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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On 6 January 2020, the Holy Father appointed Rev. Michael Andrew Gielen of the clergy of Hamilton, auxiliary bishop of the diocese of Auckland (New Zealand), currently Director for the formation in the Holy Cross National Seminary, in Auckland, assigning him the titular see of Abbir Maggiore.
Rev. Michael Andrew Gielen was born in Cambridge, in the Diocese of Hamilton, on June 2, 1971. From 1992 to 1997 he studied Philosophy and Theology at the University of Otago (New Zealand). From 2005 to 2007 he completed his Master in Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in the United States. From 2012 to 2014 he obtained a licentiate in spiritual theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome). He was ordained a priest on November 29, 1997.
Since his ordination, he has held the following positions: Assistant priest in St. Mary's Star of the Sea parish, Gisborne, Diocese of Hamilton (1997-2002); Member of the Presbyteral Council, Diocese of Hamilton (1999-2002); President of the Gisborne Ministers Association, Diocese of Hamilton (2001-2002); Parish priest of St. Columba, Frankton, and in the Holy Name parish, Raglan, Diocese of Hamilton (2002-2005); Specialization studies in the United States (2005-2007); Parish priest of St. Thomas More, Mt. Maunganui, and St. Patrick, Te Puke, diocese of Hamilton (2007-2012); Director of vocations for the Diocese of Hamilton (2009-2012); Member of the Presbyteral Council and of the College of Consultors, Diocese of Hamilton (2009-2012); Dean of the Pacifìc Moana Deanery, Diocese of Hamilton (2011-2012); Studies in Rome (2012-2014); since 2014, Director of formation in the Holy Cross National Seminary in Auckland. (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 7/1/2020)
