ASIA/INDONESIA: TIMIKA NEW DIOCESE,
REV. JOHN PHILIP SAKLIL FIRST BISHOP
Vatican City (Fides Service) – The Holy Father, Pope John Paul
II, has (19 December 2003) established the diocese of Timika dismembering
it from the diocese of Jayapura, rendering it suffragan of the Metropolitan
See of Merauke. The Holy Father has (19 December 2003) appointed
first Bishop of Timika (Indonesia) Reverend John Philip Saklil of
the clergy of Jayapura and Episcopal vicar of Jayapura diocese.
The new diocese of Timika will comprise 6 civil districts: Biak-Numfor,
Yapen-Waropen, Nabire, Paniai, Puncak Jaya and Mimka and will be
suffragan of the archdiocese of Merauke.
The Bishop elect Reverend John Philip Saklil was born on March
20, 1960 in Kokonao, diocese of Jayapura, Irian Jaya. He was educated
in Indonesia and the Philippines. He was ordained on 23 October
1988. He has since ministered as follows: 1988-1993parish priest;
1993-1996 studies at East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila; 1996-1999
Vicar General of the diocese; since 2000 Episcopal Vicar for the
western part of the diocese with see in Timika.
The Bishop will reside in Timika and the parish church dedicated
to the Three Kings will serve as Cathedral. (Fides Service 12/1/2004
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