Coadjutor bishop
In February 1864 he was appointed Coadjutor bishop under Jean-Baptiste Malou who died the next month. Faict was consecrated Bishop of Bruges on 18 October 1864. He took as his motto, "In fide et caritate" ("In faith and charity"). In 1869–70 he participated in the First Vatican Council before it was cut short by the Capture of Rome by the Italian army. Faict's term as bishop lasted three decades, during a period of social and political turbulence in many parts of western Europe including Belgium.