Catholic Pocket Dictionary/XYZ

This teaching institute was commenced at Bruges in 1839, and definitely established in 1846, by Theodore James Ryken, a native of Elshout, in the Catholic province of North Brabant, Holland. His object was to "found a congregation of men who would sacrifice their lives to the Christian education of youth." The first professions were those of himself and twelve young brothers, made on October 22, 1846. Ryken took the name of Brother Francis Xavier, after the Apostle of the Indies, who was chosen patron of the congregation. Soon afterwards he opened St. Francis Xavier's College at Bruges for day scholars and boarders: this is said to have become "the most flourishing school in the city."

XAVERIAN BROTHERS