AFRICA/RWANDA - Appointment of the Bishop of Gikongoro

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - on 26 November 2014 the Holy Father appointed Rev. Hazikimana Célestin, of the clergy of Kigali, Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda as Bishop of the diocese of Gikongoro (Rwanda).
The newly-elected Bishop was born on 14 August 1963 in the parish of the Holy Family of the Archdiocese of Kigali. He attended secondary schools at the St Vincent Rulindo minor Seminary (1977-1983) and then in Ndera (1983-1984). In 1985 he entered the preparatory Seminary of Rulindo and completed his studies in philosophy and theology at the Interdiocesano Nyakibanda Major Seminary, in Butare. He was ordained a priest on 21 July 1991.
Since then he has served in a number of pastoral and academic roles: 1991-1992: Assistant priest in Rutongo; 1992-1994: Diocesan Representative for Catholic Education; 1994-1996: Director of the San Paolo National Centre in Kigali; 1997-1998: Diocesan Representative for Catholic Education; 1998-2003: Director of GEMECA-Rwanda; 2003-2010: Higher studies of Theology in Naples, where he obtained a Doctorate in Dogmatic Theology at St. Thomas University. Since 2011: Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference of Rwanda. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2014)