Diocese of Roermond, Netherlands

Continent: West Europe

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Roermond / Ruremunden(sis) (Latin) / Ruræmundanen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Utrecht

Depends on: Dicastery for Bishops

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Onbevlekte Ontvangenis van de heilige maagd Maria (December 8)

Cathedral Dedication Anniversary: September 3

Liturgical Calendar 📅

History

1559.05.12: Established as Diocese of Roermond / Ruræmundanen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Köln and Diocese of Liège and became suffragan of Köln)
1801.07.15: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Grave–Nijmegen
1801.11.29: Suppressed (to Apostolic Vicariate of Grave–Nijmegen and to establish Diocese of Aachen)
1840: Restored as Apostolic Vicariate of Limburg / Limburgen(sis) (Latin) (from Metropolitan Archdiocese of Köln and Diocese of Liège)
1853.03.04: Promoted as Diocese of Roermond / Ruremunden(sis) (Latin) / Ruræmundanen(sis) (Latin) (gained territory from Diocese of Liège and became suffragan of Utrecht)

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1985.05)

Tweets

Present Prelates

Bishop:

vacant

Auxiliary Bishop (1998.12.12 – ...):

Bishop Everardus Johannes de Jong (65)

Titular Bishop of Cariana

Apostolic Administrator of the Military Ordinariate of Netherlands (Netherlands)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Roermond (Roman Rite)

Bishop Hendrikus Marie Gerardus Smeets
(2018.10.10 – 2023.08.10)

In Gods naam mensen lief hebben

Born:	1960.11.22 (Heerlen, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1992.06.13
Consecrated Bishop:	2018.12.08
Died:	2023.12.20 (Roermond, Netherlands † 63)

Priest of Roermond (Netherlands) (1992.06.13 – 2018.10.10)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (2018.10.10 – 2023.08.10)

Bishop Franciscus Jozef Maria Wiertz (81)
(1993.07.10 – 2017.12.02)

Bishop emeritus of Roermond (Netherlands)

Geef Heer liefde en geloof aan uw Kerk

Born:	1942.12.02 (Kerkrade, Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1968.03.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1993.09.25

Priest of Roermond (Netherlands) (1968.03.30 – 1993.07.10)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1993.07.10 – 2017.12.02)

Vice-President of Episcopal Conference of the Netherlands (2008.01.08 – 2016.06.04)

Bishop Joannes Baptist Matthijs Gijsen
(1972.01.20 – 1993.01.23)

Parate viam Domini / Bereidt de weg des heren

Born:	1932.10.07 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1957.04.06
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.02.13
Died:	2013.06.24 († 80)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1972.01.20 – 1993.01.23)

Titular Bishop of Maastricht (1993.04.03 – 1996.05.24)

Bishop of Reykjavík (Iceland) (1996.05.24 – 2007.10.30)

Bishop Petrus Joannes Antonius Moors
(1959.01.26 – 1970.12.29)

Caritas ex Deo

Born:	1906.08.25 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1930.04.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1959.03.17
Died:	1980.09.16 († 74)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1959.01.26 – 1970.12.29)

Titular Bishop of Maastricht (1970.12.29 – 1980.09.16)

Bishop Jan Michiel Jozef Antoon Hanssen
(1957.12.31 – 1958.06.25)

Vince in bono malum

Born:	1906.08.18 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1930.04.05
Consecrated Bishop:	1947.10.07
Died:	1958.06.25 († 51)

Auxiliary Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1947.07.26 – 1957)

Titular Bishop of Birtha (1947.07.26 – 1957.12.31)

Coadjutor Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1957 – 1957.12.31)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1957.12.31 – 1958.06.25)

Bishop Jozef Hubert Willem Lemmens (later Archbishop)
(1932.03.26 – 1957.12.31)

Stella duce

Born:	1884.07.26 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1909.08.26
Consecrated Bishop:	1932.03.19
Died:	1960.07.22 († 75)

Titular Bishop of Cardicium (1932.02.05 – 1932.03.26)

Coadjutor Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1932.02.05 – 1932.03.26)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1932.03.26 – 1957.12.31)

Titular Archbishop of Samosata (1957.12.31 – 1960.07.22)

Bishop Laurentius Josephus Antonius Hubertus Schrijnen
(1914.03.28 – 1932.03.26)

Mane nobiscum Domine

Born:	1861.07.30 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1885.03.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1914.05.13
Died:	1932.03.26 († 70)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1914.03.28 – 1932.03.26)

