Appointment of bishop of Keetmanshoop, Namibia
Appointment of bishop of Lages, Brazil
Appointment of bishop of Keetmanshoop, Namibia
The Holy Father Francis has appointed as bishop of Keetmanshoop, Namibia, the Rev. Fr. Willem Christiaans, O.S.F.S., currently diocesan administrator of the same see and national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Namibia.
Rev. P. Willem Christiaans, O.S.F.S.
The Rev. Fr. Willem Christiaans, O.S.F.S., was born on 12 February 1961 in Gabis, Karasburg District, diocese of Keetmanshoop.
He gave his first vows as Oblate of St. Francis de Sales on January 23, 1983 and his perpetual vows on 23 January 1988.
He completed his studies in philosophy (1983-1984) and in theology (1985-1988) at Saint Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, affiliated to the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
He was ordained a priest on 10 December 1988.
He subsequently held the following positions: director of the Pre-Novitiate O.S.F.S . (1989-1990); director of the Scholastics O.S.F.S. (1991-1992); provincial superior of the O.S.F.S. for three consecutive terms (1993-2005); parish priest of Sacred Heart of Jesus in Rehoboth (Keetmanshoop) (2005-2009); parish priest of St. Francis Xavier in Witkranz and St. John Vianney in Stampriet (Keetmanshoop) (2010-2013); vicar general of Keetmanshoop (2008-2013); national director of PP.OO.MM in Namibia (since 2013); and diocesan administrator of Keetmanshoop, since 26 July 2017.
Appointment of bishop of Lages, Brazil
The Pope has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Lages, Brazil, H.E. Msgr. Guilherme Antônio Werlang, M.S.F., transferring him from the diocese of Ipameri.
H.E. Msgr. Guilherme Antônio Werlang, M.S.F.
H.E. Msgr. Guilherme Antônio Werlang was born on 5 August 1950 in São Carlos, diocese of Chapecó, in the State of Santa Catarina. He completed his studies in philosophy at Passo Fundo and in theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Porto Alegre.
He gave his religious profession on 22 February 1976 in the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Holy Family and received priestly ordination on 2 August 1979.
Within his Religious Congregation he has held the positions of formator of the Seminary at Santo Ângelo-RS, rector of the Seminary in Rio Pardo-RS, rector of the Religious Community of the central-western region, and vocational promoter. In addition, in the diocese of Jataí he has performed the following functions: parish vicar and subsequently parish priest in Jataí, parish priest in Itajá and Itarumã, coordinator of the Centre for Diocesan Pastoral Care, coordinator of pastoral care, and episcopal vicar.
On 19 May 1999 he was appointed as bishop of Ipameri and received episcopal ordination on 17 July.
As a bishop he has been a member of various national and regional bodies of the Brazilian Episcopal Conference.
Currently, within the same Episcopal Conference, he is a permanent Council member, President of the Episcopal Commission for Transformative Action, and member of the Economic Council.
