View source for Jean-Nicolas Lemmens

[[File:Joannes nicolaas lemmens-1640255117.jpg|thumb|]]
'''Jean-Nicolas Lemmens''' (also '''Joannes Nicolaas Lemmens''' or '''Joannes Nicolaus Lemmens''') (3 June 1850, in [[Schimmert]] – 10 August 1897, in [[Cobán]] ([[Guatemala]])) was a [[Dutch people|Dutch]] [[Catholicism|Catholic]] priest and [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Canada|Bishop of Victoria]], [[Vancouver Island]], Canada.<ref>[http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/blemmens.html Catholic Hierarchy:] ''Bishop Jean-Nicolas Lemmens''</ref> He was a strong supporter of the  [[British Columbia]]n organised [[labour movement]].

==Family==
Jean-Nicolas Lemmens was born the son of Godfried Lemmens and Gertrude Bemelmans, within a large Dutch [[Roman Catholic]], family originating from the [[Beek]]-[[Schimmert]] area in the southern Netherlands.

His family produced a number of Catholic priests, including his brother, Hendrik Lemmens, also a priest in [[Victoria, British Columbia|Victoria]], Canada, and Guillaume Lemmens (1884-1960), [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Roermond|Bishop of Roermond]] in the Netherlands.

==Career==
Lemmens studied at the [[American College of the Immaculate Conception|American College]] in [[Leuven]], [[Belgium]], which was founded in 1857. He then moved, with his brother, to [[Vancouver Island]], Canada.<ref>[http://ncronline.org/news/global/american-colleges-contributions ''The American College's contributions''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054029/http://ncronline.org/news/global/american-colleges-contributions |date=2013-09-21 }} by John A. Dick ([[National Catholic Reporter]], 1 December 2010)</ref>

After the murder of [[Monseigneur]] [[Charles John Seghers|Seghers]] in 1888 he was appointed [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Canada|Bishop of Victoria]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=BLnTAAAAMAAJ&q ''The Apostle of Alaska: life of the Most Reverend Charles John Seghers''] by Maurice de Baets (St. Anthony Guild Press, 1943)</ref><ref>[http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/vict0.htm GCatholic.org:] ''Jean-Nicolas Lemmens''</ref> He laid the [[foundation stone]] of [[St. Andrew's Cathedral (Victoria, British Columbia)|St. Andrew's Cathedral]] in 1890, which can still be seen near the side entrance. On 30 October 1892 he consecrated the Cathedral.<ref>[http://web.uvic.ca/vv/student/edges_of_time/harticles.html#pstandrews ''Well and Truly Laid: Ceremony of Laying the Foundation Stone of the New St. Andrew's Church''] (Victoria Daily Colonist, 8 March 1889 - ''archive'')</ref>

During the early 1890s, Lemmens actively encouraged local Catholics to join labour organisations (including the forerunner to the [[British Columbia Federation of Labour]] which had been established in 1890) and to unite with other citizens to press, "for better working conditions". He is considered as one of the earliest supporters of organised labour in [[British Columbia]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=OXonv_3gL4wC&dq ''Victoria: DeMers to de Roo''] by Patrick Jamieson (Ekstasis Editions, 1997)</ref><ref>''Bishop Lemmens Cited for Supporting Labour Unions'' (The Torch, December 1952)</ref>

Lemmens travelled to [[Guatemala]] in June, July and August 1897 owing to the "prolonged exile" of local Archbishop Casanova. During his travels he often wrote detailed letters to his parents in the Netherlands. While there he [[Confirmation (Catholic Church)|confirmed]] 15,000 local Catholics. However, he contracted [[dysentery]] and died on 10 August.<ref>[http://www.britishcolonist.ca/tc/1897/09/23/18970923006.pdf ''The Deceased Prelate'']{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Victoria Daily Colonist, 23 September 1897)</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
*{{in lang|nl}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20140103140707/http://www.historici.nl/Onderzoek/Projecten/RepertoriumVanNederlandseZendings-EnMissie-archieven1800-1960/gids/persoon/132190708 J.N. Lemmens. Repertorium van Nederlandse zendings- en missie-archieven 1800-1960]

{{s-start}}
{{succession box |
  before=[[Charles John Seghers]]|
  title=[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Victoria in Canada|Bishop of Victoria]]|
  years=1888–1897|
  after=[[Alexander Christie (bishop)|Alexander Christie]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemmens, Jean-Nicolas}}
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Canada]]
[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1897 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from dysentery]]
[[Category:Dutch emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic bishops of Victoria in Canada]]
[[Category:People from Schimmert]]