Bishop Josephus Hubertus Drehmanns
(1900.02.03 – 1913.08.06)

Cum Christo laboro

Born:	1843.04.16 (Netherlands)
Consecrated Bishop:	1890.02.05
Died:	1913.08.06 († 70)

Titular Bishop of Phacusa (1889.06.14 – 1900.02.03)

Coadjutor Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1889.06.14 – 1900.02.03)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1900.02.03 – 1913.08.06)

Bishop Franciscus Antonius Boermans
(1886.06.18 – 1900.02.02)

In fide fides

Born:	1815.12.15 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1838.12.22
Consecrated Bishop:	1885.06.30
Died:	1900.02.02 († 84)

Titular Bishop of Thermopylæ (1885.05.05 – 1886.06.18)

Coadjutor Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1885.05.05 – 1886.06.18)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1886.06.18 – 1900.02.02)

Bishop Joannes Augustus Paredis
(1853.03.04 – 1886.06.18)

In cruce salus

Born:	1795.08.27 (Belgium)
Ordained Priest:	1821.04.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1841
Died:	1886.06.18 († 90)

Titular Bishop of Hirina (1840.12.18 – 1853.03.04)

Vicar Apostolic of Limburg (Netherlands) (1840.12.18 – 1853.03.04)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1853.03.04 – 1886.06.18)

Vicars Apostolic of Limburg (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joannes Augustus Paredis
(1840.12.18 – 1853.03.04)

(see above)

Bishops of Roermond (Roman Rite)

Bishop Joannes van Velde de Melroy en Sart-Bomal
(1794.02.21 – 1801.11.29)

Excultus virescit

Born:	1743 (Belgium)
Died:	1824 († 81)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1794.02.21 – 1801.11.29)

Vicar Apostolic of Grave–Nijmegen (Netherlands) (1801 – 1824)

Bishop Philippus van en tot Hoensbroeck
(1775.05.29 – 1793.04.17)

Deduc me Domine in via tua

Born:	1724 (Netherlands)
Died:	1793.04.17 († 68)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1775.05.29 – 1793.04.17)

Bishop Johann Heinrich von Kerens, S.J.
(1769.08.26 – 1775.04.03)

Pande et mande

Born:	1725.05.22 (Netherlands)
Ordained Priest:	1751.09.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1770.01.21
Died:	1792.11.26 († 67)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) ([1769.07.17] 1769.08.26 – 1775.04.03)

Military Vicar of Austria (Austria) (1773.11.06 – 1792.11.26)

Bishop of Wiener Neustadt ([1773.11.06] 1775.04.03 – 1785.02.14)

Bishop of Sankt Pölten (Austria) (1785.02.14 – 1792.11.26)

Bishop Johannes de Robiano
(1746.03.28 – 1769.05.28)

Sicut lilium

Born:	1698 (Belgium)
Died:	1769.05.28 († 70)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1746.03.28 – 1769.05.28)

Bishop Josephus Anselmus Franciscus Werbrouck
(1743.07.15 – 1746.01.17)

Fortiter et suaviter

Born:	1692 (Belgium)
Died:	1747 († 55)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1743.07.15 – 1746.01.17)

Bishop of Antwerpen (Belgium) (1746.01.17 – 1747)

Bishop Jan-Baptist de Castillon
(1742.09.24 – 1743.05.20)

Comite candore

Born:	1680.09.21 (Belgium)
Died:	1753.06.26 († 72)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1742.09.24 – 1743.05.20)

Bishop of Brugge (Belgium) (1743.05.20 – 1753.06.26)

Bishop Frans Lodewijk de Sanguessa, O.F.M. Rec.
(1722.04.09 – 1741.08.11)

Ascende fortiter descende suaviter

Born:	1662 (Belgium)
Died:	1741.08.11 († 78)

Titular Bishop of Utica (1721.05.28 – 1722.04.09)

Coadjutor Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1721.05.28 – 1722.04.09)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1722.04.09 – 1741.08.11)

Vicar Apostolic of ’s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) (1727.07.19 – 1727)

Bishop Angelus d’Ongnies et d’Estrees, O.F.M. Cap.
(1701.11.21 – 1722.04.09)

Nescia sordis

Born:	1650 (Belgium)
Died:	1722.04.09 († 71)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1701.11.21 – 1722.04.09)

Bishop Reginaldus Cools, O.P.
(1676.11.16 – 1700.06.12)

Non nobis

Born:	1618 (Belgium)
Died:	1706.12.02 († 87)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1676.11.16 – 1700.06.12)

