AFRICA/BOTSWANA - Bishop of Gaborone resigns, successor appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, on 5 February 2009, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Gaborone (Botswana) presented by Bishop Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi, in conformity with the Code of Canon Law, canon 401 § 1. The Holy Father appointed as Bishop of Gaborone (Botswana), Father Valentine Tsamma Seane, Pastor of the Cathedral of Gaborone.
Father Valentine Tsamma Seane was born November 2, 1966 in Lobaste (Diocese of Gaborone). He entered the Congregation of the Stigmatine Fathers and studied Philosophy at St. Peter's Major Seminary in Hammanskraal (1986-1989) and Theology at St. John Vianney Seminary of Pretoria (1990-1993). He made his solemn profession on December 13, 1992 and was ordained a priest on March 19, 1994. In 2003, he decided to return to his home diocese, where he became a diocesan priest, following a period of exclaustration (3 years) granted by the Superior General. Since his priestly ordination, he has ministered as follows: 1994-1999: Assistant Pastor in the Ga-Rankuwa are and the pastoral district of Jericho in the Archdiocese of Pretoria; Youth Chaplain in Pretoria; 1999-2001: Studies in Rome, for the Licentiate in Moral Theology at the Alfonsiana University; 2001-2002: Assistant in the house of formation in Pretoria and professor of Moral Theology at St. John Vianney Major Seminary; 2003-2006: leaves the Stigmatine Fathers and returns to the diocese, becoming Rector of St. Charles Lwanga Minor Seminary, in Kgale. Since 2007, he has served as Pastor of the Cathedral of Gaborone and Chaplain of St. Joseph’s College.
The Diocese of Gaborone, erected in 1966, is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Pretoria. It has an area of 109,005 km sq and a population of 1,033,754 inhabitants, of which 64,618 are Catholic. There are 20 parishes, 31 priests (7 diocesan and 24 religious), 6 permanent deacons, 2 religious brothers, 50 sisters and 12 major seminarians. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/2/2009)