ASIA/MYANMAR - The Pope appoints Auxiliary Bishop of Hakha

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 3 March 2006, appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the diocese of Hakha (Myanmar) Rev. Felix Lian Khen Thang, until now secretary to the Bishop and diocesan chancellor, assigning to him the titular see of Fessei.
The new Bishop was born on 25 December 1959 at Gam Ngai, in the state of Chin, in what today is the diocese of Hakha. After attending St Louis minor seminary at Pyin Oo Lwin, he studied philosophy and theology at the major seminary in Yangon while taking a course in psychology at the state University of Science and Letters obtaining a BA in 1984. He was ordained a priest on 23 February 1990 for the archdiocese of Mandalay, until the diocese of Hakha was created in 1992. Since his ordination he has ministered as follows: (1990-1992) parish priest at Saizang; (1992-1997) degree in Canon Law in Rome at Urban University while residing at S. Pietro Apostolo College and then he studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy which prepares clerics for the Holy See’s diplomatic service; (1997-1998) officer at the Papal Nunciature in Madagascar; (1998-2001) secretary at the Papal Nunciature in Bangladesh; (2001-2004) secretary at the Papal Nunciature in Morocco. Since 2004 Bishop’s secretary and diocesan chancellor.
The diocese of Hakha was created in 1992, a suffragan of the archdiocese of Mandalay. It has an area of 32,280sq km, a population of 923,637 of whom 74,866 are Catholics, gathered in 28 parishes assisted by 51 diocesan priests, 93 Sisters, 393 catechists, and there are 25 major seminarians and 162 minor seminarians. In the diocese there are 581, 611 Christians of other denominations. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/3/2006; Righe 20; Parole 276)