Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, on June 26, 2009, appointed Fr. Michel Coppin, SDS, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Belgium for one five-year term (2009-2014).
The new National Director was born on February 6, 1958 in Courtrai. After completing his primary and secondary school studies, on September 5, 1976 he entered the Society of the Divine Savior (Salvatorians) for the novitiate and made his first vows on September 18, 1977. He was ordained a priest on September 8, 1991. He took several courses in Philosophy and Theology at the University of Passau (1976-77); he earned a Licentiate in Philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain (1977-82); he also took several courses in teaching and psychology, and medicine at Louvain (1982-1983). He specialized in youth ministry in the heart of Latin America, at the Javeriana University in Bogota (1983-84); he earned a licentiate in Theology at the Catholic University of Louvain (1985-1991); and began doctoral studies in Philosophy at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome (2000-01). During his time of formation he worked (1983-85) on a project of catechetical formation for rural populations in Columbia and youth ministry in Venezuela. For ten years (1991-2001), he carried out pastoral ministry as assistant pastor in the poorer neighborhoods on the outskirts of Caracas. From 1992-2001, he taught Philosophy at the Theological Institute for Religious at the Andres Bello Catholic University in Caracas; from 1993 to 1997, he taught Philosophy and History of the Church at the Center for Religious Studies in Caracas; from 1996-2001 he taught fundamental theology at the Interdiocesan Seminary in Caracas. He has also served in various posts at the Theological Institute for Religious at the Andres Bello Catholic University in Caracas (academic secretary, bursar, Vice-Rector, Dean...); within his own religious Congregation (member of the Regional Council and the Directive Committee of the Commission for the Renewal of the Congregation, Rector and Superior of the Salvatorian Seminary in Caracas); in the ecclesiastical province of Venezuela. In Belgium, since 2001 he has been the Director of the Latin America sector of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Belgium; since 2003, he has been the Diocesan Director of the PMS in Bruges; since 2004, he has been the Course Director for Religious Studies in Malines-Brussels; since 2005, he has served as the Provincial Superior of the Salvatorians in Belgium. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 2/9/2009)
