# Roman Catholic Diocese of Willemstad

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Willemstad (Latin: Dioecesis Gulielmopolitana; Dutch: Bisdom Willemstad; Papiamento: Diosesano (di Obispado) di Willemstad) is a diocese of the Latin Church of the Roman Catholic Church in the Caribbean. The diocese encompasses the territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean: the countries (Dutch: landen) Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten (the southern half of St. Martin) and the islands Bonaire, St. Eustatius, Saba (which are part of the Netherlands). The cathedra is in the city of Curaçao. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, and a member of the Antilles Episcopal Conference.
The Diocese of Willemstad was erected in 1752 as the Prefecture Apostolic of Curaçao. It was elevated to an apostolic vicariate on 20 September 1842 and to the Diocese of Willemstad on 28 April 1958. The language spoken in many of the Catholic churches here is Papiamento and English. The diocese has maintained a website in this language and in English. Some priests are members of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Order of Preachers (OP), Michaelites (CSMA), and Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB).

## Bishops
### Ordinaries

* Martinus Johannes Niewindt (1823-1860)
* Johannes Fredericus Antonius Kistemaker O.P. (1860-1869)
* Petrus Hendricus Josephus van Ewyk, O.P. (1869–1886)
* Ceslaus H. J. Heynen (1886–1887)
* Alphonsus M. H. Joosten (1888–1896)
* Ambrosius Jacobus J. van Baars, O.P. (1897–1910)
* Michael Antonio Maria Vuylsteke, O.P. (1910–1930)
* Pietro Giovanni Umberto Verriet, O.P. (1931–1948)
* Antonio Ludovico van der Veen Zeppenfeldt, O.P. (1948–1956)
* Joannes Maria Michael Holterman, O.P. (1956–1973)
* Wilhelm Michel Ellis (1973–2001)
* Luis Antonio Secco, S.D.B. (Salesians of Don Bosco) (2001– 7 January 2025)

### Coadjutor bishops

* Johannes Fredericus Antonius Kistemaker O.P. (1852-1860) as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic
* Luis Antonio Secco, S.D.B. (Salesians of Don Bosco) (2000-2001)

## Catholic churches and parishes

Listed by island (alphabetically), neighborhood (alphabetically), and church name and full address:

### Island of Aruba

* Brasil: Cristo Rey, Brasil 39, Brasil, Aruba
* Dakota: La Birgen di Fatima, Milonstraat 9, Dakota, Oranjestad, Aruba
* Madiki: Cristo Sufriente Chapel (Madiki Chapel), Belgiestraat Madiki 29, Madiki, Oranjestad, Aruba
* Noord: Santa Ana, Caya Frans Figaroa Noord 16, Noord, Aruba; La Birgen di Alto Vista Chapel (Pilgrims Chapel), Alto Vista, Noord, Aruba
* Oranjestad: San Francisco di Asis, J. Irausquinplein 3, Oranjestad, Aruba
* Paradera: Santa Filomena, Paradera 51, Paradera, Aruba
* Pos Chikito: Santa Familia Chapel, Pos Chikito, Savaneta, Aruba
* San Nicolaas: Santa Teresita di Niño Hesus, Theresiaplein 8, Bernhardstraat, San Nicolaas, Aruba; Emanuel Chapel, Rooi Hondu, San Nicolaas, Aruba
* Santa Cruz: Inmaculada Concepcion, Santa Cruz 41, Santa Cruz, Aruba
* Savaneta: Sagrado Curazon di Hesus, Savaneta 338-D, Savaneta, Aruba
* Tanki Leendert: San Papa Juan Pablo II, Rte. 4, Tanki Leendert, Oranjestad, Aruba; Monte Calvario Chapel, Rte. 4, Tanki Leendert, Oranjestad, Aruba

### Island of Bonaire

* Antriol: La Birgen di Coromoto, Pastorie Antriol, Kaya Korona 126, Bonaire
* Bonaire: St. Louis Bertrand Church
* Kralendijk: San Bernardo, Pastorie Kralendijk, Plaza Reina Juliana 2, Bonaire
* Rincon: San Ludovico Beltran, Pastorie Rincon, Bonaire NA

### Island of Curaçao

* Barber: San José
* Brievengat: La Birgen di Lourdes, Willemstad
* Buena Vista: La Birgen Milagrosa
* Groot Kwartier: La Birgen del Carmen
* Jandoret: Mama di Bon Conseho, Station: Boca San Michiel: San Miguel Archangel; Souax: La Birgen di Guadalupe
* Janwe: Sagrado Curazon di Hesus
* Koraal Specht: Bon Wardador
* Montagne: San Dominico. Station: Fuik: San Francisco
* Otrabanda: Santa Ana Minor Basilica, Willemstad
* Pietermaai Cathedral: Reina di Santisimo Rosario (Queen of the Most Holy Rosary) Cathedral, Willemstad
* San Mateo: Santa Familia, Willemstad
* Sint Willibrordus: San Willibrordo
* Santa Maria: Maria Auxiliadora, Willemstad
* Santa Rosa: Santa Rosa de Lima
* Seru Fortuna: San Martin de Porres
* Soto: San Antonio de Padua, Soto
* Steenrijk: La Birgen di Altagracia, Willemstad
* Suffisant: La Birgen di Fatima
* Tera Korà: Spiritu Santo, Kaya Andesit 66, Tera Korà,
* Westpunt: San Pedro. Lagoen: Station: San Juan Apostle, Pastorie Westpunt,
* Wishi: Hesús Misericordioso y Santa Teresita, Schottegatweg West. 33, Wishi
* Zuid-Bonam: San Hudas Tadeo, Ronde Klipweg 61, P.O. Box 3909, Zuid-Bona

### Island of Saba

* The Bottom: Sacred Heart Church
* Windwardside: St Paul's Conversion
* Zion's Hill: Queen of the Holy Rosary Church

### Island of Sint Eustatius

* Oranjestad: St Eustatius Catholic Church

### Island of Sint Maarten (the southern half of St. Martin)

* Philipsburg: St Martin of Tours
* Simpson Bay: Mary Star of the Sea
* South Reward: The Risen Christ