Gerard de Korte
Encyclopedia
Gerard Johannes Nicolaus de Korte (Vianen, 13 June 1955) is a Dutch
Roman Catholic clergyman. He has been bishop
of the diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden since 13 September 2008. Before that he was auxiliary bishop
of the Archdiocese of Utrecht and dean
of the deanery
IJsellanden. His motto is Confidens in Christo (Trust in Christ).
. He studied history
at the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht from 1974 to 1980. During this time De Korte got more interested in religion
and the Church
. While writing his final thesis he won certificates in Greek
and Latin
. He graduated in 1980. Soon after that he became a student at the Katholieke Theologische Universiteit in Utrecht
. After graduation, he decided to study theology
. In 1984 he became a seminarian at the Ariënskonvikt of the Archdiocese of Utrecht. He graduated from his theology studies in 1987. In 1994 he was promoted to doctor of theology on a thesis titled Priesthood of reconciliation. Possibilities and borders of the theology of the word, especially that of Eduard Thurneysen, for Catholic pastoral care.
in 1987 he became a member of the staff of the Ariënskovikt seminary
. he was also appointed as parish priest of the Cathedral of St. Catharina in Utrecht. From 1992 to 1999 he was rector of the Ariënskonvikt. In 1999 he was appointed to dean of Salland
, which was merged with the deanery of Veluwe-Flevoland to form the deanery of IJsellanden. As such he was also a member of the bishop's council.
Pope John Paul II
appointed Gerard de Korte as auxiliarty bishop of the Archdiocese of Utrecht on 11 April 2001 and as titular bishop
of Caesarea in Mauritania
. Cardinal Simonis also appointed him as diocesan vicar
. His primary duty was in the fields of catechesis and liturgy
. Within the conference of bishops he was responsible for Church and Society.
On 18 June 2008, Pope Benedict XVI
appointed him bishop of the diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden, succeeding Msgr. Eijk
who had been made Archbishop
of Utrecht earlier that year. De Korte was enthroned on 13 September 2008.
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...
Roman Catholic clergyman. He has been bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of the diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden since 13 September 2008. Before that he was auxiliary bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of the Archdiocese of Utrecht and dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
of the deanery
Deanery
A Deanery is an ecclesiastical entity in both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residence of a Dean.- Catholic usage :...
IJsellanden. His motto is Confidens in Christo (Trust in Christ).
Biography
The youngest of three children, he graduated in 1974 from the Alberdingk Thijmcollege in HilversumHilversum
is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Located in the region called "'t Gooi", it is the largest town in that area. It is surrounded by heathland, woods, meadows, lakes, and smaller villages...
. He studied history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
at the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht from 1974 to 1980. During this time De Korte got more interested in religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
and the Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
. While writing his final thesis he won certificates in Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
. He graduated in 1980. Soon after that he became a student at the Katholieke Theologische Universiteit in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
. After graduation, he decided to study theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. In 1984 he became a seminarian at the Ariënskonvikt of the Archdiocese of Utrecht. He graduated from his theology studies in 1987. In 1994 he was promoted to doctor of theology on a thesis titled Priesthood of reconciliation. Possibilities and borders of the theology of the word, especially that of Eduard Thurneysen, for Catholic pastoral care.
Ordinations
- DeaconDeaconDeacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
- 10 January 1987 by Cardinal Simonis in the CathedralCathedralA cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of Saint CatherineCatherine of AlexandriaSaint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius...
in Utrecht. - PriestPriestA priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
- 5 September 1987 by Cardinal Simonis in the church of Saint Aloysius in Utrecht. - BishopBishopA bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
- 2 June 2001 by Cardinal Simonis, Cardinal Willebrands and Bishop de Kok in the Cathedral of Saint Catherine in Utrecht.
Church career
Following his ordinationOrdination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
in 1987 he became a member of the staff of the Ariënskovikt seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. he was also appointed as parish priest of the Cathedral of St. Catharina in Utrecht. From 1992 to 1999 he was rector of the Ariënskonvikt. In 1999 he was appointed to dean of Salland
Salland
Salland is a historical dominion in the west and north of the present Dutch province of Overijssel. It is probably named after the Salian Franks, who are thought to originate from Salland...
, which was merged with the deanery of Veluwe-Flevoland to form the deanery of IJsellanden. As such he was also a member of the bishop's council.
Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
appointed Gerard de Korte as auxiliarty bishop of the Archdiocese of Utrecht on 11 April 2001 and as titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Caesarea in Mauritania
Cherchell
Cherchell is a seaport town in the Province of Tipaza, Algeria, 55 miles west of Algiers. It is the district seat of Cherchell District. As of 1998, it had a population of 24,400.-Ancient history:...
. Cardinal Simonis also appointed him as diocesan vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
. His primary duty was in the fields of catechesis and liturgy
Liturgy
Liturgy is either the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to its particular traditions or a more precise term that distinguishes between those religious groups who believe their ritual requires the "people" to do the "work" of responding to the priest, and those...
. Within the conference of bishops he was responsible for Church and Society.
On 18 June 2008, Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
appointed him bishop of the diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden, succeeding Msgr. Eijk
Wim Eijk
Willem Jacobus "Wim" Eijk is a Dutch prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. On 11 December 2007 Pope Benedict XVI appointed Eijk the Metropolitan Archbishop of Utrecht and, on the 26 January 2008 Eijk was installed in the Sint Catharina Church in Utrecht. He is the 70th successor of Saint...
who had been made Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Utrecht earlier that year. De Korte was enthroned on 13 September 2008.