Berne Abbey
Encyclopedia
Berne Abbey, a Dutch
abbey
of the Premonstratensian
s, or Norbertines, in Heeswijk
, North Brabant
, is the oldest extant religious community in the Netherlands. It has 27 brothers and priests (2007; down from 33 in 2005).
The community publishes a bi-monthly magazine called Berne. Since March 2007, Ward Cortvriendt has been the 70th abbot. In 2009 the abbey celebrated its 875th anniversary. Besides the professed members the abbey also has some people who feel closely connected with the community: participants of the group Ruach, the community of Berne and the Bernecircle.
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's death, by the knight and nobleman Fulcold of Berne, lord of Teisterband, in the Dutch town of Berne
, on the banks of the river Maas, two miles south-east of Heusden
and about six miles north-west of 's-Hertogenbosch.
Numerous legends surround its foundation. One is that Fulcold, when hotly pressed in battle, made a vow to build an abbey, if, by throwing himself into the river Maas, his life might be preserved from the enemy. This prayer having been heard, Fulcold converted his castle at Berne into a monastery, where he himself became a lay brother. Blessed Fulcold died on April 12, 1149, on which day his name is recorded in the hagiology of the Premonstratensian order.
Fulcold initially brought Augustinian canons from Rolduc Abbey to Berne to start the monastery, but was dissatisfied with their lack of discipline, and sent them back again. He made another attempt at a foundation in 1134 with the newly established Premonstratensian Order, also called Norbertines after their founder Norbert of Xanten
. From the nearby Mariënweerd Abbey an abbot and some canons were sent to his castle. This time Fulcold himself also joined the community. His wife, Bescela, also chose a religious life in Berne and later in the monastery of Altforst, a Norbertine nunnery linked to the abbey. The appointed guardians of the abbey were at first the dukes of Cleve. In 1248 the dukes of Brabant
took over this duty and finally in 1399 the counts of Holland
and the Dukes of Guelders
.
came into the possession of Berne Abbey in 1240, and Heeswijk
in 1284. In 1285 Oudheusden
, Elshout, Hedikhuizen
, Vlijmen
and Engelen
were added to them, and in 1369 Bokhoven
, in 1613 Lithoyen, in 1846 Haarsteeg, and in 1948 Middelrode. Finally in 1964 the parish of Heikant-Quirijnstok in Tilburg
was given into the care of abbey by the diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch
. The villages of Dinther
and Vorstenbosch
are now also linked to the abbey.
In 1572, during the Eighty Years' War, the abbey was plundered by the Geuzen
. On 25 September 1579, it was burned down. In 1648, when the Peace of Münster
was signed, the abbey's last remaining estates were confiscated by the States of Holland.
The canons withdrew inside the thick city walls of 's-Hertogenbosch. After the siege of 's-Hertogenbosch in 1629 they sought shelter in the various parishes and in the safer southern part of the Netherlands. The religious were not discouraged, and the abbot obtained a house at Vilvoorde
, near Brussels, from which he directed the spiritual and temporal interests of his dispersed community. Several of the priests of Berne, though compelled to remain in hiding and always in danger, continued to minister to the spiritual needs of their people, which may account for some parts of North Brabant and Gelderland remaining Roman Catholic. The future of the community was provided for by the admission of postulants, who made their novitiate and continued their studies at Vilvoorde
or in one of the Belgian abbeys. In this way Berne Abbey has been kept up, while nearly all other monasteries, which had made no such provision, have died out in the Netherlands.
Though dispersed, the canons met frequently at Heeswijk or in some presbytery, and at the death of the abbot they always elected another, so that from the foundation of the abbey in 1134, there is an unbroken succession of abbots.
. But novices continued to be admitted, who had their time of probation and made their studies either at the house at Heeswijk
or in some presbytery of the order.
King William I of the Netherlands
confirmed the continued existence of the abbey in 1824, as did Pope Gregory XVI
in 1832. The abbots lived mostly in Heeswijk
, where they had a small castle
. With the arrival of better times Abbot Neefs in 1847 enlarged it and inaugurated the community life.
