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Antonius Lambertus Maria Hurkmans (Someren, Netherlands, 3 August 1944) is Bishop emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch. His motto is: Sancti Spiritus In virtute (The power of the Holy Spirit).
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Early years and calling to the priesthood
Antoon Hurkmans grew up in a farming family of nine children. He took his vegetable and grocery diploma and had really his own grocery store in Echt, Netherlands. Because he felt called to the priesthood, he sold his shop and then studied at the College for Late Vocations in Warnsveld. In 1966 he went to the Latin School in Gemert and three years later he spent some time in the Grimbergen Abbey, Belgium. In 1972 Hurkmans left the monastery and went to study theology at the Tilburg University, where he received his doctorate in 1978.
Ecclesiastical career
Antoon Hurkmans was ordained priest on 22 December 1979 by Bishop Johannes Bluyssen. He then worked in Waalwijk (Saint Anthony Parish), from December 1, 1980 as pastor. Monsignor Johannes Gerardus ter Schure appointed him in August 1987 rector of the new seminary, St. John's Centre. In March 1988 he became vicar general and provost (religion) of the cathedral chapter of the Roman Catholic Diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch. Because of his merits for the seminary Pope John Paul II appointed him on his birthday in 1994 Honorary prelate and Monsignor. The pope appointed him bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch in June 1998. On August 29, 1998 he was consecrated bishop by Johannes Gerardus ter Schure, Johannes Bluyssen, Martinus Petrus Maria Muskens, Frans Wiertz and Joseph Frans Lescrauwaet. Hurkmans was faced from the start with a declining number of priests, then he chose, like other dioceses, for the removal of a layer in blankets and itinerant catechists. In 2010 he received two auxiliary bishops beside him (Robertus Gerardus Leonia Maria Mutsaerts and Johannes Wilhelmus Maria Liesen). In the discussion in the spring of 2010 if practicing homosexuals may receive the Eucharist, Hurkmans supported young pastor Luc Buyens in Reusel in his refuse to give to a homosexual, in this case being known as a practicing homosexual belonging to Prince Carnival in Gijs den Usterthe the Eucharist. The Dutch gay movement then protested massively against this attitude to the High Mass in Den Bosch.