Helmut Reckter

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Helmut Reckter SJ (born November 24, 1933 in Arenberg near Koblenz , † March 10, 2004 in Chinhoyi , Zimbabwe ) was a German Roman Catholic missionary in Zimbabwe and the first bishop of Chinhoyi .

Life

Helmut Reckter attended elementary school in Arenberg from 1940 to 1946 and switched to Görres-Gymnasium in Koblenz. After graduating from high school in 1954, he first studied theology for five semesters at the seminary in Trier . There he entered the Jesuit order and completed his novitiate from 1956 to 1958. From 1958 to 1962 he studied philosophy in Munich-Pullach . This was followed by an internship in the Sinoia Mission in Rhodesia . There he taught as a school prefect in mission schools. He then continued to study theology in Dublin / Ireland and was ordained a priest there in 1964. In 1966 he returned to the Sinoia Mission as a priest. In 1969 he became the regional superior of the German Jesuits in Rhodesia, which he remained until 1974.

On February 22, 1974 Reckter was appointed Apostolic Prefect of Sinoia. In 1982 the prefecture was renamed Chinhoyi and on October 28, 1985 it was made a diocese . At the same time, Reckter was appointed first bishop. He received the episcopal ordination on January 5, 1986 by the Archbishop of Salisbury Patrick Fani Chakaipa ; Co - consecrators were the Pro-Nuncio of Zimbabwe, Archbishop Patrick Coveney and the Bishop of Gweru , Tobias Wunganayi Chiginya .

From 1990 to 1994 Helmut Reckter was chairman of the Bishops' Conference of Zimbabwe. In this capacity he took part in the Synod of Bishops for Africa in Rome in 1994 . He was also President of the Catholic Development Commission in South Africa and directed the formation of priests throughout Zimbabwe. Reckter organized many aid projects for the population. He died of heart failure.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ List of presidents of the Bishops' Conference in Zimbabwe at www.gcatholic.org (in English)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Reckter, Helmut
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German missionary in Zimbabwe and first bishop of Chinhoyi
DATE OF BIRTH November 24, 1933
PLACE OF BIRTH Arenberg near Koblenz
DATE OF DEATH March 10, 2004
Place of death Chinhoyi , Zimbabwe