Bishop of Antwerpen (Belgium) (1700.06.12 – 1706.12.02)

Bishop Lancelot de Gottignies
(1670.12.15 – 1673.08.24)

Sicut malleus conterens petram

Born:	1618 (Belgium)
Died:	1673.08.24 († 54)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1670.12.15 – 1673.08.24)

Bishop Ignaas-August van Grobbendonck-Schetz
(? – 1669.05.05)

In labore quies

Born:	1625 (Netherlands)
Died:	1680.05.31 († 54)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (? – 1669.05.05)

Bishop of Namur (Belgium) (1669.05.05 – 1679.12.26)

Bishop of Gent (Belgium) (1679.12.26 – 1680.05.31)

Bishop Eugeen-Albert d’Allamont
(1659.03.31 – 1666.06.07)

Patiens esto

Born:	1609 (Belgium)
Died:	1673.08.28 († 63)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1659.03.31 – 1666.06.07)

Apostolic Administrator of ’s-Hertogenbosch (Netherlands) (1662.11.08 – 1666.06.07)

Bishop of Gent (Belgium) (1666.06.07 – 1673.08.28)

Bishop Andreas Creusen (later Archbishop)
(1651.05.22 – 1657.06.01)

Victrix fortunæ patientia

Born:	1591 (Netherlands)
Died:	1666.11.08 († 74)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1651.05.22 – 1657.06.01)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Mechelen (Belgium) (1657.06.01 – 1666.11.08)

Bishop Jacobus a Castro
(1611.01.10 – 1639.02.24)

Esto vigilans

Born:	1560 (Netherlands)
Died:	1639.02.24 († 78)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1611.01.10 – 1639.02.24)

Bishop Henricus Cuyckius
(1595.12.20 – 1609.10.09)

Da gloriam Deo

Born:	1546 (Netherlands)
Died:	1609.10.09 († 62)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1595.12.20 – 1609.10.09)

Bishop Willem Damasz van der Lindt
(1561.08.08 – 1588.02.12)

Quæ sursum sunt quærite

Born:	1525 (Netherlands)
Died:	1588.11.02 († 62)

Bishop of Roermond (Netherlands) (1561.08.08 – 1588.02.12)

Bishop of Gent (Belgium) (1588.02.12 – 1588.11.02)

Former Prelates

Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Jan Michiel Jozef Antoon Hanssen (1957 – 1957.12.31)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Jozef Hubert Willem Lemmens (later Archbishop) (1932.02.05 – 1932.03.26)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Josephus Hubertus Drehmanns (1889.06.14 – 1900.02.03)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Franciscus Antonius Boermans (1885.05.05 – 1886.06.18)
Coadjutor Bishop: Bishop Frans Lodewijk de Sanguessa, O.F.M. Rec. (1721.05.28 – 1722.04.09)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joannes Gerardus ter Schure, S.D.B. (1984.10.04 – 1985.01.31)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Alphonsus Maria H.A. Castermans (1982.01.15 – 1997.05.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Hendrik Theodorus Edmund Beel (1965.08.30 – 1972.01.20)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Jan Michiel Jozef Antoon Hanssen (1947.07.26 – 1957)

Special Churches

Cathedral: Sint Christoffelkathedraal, Roermond, Limburg
Former Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Basiliek van de H. Servatius, Maastricht, Limburg
Minor Basilica: Basiliek van de H. Amelberga, Susteren, Limburg
Minor Basilica: Basiliek van de HH. Wiro, Plechelmus en Otgerus, Sint-Odiliënberg, Limburg
Minor Basilica: Basiliek van het Heilig Sacrament, Meerssen, Limburg
Minor Basilica: Basiliek van Onze Lieve Vrouw ten Hemelopneming, Maastricht, Limburg
Minor Basilica: Basiliek van Onze Lieve Vrouw van het Heilig Hart, Sittard, Limburg
Minor Basilica: Basiliek van Sint Martinus, Venlo, Limburg
Shrines in the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy

Hasselt (↙), ’s-Hertogenbosch (↖), Münster (↗), Aachen (↘), Liège (↓)

Statistics (2021.12.31)

Area: 2,209 km²

Population: 1,071,000 Catholics (96.0% of 1,115,895 total)

Pastoral Centres: 284 parishes, 1 mission

Personnel: 410 priests (158 diocesan, 252 religious), 60 deacons, 782 religious (357 brothers, 425 sisters), 45 seminarians