Constant Jurgens

Constant (Constancio) Jurgens, C.I.C.M., D.D. (12 December 1879 – 3 June 1952), was a Dutch CICM Missionary and an educator who served as the third Bishop of Tuguegarao.

Early life and education

Jurgens was born on December 12, 1879 at Oss, province of North Braband, the Netherlands. Coming from an affluent family, his parents were owners of butter and cheese factories in Europe, which eventually became part of Unilever. He eventually entered the Haaren Seminary and was ordained to the priesthood in 1905. Afterwards he joined the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Episcopate

In 1928, Jurgens was appointed by Pope Pius XI as Bishop of Tuguegarao. He was consecrated bishop by Bishop Arnold Frans Diepen of Hertogenbosch, together with Bishops Pieter Adriaan Willem Hopmans and Gilles de Boeck as co-consecrators. Bishop Jurgens' coat of arms bears the motto "" which translates into "To the Eucharistic Jesus though Mary".

As bishop, Jurgens conducted formation for their catechists inside his episcopal residence, and published catechetical materials for children. In exchange for his help in financing the construction of the Christ the King Mission Seminary, in 1933, the Society of the Divine Word accepted his request to assist in the pastoral care of his diocese. He also convoked the Third Diocesan Catholic Synod in 1935 to discuss matters concerning their pastoral governance.

Although he had to close their San Jacinto Seminary in 1932 due to lack of funding, he was able to open the Cagayan Valley Atheneum, an all-boys school in Tuguegarao, in 1938. After the war, the school was managed by the Jesuits and converted it as Ateneo de Tuguegarao, until its closure in 1962.

During World War II, Jurgens was among the clergy who were interned at the Los Baños Internment Camp. He lived together with the other religious who were sent in the camp as civilian internees. Apostolic Delegate Guglielmo Piani then formed the Prelate Nullius Los Baños Internment Camp to accommodate the spiritual needs of the interned clergy and civilian faithful.

After the war, he led the reconstruction of Catholic-owned structures damaged by World War II.. In 1948, he invited the La Salette Missionaries to minister in Isabela due to the lack of priests in the said province .

Retirement and death

His imprisonment during the war took a toll on his health. In 1950, he resigned from his episcopal see and was appointed as Titular Bishop of Acarassus. He then lived at the CICM Procuration House in Quezon City until his death on June 3, 1952. His body was transported back to Tuguegarao, and was buried at the Tuguegarao Cathedral.