Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, on 7 November 2007, appointed Bishop of Ambanja (Madagascar) Fr. Rosario Saro Vella, S.D.B., parish priest and Superior of the Salesian Community in Bemaneviky.
The Bishop elect was born on 8 May 1952 at Canicattì, archdiocese of Agrigento (Italy). After attending secondary school run by the Salesians at San Gregorio, Catania, he went to the Theological Institute in Messina and was ordained a priest on 27 May 1979. He has a degree in philosophy from the University of Palermo. Since his ordination he has ministered as follows: 1979-1981: Animator of Salesian students at san Gregorio di Catania; since 1981: Missionary in Madagascar; 1982-1995: parish priest at Ankililoaka (archdiocese of Toliara); 1989-1990: novice master at Ankililoaka; 1995-2004: parish priest at Betafo (diocese of Antsirabe); since 2004: parish priest and Superior of the Salesian Community in Bemaneviky (diocese of Ambanja). He teaches Patristics at the major inter-diocesan seminary in Antsiranana; he is a member of the college of consultors of Ambanja diocese.
The diocese of Ambanja, suffragan of Antsiranana, was created in 1955. It has an area of 34,083sq km, a population of 1,241,000 of whom 109,217 are Catholics, gathered in 12 parishes, assisted by 31 diocesan priests and 19 religious priests (Capuchins and Salesians), there are 18 major seminarians and 166 Sisters. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 7/11/2007; Righe 17; Parole 219)
