Joseph Savelberg

Peter Joseph Savelberg was a Dutch Roman-Catholic priest and congregation founder.

Early life

Savelberg died on 10 February 1827 in Heerlen.
He attended school in Heerlen and after that at Rolduc. Leaving his brother Balthasar Savelberg, who was in charge of a glassmaking shop in Brussels, he returned to Heerlen because he could not adjust. Between 1846 and 1849 he attended Rolduc yet again, and after 1849 he gave seminars in Roermond.

Career

In 1852, Savelberg was made priest, his first task was as a teacher at the Bisschoppelijk College in Roermond.
In 1856 he became rector of the Franciscans of Heythuysen, for whom he worked at the girl pension Nonnenwerth close to Bonn. In 1863 the bishop called him back and made him chaplain in Schaesberg and in 1865 of the Saint Pancras parish in Heerlen.
Savelberg founded the Little Sisters of St Joseph, a Franciscan order.

Death and legacy

Savelberg died on 11 February 1907 in Heerlen.
Local preliminaries for the beatification process began on 1 March 1937. Savelberg was later granted the title of Servant of God.