1932
Rev.
2014
Rev. O.SS.T.
July 29, 1932 — January 26, 2014
Rev. Vincent (Norbert) Filan Bechamps, O.SS.T.
Died on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at Villa Saint Martha, Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He was born on July 29, 1932 in Flushing, New York, the son of Eugene Anthony and Beatrice Rose (née Filan) Bechamps. He was baptized Norbert Filan Bechamps on September 18, 1932. While he was young, his family moved to Miami, Florida. He graduated from Gesu High School in Miami, Florida in 1950, entered the United States Army, served in Korea, and was honorably discharged in 1956.
He became a Postulant of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives on June 25, 1956. He entered the novitiate on July 7, 1956 and was given the name Vincent (after St. Vincent de Paul) and the title "Our Lady of the Holy Spirit". He made Solemn Vows on September 11, 1960 at Sacred Heart Monastery (now Holy Trinity Monastery), Pikesville, Maryland. He was ordained to the Diaconate on June 4, 1965 and to the Priesthood on June 4, 1966 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC.
During his forty seven years of priesthood, Fr. Vincent served in parish ministry at St. Ann Catholic Church, Bristol, PA; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Asbury Park, NJ; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion, IL; St. Christopher Catholic Church, Toronto, ONT Canada; Christ the King, Corpus Christi, TX; and St. Matthew Catholic Church, Winterhaven, FL. He also served as a prison chaplain at the US Penitentiary in Marion, IL and at the Federal Correctional Institution in Memphis, TN. He served as a hospital chaplain at Hotel Dieu Hospital (later University Hospital) in New Orleans, LA. Fr. Vincent moved to Villa St. Martha in Downingtown, PA in July of 2011.
Fr. Vincent will always be remembered for his strong commitment to religious life and priestly ministry. His dedication to serving God's people did not diminish with age or infirmity. During his final days, he repeatedly expressed gratitude to the Most Holy Trinity, to the members of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives, and to his family for the blessings he received during his lifetime.
Fr. Vincent is survived by one brother Eugene (Beverly) Bechamps, Cape Coral, Florida; two sisters, Rose Carol Bechamps, Miami, Florida and Beatrice Henington, Blue Ridge, Georgia; sister-in-law Barbara Bechamps, Estero, FL; special cousins Rose Marie Roscioli and Christine (Albert) Bove, Downingtown, Pennsylvania; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and the priests and brothers of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives.
Fr. Vincent was preceded in death by his parent and by his brother John Henry Bechamps.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 460 Manor Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335 on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 11:00 AM. Viewing will take place in the church from 10 A.M. until 11:00 AM.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Monastery, 8400 Park Heights Avenue, Pikesville, MD 21208 on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 11:00 AM. Viewing will take place in the Monastery Chapel from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in the Monastery Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to:
The Trinitarians
Seminarian Fund
P.O. Box 5719
Baltimore, MD 21282
Arrangements The Donohue Funeral Home, Downingtown, PA
Died on Sunday, January 26, 2014 at Villa Saint Martha, Downingtown, Pennsylvania. He was born on July 29, 1932 in Flushing, New York, the son of Eugene Anthony and Beatrice Rose (née Filan) Bechamps. He was baptized Norbert Filan Bechamps on September 18, 1932. While he was young, his family moved to Miami, Florida. He graduated from Gesu High School in Miami, Florida in 1950, entered the United States Army, served in Korea, and was honorably discharged in 1956.
He became a Postulant of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives on June 25, 1956. He entered the novitiate on July 7, 1956 and was given the name Vincent (after St. Vincent de Paul) and the title "Our Lady of the Holy Spirit". He made Solemn Vows on September 11, 1960 at Sacred Heart Monastery (now Holy Trinity Monastery), Pikesville, Maryland. He was ordained to the Diaconate on June 4, 1965 and to the Priesthood on June 4, 1966 at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC.
During his forty seven years of priesthood, Fr. Vincent served in parish ministry at St. Ann Catholic Church, Bristol, PA; Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Asbury Park, NJ; St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion, IL; St. Christopher Catholic Church, Toronto, ONT Canada; Christ the King, Corpus Christi, TX; and St. Matthew Catholic Church, Winterhaven, FL. He also served as a prison chaplain at the US Penitentiary in Marion, IL and at the Federal Correctional Institution in Memphis, TN. He served as a hospital chaplain at Hotel Dieu Hospital (later University Hospital) in New Orleans, LA. Fr. Vincent moved to Villa St. Martha in Downingtown, PA in July of 2011.
Fr. Vincent will always be remembered for his strong commitment to religious life and priestly ministry. His dedication to serving God's people did not diminish with age or infirmity. During his final days, he repeatedly expressed gratitude to the Most Holy Trinity, to the members of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives, and to his family for the blessings he received during his lifetime.
Fr. Vincent is survived by one brother Eugene (Beverly) Bechamps, Cape Coral, Florida; two sisters, Rose Carol Bechamps, Miami, Florida and Beatrice Henington, Blue Ridge, Georgia; sister-in-law Barbara Bechamps, Estero, FL; special cousins Rose Marie Roscioli and Christine (Albert) Bove, Downingtown, Pennsylvania; many cousins, nieces and nephews; and the priests and brothers of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and of the Captives.
Fr. Vincent was preceded in death by his parent and by his brother John Henry Bechamps.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 460 Manor Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335 on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 11:00 AM. Viewing will take place in the church from 10 A.M. until 11:00 AM.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Trinity Monastery, 8400 Park Heights Avenue, Pikesville, MD 21208 on Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 11:00 AM. Viewing will take place in the Monastery Chapel from 10:00 AM until the time of the Mass. Interment will be in the Monastery Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to:
The Trinitarians
Seminarian Fund
P.O. Box 5719
Baltimore, MD 21282
Arrangements The Donohue Funeral Home, Downingtown, PA
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