who will be laid to rest in the crypt of the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral Basilica,” said Monsignor Karel Choennie, the current Bishop of Paramaribo. De Bekker will be laid to rest next to the tomb of Monsignor Aloysius Zichem. Zichem was also a former bishop of Paramaribo. Bishop Choennie explained that it is tradition to lay a bishop who has passed away in the main church of the diocese which in this case is the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral Basilica. The chair of the bishop is located in this House of prayer. Bishop Choennie explained that with the passing of De Bekker Suriname does not only lose a former bishop but also an educator, administrator, pastor and bridge builder who made an important contribution to the development of the church and education in Suriname, for more than 5 decades. After De Bekker had turned 75 Pope Francis granted him an honorable ‘discharge’ on May 31st, 2014. De Bekker had worked as a bishop for eight and a half years. Akthough he was no longer a bishop he remained active within the church. De Bekker worked as a pastor in the Saint Thaddeus Parish at Groningen and he also kept working towards the construction of a new church for the residents of Groningen. On Saturday, June 13th a special prayer service will be held in the Saint Alfons Church at 7 p.m. De Bekker will be laid to rest on Sunday, June 14th at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral Basilica. The funeral service will commence at 1 p.m. The condolence book will be available at the Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral Basilica from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. in the Cathedral on Friday, June 12th.