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Name: FLICK, Jean (Father)

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Birth Date: 21.2.1865 Memmelshofen, Alsace

Death Date: 22.5.1938 Fort de France, Martinique

Nationality: German

First Date: 1891

Profession: Missionary

Area: Bura, Kilema, Nairobi

Book Reference: North, Baur

General Information:

North - Dep. Marseille for Zanzibar 10-9-1891; Mombasa Mission; Arr. Mombasa from Zanzibar to open new Mission at Bura 30-9-1892; transferred to Kilema Jan 1893; at Kilema Mission for 7 years until he became Director of the Rombo Mission, GEA; at Bura Mission 14-7-1899;  1905 at St. Austin's Mission Nairobi
Baur - replaced Fr. Alexandre le Roy at Mombasa in 1892
Returned to France 1923, then to Mayotte and finally to Guadaloupe and Martinique
Henry J. Koren, Spiritan East African Memorial, 1994: He joined the Congregation in 1885, finished his studies at Chevilly, was ordained a priest during his novitiate year, and made his vows on August 10, 1891 at Orly. Appointed to East Africa, he sailed together with three other Fathers from Marseille on September 10, 1891.  Bp. de Courmont placed him at Mombasa for a few months and, impressed by his abilities, then gave him the assignment to open a new mission at Bura.   He himself accompanied him with the caravan from Mombasa, where they arrived on September 30, 1892. 

They were so well received by Chief Bogoli that the Bishop abandoned his original plan to go with Fr. Flick on to Kilimanjaro and leave Bura for later; instead, he departed alone four days later, leaving Fr. Flick in charge.  Giving up the royal hut the chief had placed at his disposal, the priest used his tent and began to familiarize himself with the local customs, learning the language and gaining the respect of the people.  He even managed to persuade Chief Bogoli not to burn two men who had been accused of sorcery.  For two months Father was all alone until at the end of December Fr. Wyel arrived with a caravan of porters, Br. Solanus, 15 unmarried boys and the married couples who were to form the Christian village. Early in January 1893,he then went on to his original destination in the Kilimanjaro mountains.   He worked there for seven years at Kilema, looking after the school and the Christian village until in 1900 he became director of the newly founded mission in Rombo, renamed Fischerstadt. 

In 1904 we find him at Nairobi's first Catholic church,St. Austin; two years later at Mgeta, renamed Marienfels, as director of that mission; in 1910 at Mhonda; in 1912 again at Nairobi, where two years later he became director of the Holy Family mission; and then at Mandera. Unlike many of his fellow Alsatians, he appears to have escaped internment as an enemy alien during World War One and undisturbed continued his ministry.  In 1920 we find him stationed at Bagamoyo.  After three decades of fruitful ministry in Africa, he returned to France in mid 1923. By the end of the year he could sail for a new destination more suited for one who was getting close to his 60th birthday: a pastoral function on the island of Mayotte.  He ministered there for another ten years. Not wishing to spend his old age in idleness, he was then transferred to Guadeloupe in 1933. He still did what he could there and in neighboring Martinique, where he was attached to the cathedral.

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