Wilhelmus Adrianus Josephus Maria de Bekker (27 April 1939 – 3 June 2026) was a Dutch-born Surinamese Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Paramaribo in Suriname from 2004 until his retirement in 2014.
The Most Reverend Wilhelmus de Bekker | |
|---|---|
| Bishop Emeritus of Paramaribo | |
 | |
| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Port of Spain |
| Diocese | Paramaribo |
| Installed | 12 November 2004 |
| Term ended | 31 May 2014 |
| Predecessor | Aloysius Ferdinandus Zichem |
| Successor | Karel Choennie |
| Previous post | Diocesan Administrator of Paramaribo (2003–2004) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 May 1985 by Aloysius Ferdinandus Zichem |
| Consecration | 30 January 2005 by Ad van Luyn, Edward Joseph Gilbert and Lawrence Aloysius Burke |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Wilhelmus Adrianus Josephus Maria de Bekker 27 April 1939 Helmond, Netherlands |
| Died | 3 June 2026 (aged 87) Paramaribo, Suriname |
| Alma mater | Catholic University of Nijmegen |
| Motto | Testimonium Domini Fidele |
Biography
editWilhelmus de Bekker was born on 27 April 1939 in Helmond, the Netherlands.[1] He pursued his higher education at the Catholic University of Nijmegen, where he obtained a licentiate degree in cultural and social anthropology.[2] Later he worked for years for the Roman Catholic Special Education as a consultant inspector and as director of the Father Ahlbrink Foundation.[3] Following the completion of his studies, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Paramaribo on 25 May 1985 by Bishop Aloysius Ferdinandus Zichem.[1] He subsequently engaged in pastoral work within Suriname, eventually serving as the vicar general of the diocese.[2]
Following the resignation of Bishop Aloysius Ferdinandus Zichem, Pope John Paul II appointed De Bekker as the Bishop of Paramaribo on 12 November 2004.[2] He was consecrated as a bishop on 30 January 2005 by Bishop of Rotterdam Ad van Luyn, with Archbishops Edward Joseph Gilbert and Lawrence Aloysius Burke as co-consecrators.[1] De Bekker became the first non-Surinamese bishop of the diocese since its elevation from a vicariate apostolic.[4]
On 31 May 2014, having reached the age limit prescribed by canon law, Pope Francis accepted De Bekker's resignation.[5] He was succeeded by Karel Choennie in 2015, remaining in Suriname as bishop emeritus.[1]
De Bekker died in Paramaribo on 3 June 2026, at the age of 87.[6][3]
References
edit- 1 2 3 4 "Bishop Wilhelmus Joannes de Bekker". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Rinunce e Nomine, 12.11.2004". Holy See Press Office. 12 November 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Bericht van overlijden Mgr. Wilhelmus de Bekker". Omhoog. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Bezoek bisschop De Bekker aan bisschop Van den Hende" (in Dutch). Bisdom Breda. 2 November 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Rinunce e Nomine, 31.05.2014". Holy See Press Office. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Wilhelmus de Bekker bisschop emeritus overleden". Suriname Times. 3 June 2026. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
External links
edit- Bishop Wilhelmus Adrianus Josephus Maria de Bekker at the Catholic-Hierarchy.org