AFRICA/SOUTH AFRICA - The Pope appoints Bishop of Kroonstad

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI on 17 October 2006, appointed Bishop of Kroonstad (South Africa) Rev. Mgr. Stephen Brislin, diocesan administrator of the same diocese.
The Bishop elect was born on 24 September 1956 at Welkom, Diocese of Kroonstad. He was educated by the Brothers of Christian Schools in Welkom, and then went to the National University in Cape Town to study philosophy. He entered the St John Vianney philosophy seminary in Pretoria and studied theology at Mill Hill Missionary Institute in London. He also has a degree from Louvain University, Belgium. He was ordained a priest in Welkom, on 19 November 1983, for the diocese of Kroonstad and has since held the following responsibilities: 1984-1985: chaplain in Virginia; 1986-1989: parish priest at Odendaalsrus/Kutlwanong and Motsethabong; 1990-2003: vicar general of the diocese of Kroonstad; since 2003: diocesan administrator of the diocese of Kroonstad. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 17/10/2006; Righe 13; Parole 162)