AFRICA/MADAGASCAR - Auxiliary of Antananarivo appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on March 25, 2010, appointed as Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Antananarivo (Madagascar), Fr. Jean de Dieu Raoelison, Professor of Theology at the Regional Major Seminary of Faliarivo (Antananarivo) and Secretary of the Malagasy Bishops' Conference. He was assigned the titular see of Corniculana.
Fr. Jean de Dieu Raoelison was born July 31, 1963 in Arivonimamo, Archdiocese of Antananarivo. He studied primary school in a private Catholic school, before entering the Ambohipo Minor Seminary (1981-1986). After a year of training at the center of the Christian Family Movement and a second year of internship in the missionary District of Ambohitsoabe (1987-1988), he studied philosophy in the Regional Major Seminary of Antsirabe (1988-1991), and theology in the Major Seminary of Ambatoroka (1993-1996), Antananarivo, after completing two years of regency (1991-1993). He completed his theological studies at Ambatoroka, obtaining a licentiate in the Catholic Institute of Madagascar (ICM) in 1998. He was ordained a priest on September 7, 1996. After his ordination, he carried out the following tasks: 1996-1998: Vicar in the parish of Ilanivato, 1998-2000: Pastor in Fenoarivo, 2000-2003: Professor at the Regional Major Seminary of Philosophy in Antsirabe, 2003-2004: "Fidei Donum" priest in the parish of Lamoli-Urbino (Italy) 2004-2008: Studies for a Doctorate in Theology at the Theological Faculty of Lugano (Switzerland). Since 2009: Professor of Theology at the Major Seminary of Theology in Faliarivo and Permanent Secretary of the Bishops' Conference of Madagascar. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 25/03/2010)