Resignation of bishop of Lae, Papua New Guinea, and appointment of successor
Resignation of bishop of Catanduva, Brazil and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same diocese
Appointment of bishop of Roermond, Netherlands
Appointment of bishop of Sarh, Chad
Resignation of bishop of Lae, Papua New Guinea, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Lae, Papua New Guinea, presented by H.E. Msgr. Christian Blouin, C.M.M., at the same time appointing the Rev. Fr. Rosario Menezes, S.M.M., currently general counsellor of the Company of Maria of Montfort, as bishop of the same see.
Rev. Fr. Rosario Menezes, S.M.M.
The Rev. Fr. Rosario Menezes, S.M.M., was born on 30 August 1969 in Virajpet, Kamataka, India, and entered the minor seminary of the Congregation of the Company of Mary (Montfort Missionaries) and completed his pre-university studies at Saint Philomena’s College in Mysore. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mysore. He carried out his philosophical and theological studies at Dharmaram College, Bangalore, and gave his religious vows on 31 May 1992. He was ordained a priest on 4 November 1999.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: assistant to the Master of Novices and bursar of his Congregation in India (1999-2000); missionary in the diocese of Daru-Kiunga, in Papua New Guinea(2000-2008); superior delegate of the Montfort Missionaries (2005-2008); head of the diocesan Projects Office (2007-2008); studies in psychology and counselling at the International Institute of Integral Human Sciences in Montreal, Canada (2008-2011); once again missionary in Papua New Guinea: parish priest of Saint Martin of Porres (archdiocese of Port Moresby), superior delegate and head of vocations and formation of the Montfort Missionaries; head of projects for the Conference of Catholic Bishops of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (2012-2014); president of the Federation of Men Religious in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (2015-2017); and member of the college of consultors and of the Senate of Priests of the archdiocese of Port Moresby. Since 2017 he has served as general counsellor of the Company of Mary of Montfort, Rome.
Resignation of bishop of Catanduva, Brazil and appointment of apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same diocese
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Catanduva, Brazil, presented by H.E. Msgr. Otacílio Luziano da Silva, and has appointed H.E. Msgr. Eduardo Benes de Sales Rodrigues, archbishop emeritus of Sorocaba, as apostolic administrator sede vacante of the same diocese.
Appointment of bishop of Roermond, Netherlands
The Pope has appointed as bishop of Roermond, in the Netherlands, Msgr. Hendrikus Marie Gerardus Smeets, currently dean and parish priest of Venray and canon of the Cathedral Chapter.
Msgr. Hendrikus Marie Gerardus Smeets
Msgr. Hendrikus (Harrie) Smeets was born in Kerkrade, in the diocese of Roermond, on 24 November 1963.
After his high school examinations he attended the University of Nijmegen, where he obtained a masters degree in letters, before entering the major seminary of the diocese of Roermond, where he carried out his philosophical and theological studies.
He was ordained a priest on 13 June 1992, and incardinated in the diocese of Roermond.
He subsequently performed his holy ministry as deputy parish priest in Thorn, before becoming parish priest in Maastricht in 1997.
In 2003 he was appointed as dean and parish priest in Venray.
In 2015 he also become canon of the Cathedral Chapter of Roermond and member of the Commission for the appointment of priests and deacons of the same diocese.
He is also president of Pilgrimages of Limburg.
Appointment of bishop of Sarh, Chad
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Sarh, Chad, H.E. Msgr. Miguel Ángel Sebastián Martínez, M.C.C.J., currently bishop of Laï.