In 1857 the abbey was finally located in Heeswijk and in 1879 a new abbey church was built, which was enlarged in 1927 by architect Hendrik Willem Valk with money donated by farmers after the death of the peasant apostle Gerlacus van den Elsen, to whom on the outside wall the sculptor Joseph Cantre cut a cornerstone of his portrait as a tribute. The architect Valk also designed the abbey gate. The new main building dates from 1999 and was designed by the architect Oomen. In 2006 the interior of the church was substantially changed by the realignment of the different floor levels on a single surface. The second organ
was moved to the balcony. The pewa were removed and replaced by chairs. The church was painted in three shades of yellow and equipped with a new lighting system.
The community grew in numbers, and in 1886 the abbot opened a college, entirely staffed by priests from the abbey. The Gymnasium St. Norbert was established, and still exists today as the Gymnasium Bernrode
. Around 1920 the abbey began production of their liturgical publications in their own printing office. By acting as publishers and booksellers their religious message was spread. Next to the abbey there is a still a printing office, a bookshop and a publishing group for Liturgy.
, Wisconsin
, U.S.A., to send some priests whose special mission would be to minister to the spiritual needs of Belgian
and Dutch
settlers in his diocese
. Prior Pennings, Father Lambert Broens, and a lay brother were sent in 1895, and were soon followed by other priests. In 1898 St. Joseph's church at De Pere was transferred to the Norbertine Fathers. The first stone of St. Norbert College
for classical and commercial students was laid in 1901.
The abbey founded, or in some cases re-founded, a number of communities, including:
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of the Premonstratensian
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
s, or Norbertines, in Heeswijk
Heeswijk
Heeswijk is a Dutch town. It is located in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands.Heeswijk was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with the adjacent village of Dinther. Since 1 January 1994 it has been part of the larger municipality of Bernheze, which...
, North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
, is the oldest extant religious community in the Netherlands. It has 27 brothers and priests (2007; down from 33 in 2005).
The community publishes a bi-monthly magazine called Berne. Since March 2007, Ward Cortvriendt has been the 70th abbot. In 2009 the abbey celebrated its 875th anniversary. Besides the professed members the abbey also has some people who feel closely connected with the community: participants of the group Ruach, the community of Berne and the Bernecircle.
Foundation
Berne Abbey was founded in 1134, the year of Norbert of XantenNorbert of Xanten
Saint Norbert of Xanten was a Christian saint and founder of the Norbertine or Premonstratensian order of canons regular.- Life and work :...
's death, by the knight and nobleman Fulcold of Berne, lord of Teisterband, in the Dutch town of Berne
Bern (Netherlands)
Bern is a hamlet in the Dutch province of Gelderland. It is located in the municipality of Zaltbommel, about 10 km south of the town Zaltbommel....
, on the banks of the river Maas, two miles south-east of Heusden
Heusden
Heusden is a municipality and a city in the South of the Netherlands. It is located between the cities Waalwijk and 's-Hertogenbosch.- Population centres :...
and about six miles north-west of 's-Hertogenbosch.
Numerous legends surround its foundation. One is that Fulcold, when hotly pressed in battle, made a vow to build an abbey, if, by throwing himself into the river Maas, his life might be preserved from the enemy. This prayer having been heard, Fulcold converted his castle at Berne into a monastery, where he himself became a lay brother. Blessed Fulcold died on April 12, 1149, on which day his name is recorded in the hagiology of the Premonstratensian order.
Fulcold initially brought Augustinian canons from Rolduc Abbey to Berne to start the monastery, but was dissatisfied with their lack of discipline, and sent them back again. He made another attempt at a foundation in 1134 with the newly established Premonstratensian Order, also called Norbertines after their founder Norbert of Xanten
Norbert of Xanten
Saint Norbert of Xanten was a Christian saint and founder of the Norbertine or Premonstratensian order of canons regular.- Life and work :...
