Appointment of bishop of Raiganj, India
Appointment of auxiliary of Miao, India
Appointment of auxiliary of Washington, United States of America
Appointment of auxiliary of Rockville Center, United States of America
Appointment of bishop of Raiganj, India
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Raiganj, India, the Rev. Fulgence Aloysius Tigga, of the clergy of Bettiah, currently vicar general and parish priest of the Mother of God Church.
Rev. Fulgence Aloysius Tigga
The Rev. Fulgence Aloysius Tigga was born on 3 March 1965 in Katkahi, in the diocese of Gumla. He completed his studies in philosophy at Vishwa Jyoti Gurukul, Varanesi, and in theology at the Bhopal Regional Seminary, Ashta, Bhopal. He obtained a bachelor of arts in Hindi from Allahabad University, Allahabad.
He was ordained a priest on 3 March 1997 for the diocese of Muzaffarpur. He was then incardinated in the diocese of Bettiah when it was created in 1998.
Since priestly ordination he has held the following offices: parish vicar and headmaster at Loyola Middle School, Chu chari (1997-2000); parish priest in Chanpatia (2001-2004); parish priest and rector at Saint Peter’s minor seminary in Dussaiya (2004-2009); parish priest at Chakhni (2009-2014); parish priest of the Mother of God Church, Ramnagar, diocesan consultor, and director of vocations and director of the diocesan Commission for the Liturgy (2014-2017); vicar general and parish priest of the Church of the Mother of God in Ramnagar (since 2017).
Appointment of auxiliary of Miao, India
The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. Dennis Panipitchai, S.D.B., as auxiliary of the diocese of Miao, India, currently pastor of the Mary Immaculate Parish in Chingmeirong, assigning him the titular see of Aggersel.
Rev. Fr. Dennis Panipitchai, S.D.B.
The Rev. Fr. Dennis Panipitchai, S.D.B., was born on 27 July 1958 in Colachel, diocese of Kottar, state of Tamil Nadu. After attending the Saint Mary’s Parish School in Colachel, in 1976 he entered the Prenovitiate of the Salesians in Shillon. He completed his philosophical studies in the Divyadaan Salesian Institute of Philosophy in Nashik. After a year of regency in Kheti, Tinsukia, he completed his theological studies in the Sacred Heart Theological College in Shillong. He holds a masters degree in theology and economics.
He gave his solemn profession on 27 December 1991. On the same day he was ordained a priest.
Since ordination he has held the following positions: dean of the studies of the Prenovitiate of the Salesians Rua Home in Jorhat, in the diocese of Dibrugarh (1992-1995); director of the Don Bosco Bible School in Kheti, Tinsukia, in the diocese of Dibrugarh (1995-1997); Don Bosco School Commissioner in Borduria, then in the diocese of Dibrugarh (1998-2000); Masters degree studies (2000-2001); dean of the Don Bosco School in Miao (2001-2004); parish priest of Mary Help of Christians Parish in Borduria, then in the diocese of Dibrugarh (2004-2009); dean of the Don Bosco School in Kohima, in the diocese of Kohima (2009-2015); short spirituality course in Rome (2012); provincial counsellor of the Salesians (since 2012); and parish priest of te Mary Immaculate Parish in Chingmeirong, in the Archdiocese of Imphal (since 2015).
Appointment of auxiliary of Washington, United States of America
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of Washington, United States of America, Msgr. Michael William Fisher, of the clergy of the same archdiocese, currently episcopal vicar for the clergy and secretary of the “Ministerial Leadership”, assigning him the titular see of Tronto.
Msgr. Michael William Fisher
Msgr. Michael William Fisher was born on 3 March 1958 in Baltimore, Maryland, in the homonymous archdiocese, where he attended the “Polytechnic Institute High School” (1972-1976). He obtained an “associates degree” in business administration at “Prince George’s Community College” in Largo, Maryland (1978-1984) and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland (1978-1985) . He worked as a certified accountant (C.P.A.) before entering the Seminary. He completed his ecclesiastical studies at the “Mount Saint Mary Seminary” in Emmitsburg, Maryland (1986-1990).
He was ordained a priest for the archdiocese of Washington on 23 June 1990.
After ordination, he was parish priest of the “Sacred Heart Parish” in La Plata, Maryland (1990-1995), parish priest of the “Sacred Heart Parish” at Hillcrest Heights in Maryland (1995-1999) and of the “Saint John Neumann Parish” in Gaithersburg, Maryland (1999-2005) and vicar general (2005-2006). Since 2006 he has served as episcopal vicar for the clergy and secretary of the “Ministerial Leadership”, residing at the “Saint Mark Parish” in Hyattsville, Maryland. Since 2005 he has been a member of the presbyteral council, of the college of consultors and of the other archdiocesan councils, in particular for the formation of seminarians and priests. He chairs the Clergy Personnel Board.
In 2005 he was named chaplain of His Holiness.
Appointment of auxiliary of Rockville Center, United States of America
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary bishop of Rockville Center, United States of America, Msgr. Richard G. Henning, of the clergy of the same diocese, currently rector of the “Seminary of the Immaculate Conception”, director of the “Sacred Heart Institute for the ongoing formation of clergy” in Huntington, New York, and episcopal vicar for the Central Vicariate of the diocese, assigning him the titular see of Tabla.
Msgr. Richard G. Henning
Msgr. Richard G. Henning was born on 17 October 1964 in Rockville Center, in the homonymous diocese. He attended “Chaminade Catholic High School” in Mineola (1978-1982) and obtained a bachelor’s degree (1986) and a master of arts (1988) in history from “Saint John’s University” in Queens, New York. He carried out his ecclesiastical studies at the “Seminary of the Immaculate Conception” in Huntington (1988-1992). He later obtained a licentiate in biblical theology from the “Catholic University of America” in Washington (2000) and a doctorate in biblical theology from the Angelicum in Rome (2007). He received certification in online education from the Catholic Distance Learning Network in 2009.
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Rockville Center on 30 May 1992.
After ordination, he was vicar of the “Saint Peter of Alcantara Parish” in Port Washington (1992-1997) and during his theological studies (1997-2002) he served as a priest in the “Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish” in Wyandanch (1997), at the “Cathedral of Saint Thomas More” in Arlington, Virginia (1997-1999) and at the “Saint Patrick Parish” in Washington, DC (2000). He held various positions at the “Seminary of the Immaculate Conception” in Huntington: associate professor and then professor of Sacred Scripture, and formator (2002-2012). During that time he held the weekly ministry at the “Saint Patrick Parish” in Bay Shore (since 2002), the “Saint Mary Parish” in Roslyn (2002-2016) and the “Saint Matthew Parish” in Dix Hills (2008-2010). He is director of “Our Lady of the Magnificat” at Ocean Beach (from 2015). He was a member of the presbyteral council (2013-2016).
In 2012 he was appointed as rector of the “Immaculate Conception Seminary” and director of the “Sacred Heart Institute for the Risen Education of Clergy” in Huntington. Since 2010 he has been coordinator of the “Parrhesia Project” to encourage the inculturation of priests who come from all over the world to work in the United States. He is a member of the college of consultors (since 2013) and of the board of directors of “Saint Joseph’s Seminary” in Dunwoodie, Yonkers (since 2012). He is adjunct professor of the Dunwoodie Seminary (since 2012) and episcopal vicar for the central vicariate of the diocese of Rockville Center (since 2017).
In 2008 he was appointed chaplain of His Holiness.
In the Episcopal Conference he was consultor of the office for the clergy, for the consecrated life and for vocations (2014-2016).
In addition to English, he knows Spanish, Italian and French.
