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Rev. Theodore Van Rossum, S.J. was born at Ermmerich on October 14, 1846 and entered the Society of Jesus at Munster on October 8, 1863.

In 1870, he taught at Feldkirch after which he went to Ditton Hall, England, where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1878. Tertianship followed at Lancashire, England, and in 1880 he began teaching at Canisius University. 

His appointment as the Rector of Canisius University occurred on July 9, 1883, and he held this office until 1887 when he was appointed Prefect of Studies. On July 7, 1892, he was appointed Superior of the Buffalo Mission.  He was apointed Rector and Master of Novices at St. Stanislaus Novitiate in Cleveland, Ohio, August 15, 1898.   In 1911, he became Spiritual Father and in charge of retreatants in Cleveland.

Father Van Rossum died at Cleveland, April 28, 1922 after seeing the retreat movement securely established in that diocese.

Some interesting notes on his time as President of Canisius University:

• 1883 -- there were 267 students.
• 1884 -- last unit of the buildings, the chapel and the auditorium, built.
• 1887 -- enrollment grew to 334 students. In this same year we learn "that an ordination and first mass of a Father took place in the chapel", though the name was not recorded.

Father Van Rossum was a proponent of  the movement for 'closed' retreats for laymen. Thomas Holling (printer and former Mayor of Buffalo) was one of the most active members of this retreat movement.

Father Van Rossum organized groups of laymen in Buffalo for retreats at Saint Stanislaus Novitiate in Cleveland. It was these men who erected a statue to Saint Michael the Archangel in his memory at the entrance to the Novitiate.