sentences:  Born in Velen, Averkamp was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Ettore Cunial on October 10, 1954.On January 18, 1973, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Münster and Titular Bishop of "Thapsus".Averkamp received his episcopal consecration on the following February 24 from Bishop Heinrich Tenhumberg, with Bishops Heinrich Baaken and Laurenz Böggering serving as co-consecrators.