. From the nearby Mariënweerd Abbey an abbot and some canons were sent to his castle. This time Fulcold himself also joined the community. His wife, Bescela, also chose a religious life in Berne and later in the monastery of Altforst, a Norbertine nunnery linked to the abbey. The appointed guardians of the abbey were at first the dukes of Cleve. In 1248 the dukes of Brabant
Duke of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was formally erected in 1183/1184. The title "Duke of Brabant" was created by the German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa in favor of Henry I, son of Godfrey III of Leuven . The Duchy of Brabant was a feudal elevation of the since 1085/1086 existing title of Landgrave of Brabant...
took over this duty and finally in 1399 the counts of Holland
Count of Holland
The Counts of Holland ruled over the County of Holland in the Low Countries between the 10th and the 16th century.-House of Holland:The first count of Holland, Dirk I, was the son or foster-son of Gerolf, Count in Frisia...
and the Dukes of Guelders
Dukes of Guelders
-House of Wassenberg:The first count of Guelders was Gerard IV, Lord of Wassenberg.During Reginald II's reign, the county of Guelders became a duchy.* before 1096–about 1129 : Gerard I* about 1129–about 1131 : Gerard II the tall, son of...
.
Middle Ages till 1857
Berne Abbey has always been held in high esteem, as is proved by the privileges which were granted to it. It possessed the right of patronage over nine parishes, which were always served by priests from the abbey. In comparison with the contemporaneous monastic foundations in Germany and Belgium, Berne Abbey was relatively late to acquire these parishes. After a century of existence the monastery changed its direction. The strict monastic period ended and the focus shifted now from works in the monastery to work outside the abbey. Not only the secular authority, but also the spiritual authority of the abbey grew, making it a spiritual and secular center in this region of The Netherlands. Priests were sent to parishes and the parishes given to the abbey, often with all the additional rights. In this way the village of BerlicumBerlicum
Berlicum is a village in the Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant, located in the Meierij of 's-Hertogenbosch near the river Aa. The village was most likely founded between 600 and 700 AD. Up until a large-scale administrative reorganisation in the Netherlands it was a separate...
came into the possession of Berne Abbey in 1240, and Heeswijk
Heeswijk
Heeswijk is a Dutch town. It is located in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands.Heeswijk was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with the adjacent village of Dinther. Since 1 January 1994 it has been part of the larger municipality of Bernheze, which...
in 1284. In 1285 Oudheusden
Oudheusden
Oudheusden is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Heusden, about 1 km south of the city of Heusden itself.Oudheusden was a separate municipality until 1935, when it became part of Drunen....
, Elshout, Hedikhuizen
Hedikhuizen
Hedikhuizen is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Heusden, about 3 km east of that city....
, Vlijmen
Vlijmen
Vlijmen is a town in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Heusden, about 6 km west of 's-Hertogenbosch....
and Engelen
Engelen
Engelen is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch. Engelen is neighboring Vlijmen, Bokhoven and several parts of `s-Hertogenbosch.- Location and plan :...
were added to them, and in 1369 Bokhoven
Bokhoven
Bokhoven is a village in the Netherlands, in the municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch. It is located about seven kilometres northwest of the city center, on the south bank of the river Maas....
, in 1613 Lithoyen, in 1846 Haarsteeg, and in 1948 Middelrode. Finally in 1964 the parish of Heikant-Quirijnstok in Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
was given into the care of abbey by the diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch
Roman Catholic Diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch
The Roman Catholic Diocese of 's Hertogenbosch is a diocese of the Catholic church in the Netherlands. The diocese was historically called Bois-le-Duc. The modern diocese was created in 1853. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Utrecht. It is currently led by bishop Hurkmans. Its see is St...
. The villages of Dinther
Dinther
Dinther is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Bernheze. Dinther was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with Heeswijk to form the new municipality of Heeswijk-Dinther.-Etymology:...
and Vorstenbosch
Vorstenbosch
Vorstenbosch is one of the population centres of the municipality Bernheze. Bernheze is located in the province of Noord-Brabant, one of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands....
are now also linked to the abbey.
In 1572, during the Eighty Years' War, the abbey was plundered by the Geuzen
Geuzen
Geuzen was a name assumed by the confederacy of Calvinist Dutch nobles and other malcontents, who from 1566 opposed Spanish rule in the Netherlands. The most successful group of them operated at sea, and so were called Watergeuzen...
