Servant of God Fr Adeodatus of St Peter OCD (1896 – 1968)
“O God, You are my God, I seek You, my soul thirsts for You” (Psalm 63:1)
Fr. Adeodatus OCD, born Julien John Buyck, was born in the village of Kieldrecht in Belgium on 27 January 1896, to pious parents John Buyck and Ludovica Ogana. He completed his primary education from his home village of Kieldrecht.
After completing his studies, Julien was drafted into the Belgian military during the First World War. He was held as a prisoner of war for 11 months by the German army. All those days, he persistently knelt to pray the rosary and by the grace of Our Lady, escaped from prison and reached Lourdes. There, he spent his time in prayer and contemplation and thereafter returned home to care for his sick mother. This eventually convinced him to get married. But, his devout mother wanted to see his son in the service of the Lord as a priest, and encouraged him to priestly vocation. It was during this time that Julien happened to read the ‘Autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux.’ Having being inspired to become a missionary, Julien joined the Order of Discalced Carmelites in 1920 and took the name Adeodatus of St. Peter. He was ordained as a priest on July 31, 1927.
Fr. Adeodatus reached the Carmel Hill monastery on November 4, 1927 and was appointed to look after the formation of the novices inducted from among the natives. For the next 19 years, Fr Adeodatus was engaged in teaching philosophy and theology to the novices, financial management of the monastery as bursar and as the spiritual father of young priests and the faithful. In the course of time, he learned to read, write and speak Malayalam which was usually considered a difficult task for foreigners. In spite of his hectic responsibilities, he was consistent in his prayer life, faithful in his missionary zeal and precise in his religious observance. He lived a life of strict poverty. He regularly visited the prisoners of the Thiruvananthapuram Central Jail and the patients at Nooranadu Leper Hospital and Oolampara Mental Hospital to comfort and console them.
When in 1947 the foreign missionaries returned to their homeland, Fr. Adeodatus decided to continue in Kerala. At the age of 50, in 1947, he was appointed as the Vicar of Muthiyavila, a hilly parish outside the city of Trivandrum. It was from here that he walked the hard road of a missionary along the path of virtue and perseverence. He became a model for every missionary.
All the initial activities of Fr. Adeodatus were primarily centered around Muthiyavila. He bought more land for the Church and raised the number of classes in school from 1st to 5th standard. He systematically organized catechism classes and strengthened various pious organizations like the Legion of Mary. Muthiyavila had over 20 substations at that time. Even when there were no means of transport, he reached everywhere either on foot or on a bicycle to offer Holy Mass, administer sacraments and prepare children for religious life and priesthood.
The enormous stature and terrifying looks of Fr. Adeodatus created an aura of fearful adoration among the people. So, all people, regardless of their caste and religion, affectionately called him Valyachan or Muthiyavila Valyachan.
Fr Adeodatus was god send for the migrant settlers of Amboori and Mayam, whose agriculture farms were constantly threatened by elephants and wild animals. His constant intercession was sought when malaria and smallpox gripped the region, gaining him the title of “Protector of Generations”.
At Muthiyavila, Valyachan was available day and night to serve the needs of the people. He walked hours to offer Holy Mass at different places. He loved his people and filled them with the divine love of God. He also helped those who were struggling both financially and materially. As a result of Valyachan’s efforts, in 1967, a convent for sisters was opened at Muthiyavila which helped to strengthen mission work. The tribals in the area often sought his help to deliver them from demonic torments. Farmers too brought him to their fields to pray for its protection.
Fr. Adeodatus was a true and holy Carmelite missionary who resided in the hearts of the people. His life was holy and prophetic. With great love and tenderness, he attended to the wounds of the sick, played with little children, ate whatever he received and often slept on the verandas of houses when tired, so that he does not disturb those who are sleeping. For 22 years, till his death at the age of 72, Fr Adeodatus worked for the overall spiritual, material and social development of the people of Thoogampara, Maayam, Amboori, Kallikkad, with little regard to the debilitating conditions of malaria, smallpox, diseases, wild beasts and inaccessibility. In his 41 years of a missionary, he never visited his homeland except for once.
Fr. Adeodatus, who was called a ‘saint’ by the people even when he was alive, died on October 20, 1968 – a Mission Sunday. He was buried in the cemetery at the Carmel Hill monastery on 21 October.
People who had witnessed his holy life began to pray to him, seeking his intercession and found their prayers answered. Vox populi vox Dei, Malabar Province of the Discalced Carmelites petitioned to open the cause and the Bishop of the Latin Catholic Diocese of Neyattinkara submitted the cause for Canonization to the Holy See.
Fr. Adeodatus was declared ‘Servant of God’ on 13 October 2018 and his mortal remains were transferred to the church. The populace who were witnesses to his holy life and missionary care hope and pray that the day will soon come when he is venerated at the holy altar.
Baptismal Name : Julien Joannes Buyck
Birthdate and Place: January 27, 1896, Kieldrecht in Belgium
Parents : Mr. Joannes Buyck Mrs. Ludovica Ogana
Primary Education : At Kieldrecht
1914 – 1918 : A voluntary soldier in the Belgian Army during World War I
1918 : He escaped from the prison and back at home.
1919, July :Entered the novitiate in the Bruges of the Discalced Carmelites taking the name: Adeodatus of St. Peter
1920, July 12 : First Profession of religious `vows.
1923, September 10 : Profession of Solemn Vows
1927, July 31 : Ordained priest at Kortrijk.
1927 September : He left Belgium for India.
1927, November 1: Reached Trivandrum
1928, March 19 : He was present at the historic event of the Vestition of the first 7 Indian novices.
Offices held :
•Bursar of the house
•Professor of Philosophy and Theology
•Chaplain to the inmates of Central prison
•Confessor to the various convents and institutions
•Chaplain of the asylum of lepers
•Chaplainship of the mental asylum
1946, September : Apostolic Missionary in Trivandrum area and Parish priest of Muthiyavila.
1968, October 20 : On Mission Sunday- On the way to Celebrate Holy Mass he had a heart attack. He received the Sacrament of Anointing of the sick. He breathed his last at 8.00 a.m.
1968, October 21 : Body Interred in the Crypt of Carmel Hill Monastery.
2018, October 13 : Declared Servant of God.
2018, October 19 : Mortal remains transferred from the crypt to Church.