Theodore Ryken

Theodore James Ryken was a Belgian Roman Catholic who became known as Brother Francis Xavier and founder of the Xaverian Brothers. Ryken was raised as a shoemaker by his uncle after he was orphaned at a young age in Brussels, Belgium.

He became known as Brother Francis Xavier because of his accomplishments. Ryken was originally a shoemaker, but at 19 he felt a calling to God and became a Catechist. After spreading the Catholic religion throughout the Europe and America, he founded the Xaverian Brothers in 1839.