Felix-Joseph Barbelin

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Felix-Joseph Barbelin (30 May 1808–8 June 1869) was a nineteenth century Jesuit influential in the development of the Catholic community in Philadelphia.^[1]

Styled the "apostle of Philadelphia", he was born at Luneville, Alsace, France and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was the oldest of six children, of whom five became religious, his youngest brother Ignace-Xavier being the founder of the Apostolic School at Amiens. He entered the Society of Jesus, 7 January 1831, at Whitemarsh, Maryland, and for some years was stationed at Georgetown University, as disciplinarian and teacher of French.

In 1836 he became assistant pastor of Holy Trinity Church at Georgetown, and in 1838 was transferred to Philadelphia. For more than a quarter of a century he was pastor of Old St. Joseph's, Willing's Alley, which became, mainly during his term of office, the centre from which radiated Catholic influences throughout the city and diocese. He founded Saint Joseph's Hospital in his adopted city, and was the first to establish sodalities for men and women and for the young. In 1852 he was appointed the first President of Saint Joseph's College.