Fonds - Monsignor Anthon Fyme fonds

Anthon Fyme (1879-1964), Catholic priest and prelate, was born in Warnink, Holland, in 1879, the son of Gerard Cornelius James and Elizabeth Bernadine Maria. Monsignor Fyme died at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital, St. John's, on 6 September 1964. He was buried in Belvedere cemetery, St. John's.

From 1885 to 1895, Fyme attended an apostolic school for seminarians with the Crozier Fathers at Uden, Holland. He studied philosophy at Roulers, Belgium (1895-97), in preparation for ordination to the priesthood. However, he developed a health problem that forced him to discontinue his studies briefly. When his health recovered, he entered a seminary at Leeds, England, where he studied theology (1897 -1903). While there, Fyme met Michael Francis Howley, Bishop of St. John's, Newfoundland, who was visiting the seminary to recruit priests for his diocese.

Following completion of his studies, Fyme came to the Diocese of St. John's, where he was ordained a subdeacon on 25 September, a deacon on 27 September, and a priest on 29 September 1903. The ordinations were performed by Bishop Howley in the chapel of the Presentation Convent, Cathedral Square, St. John's. Rev. Fyme served as curate in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Parish, St. John's (1903-10). He founded a parish Anti-Treating League, which took its name from a promise made by each member to avoid treating or being treated to alcoholic drink. As well, he established a recreational centre for fishermen on Adelaide Street. When a night school was started by the Irish Christian Brothers, at Archbishop Howley's request Rev. Fyme assumed responsibility for the classes in Christian doctrine and composed a catechism for underprivileged boys fitted to their level of education. In addition to his other duties, he taught Bible history on Sunday mornings, and was chaplain to the Penitentiary, the Catholic Cadet Corps (CCC), the Presentation Convent School, and Mercy College.

In 1910, Rev. Fyme was appointed parish priest of Sacred Heart Parish, St. Bride's, Placentia Bay, where he remained until 1913. During this ministry, he built a beautiful Romanesque church at Branch, St. Mary's Bay, a mission of the parish. In his various parishes, Fyme took care of not only the spiritual needs of the people, but also their various health needs, including the extraction of teeth. He died in St. John's at eighty-five years of age.