AFRICA/DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO - New Bishop of Bondo appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on March 18, 2008, appointed Fr. Etienne Ung'eyowun of the clergy of Mahagi-Nioka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, adjunct secretary general of the national episcopal conference, as bishop of Bondo.
The bishop-elect was born April 6, 1959, in Nyalebbe, Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka. He began studies in his hometown and later continued in the Minor Seminary of Vida. He studied Philosophy (1982-1985) at St. August of Kisangani and Theology (1985-1988) at the Catholic Studies Department in Kinshasa, as a student of the University Seminary Jean-Paul II, located in the same city. He was ordained a priest on August 10, 1988.
He has since ministered as follows: 1988-1990: studies for a licentiate in Theology at the Catholic Studies Department of Kinshasa; 1990-1994: Theology professor at St. Cyprien of Bunia; 1994-1996: studies at the Catholic Studies Department of Kinshasa, completing Biblical Studies; 1996: assistant to the general bursar of the Diocese of Mahagi-Nioka; 1997-1999: research studies at the Biblical Institute of Fribourg (Switzerland); 1999-2002: professor and spiritual director at the Theologate of St. Cyprien of Bunia. Since 2002, he has been the adjunct secretary general of the national episcopal conference.
The Diocese of Bondo, suffragate of the Archdiocese of Kisangani, was established in 1959. It has an area of 75,600 sq. km. , a population of 395,370, with Catholics 82,017, priests 20, religious 18. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2008; righe 21, parole 230)