AMERICA/SURINAME - New Bishop of Paramaribo

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II on 12 November 2004, appointed Bishop of Paramaribo (Suriname) Rev. Wilhelmus de Bekker, Diocesan administrator and parish priest of this Ecclesiastic Circumscription.
The Bishop elect was born on 27 April 1939 in Helmond, Holland. On leaving school he went to the Catholic University in Nijmegen, obtaining a licentiate in cultural and social anthropology. Having completed his studies he went to Suriname where he worked in the office for the Direction of Catholic Schools, mainly for Bush Negreos and Amerindians he was also director of the Father Albrink Foundation. He did most of his ecclesiastic studies in Suriname, under the direction of the local Bishop following a special formation programme offered by Nijmwegen University (missiology). He was ordained a deacon in 1984 in Holland and on 25 May 1985 he was ordained a priest at Paramaribo for that diocese. He has since been: assistant priest, Director of the Catholic Board of Education, Parish priest, Vicar General of Paramaribo, Diocesan Administrator.
Paramaribo diocese (1958) in Suriname, is a suffragan of Port of Spain archdiocese. The country was evangelised by Franciscan missionaries in the 17th century. The diocese lies on the north eastern coast of South America. It has an area of 163.820 sq. km., and a population of 459,281 including 105,635 Catholics gathered in 31 parishes, assisted by 23 priests (7 diocesan, 16 religious), 4 Brothers, 11 Sisters and 114 catechists. There is 1 major seminarian. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 12/11/2004; Righe 18; Parole 239)