Humberto van Lieshout was born in Aarle-Rixtel, Holland, on 3 November 1890. He was the eighth of 11 children born into a deeply Catholic farming family. He was baptized on the day of his birth.
Humberto was popular both at home and at school for his sociable, cheerful nature. He already felt called to the priesthood as a child. Despite the contrary opinion of his teacher, who did not see Holy Orders as right for him, and of his father, who wanted him to work on the farm and did not consider him capable of secondary studies, Humberto managed to get his way and attended the secondary school in Gemert.
After reading the biography of Fr Damien de Veuster, Humberto decided to join the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He entered the novitiate in Tremeloo, Belgium, on 23 December 1913, and was given the name "Eustáquio". He made his temporary vows in 1915 and his perpetual profession three years later. The young man was ordained a priest on 10 August 1919. His first assignment was as assistant novice master for his order.
Fr. Eustáquio continued to exercise his ministry in his native Country for five years, serving in parishes at Roelofarendsveen and at Maasluis near Rotterdam, where many Belgian immigrants had fled from the German invasion. His pastoral zeal in caring for the people earned him a decoration from the Belgium State.
In December 1924, he was sent to Spain to learn the language, with the plan that he would be going to Uruguay as a missionary; instead, at the age of 35, he was sent to Portuguese-speaking Brazil and sailed from Amsterdam aboard the Flandria of the Dutch Lloyd on 23 April 1925 with his Provincial and two other missionaries, including Gil van de Boogaard, who became a close friend.
He remained in Brazil as a missionary until the day he died in 1943. In all, he spent 10 years in Agua Suja (Romaria), six years in Poá and two years in Belo Horizonte.
CLICK FOR EUSTAQUIO PRAYERS (pdf)
We remind you that in the "Resources" / "SSCC Prayers” section there is a compilation of prayers associated to the Congregation. Including those relating to BLESSED Fr. EUSTAQUIO (in the letter F. of the compilation).
Hopefully someday we will complete the entire section of "Resources" ... Make the most of it!
Here is the link to this compilation:
http://www.ssccpicpus.com/en/sscc-prayers
08/30/2023