OCEANIA/PAPUA NEW GUINEA - The Pope appoints new auxiliary Bishop of Kerema

Friday, 8 July 2005

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 8 July 2005 appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Kerema (Papua New Guinea) Rev. P. Rochus Tatamai, M.S.C., chaplain at Sacred Heart Basilica in Issoudun (France), assigning him to the titular see of Accia.
Rev. Rochus Tatamai, M.S.C., was born on 24 September 1962 at Raduna archdiocese of Rabaul PNG. He went to Ulapia minor seminary (1978-1981) before entering the novitiate of the Sacred Heart Missionaries at Vunapau. He made his first profession on 2 February 1983. Then he was sent to Bosmana to complete his studies in philosophy and theology. On 2 February 1989 he took his perpetual vows and on the 26 November that same year at Vunapope he was ordained a priest. After his ordination he went to Australia for a corse in Counselling and to Ireland and France for Religious Television Association courses in communications. He has been: assistant priest and bursar in various parishes (1990-1993); M.S.C. vocations director (1990-1997); provincial secretary (1992-1995); director’s assistant at the post-novitiate (1995-1996); Studies in communications Kairos Communication Institute, Maynooth, Ireland (1997-1998); Vice-Provincial (1998-1999); member of the Provincial Council (1999). Executive secretary and director of the Catholic sections of PNG National Broadcasting Corporation NBC and Religious Television Association RTA-EMTV (1998); Vice-President of WACC-PAC World Association for Christian Communications Pacific Region with headquarters in Tonga (2000-2002). Since 2003 chaplain at Sacred Heart Basilica, Issoudun, France.
The Diocese of Kerema, created in 1971, is a suffragan of Port Moresby. It has an area of 34,000sq km., a population of 106,898 who whom 21,555 are Catholics gathered in 11 parishes, assisted by 14 priests (8 diocesan and 6 religiuos), 15 Sisters, 5 major seminarians, 142 catechists (including 77 full time). (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/7/2005; Righe 23; Parole 295)


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