Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels} (Archdiocese) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Luc Terlinden, Archbishop
Jean Kockerols, Auxiliary Bishop
Koenraad Vanhoutte, Auxiliary Bishop
Jozef De Kesel, Cardinal, Archbishop Emeritus
André-Joseph (Mutien) Léonard, Archbishop Emeritus
Jan De Bie, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus
Jean-Luc Hudsyn, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese
Name Changed: 8 December 1961
Metropolitan See
Rite: Latin (or Roman)
Country: Belgium
Square Kilometers: 3,635 (1,404 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: https://www.kerknet.be/organisatie/aartsbisdom-mechelen-brussel
Mailing Address: Aartsbisdom, Wollemarkt 15, B-2800 Mechelen, Belgie
Telephone: (015)29.26.28

Historical Details

Archdiocese of Mechelen
- Latin Name: Mechliniensis
- Erected: 12 May 1559
- Metropolitan See
- Country: Belgium

Past and Present Ordinaries

Antoine Perrenot de Granvella † (10 Mar 1561 Appointed - 24 Jan 1583 Resigned)
Joannes Hauchin † (24 Jan 1583 Appointed - 5 Jan 1589 Died)
Matthias Van den Hove (Hovius) † (25 Sep 1595 Appointed - 30 May 1620 Died)
Jacques Boonen † (13 Oct 1621 Confirmed - 30 Jun 1655 Died)
André Creusen † (9 Apr 1657 Confirmed - 8 Nov 1666 Died)
Jean de Wachtendonck † (12 Mar 1668 Confirmed - 23 Jun 1668 Died)
Alphonse de Berghes † (17 Nov 1670 Confirmed - 7 Jun 1689 Died)
Humbertus Guilielmus de Precipiano † (8 May 1690 Confirmed - 9 Jun 1711 Died)
Thomas Philip Wallrad d’Hénin-Létard d’Alsace-Boussut de Chimay † (16 Dec 1715 Appointed - 5 Jan 1759 Died)
Joannes-Henricus von Frankenberg † (28 May 1759 Appointed - 20 Nov 1801 Resigned)
Jean-Armand de Bessuéjouls Roquelaure † (14 Apr 1802 Confirmed - 25 Mar 1808 Retired)
Dominique-Georges-Frédéric Dufour de Pradt † (27 Mar 1809 Confirmed - 16 Sep 1815 Resigned)
François Antoine Marie Constantin de Méan et de Beaurieux † (28 Jul 1817 Appointed - 15 Jan 1831 Died)
Engelbert Sterckx † (24 Feb 1832 Appointed - 4 Dec 1867 Died)
Victor-Auguste-Isidore Dechamps, C.SS.R. † (20 Dec 1867 Appointed - 29 Sep 1883 Died)
Pierre-Lambert Goossens † (24 Mar 1884 Appointed - 25 Jan 1906 Died)
Désiré Felicien François Joseph Mercier † (21 Feb 1906 Appointed - 23 Jan 1926 Died)
Jozef-Ernest van Roey † (12 Mar 1926 Appointed - 6 Aug 1961 Died)
Leo Jozef Suenens † (24 Nov 1961 Appointed - 4 Oct 1979 Retired)
Godfried Danneels † (19 Dec 1979 Appointed - 18 Jan 2010 Retired)
André-Joseph (Mutien) Léonard (18 Jan 2010 Appointed - 6 Nov 2015 Retired)
Jozef De Kesel (6 Nov 2015 Appointed - 22 Jun 2023 Retired)
Luc Terlinden (22 Jun 2023 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Archdiocese of Mechelen
12 May 1559	Erected	Diocese of Cambrai Diocese of Liège	Archdiocese of Mechelen (erected)
29 November 1801	Territory Added	Diocese of Antwerpen {Antwerp, Anvers} (suppressed)	Archdiocese of Mechelen
24 February 1958	Territory Added	Diocese of Gent {Ghent, Gand} (Parish of Saint Anne)	Archdiocese of Mechelen
8 December 1961	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Mechelen	Diocese of Antwerpen {Antwerp} (erected)
Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}
8 December 1961	Name Changed	Archdiocese of Mechelen	Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}
28 July 1965	Territory Added	Diocese of Tournai {Doornik} (Kapelle-S. Petri, Bever-Akrenbos, Bever-S. Martini)	Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}
28 July 1965	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels} (Vert-Chemin, Warresaix)	Diocese of Tournai {Doornik}
30 November 1977	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels} (St. John the Evangelist in Konings-Hooikt and St. Joseph in Peulis)	Diocese of Antwerpen {Antwerp}
30 November 1977	Territory Lost	Diocese of Liège (Luik, Lüttich) (St. Remigius in Landenne, B. M. V. Auxiliatrix in Petit-Wäret, St. Stephen in Seilles and SS. Peter and Paul in Povedroux) Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels} (S. Philibert in Noville-sur-Mehaigne) Diocese of Tournai {Doornik} (St. Lambert in Boignée)	Diocese of Namur {Namen}

