Roman Catholic Diocese mourns passing of Father Geyskens

The Roman Catholic Diocese announced that it was shocked to hear that Father Gerard Geyskens had passed away on Wednesday. Father Geyskens’ death came as a shock even though people knew that he had been sick for several weeks. Father Geyskens reportedly passed away in Belgium. “The Roman Catholic Diocese and the entire nation have lost a hard worker with his passing,” said Esteban Kross, acting head of the Roman Catholic Diocese, in response to the news.

Father Geyskens was somebody who was always willing to help out everybody and he was also willing to receive visits from rich and poor people every day. Father Kross pointed out that Father Geyskens encouraged many people within the Diocese to discover their talents and to further develop them. “He was beloved by many and he also inspired and many people brought together.”

“Geyskens had worked for the Diocese for 30 years and Paramaribo North was his ‘jurisdiction’. He also was a good organizer,” said Father Kross who offered his condolences to the entire nation and in particular Father Geyskens’ family and the entire Roman Catholic community. “We had not expected this even though we know that he was sick,” said the acting head.

Kross pointed out that Geyskens was diagnosed with cancer twice but that he received treatment because it had been detected at an early stage. He suffered a stroke in 2015 and was told not to exert himself. He continued to work for the Roman Catholic Diocese but in August 2017 he decided to return to his native country, Belgium, to spend his time in the Monastery of the Salvatorians in Hamont with his brother, Father René. Several weeks ago cancer was once detected in his body but it had already spread throughout his entire body.