Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, United States of America

Resignation of bishop of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea and appointment of successor

Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Atlanta, United States of America

The Holy Father Francis has appointed as auxiliary Bishop of Atlanta, United States of America, the Rev. Father Joel M. Konzen, S.M, of the Society of Mary, dean of the “Marist School” in Atlanta, Georgia, assigning him the episcopal see of Leavenworth.

Rev. Fr. Joel M. Konzen, S.M.

The Rev. Fr. Joel M. Konzen, S.M. was born on 6 November 1950 in Oak Harbor, in the diocese of Toledo in America, Ohio. After attending the “Pontifical College Josephinum” secondary school in Columbus, Ohio (1964-1968), he obtained a baccalaureate in English literature from the “Saint Meinrad” Seminary in Indiana (1968-1972). He obtained a “Master of Divinity” from the “Notre Dame School of Theology” in New Orleans, Louisiana, (1972-1974, 1978-1979). He attended the “Marist College” in Washington, D.C. (1975-1976). He obtained the a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington (1977-1978). He later obtained a master’s degree in educational administration from the Catholic University of America (1989-1991).

In 1974 he joined the Society of Mary; he gave his first vows in 1975 and was appointed as a seminarian at the “Saint Peter Chanel High School” in Bedford, Ohio (1976-1977).

He performed the diaconal ministry at the “Saint Andrew the Apostle Parish” in New Orleans (1978-1979).

He was ordained a priest on 19 May 1979 for the Society of Mary.

After priestly ordination he served as parish vicar of the “Saint Edmond Parish” in Lafayette, Louisiana (1979-1980). He then held various positions at the “Marist School” in Atlanta, Georgia: teacher and director of enrolments (1980-1982), head official (1982-1988 and from 1999) and president (1988-1989). In addition, he was Provincial Vicar of the Marists in Washington (1990-1992, 1997-1999) and president/head of the “Saint Michael’s Academy” High School in Austin, Texas (1992-1997). Since 1999 he has been headmaster of the “Marist School” in Atlanta.

In addition to English, he knows Spanish, Italian, French and German.

Resignation of bishop of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea and appointment of successor

The Holy Father Francis has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Vanimo, Papua New Guinea, presented by H.E. Msgr. Cesare Bonivento, P.I.M.E., and has appointed as bishop of the same diocese the Rev. Francis Meli, of the clergy of the diocese of Rabaul, currently judicial vicar of Rabaul and parish priest of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Vunapope.

Rev. Francis Meli

The Rev. Francis Meli was born in Poi Island in the archdiocese of Rabaul on 21 July 1962. He studied in the Holy Spirit Interdiocesan Seminary in Bomana, archdiocese of Port Moresby, and was ordained a priest on 24 November 1991 for the archdiocese of Rabaul.

After ordination he held the following positions: parish vicar of the co-cathedral of Saint Francis Xavier of Rabaul (1992-1994); parish priest of Saint Theresia Pililo, Rabaul (1995-1996); He obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law at the University of St. Paul in Ottawa, Canada (1996-1998); judicial vicar of the archdiocese of Rabaul (since 1998); parish administrator of the Sacred Heart parish (1999-2001), Kerewat; professor of canon law in the major seminary of Rapolo, in the archdiocese of Rabaul (1999-2003); chaplain of the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Teacher’s College, Kabaleo (2001-2004); director of the Parish Christ the King, Wairiki (2005-2012); parish priest of Sacred Heart Cathedral in Vunapope (since 2012).