OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, DEC 12, 2000 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Saint Augustine, U.S.A., presented by Bishop John J. Snyder upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Bishop Edward K. Braxton, auxiliary of St. Louis, U.S.A., as bishop of Lake Charles (area 13,755, population 259,425, Catholics 84,908, priests 71, permanent deacons 25, religious 46), U.S.A. He succeeds Bishop Jude Speyrer, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, the Holy Father accepted, in accordance with Canon 401, para. 2 of the Code of Canon Law.

- Appointed Msgr. Martin W. Currie of the clergy of Halifax, Canada, vicar general of the same archdiocese and pastor of the parish of the Immaculate Conception at Truro, as bishop of Grand Falls (area 42,369, population 92,464, Catholics 30,749, priests 27, religious 28), Canada. The bishop-elect was born in Marinette, Canada, in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1968.

- Appointed Fr. Ruben Antonio Gonzalez Medina C.M.F., provincial in the Antilles of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, as bishop of Caguas (area 1,728, population 653,012, Catholics 515,000, priests 113, permanent deacons 60, religious 217), Puerto Rico. The bishop-elect was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, in 1949 and ordained a priest in 1975.

- Appointed Fr. Antony Devotta, vicar general and pastor of the cathedral of the archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore, India, as bishop of Tiruchirapalli (area 18,144, population 3,666,320, Catholics 392,430, priests 257, religious 1,199), India. The bishop-elect was born in San Thome, India, in 1943 and ordained a priest in 1971.

- Appointed Fr. Stephen Athipozhiyil, rector of the minor seminary of Alleppey (area 333, population 700,000, Catholics 137,700, priests 82, religious 295), India, as coadjutor bishop of the same diocese. The bishop-elect was born in Chennavely, India, in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1969.

- Appointed Msgr. William Francis Malooly, vicar general of Baltimore (area 12,430, population 2,849,409, Catholics 484,287, priests 583, permanent deacons 187, religious 1,583), U.S.A., as auxiliary bishop of the same archdiocese. The bishop-elect was born In Baltimore in 1944 and ordained a priest in 1970.

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