Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On December 20, 2018 Cardinal Fernando Filoni, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, appointed rev. Masilo John Semela, of the diocesan clergy of Tzaneen (South Africa) as Rector of the "St. John Vianney" National Major Seminary in the archdiocese of Pretoria, South Africa.
The new Rector was born on 13 January 1972 in Magoebaskloof (South Africa) and was ordained a priest on 12 June 1999. After the year of orientation (1991) at St. Paul Seminary Hammanskraal, he studied philosophy (1992-1993) at St Peter Seminary and theology (1994-1998) at St. John Vianney Seminary. He then obtained a licentiate (2008) and a doctorate (2013) in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, and always in Rome, he attended the courses promoted by the Congregation for the Clergy and obtained a Diploma in Canon Law (2011). Since his ordination to priesthood, he has carried out various pastoral roles: parish priest, diocesan director of vocations, chaplain of youth. After his studies in Rome he was a formator, lecturer vice rector of St. John Vianney Seminary; member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Tzaneen, coordinator of the secretary of the department for the formation of the clergy. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 12/7/2019)
