Hasselt marks 100 years since 'Holy Little Father' moved to final resting place

Hasselt, Belgium – A century ago, the remains of Father Valentinus Paquay, affectionately known as the "Holy Little Father," were moved to their final resting place in the Minderbroederskerk in Hasselt. This significant event, which drew large crowds in 1926, is being commemorated with a memorial service and a new photo exhibition.

The transfer was initiated by popular demand from believers who wished to have Paquay interred in a dedicated chapel rather than a cemetery. "The faithful urged us to have the Holy Little Father in their midst," said Franciscan friar Frans Cuypers. "Not in a cemetery, but in a burial chapel, which was erected with the support of many and is still visited by many to this day."

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The faithful urged us to have the Holy Little Father in their midst. Not in a cemetery, but in a burial chapel, which was erected with the support of many and is still visited by many to this day.

Paquay, who lived from 1818 to 1905, is revered in Hasselt, though officially only beatified. Full sainthood requires a verified miracle, a process that recently stalled when a candidate for a miraculous healing passed away. The chapel itself, a focal point for devotion, marks its centenary this year.

The exhibition, running until September 15, delves into Paquay's life, from his birth in Tongeren to his entry into the Franciscan order and his eventual transfer. The commemoration includes a service led by Bishop Patrick Hoogmartens and the provincial superior of the Franciscans from the Netherlands, with the Valentinus choir providing music.

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We felt it was necessary to bring this transfer to the burial chapel to the attention of the people again, because many people do not know that this chapel has been there for a hundred years.