SURINAME

Bishop Emeritus Wilhelmus Adrianus Josephus Maria de Bekker, who passed away June 3 at the age of 87 years, was laid to rest in the crypt of the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral Basilica, June 14.

Bishop de Bekker was laid to rest next to the tomb of Bishop Aloysius Zichem, also a former bishop of Paramaribo.

The Times of Suriname reported that Bishop Karel Choennie of Paramaribo explained the tradition of having a deceased bishop buried in the main church of the diocese, “which in this case is the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral Basilica. The chair of the bishop is in this house of prayer,” the Bishop said.

Bishop Choennie noted that with the passing of Bishop de Bekker, Suriname has lost not only a former bishop “but also an educator, administrator, pastor and bridge builder who made an important contribution to the development of the Church and Education in Suriname, for more than five decades.”

Bishop de Bekker was ordained a priest by Bishop Zichem May 25, 1985. He was later appointed parish priest of St Alphonsus and Vicar General of the Diocese of Paramaribo, positions he held until his appointment as Bishop of  Paramaribo on January 30, 2005.

Before becoming bishop, Bishop de Bekker was active for many years in Roman Catholic Special Education (RKBO), where he served as a consultant-inspector, among other things. He also served as director of the Pater Ahlbrink Foundation (PAS). The online news source reported that after Bishop de Bekker turned 75 on April 27, 2014, Pope Francis granted him an honourable ‘discharge’ on May 31 of that year, after eight and a half years as bishop. Although retired, he remained active within the Church, serving as pastor of the St Thaddeus Parish in Groningen and continuing efforts toward the construction of a new church for the community.

Bishop de Bekker spent the final years of his life at the Fatima Oord retirement home.

In memory of the deceased clergyman, a special mourning service was held Saturday, June 13 in the St Alphonsus Church.