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Archdiocese of Mechelen

1950 3,093,819 .0% 3,186 2,129 5,315 0 4,546 16,202 895 ap1951

Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}

1969 2,326,496 .0% 1,925 1,925 0 6,780 658 ap1971

1980 2,278,000 2,504,000 91.0% 1,554 1,987 3,541 643 68 2,408 6,474 657 ap1981

1990 2,000,000 2,373,526 84.3% 1,273 1,240 2,513 795 89 1,778 4,965 687 ap1991

1999 1,600,000 2,470,918 64.8% 1,067 1,149 2,216 722 95 1,586 3,750 677 ap2000

2000 1,800,000 2,500,000 72.0% 1,022 1,143 2,165 831 105 1,654 3,534 677 ap2001

2001 1,800,000 2,514,185 71.6% 977 1,143 2,120 849 101 1,528 3,380 677 ap2002

2002 1,600,000 2,513,783 63.6% 934 1,142 2,076 770 105 1,525 3,274 677 ap2003

2003 1,600,000 2,508,873 63.8% 911 1,142 2,053 779 100 1,477 3,139 677 ap2004

2004 1,600,000 2,500,000 64.0% 892 1,142 2,034 786 98 1,452 2,972 678 ap2005

2013 1,801,000 2,815,842 64.0% 670 1,142 1,812 993 88 1,448 1,657 659 ap2014

2016 1,818,000 2,842,000 64.0% 601 1,142 1,743 1,043 91 1,423 1,847 645 ap2017

2019 1,886,000 2,950,000 63.9% 509 1,006 1,515 1,244 92 1,286 1,473 593 ap2020

2021 1,894,700 2,963,730 63.9% 431 1,006 1,437 1,318 91 1,280 1,204 573 ap2022

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Mechelen
1950		3,093,819	.0%	3,186	2,129	5,315	0		4,546	16,202	895	ap1951
Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}
1969		2,326,496	.0%	1,925		1,925	0			6,780	658	ap1971
1980	2,278,000	2,504,000	91.0%	1,554	1,987	3,541	643	68	2,408	6,474	657	ap1981
1990	2,000,000	2,373,526	84.3%	1,273	1,240	2,513	795	89	1,778	4,965	687	ap1991
1999	1,600,000	2,470,918	64.8%	1,067	1,149	2,216	722	95	1,586	3,750	677	ap2000
2000	1,800,000	2,500,000	72.0%	1,022	1,143	2,165	831	105	1,654	3,534	677	ap2001
2001	1,800,000	2,514,185	71.6%	977	1,143	2,120	849	101	1,528	3,380	677	ap2002
2002	1,600,000	2,513,783	63.6%	934	1,142	2,076	770	105	1,525	3,274	677	ap2003
2003	1,600,000	2,508,873	63.8%	911	1,142	2,053	779	100	1,477	3,139	677	ap2004
2004	1,600,000	2,500,000	64.0%	892	1,142	2,034	786	98	1,452	2,972	678	ap2005
2013	1,801,000	2,815,842	64.0%	670	1,142	1,812	993	88	1,448	1,657	659	ap2014
2016	1,818,000	2,842,000	64.0%	601	1,142	1,743	1,043	91	1,423	1,847	645	ap2017
2019	1,886,000	2,950,000	63.9%	509	1,006	1,515	1,244	92	1,286	1,473	593	ap2020
2021	1,894,700	2,963,730	63.9%	431	1,006	1,437	1,318	91	1,280	1,204	573	ap2022

