Vicar general
During the war years, from 1943 till 1945, he was also employed as sub-regent at the in Leuven. On 31 January 1956 he became a canon of St Bavo's Chapter in Ghent. On 22 January 1960 he became an ecclesiastical judge in the Bishopric of Ghent, and he was appointed diocesan Vicar general by a year later.