AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Bishop of De Aar resigns, successor appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on July 17, 2009, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of De Aar (South Africa) presented by Bishop Joseph James Potocnak, SCI, in conformity with the Code of Canon Law, canon 401 § 1. The Holy Father appointed Fr. Adam Leszek Musialek, SCI, Pastor of Pietermaritzburg, in the Archdiocese of Durban, as the Bishop of De Aar (South Africa).
Fr. Adam Leszek Musialek, SCI was born on May 9, 1957 in Wieruszow, in Poland, Diocese of Kalisz. He made his first vows in the Institute of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (“Dehoniani”) on September 11, 1977 and later made perpetual vows on December 6, 1981. He was ordained a priest on June 9, 1983. He has since ministered as follows: 1983-1984: parish vicar, Chimelow; 1984-1986: assistant to the Master of Novices, Stopnica; 1986-1987: English language studies in the United States; 1987-1995: parish priest in De Aar;1995-2001: Provincial Superior; 2001-2006: Director of the Dehonian House of Studies in Merryville, Pietermaritzburg; 2006-2007: sabbatical year in Poland; since 2007: parish priest in Pietermaritzburg (Archdiocese of Durban).
The Diocese of De Aar was erected in 1967 and is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Cape Town. It has an area of 67,248 km. sq. and a population of 165,500 inhabitants, of which 5,824 are Catholic. It has 8 parishes, 8 priests (4 diocesan and 4 religious) and 27 sisters. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 17/7/2009)