Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People

People on the Move

N° 104, August 2007

NOMINA DEL SOTTO-SEGRETARIO

DEL PONTIFICIO CONSIGLIO DELLA PASTORALE

PER I MIGRANTI E GLI ITINERANTI

Il Santo Padre, in data 28 giugno 2007, ha nominato “ad quinquennium” Sotto-Segretario del nostro Pontificio Consiglio, il Reverendo Monsignore Novatus Rugambwa, Consigliere della Nunziatura Apostolica in Indonesia.

Al nuovo Superiore vanno gli auguri di tutti i componenti del Dicastero, con l’assicurazione della preghiera.

CURRICULUM VITAE OF MONSIGNOR NOVATUS RUGAMBWA

• Born on 8^th October 1957 as the second child of Mr. Benedict and Mrs. Leocadia Rwechungura, Novatus was baptized on 3^rd November 1957 in Bukoba, Tanzania.

• He received his lower primary education at Nyakatare Catholic Primary School in Bukoba from 1964 to 1968 when he was admitted to the Preparatory Seminary of Rutabo in Bukoba Diocese, where he completed his upper primary education in 1971.

• From 1972 to 1975 Novatus Rugambwa received his ordinary level secondary school education at St. Mary Minor Seminary, Rubya in Bukoba, followed by the High School Education at Itaga Minor Seminary in Tabora, Central Tanzania, from 1976 – 1977. 

• In 1978 Novatus joined the mandatory military service which was obligatory for all Tanzanians who have accomplished the High School Education.

• In 1979 – 1981 Novatus was admitted to Ntungamo Regional Major Seminary in Bukoba Tanzania for studies in Philosophy.

• 1981 – 1984: Novatus Rugambwa frequented the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, obtaining the BA degree in Theology.

• 1984 -1986: He taught at St. Mary Seminary, Rubya, and helped in the pastoral work at Nshamba Parish in Bukoba Diocese.

• On 5^th January 1986: he was ordained a deacon by His Excellency Bishop Nestor Timanywa, Bishop of Bukoba, in the “Mater Misericordiae” Cathedral Church of Bukoba.

• On 6^th July 1986: Deacon Novatus was ordained to the priesthood and was incardinated in the Diocese of Bukoba, Tanzania. He was appointed Assistant Parish Priest at Nshamba Parish in the same diocese.

• 1987 – 1991: Father Rugambwa was admitted to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome for courses in the Pontifical Diplomacy and, simultaneously, frequented the Pontifical Urban University where he obtained a Doctorate in Canon Law.

• Fr. Rugambwa joined the Diplomatic service of the Holy See in July 1991 and has served in the following countries:

• 1991 – 1994:   Panama, Central America

• 1994 – 1997:   Congo Brazzaville in Central Africa

• 1997 – 2000:   Pakistan in South West Asia

• 2000 – 2004:   New Zealand and Oceania

• 2004 – 2007:   Indonesia in South East Asia

• On 28^th June 2007, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, appointed him as Under-Secretary of the Pontifical Council of the Pastoral Care for Migrants and Itinerant People.