Frans Haarsma

Who was Frans Haarsma?

Frans Haarsma was a Roman Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Utrecht. He was a theologian and emeritus Professor in Pastoral Theology at the Radboud University Nijmegen.

In his boyhood there was hardly room enough in the big butcher's family and therefore young Frans grew up at the house of an uncle and aunt who were without children. There he could find his way through the seminaries to the priesthood and to higher studies, including a doctorate.

In 1967 in the Netherlands all the Dutch seminaries were discontinued and Haarsma was asked to teach Pastoral Theology at the University in Nijmegen.

In the years before, during and after the Second Vatican Council Haarsma was involved in almost everything in the Dutch catholic and ecumenical field.

As a very prominent priest of the Archdiocese his name was often mentioned as a possible successor for Cardinal Alfrink, who was nearing retirement. Actually Alfrink was succeeded by Cardinal Willebrands.

Haarsma saw many fellow priests leave the priesthood, to marry or even to never set foot in a church again. Haarsma was different.