Resignation of bishop of Davenport, United States of America, and appointment of successor
Appointment of bishop of Imperatriz, Brazil
Appointment of bishop of Joinville, Brazil
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of San Diego, United States of America
Appointment of coadjutor bishop of Campo Mourão, Brazil
Appointment of bishop prelate of Itacoatiara, Brazil
Appointment of special envoy to the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the arrival of Our Lady of Shkodra (26 April 2017)
Appointment of special envoy to the Fifth World Ultreia of the Cursillos de Cristiandad at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal (4-6 May 2017)
Appointment of special envoy to the concluding celebration of the Marian Congress of Kazakhstan (13 May 2017)
Resignation of bishop of Davenport, United States of America, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Davenport, United States of America, presented by His Excellency Msgr. Martin J. Amos.
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Davenport, United States of America, Msgr. Thomas R. Zinkula, of the clergy of the archdiocese of Dubuque, currently rector of the St. Pius X Seminary in Dubuque.
Msgr. Thomas Robert Zinkula
Msgr. Thomas Robert Zinkula was born on 19 April 1957 in Mount Vernon, Iowa, in the archdiocese of Dubuque. After attending the Mount Vernon High School, Mount Vernon, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, economics and business from Cornell College, Mount Vernon (1979). He graduated in law from the University of Iowa in Iowa City (1983) and for several years worked as a civil lawyer. He subsequently entered the seminary where he carried out his ecclesiastical studies at the Theological College and the Catholic University of America in Washington. He later obtained a licentiate in canon law at the Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Canada (1998).
He was ordained a priest on 26 May 1990 for the archdiocese of Dubuque.
After ordination he held the following positions: assistant priest of the Saint Columbkille parish in Dubuque (1990-1993) and the Saint Joseph the Worker parish in Dubuque (1993-1996); pastor of the Saint Joseph parish in Rickardsville, and administrator of the Saint Francis of Assisi parish in Balltown and Saints Peter and Paul in Sherill (1998-2002); judge at the archdiocesan tribunal (1998-2000); judicial vicar (2000-2010); parish priest of the Holy Ghost (2005-2011), Sacred Heart and Holy Trinity parishes (2007-2011) in Dubuque; episcopal vicar for the Cedar Rapids Region (2012-2014); and rector of the Saint Pius X seminary in Dubuque (from 2014). In addition, he has served as a member of the presbyteral council and the “Priest Personnel Board”.
In 2012 he was named Prelate of Honour of His Holiness.
Appointment of bishop of Imperatriz, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Imperatriz, Brazil, His Excellency Msgr. Vilsom Basso, S.C.I., transferring him from the diocese of Caxias do Maranhão.
Msgr. Vilsom Basso, S.C.I.
Msgr. Vilsom Basso, S.C.I. was born on 16 February 1960 in Cinquentenário-Tuparendi, diocese of Santo Angelo, state of Rio Grande do Sul. He attended courses in philosophy in Brusque, Santa Catarina (19179-1981) and theology in Taubaté, in the state of São Paulo (1982-1085). In 1991 he followed a specialization course in pastoral theology at the Javeriana University in Bogotá in Colombia.
He gave his final vow on 25 February 1985 for the Congregation of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was ordained a priest on 28 December 1985. In the diocese of Viana, in the state of Maranhão, he served as assistant priest in the Santa Inês (1986- 1987) and Alto Alegre (1993) parishes, and as pastor of the Santa Luzia parish (1998-2003). In the archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão he was assistant priest (1988-1992) and then pastor (2004-2005) of the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Shrine. In addition, he served as coordinator of youth pastoral ministry for the state of Maranhão (1988-1992) and national assessor for youth pastoral ministry for the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (1994-1997). In 2006 he was assistant priest at the São Judas Tadeu shrine in São Paulo and then formator in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines (2007-2010).
He was appointed bishop of Caxias do Maranhão on 19 March 2010. He is currently president of the Episcopal Commission for Youth Pastoral Ministry of the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil.
Appointment of bishop of Joinville, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Joinville, Brazil, His Excellency Msgr. Francisco Carlos Bach, transferring him from the diocese of São José dos Pinhais. "
Msgr. Francisco Carlos Bach
Msgr. Francisco Carlos Bach was born on 4 May 1954 in Ponta Grossa, in the homonymous dioceses in the state of Parana. In the metropolitan see of Curitiba he completed his studies in philosophy at the Rainha dos Apostolos major seminary (1972-1973) and theology at the Studium Theologicum (1974-1977). He then obtained a licentiate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (1985-1987).
On 3 December 1977 he was ordained a priest and incardinated in the diocese of Ponta Grossa. During his priestly ministry he has held the following positions: parish priest of São Jorge in Ponta Grossa; bursar, professor and rector of the minor seminary; diocesan pastoral coordinator; parish vicar of the Sant’Ana Cathedral and the parish of São Sebastião; professor at the Mater Ecclesiae Institute of Philosophy and Theology (IFITEME); diocesan judge auditor; rector of the major seminary; diocesan treasurer; director of the Sant'Ana diocesan radio; member of the presbyteral council and the College of Consulters; diocesan administrator; and vicar general.
