Joseph van Wing

Rev. Father Joseph van Wing SJ
Born	1884
Died	1970
Residence	Kisantu, via Boma, Belgian Congo
Occupation	church anthropologist
Society Membership membership Local Correspondent from 1923 (Belgian Congo) Hon. Fellow from 1942 left 1970 deceased elected_AI 1923 1942.03.24

Contents

Notes

Office Notes

House Notes

1923.05.15 On the motion of Mr Torday, seconded by Capt. Joyce, it was resolved to appoint Father J. Van Wing as Local Correspondent for the Congo.
1936.02.25 The following were reappointed Local Correspondents, their appointment dating from 1936: ... Revd. Father Van Wing (Belgian Congo),...
1971.10 death noted

Notes From Elsewhere

Joseph Van Wing, born August 1, 1884 Herk-de-Stad ( Belgium ) and died July 30, 1970 in Drongen ( Belgium ) was a priest Jesuit Belgian missionary and anthropologist at the Belgian Congo . Founder of the first pre-university institutes Kisantu (in Bas-Congo ) in 1925 he actively followed the evolution to the formation of the Lovanium University (now University of Kinshasa), in DR Congo .
Seventh of a family of nine children of Joseph dream young a mission to Brazil . His parents could not pay her studies he learned the printer's trade to the Averbode Abbey . Revealing his desire to missionary priest of Herck, it does admit the Apostolic School of Turnhout . From there he moved to the Jesuit College Saint-Joseph in the same city.
A lecture by Prevers father, missionary to Kwango , turns towards the African . He entered the novitiate of the Jesuits Tronchiennes of September 23, 1904 with the explicit desire to leave the Congo . It follows the traditional route of Jesuit formation but, in parallel to classical studies, he became interested in anthropology African.
In July 1911 Joseph Van Wing leaves Belgium for the Congo . It is intended for mission Kisantu in Bas-Congo . It teaches religion and directs the printing for four years. But it is especially interested in the ethnography local. Gaining the trust of traditional leaders and with the help of catechists gathering information that will form the basis of his' Studies Bakongo ', two volumes published in Brussels , the first with the title of History and Sociology' (1921), and the second in 1938 entitled 'Religion and magic' .
Back in Belgium during the First World War (in 1915) to pursue his studies of theology he was ordained priest in Louvain 21 April 1918. The Third Year - last period of Jesuit education - is performed Tronchiennes . Shortly after Van Wing returns to Kisantu (December, 1920 ).
A hundred villages depend on the position of Kisantu. He visits them regularly and, with the help of catechists he trained, dispenses adult basic religious education. Under its influence traditional leaders accept substantial changes to the common law . His personality and competence make it appointed secretary of the Standing Committee of the bishops of the region. From 1923 to 1928 he organizes the meetings of the Episcopal Conference (in Stanleyville ). Some public positions taken by the bishops suggested by Van Wing. And in 1923 Bishop Stanislas De Vos , apostolic prefect of Kwango , calls for colonial policy more towards the natives. Also, the protest of Bishop Victor Roelens against the inhuman manner in which the indigenous workforce is recruited.
From 1924 to 1945 he was inspector of schools throughout the region. This position allows it to rapidly advance education throughout the mission Kwango, particularly in the vicariate Kisantu. Friend of the Belgian colonial minister Edouard de Jonghe he participated in the development of a statute for missionary schools. In 1925, with the help of the Catholic University of Leuven , he founded a first means teaching institute for the training of nurses ; and soon a second (in 1932) for advanced training for agricultural workers. They are the source of the future Lovanium University .
In 1933 Van Wing is director of the minor seminary of Lemfu , opened ten years ago. There he founded an African religious congregation, the 'Brothers of St. Joseph', dedicated to teaching. In 1939 he was appointed regular superior of the Jesuits of the entire region.
The World War II ravaging Belgium no resources nor human nor material, arrives in Europe. Van Wing still manages to keep alive the mission stations. It even accepts to resume in 1941, the educational institution of the White Fathers in Bukavu : this will be the college Our ​​Lady of Victory .
In 1945 Joseph Van Wing was recalled in Belgium and lives at the Gesù, in Brussels . For appointments he accepts it becomes the great advocate of the African cause and for Congolese in particular. He is the representative of Congo episcopate with the civil authorities. In 1946 he was a member of the Colonial Council Belgian. His expertise is recognized and its opinions are listened to. He always defends the rights of the black population.
Not denying his first inclinations of ethnologist he teaches 'psychology of primitive peoples' at the University of Louvain , and is an active member of the academic higher council of the new University of Lovanium ( 1954 ). He participates or is a member of many other associations working for Africa. He is a Fellow of the Anthropological Institute of Great-Britain and Ireland '.
From 1945 to the end of his life (1970) he visited a dozen times the Congo for longer or shorter stays. Better than many other perceives the rapid development of the country. Its communication to the Royal Academy of Sciences overseas ' landmark. His 'Congo derailed' 1951 upholds the principle of indigenous ownership against the economic interests of the colonial power .
Soon, in a special issue of 'De Linie, Kongo documenten it prevents the Belgian authorities that the Congolese liberation is imminent and will intervene in the short term. After the independence of Congo (1960), and despite the tragic events that lead to a serious crisis between Belgium and the Congo, it continues to draw attention to the obligations has Belgium and the Belgian Church in particular in relation to people and Christian communities of the new Congo.
On the end of his life, nearly blind , he actually read what is published on the Congo, and at the price of a thousand difficulties continues to maintain an abundance personal correspondence, scientific and other. At age 80 he remains faithful to the affectionate title of 'Kitene' (the 'Solid') given him by the Bakongo .
Joseph Van Wing dies Tronchiennes 30 July 1970. Six months later, his body was repatriated to Kisantu , at the request of the Christians of the region (and their costs) to be buried in the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Seven pain he had built 40 years ago.

Publications

External Publications

Besides some 200 articles written for various journals, scientific and other Joseph Van Wing has left some major works:
· Bakongo studies; Volume I: History and Sociology, Brussels, 1921.
· Bakongo studies; Vol II: Religion and Magic, Brussels, 1938.
· The oldest Bantu dictionary, Louvain, 1928.
· Legends Oriental Bakongo, Brussels, 1940.
· Directory of the Catholic missions in Congo and Rwanda-Burundi, Brussels, 1949.
· Congo derailed, in Bulletin of the Belgian Royal Institute, vol.22, 1951-1952, pp.609-626.
· The Congolese man, in Bulletin of the Royal Belgian Institute, vol.24, 1953-1954, pp. 1102-1121.

House Publications

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