. On 25 September 1579, it was burned down. In 1648, when the Peace of Münster
Peace of Münster
The Peace of Münster was a treaty between the Dutch Republic and Spain signed in 1648. It was a landmark treaty for the Dutch republic and one of the key events in Dutch history; with it, the United Netherlands finally became independent from the Spanish Crown...
was signed, the abbey's last remaining estates were confiscated by the States of Holland.
The canons withdrew inside the thick city walls of 's-Hertogenbosch. After the siege of 's-Hertogenbosch in 1629 they sought shelter in the various parishes and in the safer southern part of the Netherlands. The religious were not discouraged, and the abbot obtained a house at Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
, near Brussels, from which he directed the spiritual and temporal interests of his dispersed community. Several of the priests of Berne, though compelled to remain in hiding and always in danger, continued to minister to the spiritual needs of their people, which may account for some parts of North Brabant and Gelderland remaining Roman Catholic. The future of the community was provided for by the admission of postulants, who made their novitiate and continued their studies at Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde
Vilvoorde is a Belgian municipality in the Flemish province of Flemish Brabant. The municipality comprises the city of Vilvoorde proper with its two outlying quarters of Koningslo and Houtem and the small town of Peutie...
or in one of the Belgian abbeys. In this way Berne Abbey has been kept up, while nearly all other monasteries, which had made no such provision, have died out in the Netherlands.
Though dispersed, the canons met frequently at Heeswijk or in some presbytery, and at the death of the abbot they always elected another, so that from the foundation of the abbey in 1134, there is an unbroken succession of abbots.
Heeswijk
At the end of the eighteenth century the French Republic confiscated the house at Vilvoorde and so put an end to the community's refuge in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. But novices continued to be admitted, who had their time of probation and made their studies either at the house at Heeswijk
Heeswijk
Heeswijk is a Dutch town. It is located in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands.Heeswijk was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with the adjacent village of Dinther. Since 1 January 1994 it has been part of the larger municipality of Bernheze, which...
or in some presbytery of the order.
King William I of the Netherlands
William I of the Netherlands
William I Frederick, born Willem Frederik Prins van Oranje-Nassau , was a Prince of Orange and the first King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg....
confirmed the continued existence of the abbey in 1824, as did Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
in 1832. The abbots lived mostly in Heeswijk
Heeswijk
Heeswijk is a Dutch town. It is located in the province of North Brabant, in the south of the Netherlands.Heeswijk was a separate municipality until 1969, when it merged with the adjacent village of Dinther. Since 1 January 1994 it has been part of the larger municipality of Bernheze, which...
, where they had a small castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
. With the arrival of better times Abbot Neefs in 1847 enlarged it and inaugurated the community life.
In 1857 the abbey was finally located in Heeswijk and in 1879 a new abbey church was built, which was enlarged in 1927 by architect Hendrik Willem Valk with money donated by farmers after the death of the peasant apostle Gerlacus van den Elsen, to whom on the outside wall the sculptor Joseph Cantre cut a cornerstone of his portrait as a tribute. The architect Valk also designed the abbey gate. The new main building dates from 1999 and was designed by the architect Oomen. In 2006 the interior of the church was substantially changed by the realignment of the different floor levels on a single surface. The second organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
was moved to the balcony. The pewa were removed and replaced by chairs. The church was painted in three shades of yellow and equipped with a new lighting system.
The community grew in numbers, and in 1886 the abbot opened a college, entirely staffed by priests from the abbey. The Gymnasium St. Norbert was established, and still exists today as the Gymnasium Bernrode
Gymnasium Bernrode
Gymnasium Bernrode is a gymnasium in Heeswijk, Netherlands. It was established in 1886 by Gerlacus van den Elsen, abbot of the Berne Abbey, a Norbertine monastery.-History:...
. Around 1920 the abbey began production of their liturgical publications in their own printing office. By acting as publishers and booksellers their religious message was spread. Next to the abbey there is a still a printing office, a bookshop and a publishing group for Liturgy.
