Rt. Rev. Joseph Bernard Louis Willigers was born on 26th October 1930 in Gronsveld, The Netherlands, to Henri Willigers and Clara Pardon.
He attended primary school between 1937 and 1943, then pursued his secondary education at Veldeke College, a Catholic gymnasium in Maastricht, from 1943 to 1949.

Inspired by his uncle, a Dominican missionary in Vietnam, and encouraged by a parish curate connected to the Mill Hill Missionaries, Joseph felt called to missionary life. On 14th September 1949, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, he joined the Philosophicum of Roosendaal in the Netherlands for his priestly formation (1949 – 1951).

He then continued his theology studies at St. Joseph’s College, Mill Hill, London, completing them in 1955.

Fr. Joseph Willigers was ordained a priest on 10th July 1955 in the Society of the Mill Hill Missionaries (M.H.M.) by Cardinal Bernard Griffin at Mill Hill, London.

That same year, he was sent to Rome for further studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a Master’s degree and Doctorate in Canon Law (1955 – 1958).

Fr. Willigers was posted to Uganda in May 1959. His first appointment was at Ggaba Major Seminary in Kampala, where he taught Canon Law until December 1959. He later served as Assistant Parish Priest at Naggalama, where he learned Luganda and became affectionately known as “Mugerwa” after being incorporated into the Monkey Clan.

In April 1960, he was transferred to Kenya, serving in the Diocese of Kisumu at Shikoti Parish among the Luo people (1960 – 1962), later at Kaiboi Parish (1962 – 1965), and eventually became Vicar General to Bishop John de Reeper of Kisumu.

By early 1967, he was serving as Parish Priest at Chepterit Parish among the Nandi people in Western Kenya.

While at Chepterit, on 13th July 1967, Rev. Msgr. Joseph Willigers was appointed First Bishop of the Diocese of Jinja by His Holiness Pope Paul VI.

He later recounted how this came as a complete surprise, discovering his appointment letter among other mail at the post office. In November 1967, he travelled to visit his new diocese. Reaching Busowa, he stopped, knelt under a tree, and prayed, entrusting his mission to God.

He officially took canonical possession of the Diocese on 12th November 1967, and was ordained bishop on 3rd December 1967 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Jinja.

When Bishop Willigers took over, the Diocese of Jinja had:

• Only four indigenous priests — Frs. Thomas Kasadha, Ben Kizza, Sylvester Mudago, and John Baptist Musana.
• About 164,000 Catholics out of a population of 770,000.
• Only four religious congregations (Mill Hill Missionaries, Franciscan Sisters, Little Sisters, and Banakaroli Brothers).

By the time of his retirement in April 2010, the diocese had grown remarkably:

• Over 70 indigenous priests were trained under his guidance.
• 25 religious congregations serving across Busoga in education, health, and social ministries.

Bishop Willigers’ episcopate began amid Uganda’s political instability — from the 1966 “Mengo Crisis” and the 1971 military coup, to President Idi Amin’s 1972 expulsion of missionaries.

Despite these trials, Bishop Willigers remained steadfast, guiding the diocese through periods of fear and uncertainty. In Fr. Robert O’Neil’s book “Mission to the Upper Nile”, Fr. Arnold Jurgens recalls visiting Bishop Willigers in Jinja when Amin’s government accused missionaries of plotting with Israel — a baseless claim that left many missionaries expelled within 72 hours.

Bishop Willigers’ episcopal motto, “De Petra Melle” (“From the Rock, Honey”), reflected his vision for Busoga — that even from hard ground, sweetness and grace could emerge.

He described the Basoga as “obedient and devoted,” and dedicated his life to uplifting them spiritually, socially, and economically.

Bishop Willigers’ compassion reached beyond the Catholic community:

• Education: He promoted learning for priests, religious, and laypeople alike — often paying school fees for needy students himself.
• Health & Social Work: He established homes for the vulnerable — Mpumudde Home of the Elderly, St. Muggaga Boys’ Home, and Iganga Babies’ Home.
• Leprosy Ministry: He deeply cared for lepers at Buluuba Hospital, visiting them regularly and providing clothing every Christmas.
• Justice and Peace Commission: He founded this diocesan body to promote civic education, human rights, and social harmony.

His compassion even extended to personal heroism — once rescuing two men from a capsized boat on Lake Victoria.

Bishop Willigers was a teacher of unity and discipline.
Among his pastoral letters, one notable document dated 5th March 1999 titled “Relationships between Priest-Members of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and the Parishes in which They are Stationed” sought to foster harmony and cooperation among clergy.

After 43 years as Bishop of Jinja, Bishop Willigers retired in April 2010, leaving behind a vibrant, self-sustaining diocese.

He passed away on 30th September 2012 in the Netherlands.
To this day, the Christian community of Busoga fondly remembers him as “the Father of the Diocese of Jinja.”