Erection of the apostolic administration for faithful of Byzantine rite in Belarus and appointment of apostolic administrator
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Aizawl, India
Appointment of vicar apostolic of Puerto Carreño, Colombia
Erection of the apostolic administration for faithful of Byzantine rite in Belarus and appointment of apostolic administrator
The Holy Father has erected the apostolic administration for faithful of Byzantine rite in Belarus, appointing the Reverend Archimandrite Jan Sergiusz Gajek, M.I.C., until now apostolic visitator for the same faithful, as apostolic administrator without episcopal rank of the same ecclesiastical circumscription.
Curriculum vitae
The Reverend Archimandrite Jan Sergiusz Gajek, M.I.C., was born on 8 February 1949 in Łyszkowice, Poland. In 1963 he received his middle school diploma in Łyszkowice, and four years later, he graduated from high school in Łowicz. He subsequently entered the Congregation of Marian Clerics, assuming the monastic name Sergiusz.
From 1967 to 1974 he studied at the Faculty of Theology of the Catholic University of Lublin and later at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, where he was awarded a doctorate in 1983. On 15 August 1973 he gave his religious vows in the Congregation of Marian Clerics, and was ordained a priest on 23 June the following year.
After ordination he provided pastoral service in the Latin parish of Głuchołazy, and collaborated with the Byzantine parish of Kostomłoty. From 1983 to 1999 he taught theology of the Eastern Churches at the Ecumenical Institute of the Catholic University of Lublin. In 1993, Pope John Paul II appointed him apostolic visitator for the Greek-Catholic faithful in Belarus. In 1996, he was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite.
Historical background on the Catholic communities of the Byzantine rite in Belarus
The Catholic community of the Byzantine rite in Belarus is heir to the union of Brest, dating back to 1596.
In 1798, the eparchy of Minsk (of the Ruthenians) was erected, which, in 1839, was impeded, but was never suppressed. The Pontifical Yearbook mentioned it until 1924. In 1939 the Belarusian Exarchate was erected by Metropolitan Andriy Sheptysky, archbishop of Lviv, who was confirmed as apostolic administrator by Pope Pius XII in 1941. This office remained vacant in 1943. In 1988, the faithful began to reorganize, continuing with the civil registration of parishes. Since 1993 they have been entrusted to the pastoral care of the Most Reverend Archimandrite Sergiusz Gajek, M.IC., as apostolic visitator ad nutum Sanctae Sedis.
There are currently about 5,000 faithful, organized in 16 parishes and assisted by 16 priests and 3 deacons. There are 4 seminarians.
Appointment of auxiliary bishop of Aizawl, India
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Joachim Walder, of the clergy of Aizawl, until now episcopal vicar of the Barak Valley Region, as auxiliary of the diocese of Aizawl, assigning him the titular see of Legia.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Joachim Walder was born on 20 April 1956 in Nirkan, Bantwal Taluk, in the diocese of Mangalore, Karnataka State. He studied philosophy at Christ the King College, Shillong, and theology at Papal Seminary in Pune. He was ordained a priest on 26 April 1986 for the diocese of Aizawl.
He has held the following positions in Barak Valley: deputy parish priest of Holy Cross, Silchar, (1986-1989 and 2003-2005); parish priest of Saint Joseph's, Badarpur (1989-1997) and Sacred Heart, Kabuganj (2005-2018); dean of the Barak Valley Deanery, Silchar (1994-1999 and 2013-2018); parish priest of Saint Joseph's, Manikbond, and director of the school of the same name (1998-2003); and director of Holy Cross School, Kabuganj (2007-2018). Since 2018, he has been episcopal vicar for the Barak Valley Region.
Appointment of vicar apostolic of Puerto Carreño, Colombia
The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fr. Álvaro Mon Pérez, C.Ss.R., until now chaplain of the Colegio Seminario Redentorista San Clemente in Manizales, as vicar apostolic of Puerto Carreño, Colombia.
Curriculum vitae
The Reverend Fr. Álvaro Mon Pérez, C.Ss.R., was born on 7 June 1962 in Corrales, Colombia. After completing the novitiate in the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer, he gave his first vows in 5 January 1992. He carried out his studies in philosophy and theology, and gave his perpetual vows on 31 July 1998. He was ordained a priest on 30 January 1999.
He has held the following offices: member of the Missionary Group of Bucaramanga (1999); parish priest, vicar of religious and superior of the community of the apostolic vicariate of Reyes, Bolivia (2000-2005); member of the missionary group of Sogamoso (2005); member of the missionary group of Cali, Colombia, and bursar of the community (2006-2010); provincial consultor (2011); member of the missionary group of Bogotá (2011-2015); and parish priest in Sincelejo (2016-2018). Until how he has served as chaplain of the Colegio Seminario Redentorista San Clemente in Manizales.
