AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - Bishop of Tzaneen resigns, successor appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on January 28, 2010, accepted the renunciation of the pastoral government of the Diocese of Tzaneen (South Africa), presented by Bishop Hugh Patrick Slattery, MSC, in conformity with can. 401 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law. The Holy Father has appointed as Bishop of Tzaneen (South Africa) Fr. Noé Joao Rodrigues, of the clergy of Witbank, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Ackerville.
Fr. Noé Joao Rodrigues was born in Cape Town on March 8, 1955. He studied at St. John Vianney Seminary in Pretoria. Later, he earned a licentiate in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Urban University (1988) and a Master's Degree in Spirituality at the University of Santa Clara, California (United States). He was ordained priest on July 4, 1982 for the Diocese of Witbank. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1982-1984: Rector of the Minor Seminary in Luckau, Witbank and Military Chaplain, Parish Vicar of Sacred Heart, Ackerville, then Pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Witbank, 1985-1990: Studies for a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, 1991-1993: Vice Rector and Professor at the National Major Seminary of St. John Vianney, 1994-1996: Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Ackerville, 1997-2002: Pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Witbank, 2003-2005: Studies for an MA in Spirituality from the University of Santa Clara, CA, United States; Since 2005: once again, Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Ackerville. He is also currently Vicar of the Highveld Deanery, part-time professor at St. John Vianney Major Seminary, and coordinator of the catechetical program in the Diocese of Witbank.
The Diocese of Tzaneen, built in 1972, is suffragan of the Archdiocese of Pretoria and has an area of 49,500 sq.km. and a population of 2.5 million inhabitants, of which 50,000 Catholics. It has 13 parishes, 27 priests (4 diocesan and 23 religious), 43 sisters, 4 major seminarians, and 3 permanent deacons. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 28/1/2010)