First vows: September 8, 1925.
Priestly ordination: July 13, 1930, in Liege.
Death: January 7, 1979, in Erps-Kwerps.

Born in Termes, diocese of Namur. His parents were Louis Adam and Elise (Jacob). Jean-Baptiste entered the minor seminary of Bastogne, where he did his secondary studies.

On September 7, 1924, he entered the Oblate novitiate of Nieuwenhove* and, on September 8, 1925 he took First Vows. His perpetual oblation took place on September 8, 1928 in the scholasticate of Liege*, he received tonsure on February 26, 1928 in Liege and again in Liege, he received Minor Orders on July 8, 1928 and February 23, 1929. It was also in Liege that he was ordained to the priesthood on July 13, 1930.

“He showed a preference for the Northern Missions, but he was also willing to go to the Congo.” That is what his superiors reported in the notes prepared for his First Obedience. These notes were written on March 8, 1931. On April 1, of that same year, while still in the scholasticate of Liege, he received an obedience for the Congo. He travelled in the company of Father Edmond Renson. They arrived in Ipamu* on October 1, 1931.

In a letter written in 1932, Father Adam wrote: “I have been giving catechism lessons to two hundred people since November 1. The first days, I undertook to have the texts recited and ventured to give some words of explanation”. In another letter written in September 1933, he tells of a misunderstanding with his neophytes which could have turned out badly… He was lucky. On May 25, 1935, he wrote some details about the fire which broke out and which he was helpless to control. It destroyed the garage, carpenter shop and workshop of Ipamu.

In 1947, Father Leo Deschatelets,* Superior General, and his Council appointed him Vicar of Missions in Ipamu, then Superior of the district on September 29, 1959. On September 11, 1961 he was reappointed to this position by the Superior General in council.

In the 1953 General Chapter, as vicar of missions, he presented the report of the Apostolic Vicariate of Ipamu with regard to primary schools, the minor seminary, secondary schools, trades schools, agriculture, the apostolate, the missionary personnel and the foundation of a House of the Congregation.

On January 28, 1957, he was replaced in the office of Vicar of the mission of Ipamu by Father Joseph Van Rompaey, while continuing as Superior of the Ipamu mission. It was in this capacity that he was to receive Bishop Alphonse Bossart* during his years of retirement from 1958 to 1963.

After his term of office as Superior of Ipamu, he was Superior of Ifwanzondo until he retired to Belgium in 1966. He died at Erps-Kwerps on January 7, 1979.

Macaire Lakanga, o.m.i.