Jacobus Nelissen is a Catholic priest born in the Netherlands who became the first Apostolic Prefect of Batavia leading the local Church from the year 1808 until 1817.
Their departure was aimed at establishing an apostolic prefecture at the Cape of Good Hope and providing pastoral care to the Dutch people there.
[2] On May 8, 1807, the leadership of the Catholic church in Rome received Napoleon's approval to establish the Apostolic Prefecture of the Dutch East Indies.
[3] Nelissen and Prinsen left for the Dutch East Indies on July 22, 1807, after receiving approval in the form of a decree from Lodewijk.
The first public eucharist celebration in Batavia was held at the home of Doctor FCH Assmuss who served as Head of the Health Service on April 10, 1808.