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Jan De Bie (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Mar 1987 to 3 Jan 2009)
Jozef De Kesel (Auxiliary Bishop: 20 Mar 2002 to 25 Jun 2010; Archbishop: 6 Nov 2015 to 22 Jun 2023)
Albert Jean Charles Ghislain Houssiau (Priest: 6 Feb 1949 to 17 Mar 1986)
Jean-Luc Hudsyn (Priest: 24 Jun 1972; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Feb 2011 to 22 Nov 2023)
Jean Kockerols (Priest: 18 Sep 1993; Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Feb 2011)
André-Joseph (Mutien) Léonard (Archbishop: 18 Jan 2010 to 6 Nov 2015)
Christian Rodembourg, M.S.A.
Luc Terlinden (Deacon: 16 Oct 1998; Priest: 18 Sep 1999; Archbishop: 22 Jun 2023 - )
Rémy Victor Vancottem (Priest: 27 Jun 1969; Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Feb 1982 to 31 May 2010)
Koenraad Vanhoutte (Auxiliary Bishop: 18 May 2018)
Lucas Van Looy, S.D.B.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Charles André Anthonis † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Mar 1868 to 6 Dec 1893)
Jaak Bax, C.I.C.M. †
Alphonse de Berghes † (Archbishop: 17 Nov 1670 to 7 Jun 1689)
Jean-Armand de Bessuéjouls Roquelaure † (Archbishop: 14 Apr 1802 to 25 Mar 1808)
Jacques Boonen † (Archbishop: 13 Oct 1621 to 30 Jun 1655)
Pierre Bouckaert, S.J. †
Felix Willem Antonius Brenart †
Joseph-Léon Cardijn † (Priest: 22 Sep 1906 to 15 Feb 1965)
Étienne Joseph Carton de Wiart † (Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Jun 1934 to 8 Jul 1945)
André Creusen † (Archbishop: 9 Apr 1657 to 8 Nov 1666)
Amédée Marie Léon Crooy (Crooij) † (Priest: 20 Sep 1891 to 6 Dec 1915)
Constantin Daems, C.I.C.M. †
Godfried Danneels † (Archbishop: 19 Dec 1979 to 18 Jan 2010)
Victor-Auguste-Isidore Dechamps, C.SS.R. † (Priest: 20 Dec 1834 to 13 Jun 1836; Archbishop: 20 Dec 1867 to 29 Sep 1883)
Maximilien de Fürstenberg † (Priest: 9 Aug 1931 to 14 Mar 1949)
Luc Alfons De Hovre, S.J. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Feb 1982 to 20 Mar 2002)
Lodewijk-Jozef Delebecque † (Priest: 24 May 1822 to 13 Sep 1838)
Emiel-Jozef De Smedt † (Priest: 29 Sep 1933; Auxiliary Bishop: 16 May 1950 to 31 Jul 1952)
Dominique-Georges-Frédéric Dufour de Pradt † (Archbishop: 27 Mar 1809 to 16 Sep 1815)
Modestus Johannes-Baptiste Everaerts, O.F.M. †
Joannes-Henricus von Frankenberg † (Archbishop: 28 May 1759 to 20 Nov 1801)
Xavier Geeraerts, M. Afr. †
Pierre-Lambert Goossens † (Priest: 21 Dec 1850 to 1 Jun 1883; Archbishop: 24 Mar 1884 to 25 Jan 1906)
Joannes Hauchin † (Archbishop: 24 Jan 1583 to 5 Jan 1589)
Thomas Philip Wallrad d’Hénin-Létard d’Alsace-Boussut de Chimay † (Archbishop: 16 Dec 1715 to 5 Jan 1759)
Jacobus Jacobs, O. Praem. †
Jean Jadot † (Priest: 11 Feb 1934 to 23 Feb 1968)
Jean-Baptiste Janssens, S.J. †
Louis Janssens, C.I.C.M. †
Georges-Marie-Joseph-Hubert-Ghislain de Jonghe d’Ardoye, M.E.P. †
Paul Lanneau † (Priest: 24 Jul 1949; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Feb 1982 to 20 Mar 2002)
