AFRICA/MADAGASCAR-Appointment of the Bishop of Ihosy

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On July 16, 2011 the Holy Father Benedict XVI appointed Rev. Fr. Fulgence Razakarivony, MS, Vice-Secretary of the Administrative Secretariat of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar, Bishop of the Diocese of Ihosy (Madagascar).
Rev. Fr. Fulgence Razakarivony, was born on August 16, 1963 at Betsiholany. He completed his primary studies at Betafo, and his secondary school studies at the diocesan Minor Seminary in Antsirabe. He then entered the Salettiani, he completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Catholic Institute of Madagascar (C.I.M), and professed his final vows in 1990. He was ordained a priest on August 8, 1993. After ordination, he has held the following positions: 1993-1996: Assistant priest of the Missionary District of Ankazomiriotra; 1996-1999: Pastor of the same District; 1999-2002: parish vicar and curate of Ambararatabe District, in the Diocese of Tsiroanomandidy; 2002-2004: training course for the Religious at the Catholic Institute of Paris; 2004-2006: Director of the Scholasticate Salettiani "Foyer La Salette" in Antananarivo; 2006-2007: Director of the School of apostolic Antsirabé, 2006-2009: Provincial assistant; from 2009: Administrative Vice-Secretary of the Malagasy Episcopal Conference.
The Diocese of Ihosy, built in 1967, is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tolagnaro, it has an area of 40,900 square kilometers and a population of 400,000 inhabitants, of whom 72,000 are Catholic. There are 3 parishes, 34 priests (15 diocesans and 19 religious), 125 nuns and 15 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 16/07/2011)