Roman Catholic Archbishop. Served as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Panama from March 6, 1955 until his death. Dutch born, Beckmann attended seminary in France and was ordained into the priesthood in Paris on July 13, 1913, Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was assigned to Central America, doing missionary work in Guatamala, Panama, and El Salvador. He settled in Panama City in 1931, upon his appointment as rector of Archbishop Rojas' seminary, where he trained native clergy. In 1940, he simultaneously became Bishop of Telmissus and Auxiliary Bishop under Archbishop Maiztegui. Though his predessesor died in 1943, World War II delayed Beckmann's succession, which took place on January 13, 1945. In 1955, he attained the status of metropolitan archbishop by creating a new diocese consisting of Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro, consecrating Tomas Clavel Mendez as Bishop of David. During his tenure, he established both a bilingual religious radio station and the San Vicente de Paul parochial school for boys, while utilizing American priests in order to invigorate Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro. He experienced a fatal heart attack on the steps of Saint Peter's Basilica while attending the second Vatican Council. He was accompanied at the time by bishops Tomas Clavel Mendez and Marcos McGrath, both of whom would eventually succeed him as archbishop.
Roman Catholic Archbishop. Served as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Panama from March 6, 1955 until his death. Dutch born, Beckmann attended seminary in France and was ordained into the priesthood in Paris on July 13, 1913, Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was assigned to Central America, doing missionary work in Guatamala, Panama, and El Salvador. He settled in Panama City in 1931, upon his appointment as rector of Archbishop Rojas' seminary, where he trained native clergy. In 1940, he simultaneously became Bishop of Telmissus and Auxiliary Bishop under Archbishop Maiztegui. Though his predessesor died in 1943, World War II delayed Beckmann's succession, which took place on January 13, 1945. In 1955, he attained the status of metropolitan archbishop by creating a new diocese consisting of Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro, consecrating Tomas Clavel Mendez as Bishop of David. During his tenure, he established both a bilingual religious radio station and the San Vicente de Paul parochial school for boys, while utilizing American priests in order to invigorate Chiriqui and Bocas del Toro. He experienced a fatal heart attack on the steps of Saint Peter's Basilica while attending the second Vatican Council. He was accompanied at the time by bishops Tomas Clavel Mendez and Marcos McGrath, both of whom would eventually succeed him as archbishop.
Bio by: BluGraver
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