OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

Vatican City, 12 February 2014 (VIS) – The Holy Father has:

- appointed Fr. Antonio Carlos Cruz Santos, M.S.C. as bishop of Caico (area 9,372, population 301,000, Catholics 288,000, priests 89, permanent deacons 9, religious 104), Brazil. The bishop-elect was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1992. He studied philosophy at the “Paulo VI” seminary in Nova Iguacu and theology at the Jesuit faculty in Belo Horizonte, and holds a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais. He has held a number of pastoral roles, including vicar of the “Pai Eterno e Sao Jose” parish in Rio de Janeiro, formator of “Juniores” in Contagem, Belo Horizonte, formator of postulants in Belford Roxo, Nova Iguacu, and master of novices in Pirassununga, Limeira. He is currently pro-provincial superior of the Society of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Niteroi.

- appointed Bishop Nelson Francelino Ferreira as bishop of Valenca (area 3,996, population 380,000, Catholics 275,000, priests 31, religious 91), Brazil. Bishop Ferreira was previously auxiliary of Sao Sebastiao do Rio de Janeiro. He succeeds Bishop Elias James Manning, O.F.M. Conv., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

On Tuesday, 11 February the Holy Father:

- appointed Bishop Daniel Fernando Sturla Berhouet, S.D.B., as archbishop of Montevideo

(area 540, population 1,404,000, Catholics 889,000, priests 258, permanent deacons 40, religious 631), Uruguay. Bishop Sturla Berhouet was previously auxiliary of the same archdiocese.

- appointed Msgr. Edward Bernard Scharfenberger as bishop of Albany (area 26,975, population 1,374,000, Catholics 337,200, priests 248, permanent deacons 105, religious 774) U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Brooklyn, U.S.A. in 1948 and was ordained a priest in 1973. He holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy from the “Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception” in Douglaston, a bachelor's degree in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, a licentiate in moral theology from the Alphonsianum Academy, Rome, a licentiate in canon law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a “Juris Doctor” in civil law from the Fordham University in the Bronx. He has served in the following pastoral roles: vicar in the parish of “St. Stanislaus Kostka” in Maspeth and the “St. Ephrem” parish in Brooklyn; judicial vicar; priest in the “St. Matthias” parish, Ridgewood; promoter of justice and episcopal vicar for strategic planning. He is currently episcopal vicar for the territory of Queens. He succeeds Bishop Howard J. Hubbard, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.

- appointed Fr. John Joale Tlhomola, S.C.P., as bishop of Mohale's Hoek (area 5,799, population 691,000, Catholics 416,200, priests 16, religious 94) Lesotho. The bishop-elect was born in Pulane Ha Mosiuoa, Lesotho in 1966, gave his solemn vows in 1995 and was ordained a priest in 1998. He has served in the following pastoral roles: parish vicar and subsequently priest-in-charge in the cathedral of Maseru; priest of the Christ the Priest Mission, Motsekuoa; and bursar of the St. Augustine major seminary and lecturer in liturgy and spirituality in the preparatory seminary, Lesotho. He is currently director general of the Servants of Christ the Priest in Hammanskraal, Pretoria, South Africa. He succeeds Bishop Sebastian Koto Khoarai, O.M.I., whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese upon having reached the age limit was accepted by the Holy Father.

- appointed Msgr. Andrzej Jerzy Zglejszewski as auxiliary of the diocese of Rockville Centre (area 3,164, population 3,529,000, Catholics 1,738,000, priests 463, permanent deacons 276, religious 1,250), U.S.A. The bishop-elect was born in Bialystok, Poland in 1961 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He holds a master's degree in theology from the seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntingdon. He has served in a number of pastoral roles, including deputy priest of the “St. Christopher” parish, Baldwin, the “St. Thomas the Apostle” parish in West Hempstead, and the “St. Rose of Lima” parish, Massapequa, and adjunct professor at the seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntingdon. He has been director of the diocesan office of worship since 2007 and co-chancellor of the diocese of Rockville Centre since 2012. He was named Chaplain of His Holiness in 2010.