self and gave up everything in the way of comfort. Oklahoma never has had a priest who was more Christlike in his simplicity than Father Willibrord.”