Bishop Ronald Gerhardus Wilhelmus Cornelissen

On this page, you will find information about Msgr. Ronald Cornelissen, who has served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden since October 11, 2025. About the Bishop: Msgr. R.G.W. Cornelissen was born on December 12, 1964, in Gaanderen. He grew up as the youngest of four children. After completing secondary school, he studied theology in Utrecht, where he also underwent priestly formation. He was ordained a priest in 1996 at St. Catherine's Cathedral in Utrecht. Subsequently, he served in various parishes, including those in the Salland and Twente regions. From 2001 to 2009, he was a parish priest in Northeast Twente. From 2009 onwards, Msgr. Cornelissen served as Episcopal Vicar for the Deventer Vicariate within the Archdiocese of Utrecht. In this role, he supported and guided parishes, pastoral teams, and administrators. He also paid special attention to the areas of marriage and family life. In the years leading up to his appointment as bishop, he also served as a parish priest in locations such as Deventer, Raalte, and Rijssen. Msgr. Cornelissen has been involved in pilgrimages for many years, particularly to Lourdes and Kevelaer. In 2015, he was appointed Honorary Chaplain of the Grotto of Lourdes. Since 2021, he has been a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. He was ordained bishop on October 11, 2025, at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Groningen. Since then, he has served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Groningen-Leeuwarden. Episcopal Ordination: On Monday, July 7, at 12:00 PM, it was announced by the Vatican in Rome and at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Groningen that Pope Leo XIV had appointed the priest Msgr. Ronald G.W. Cornelissen as the 6th Bishop of Groningen-Leeuwarden. He was ordained bishop on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Msgr. Cornelissen undertook his priestly formation at the Ariënskonvikt in Utrecht and the then-Catholic Theological University of Utrecht. He was ordained a priest in the autumn of 1996. Since then, he has been active for some 30 years in parish pastoral work within the Archdiocese of Utrecht. In addition, he was involved in organizing and guiding pilgrimages. In 2009, Archbishop Wim Eijk appointed him regional vicar of the Deventer vicariate, a role he combined with the diocesan-wide portfolio of ‘Marriage and Family’. Later, he also assumed administrative responsibility for several parishes. The actual taking possession of the episcopal see of Groningen-Leeuwarden follows Msgr. Cornelissen’s episcopal ordination. This took place on October 11, 2025. Curriculum Vitae of Msgr. Ronald Gerhardus Wilhelmus Cornelissen. Born on December 12, 1964, in Gaanderen (Municipality of Doetinchem); youngest of four children. Honorary Chaplain of the Grotto at Lourdes since 2015; Member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem since 2021. Ordinations: Diaconal ordination on January 27, 1996; priestly ordination on October 19, 1996; both at St. Catherine’s Cathedral in Utrecht by Adrianus Cardinal Simonis. Education: Primary school in Gaanderen: St. Augustinus School; Isala College in Silvolde (HAVO and VWO); priestly formation at Ariënskonvikt and KTHU/KTUU (Catholic Theological University) in Utrecht. Early 1990s: pastoral internship in Raalte, at the St. Franciscushof psychiatric hospital; pastoral year in the collaborating parishes of Kampen, IJsselmuiden, and Hasselt. 2005–2007: Postgraduate program at LUCE specializing in Church Building/Development. Work experience: After graduating, appointed as a candidate for the priesthood; following ordination, served as parish vicar in the parishes of Northeast Salland (the parishes of De Belte, Dedemsvaart, Hardenberg, and Slagharen). Appointed parish priest of the parishes in Beuningen, De Lutte, Denekamp, and Noord Deurningen on February 1, 2001. From 2004, parish priest of the Lumen Christi Northeast Twente parish cluster (which includes the parishes of Lattrop, Ootmarsum, and Tilligte in addition to Beuningen, De Lutte, Denekamp, and Noord Deurningen). Also team leader of the pastoral team within this cluster. From February 2, 2009, Episcopal Vicar (Regional Vicar) of Deventer (representing the Archbishop of Utrecht in the province of Overijssel and Eastern Flevoland) and also Episcopal Vicar for the area of marriage and family. As vicar, maintained contact with pastoral team members, administrators, and confirmands (administering the sacrament of Confirmation on behalf of the Archbishop). Additionally, held responsibilities within the diocesan administration. Member of the Extended Diocesan Staff, the Council of Vicars, and the Advisory Committee on Pastoral Organization for the Archdiocese of Utrecht; chair of the Marriage and Family Working Group and the Diocesan Pilgrimage Working Group; member of the Presbyteral Council. From November 15, 2017, in addition to serving as Episcopal Vicar (50%), also served as parish priest (50%) for the St. Lebuinus (Deventer) and Holy Cross (Raalte) parishes. From September 1, 2019, in addition to serving as Episcopal Vicar (40%) and parish priest (40%) for the collaborating St. Lebuinus (Deventer) and Holy Cross (Raalte) parishes, also served as parish priest (20%) for the St. Marcellinus parish (Rijssen/Enter). Pilgrimages: Involved in pilgrimages to Lourdes since 1997, initially as a hotel chaplain. From 2003, served as chief chaplain/pastoral team leader for Lourdes pilgrimages. Closely involved in pilgrimages to Kevelaer since 2001—first from Twente, later from Salland. Organized and led numerous pilgrimages on behalf of the parishes and the Archdiocese to the Holy Land (Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece), as well as to Rome, Fatima, Poland, Luxembourg (Echternach), and Ireland.