Victor Lanssen

Victor Lanssen was an ex-student of Guido Gezelle at the minor seminary in Roeselare, where Gezelle was his confessor. He took part in a lottery raising funds for the church of Highgate (London), in which Gezelle was involved. On 02.07.1869 Lanssen became an invigilator at the minor seminary himself. He was ordained priest on 07.11.1869. He dreamed of becoming a missionary. On 10.12.1870 he made a request to go to the American seminar in Leuven, but this was refused by bishop Faict. On 01.03.1880 however he got permission to visit the convent during the summer holidays. In 1881 he was expelled from the minor seminary in Roeselare because of his flamingantic attitude. He was appointed deservitor in Bekegem (24.08.1881), and auxiliary pastor (17.11.1881) and subsequently curate (11.06.1882) in Ostend. Later on he became pastor in Leffinge (09.12.1891) and Eernegem (06.06.1889).