Louis Joseph Legraive † (Priest: 19 Sep 1885; Auxiliary Bishop: 16 Oct 1907 to 10 Jun 1940)
Léon Lemmens † (Auxiliary Bishop: 22 Feb 2011 to 2 Jun 2017)
Alphonse Joseph Matthysen (Matthijsen), M. Afr. †
François Antoine Marie Constantin de Méan et de Beaurieux † (Archbishop: 28 Jul 1817 to 15 Jan 1831)
Joseph Mees † (Priest: 4 Apr 1948 to 14 Jun 1969)
Désiré Felicien François Joseph Mercier † (Priest: 4 Apr 1874; Archbishop: 21 Feb 1906 to 23 Jan 1926)
Zacharie de Metz †
Christoph Bartholomäus Anton Migazzi Von Waal Und Sonnenthurn † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 20 Sep 1751 to 18 Jul 1756)
Hubert Otto, C.I.C.M. †
Antoine Perrenot de Granvella † (Archbishop: 10 Mar 1561 to 24 Jan 1583)
Humbertus Guilielmus de Precipiano † (Archbishop: 8 May 1690 to 9 Jun 1711)
Felicissimus Alphonse Raeymaeckers, O.F.M. Cap. †
Georges Désiré Raeymaeckers, O. Praem. †
Pepin de Rosa, O.P. † (Auxiliary Bishop: 18 Mar 1562 to 7 Aug 1569)
Paul Constant Schoenmaekers † (Auxiliary Bishop: 8 Sep 1952 to 8 Jan 1986)
Engelbert Sterckx † (Priest: 18 Feb 1815; Archbishop: 24 Feb 1832 to 4 Dec 1867)
Leo Jozef Suenens † (Priest: 4 Sep 1927; Auxiliary Bishop: 12 Nov 1945; Archbishop: 24 Nov 1961 to 4 Oct 1979)
Jérôme-Josse Van Aertselaer, C.I.C.M. †
Alfons Van Buggenhout, C.I.C.M. †
Jean Marie van Cauwenbergh † (Priest: 20 Sep 1902; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Dec 1930 to 14 Apr 1950)
Alphonse Marie Van den Bosch, C.SS.R. †
Victor-Jean-Joseph-Marie van den Branden de Reeth † (Priest: 24 Sep 1864; Auxiliary Bishop: 14 Nov 1879 to 27 Feb 1909)
Matthias Van den Hove (Hovius) † (Archbishop: 25 Sep 1595 to 30 May 1620)
Pierre van den Perre †
Josephus Franciscus van der Stappen † (Auxiliary Bishop: 15 Jun 1893 to 28 Jul 1908)
Louis Van Dyck (Dijck), C.I.C.M. †
Charles Joseph van Melckebeke, C.I.C.M. †
Jozef-Ernest van Roey † (Priest: 18 Sep 1897; Archbishop: 12 Mar 1926 to 6 Aug 1961)
Charles Alphonse Armand Vanuytven, O. Praem. †
Honoré Marie Van Waeyenbergh † (Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Sep 1954 to 19 Jul 1971)
Theophiel (Théophile) Verbist, C.I.C.M. † (Priest: 18 Sep 1847 to 19 Nov 1862)
Theotimus Jozef Verhaegen, O.F.M. †
Alphonse Verwimp, S.J. †
Ghislain de Vroede † (Auxiliary Bishop: 13 Mar 1570 to 14 Aug 1579)
Jean de Wachtendonck † (Archbishop: 12 Mar 1668 to 23 Jun 1668)
Antoine Alphonse de Wachter † (Priest: 20 Sep 1879; Auxiliary Bishop: 21 Jun 1909 to 15 Nov 1932)
Joseph Ignace Waterschoot, O. Praem. †

Source(s)

Archdiocese of Mechelen
- Hierarchia Catholica, Volume 3, Page 239
- Series Episcoporum Ecclesiae Catholicae, Volume 1, Page 250
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 50, Page 539, and Page 540
Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 54, Page 765, and Page 766
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 57, Page 1,008, and Page 1,009

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Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussel {Malines-Brussels}

Archidioecesis Mechliniensis-Bruxellensis