Bishop And Clergy

The Bishop

Most Reverend Luis Antonio Secco, S.D.B.
Born - 8 June 1947
Birthplace  -  Padua, Italy
Ordained Priest   - 27 March 1975 (Salesian of St. John Bosco)
Consecrated Bishop - 28 October 2000
Installed Bishop of Willemstad - 20 October 2001

Residence:
Salsbachweg 4, (Sta. Maria) Willemstad,
Curaçao. Netherlands Antilles
Tel.(5999) 868 8033
Fax.(5999) 888 7931

Office and Chancery:
Breedestraat 31, (Otrobanda) Willemstad,
Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles
Tel.(5999) 462 5876
Fax.(5999) 462 7437
email:bisdomwstad@curinfo.an

The Seal of the Bishop:

  

                                            


MOTTO: Veritatem Facientes in Caritate - “ Witnessing to Truth in Charity” 

The are five elements present that certainly speaks about the Bishop and his ministry:

  1. Image of the Good Shepherd:
    This picture was taken from the catacombs of Rome and it signifies the goodness and the love of the shepherd for his
    sheep. The shepherd carries the lamb over his shoulders, meaning, like Jesus, the Bishop has to look out for those who
    are apart from God, those who are in danger, and those who are lost. The staff signifies guide and defense of the
    sheepfold. In the Gospels Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10, 7-16), and He left this task to His Apostles
    and Disciples; the bishop and the priests.
  2. Presence of Mother Mary:
    We have the presence of Mother Mary, through the letters(logo) M-A. She is our guide and teacher, as well as Mother of the Church. In the life of the followers of Christ, Mary was the ever-present concern mother, like in the wedding at Cana, Galilee, when she ask her son a miracle to change water into wine so the feast can go on. She was present in the hour of trial and when Jesus was dying on the cross, she accepted us as her children also. In the pastoral responsibility of the Bishop, Mary occupies a very special place in the work of evangelization.
  3. The Dividivi tree:
    This tree represents something unique of the ambience where the bishop will work. This symbolizes the natural beauty
    of the islands of Antias and Aruba. There is also a spiritual meaning of this symbol. This tree has the ability to survive
    against the hot semi-arid climate of the region. It stays green all year round. The naturally bent posture is causes by the
    normally one-direction strong wind, yet it never cracks or fall. This is what Catholic-Christian life should be; even if we
    experience many trials in life, our faith should stay alive strong and firm, we may “bent” but not fall and lost.
  4. Starfishes on the shore:
    They represent the six islands comprising the territory of the Diocese ofWillemstad namely; Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao,
    St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, and Saba.
  5. The sky, the sea, and the beach:
    These are the three natural elements which characterizes the beauty of the islands so much so that people from other
    nations come to enjoy these God-given gifts. The service that our people offer to these visitors become the source of
    income for families.
  6. TheMotto:  “Veritatem Facientes in Caritate” – “ Witnessing to Truth in Charity”
    It is a program of life that challenges all of us, starting with those whom God calls as guides; like the Bishop and the
    Clergy.We all have to pursue truth sincerely. Jesus Christ is the Truth. For us to achieve this, we have to walk in the
    way of love, with goodness and mercy in all life situation. The Hat with the ropes that borders the emblem, expresses
    the mission of the Bishop; to give hope to the Christian Community which God entrusted to his fatherly care.   


The Clergy

in Aruba…

Rev. Alexis Talde                       3 Dec.      19 April 84
Rev. Antonio Peralta                 18 April       28 Nov.70
Rev. Daniel Szpilla CSMA  E.V.    30 Jan.         9 Jun. 85
Rev. Felix Pasadilla                   10 Sept.      8 April 73
Rev. Hercules Sambajon            13 Jan.       18 Mar. 88
Rev. Jacques v/d Lee  O.P.         22 Dec.       11 July 66
Rev. Johannes Bouman O.P.         4 July        25 July 59
Rev. Juancho Pilongo                 20 Oct.        5 April 86
Rev. Mariano Matubis                24 Jan.        24 Mar.77
Rev. Rene Villamora                  29 Aug.       22 Mar.
Rev. Reynerio Nares                   7 Nov.        26 Mar.77
Rev. Stanislaw Sekula CSMA        5 Feb.          4 Juni 87
Rev. Wieslaw Tomasik CSMA      13 Dec.        31 May 87
Rev. Wijbe Fransen O.P.             3 Sept.       23 July 64

in Bonaire…

Rev. Andres Makowiec               30 Jan.       15 Aug.
Rev.  Ranulfo  'Boy' Gonida        11 July         6 Dec. 02


in Curaçao…

Mgr. Amado Romer P.A. JCD        5 Dec.        29 Jun. 46
Rev. Alphonsus Baak                  4 Dec.        28 May 88
Rev. Alton Fraai                         1 Sept.      22 Apr. 06
Rev. Carlos Donado                    7 Sept.       3 Sept.83
Rev. Carlos Vivas                       3 Aug.        12 Dec.92
Rev. Danilo Morales                    2 Jan.        22 Jan. 94
Rev. Eduardo Silvestre-Hiciano     2 Jan.        10 Jun. 94
Rev. Eugenio 'Raul' Mercedes       1 Jan.        24 Jun. 89
Rev. Fredis Rolando Galvan MSC   5 Jan.         4 April 98
Rev. Gabriel Ospina                   16 Jan.       18 Mar. 97
Rev. Gregorio Redoblado V.G.     15 Sept.      16 Jun. 74
Rev. Henricus Nooijen O.P.         14 Feb.       26 July 44
Rev. Jan Typa CSMA                    6 Dec.       13 May 89
Rev. Jesus Maria Tavárez  MSC     7 Aug.       17 Jun. 89
Rev. Jose Guillermo Ortega        12 Jan.        (8 Dec.07)
Rev. Josef Pelc CSMA                17 Mar.          1 May 92 
Rev. Luigi Verdeechia SDB         25 Jan.         18 Mar. 70
Rev. Marian Cieciewa CSMA        24 Mar.          1 May 92
Rev. Petrus 'Piet' Magnin O.P.    11 Mar.         25 Mar. 00
Rev. Ricardo Tejada                  14 Mar.          5 Nov. 81
Rev. Rigoberto Arias SDB           25 May         21 Feb. 81
Rev. Ronald Kiban                    25 May           2 April 05
Rev. Servais Braham O.P.          17 Juli          20 July 52
Rev. Simon Wilson                   12 Jan.           4 July 80
Rev. Stanislau Cupak                30 Apr.           3 July 88
Rev. Stefan Kulak                    31 Oct.           3 July 88
Rev. Toine Frehe O.P.               22 Oct.         25 July 61

 

in the isla'riba

Rev. Fr. Thomas Krosnicki SVD      25 April      15 Jan. 66
Rev. Fr. Rafael 'Raffy' Cananea      6 Oct.        17 Mar. 88
Rev. Fr. Danilo 'Dan" Pastor          19 May       25 Nov. 84
         

not present in the diocese…

Rev. Alfonso Plata  (Col.)               16 Oct.     22 Jun. 69
Rev. Canuto Fuentebella   (Phil.)     29 Jan.   12 April 96
Rev. Jacobo 'Coby' Henricus  (Col.)  23 Aug.   11 Jun. 97
Rev. Jairo Maduro    (Ven.)             31 July    31 July 04
Rev. Morrison LaPorte   (Rome)        6 Mar.     5 Jun. 99
Rev. Socrates Gonesto  (U.S.)          7 Oct.    27 Oct. 79




 



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