Born: Bettagne, Luxemburg, March 22, 1823.
Priestly ordination: about 1848.
Took the habit: Nancy, November 12, 1858.
Vows: Nancy, February 17, 1860 (N. 496).
Died: Brownsville, Texas, October 6, 1862.
Jean Eugène Schumacher was born in Bettagne, Luxemburg, on March 22, 1823. He was ordained to the priesthood about 1848. He was assistant priest and then he spent almost one year in the novitiate of Cistercians. He then began his novitiate in Nancy on November 12, 1858. The novice master, Father Jean Joseph Lagier, hesitated for a long time before admitting this candidate to vows. In November 1858 he wrote in his report: “He is a pious candidate, holy, and with the habit of doing religious obligations and the simplicity of a little child.” He understands and reads French and speaks it quite well; however, he has to reflect before answering, and that increases his natural German slowness. His slowness and impressionability, somewhat embarrassing at first, tends to make others laugh…” In January 1859, Father Lagier added the following: The prior of Chartreuse, when he spoke to me about him, used the word simpleton. That is quite true sometimes in the way he smiles or behaves.” In April 1859, Father Schumacher spent some time in Notre-Dame de Sion where they were very pleased with him and his ministry among the Germans. He also visited the prison in Nancy. He was zealous and earned the affection of the prisoners.
He took vows in Nancy on February 17, 1860, and spent the rest of the year at the church of the Calvaire, Marseilles, helping Father Henri Martens ministering to the Germans. In January 1861, he left for Texas with Fathers Jean Morel and Jean-Marie Clos. Before the end of the year he wrote to Father Fabre requesting a dispensation from his vows because “the climate of the country is bad for his health” and because “there are no Germans and he is not suited to relating to the Americans and even less so to the Mexicans.” The general council meeting of December 30, 1861, it was acknowledged that he was a good religious; it was decided to refuse his request for a dispensation but to send him a kind letter with the promise to withdraw him from Texas as soon as the war situation would allow and to sent him to Canada.
He died in Brownsville on October 6, 1862, during the outbreak of the yellow fever plague.
Yvon Beaudoin, o.m.i.
