Diocese of Willemstad

Dioecesis Gulielmopolitana

Bishop(s)

Vacant
Charles Jason Gordon, Apostolic Administrator
Luigi Antonio Secco, S.D.B., Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Diocese
Elevated: 28 April 1958
Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Port of Spain
Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelization
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Netherlands Antilles
Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Square Kilometers: 993 (383 Square Miles)
Description: Comprises islands of Cura�ao, Aruba, Bonaire, part of St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba.
Official Web Site: https://diocesewillemstad.com
Mailing Address: Bisdom, Julianaplein 5, Pietermaai, Willemstad, Curação, Nederlandse Antillen
Telephone: (9)462-5876

Historical Details

Prefecture Apostolic of Cura�ao
- Latin Name: Curacensis
- Erected: 1752
- Country: Netherlands Antilles
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)
Vicariate Apostolic of Cura�ao
- Latin Name: Curacensis
- Elevated: 20 September 1842
- Vicariate
- Country: Netherlands Antilles
- Region: Antilles (West Indies)

Past and Present Ordinaries

Martinus Johannes Niewindt † ( 1823 Appointed - 12 Jan 1860 Died)
Johannes Fredericus Antonius Kistemaker, O.P. † (12 Jan 1860 Succeeded - 25 May 1869 Resigned)
Petrus Hendricus Josephus van Ewijk (Ewyk), O.P. † (28 May 1869 Appointed - 17 May 1886 Died)
Ceslaus Hendricus Jacobus Reijnen (Heynen), O.P. † (24 Aug 1886 Appointed - 10 May 1887 Died)
Alphonsus M. Henricus Joosten, O.P. † (4 Oct 1887 Appointed - 18 Dec 1896 Died)
Ambrosius Jacobus Johannes van Baars, O.P. † (15 Feb 1897 Appointed - 25 Mar 1910 Died)
Michel Antoine Marie Vuylsteke, O.P. † (10 Jun 1910 Appointed - 4 Aug 1930 Died)
Petrus Innocentius Johannes Humbertus Verriet, O.P. † (13 Nov 1931 Appointed - 10 Mar 1948 Died)
Antonio Ludovico Van der Veen Zeppenfeldt, O.P. † (11 Nov 1948 Appointed - 9 Dec 1956 Resigned)
Joannes Maria Michael Holterman, O.P. † (9 Dec 1956 Appointed - 7 Aug 1973 Resigned)
Wilhelm Michel Ellis † (7 Aug 1973 Appointed - 11 Oct 2001 Retired)
Luigi Antonio Secco, S.D.B. (11 Oct 2001 Succeeded - 7 Jan 2025 Retired)

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Prefecture Apostolic of Cura�ao
1752	Erected		Prefecture Apostolic of Cura�ao (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Cura�ao
20 September 1842	Elevated	Prefecture Apostolic of Cura�ao	Vicariate Apostolic of Cura�ao
Diocese of Willemstad
28 April 1958	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Cura�ao	Diocese of Willemstad
13 July 1968	Metropolitan Changed		Diocese of Willemstad (from Immediately Subject)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Vicariate Apostolic of Cura�ao

1948 107,694 147,000 73.3% 3 54 57 1,889 129 319 24 ap1951

Diocese of Willemstad

1966 30,000 160,000 18.8% 3 68 71 422 130 370 35 ap1967

1970 220,000 .0% 62 62 0 170 298 30 ap1971*

1976 200,000 235,000 85.1% 9 52 61 3,278 122 214 37 ap1977

1980 215,000 260,000 82.7% 10 48 58 3,706 105 175 46 ap1981

1990 220,000 265,000 83.0% 18 37 55 4,000 64 97 36 ap1991

1999 255,140 313,442 81.4% 28 12 40 6,378 1 25 61 38 ap2000

2000 235,526 297,508 79.2% 35 21 56 4,205 29 62 36 ap2001

2001 224,809 287,845 78.1% 18 18 36 6,244 1 27 44 36 ap2004

2008 217,851 295,264 73.8% 21 17 38 5,732 24 49 37 ap2011

2014 221,600 300,402 73.8% 26 21 47 4,714 27 40 36 ap2015

2017 225,000 306,200 73.5% 42 10 52 4,326 16 40 31 ap2018

2020 246,781 341,343 72.3% 44 6 50 4,935 7 38 37 ap2021

2022 247,320 342,900 72.1% 46 6 52 4,756 8 7 28 38 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Vicariate Apostolic of Cura�ao
1948	107,694	147,000	73.3%	3	54	57	1,889		129	319	24	ap1951
Diocese of Willemstad
1966	30,000	160,000	18.8%	3	68	71	422		130	370	35	ap1967
1970		220,000	.0%		62	62	0		170	298	30	ap1971*
1976	200,000	235,000	85.1%	9	52	61	3,278		122	214	37	ap1977
1980	215,000	260,000	82.7%	10	48	58	3,706		105	175	46	ap1981
1990	220,000	265,000	83.0%	18	37	55	4,000		64	97	36	ap1991
1999	255,140	313,442	81.4%	28	12	40	6,378	1	25	61	38	ap2000
2000	235,526	297,508	79.2%	35	21	56	4,205		29	62	36	ap2001
2001	224,809	287,845	78.1%	18	18	36	6,244	1	27	44	36	ap2004
2008	217,851	295,264	73.8%	21	17	38	5,732		24	49	37	ap2011
2014	221,600	300,402	73.8%	26	21	47	4,714		27	40	36	ap2015
2017	225,000	306,200	73.5%	42	10	52	4,326		16	40	31	ap2018
2020	246,781	341,343	72.3%	44	6	50	4,935		7	38	37	ap2021
2022	247,320	342,900	72.1%	46	6	52	4,756	8	7	28	38	ap2023

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Charles Jason Gordon (Apostolic Administrator: 7 Jan 2025)
Luigi Antonio Secco, S.D.B. (Coadjutor Bishop: 24 Jun 2000; Bishop: 11 Oct 2001 to 7 Jan 2025)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Wilhelm Michel Ellis † (Priest: 24 Oct 1953; Bishop: 7 Aug 1973 to 11 Oct 2001)
Joannes Maria Michael Holterman, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 9 Dec 1956; Bishop: 14 Jun 1958 to 7 Aug 1973)
Alphonsus M. Henricus Joosten, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 4 Oct 1887 to 18 Dec 1896)
Johannes Fredericus Antonius Kistemaker, O.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 14 Sep 1852; Vicar Apostolic: 12 Jan 1860 to 25 May 1869)
Martinus Johannes Niewindt † (Prefect: 1823; Vicar Apostolic: 20 Sep 1842 to 12 Jan 1860)
Ceslaus Hendricus Jacobus Reijnen (Heynen), O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 24 Aug 1886 to 10 May 1887)
Ambrosius Jacobus Johannes van Baars, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 15 Feb 1897 to 25 Mar 1910)
Antonio Ludovico Van der Veen Zeppenfeldt, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Nov 1948 to 9 Dec 1956)
Petrus Hendricus Josephus van Ewijk (Ewyk), O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 28 May 1869 to 17 May 1886)
Petrus Innocentius Johannes Humbertus Verriet, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Nov 1931 to 10 Mar 1948)
Michel Antoine Marie Vuylsteke, O.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 10 Jun 1910 to 4 Aug 1930)

Source(s)

Vicariate Apostolic of Cura�ao
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 169
Diocese of Willemstad
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 61, Page 24, and Page 25

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