Abroad
In 1893 the abbot was able to comply with the pressing request of Bishop Messmer of Green BayGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, U.S.A., to send some priests whose special mission would be to minister to the spiritual needs of Belgian
Belgians
Belgians are people originating from the Kingdom of Belgium, a federal state in Western Europe.-Etymology:Belgians are a relatively "new" people...
and Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
settlers in his diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
. Prior Pennings, Father Lambert Broens, and a lay brother were sent in 1895, and were soon followed by other priests. In 1898 St. Joseph's church at De Pere was transferred to the Norbertine Fathers. The first stone of St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College
St. Norbert College is a private Catholic liberal arts college in De Pere, Wisconsin. Founded in October 1898 by Abbot Bernard Pennings, a Norbertine priest and educator, the school was named after Saint Norbert of Xanten. In 1952, the college became coeducational and today enrolls about 2,175...
for classical and commercial students was laid in 1901.
The abbey founded, or in some cases re-founded, a number of communities, including:
- St. Norbert Abbey, De Pere in Wisconsin, USA (1893)
- St. Norbert Abbey, JamtaraJamtaraJamtara is a city and a notified area in Jamtara district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. Jamtara is the district headquarters.-Geography:Jamtara is located at . It has an average elevation of 155 metres ....
in IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(1923) - Windberg AbbeyWindberg AbbeyWindberg Abbey is a Premonstratensian monastery in Windberg in Lower Bavaria, Germany.-First foundation:Windberg Abbey was founded by Count Albert I of Bogen with the assistance of Bishop Otto of Bamberg on the site of the original seat of the Counts of Bogen...
in WindbergWindbergWindberg is a municipality in the district of Straubing-Bogen in Bavaria, Germany....
in Lower BavariaLower BavariaLower Bavaria is one of the seven administrative regions of Bavaria, Germany, located in the east of the state.- Geography :Lower Bavaria is subdivided into two regions - Landshut and Donau-Wald. Recent election results mark it as the most conservative part of Germany, generally giving huge...
, GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
(1923) - Rot an der Rot AbbeyRot an der Rot AbbeyRot an der Rot Abbey was a Premonstratensian monastery in Rot an der Rot in Upper Swabia, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was the first Premonstratensian monastery in the whole of Swabia...
in Rot an der RotRot an der RotRot an der Rot is a town in the district of Biberach in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The town developed out of Rot an der Rot Abbey....
in Upper SwabiaUpper SwabiaUpper Swabia is a region in Germany in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The name refers to the area between the Swabian Alb, Lake Constance and the Lech...
, Baden-WürttembergBaden-WürttembergBaden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany (1948-1959) - Priory De Essenburgh, HierdenHierdenHierden is a Dutch town in Harderwijk, province of Gelderland.It has 2700 inhabitants. The town came from different locations at the east of Harderwijk's farms....
, The Netherlands (1950) - Hamborn Abbey in DuisburgDuisburg- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany (1960) - Priory De Schans TilburgTilburgTilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
, The Netherlands (1964) - Communiteit Mariëngaard, HierdenHierdenHierden is a Dutch town in Harderwijk, province of Gelderland.It has 2700 inhabitants. The town came from different locations at the east of Harderwijk's farms....
, The Netherlands (1992) - Nogent-l'ArtaudNogent-l'ArtaudNogent-l'Artaud is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
(not successful) - BrisbaneBrisbaneBrisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(not successful)
Recent abbots of Berne
- Gerardus Neefs (1842 - 1859)
- Hubertus Manni (1859 - 1867)
- Andreas van Laarhoven (1867 - 1870)
- Henricus van den Brand (1871 - 1873)
- Adrianus Ceelen (1874 - 1885)
- Augustinus Bazelmans (1885 - 1908)
- Evermodus van den Berg (1908 - 1930)
- Henricus Stöcker (1930 - 1942)
- Milo Ondersteijn (1942 - 1959)
- Albertus Haselager (1959 - 1967)
- mgr. Marcellus van de ven (1968 - 1982)
- Arthur Baeten (1982 - 2000)
- Petrus Al (2001 - 2007)
- Eduard Cortvriendt (2007 - )