Appointment of bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand
Appointment of bishop of Richmond, United States of America
Appointment of auxiliary of Quilmes, Argentina
Appointment of bishop of Christchurch, New Zealand
The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. Paul Martin, M.S., bursar general of the Marist Fathers in Rome, as bishop of the diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand.
Rev. Fr. Paul Martin, M.S.
The Rev. Fr. Paul Martin, M.S., was born in the diocese of Hastings, New Zealand, on 5 May 1967.
After his primary and secondary school studies, he studied theology at Saint Mary’s Scholasticate, Greenmeadows; and Saint Mary’s Catholic Theological College, Auckland. In 1985 he joined the religious Congregation of the Society of Mary and gave his perpetual vows on 7 January 1988. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in theology from the University of Auckland (via Sydney College of Divinity) in 1989, in English from the University of Victoria, Wellington, in 1991, and then from July 1991 to January 1992 he attended a course on pastoral ministry in Australia Centrale, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the New Zealand Marist Seminary (via the Angelicum, Rome). In 1994 he obtained a diploma in teaching from the Auckland College of Education.
On 4 September 1993 he was ordained a priest.
Since ordination, he has carried out pastoral ministry in Rawene, South Hokianga (1993-1994), Whangarei, Pompallier College (1995-1998) and the Saint Mary of the Angels parish in Wellington; attended the Marist Seminary (and the Auckland Teachers Training College) (1994-1995); held the roles of teacher and superior of the Community of Saint Bede’s College (1999-2002); served as chaplain at Hato Paora, Maori Boys’ College and, at the same time, superior of the Community in the Fielding parish (2002-2003); teacher of English in Saint Patrick’s College, Wellington (2004-2005); deputy head and teacher of English, Saint Bede’s, Christchurch (2005-2007); and rector of Saint Patricks College, Wellington, Kemp Street Community; superior of the Community in Kemp Street (2007-2013). During the latter period he spend six months performing spiritual exercises at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He then served as member of the provincial Council, vice provincial and bursar, and superior of the Community of Ngaio (2014-2016), and is currently general bursar of the Marist Fathers in Rome.
Appointment of bishop of Richmond, United States of America
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of Richmond, United States of America, H.E. Msgr. Barry C. Knestout, currently titular bishop of Leavenworth and auxiliary of Washington.
H.E. Msgr. Barry C. Knestout
H.E. Msgr. Barry C. Knestout was born in Cheverly, Maryland, in the archdiocese of Washington, on 11 June 1962. After attending elementary and secondary schools, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the University of Maryland (1984). He subsequently studied at Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, obtaining a Master in Divinity and a Master of Arts in theology (1989).
He was ordained a priest on 24 June 1989 for the archdiocese of Washington.
He then held the following offices parish vicar of the Saint Bartholomew parish in Bethesda (1989-1993), of the Saint Peter parish in Waldorf (1993-1994); personal secretary of Cardinal Hickey (1994-2004); executive director of the Youth Office (2001-2003); personal secretary of Cardinal McCarrick (2003-2004); pastor of the Saint John the Evangelist parish in Silver Spring (2004-2006); diredctor of the Office for Pastoral Life and for Social Doctrine (2006-2007); moderator of the Curia and vicar for administration (2007-2008); member of the Priest Personnel Board (since 2006) and of the presbyteral council (since 2007).
In 1999 he was named Chaplain of His Holiness.
He was appointed as titular bishop of Leavenworth and auxiliary of Washington on 18 November 2008; he received episcopal consecration on the following 29 December. As auxiliary of Washington he is vicar general and moderator of the Curia, member of the college of consultors, of the presbyteral council and the “Clergy Personnel Board”.
Within the episcopal conference he is member of the “Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People”.
Appointment of auxiliary of Quilmes, Argentina
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of Quilmes, Argentina, the Rev. Marcelo Julián Margni, of the clergy of the same diocese, rector of the diocesan seminary, assigning him the titular see of Stefaniaco.
Rev. Marcelo Julián Margni
The Rev. Marcelo J. Margni was born in Avellaneda on 12 September 1971. He studied in the seminary of the diocese of Quilmes and was ordained a priest on 24 September 1999. He obtained a licentiate in theology with specialization in youth ministry and catechesis from the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome.
He has held the following offices: parish vicar of the Sagrada Familia parish in Berazateguí, San Cayetano in Quilmes Oeste, San Martín de Porres in Florencia Varela, Exaltación de la Cruz de los Quilmes in Ribera de Quilmes and the Cathedral of Quilmes; pastor of the Nuestra Señora de la Medalla Milagrosa parish in Bernal Oeste; director of the San Pablo Apóstol diocesan Institute of Catechesis, and episcopal vicar for evangelization. He is currently rector of the diocesan seminary, pastoral director of the Nuestra Señora de Itatí parish and member of the presbyteral council and the college of consultors.