On 27 July 2005 he was appointed as bishop of Toledo and received episcopal ordination on 27 October. On 3 October 2012 he was transferred to the diocese of São José dos Pinhais.
Within the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops he is currently member of the Commission for the Ecclesiastical Courts of Appeals and the Secretary of the Sul 2 Regional Bishops’ Council (State of Parana).
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of San Diego, United States of America
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of San Diego, United States of America, the Rev. John P. Dolan, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently vicar for the clergy and parish priest of the Saint John parish in San Diego, assigning him the titular see of Uchi Maggiore.
Rev. John P. Dolan
The Reverend John P. DOLAN was born on 8 June 1962 in San Diego, California, in the diocese of the same name. He studied philosophy at the Saint Francis seminary and at the University of San Diego (1981-1985) and theology at the Saint Patrick seminary in Menlo Park (1985-1989).
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of San Diego on 1 July 1989.
After ordination, he held the following positions: assistant priest of the Saint Michael parish in San Diego (1989-1991) and the Santa Sophia parish in Spring Valley (1991-1992); director of vocations (1992-1994); pastor of the Saint Mary Star of the Sea parish in Oceanside (1996-2001), the Saint Michael parish in San Diego (2001-2002), the Saint Rose of Lima parish in Chula Vista (2002-2014), and the Saint Michael parish in Poway (2014-2016). Since 2016 he has served as episcopal vicar for the clergy and parish priest of the Saint John parish in San Diego.
Besides English, he speaks Spanish.
Appointment of coadjutor bishop of Campo Mourão, Brazil
The Holy Father has appointed as coadjutor bishop of Campo Mourão, Brazil, Rev. Bruno Elieu Versari, the clergy of the archdiocese of Maringa, until now parish priest of Santa Maria Goretti in Maringá.
Msgr. Bruno Elizeu Versari
The Rev. Bruno Elizeu Versari was born on 30 May 1959 in Cândido Mota, diocese of Assis, in the state of São Paulo. He completed his studies in philosophy at the Pontifical Catholic University of Curitiba (1981-1983) and theology at the Paul VI Institute in Londrina (1984-1987). He then attended specialized courses in the Bible at the Pontifical Catholic University of Maringa.
He was ordained a priest on 3 January 1988 and incardinated in the archdiocese of Maringa. During his priestly ministry he has held the following positions: assistant priest of Santa Maria Goretti in Maringá (1988-1990); assistant at the Nossa Senhora da Glória major seminary (1988-1990); parish priest of Santa Isabel de Portugal in Maringá (1990-2009); archdiocesan bursar (2001-2009); member of the presbyteral council and the college of consulters (2001-2010); and vicar general (2011-2015). He is currently pastor of the Santa Maria Goretti parish in Maringá (since 2009) and director of the Archdiocesan Radio (since 2015).
Appointment of bishop prelate of Itacoatiara, Brazil
The Holy Father appointed as bishop prelate of the territorial prelature of Itacoatiara, Brazil, the Rev. Fr. Ionilton Lisboa José de Oliveira, S.D.V., formerly provincial superior, currently assistant priest of the Nossa Senhora da Conceição parish in Riachão do Jacuípe, diocese of Serrinha.
Fr. Ionilton Lisboa José de Oliveira, S.D.V.
Fr. Ionilton Lisboa José de Oliveira, S.D.V., was born on 9 March 1962 in Araci, archdiocese of Feira Santana in the state of Bahia. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Nossa Senhora das Vitórias diocesan seminary in Vitória da Conquista, and theology at the Benedictine Faculty in Brazil, Mosteiro de São Bento, in Rio de Janeiro.
He gave his religious vows on 21 January 1990 and was ordained a priest on 19 January 1992. During his priestly ministry he has worked in pastoral activity as assistant priest and pastor, in the vocations animation, in the formation of novices, in economic administration, as provincial superior (for two mandates, completing the last this February); community director, member of the local Conference of Men Religious and the presbyteral council of Vitória da Conquista.
He is currently assistant priest of the Nossa Senhora da Conceição parish in Riachão do Jacuípe, diocese of Serrinha.
Appointment of special envoy to the celebration of the 550th anniversary of the arrival of Our Lady of Shkodra (26 April 2017)
The Holy Father has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Franc Rodé, C.M., prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, as his special envoy at the celebration to be held on 26 April at the National Shrine of Shkodra, on the occasion of the 550th anniversary of the arrival of Our Lady of Shkodra at the Church of Genazzano, dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Appointment of special envoy to the Fifth World Ultreya of the Cursillos de Cristiandad at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal (4-6 May 2017)
The Holy Father has appointed His Eminence Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, prefect of the Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, as his special envoy at the Fifth World Ultreya of the Cursillos de Cristiandad, to be held at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, Portugal, from 4 to 6 May 2017.
Appointment of special envoy to the concluding celebration of the Marian Congress of Kazakhstan (13 May 2017)
The Holy Father has appointed His Eminence Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum”, as his special envoy at the concluding celebration of the Marian Congress of Kazakhstan, to be held on 13 May 2017 in the Cathedral of “Our Lady of Fatima” in Karaganda, on the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima.
