Resignation of bishop of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea, and appointment of successor
The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea, presented by Bishop William Regis Fey, O.F.M. Cap.
The Pope has appointed the Reverend John Bosco Auram, of the clergy of Kimbe, currently acting rector of the Sacred Heart preparatory seminary in Rapolo, as bishop of the same diocese.
The Reverend John Bosco Auram was born on 19 October in the village of Kandoka, province of West New Britain (which formed part of the archdiocese of Rabaul and now belongs to Kimbe). He began his formation at the Saint Peter Chanel minor seminary in Ulapia, and then completed his philosophical and theological studies at the Sacred Heart major seminary in Rapolo. He was ordained a priest on 17 January 2004, for the clergy of the diocese of Kimbe, the second ordained priest after the creation of the see.
Since his ordination to the priesthood he has held the following positions: parish vicar of Kimbe Cathedral (2004-2005); vice-rector of the minor seminary of Saint John Vianney of Vanimo (2005-2007); vice-rector of the major seminary of Saint Charles Borromeo of Vanimo (2007-2008); six months of pastoral work in the parish of Kaiai (2008-2009); formator and professor at the Saint Peter Chanel minor seminary in Ulapia and at the Sacred Heart major seminary in Rapolo (2009-2011); parish priest of Silanga, diocese of Kimbe (2011-2012); studies at the Institute of Priestly Formation in Omaha (U.S.A.) and at the Regina Apostolorum Pontifical University in Rome, and pastoral ministry in the parish of Turuk, Kimbe (2012-2013); formator at the Holy Spirit major seminary in Bomana (2013-2015); pastoral ministry in the parish of Sara, Kimbe (2015-2016); studies for the licentiate in pastoral theology at the University of Santo Tomas of Manila, serving as spiritual director in the seminary of Manila (2016-2019); and since 2019, acting rector of the Sacred Heart seminary (currently propaedeutic) of Rapolo, in the archdiocese of Rabaul.
Appointment of coadjutor of the diocese of Lashio, Myanmar
The Holy Father has appointed as coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Lashio, Myanmar, the Reverend Father Lucas Dau Ze Jeimphaung, S.D.B., currently provincial counselor and rector of the Salesian Philosophate of Pyin Oo Lwin.
The Reverend Father Lucas Dau Ze Jeimphaung, S.D.B., was born in the village of Hpa Hping, district of Northern Shan State (diocese of Lashio) on 18 October 1962. He carried out his philosophical studies at the Saint Joseph Salesian Philosophate of Anisakan, also attending the University of Yangon, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in history (1986-1989), and his theological studies in the Saint Joseph National Seminary of Yangon. He gave his religious vows on 6 May 1993. On 21 April 1996, he was ordained a priest. From 2003 to 2006 he carried out his specialist studies in the Philippines, obtaining a diploma in family counseling in 2004 from the Jesuit University, and a master’s degree in pastoral sociology from the Asian Social Institute.
Since ordination he has held the role of bursar of the Nazareth Aspirantate of Anisakan, Pyin Oo Lwin, in the archdiocese of Mandalay (1996-2003); carried out specialization studies in the Philippines (2003-2006); and served as rector and parish priest of the Nazareth Community of Anisakan (2006-2012); delegate for youth ministry and provincial counsellor (2008-2011); responsible for the Wa Mission in the diocese of Lashio (2012-2017); provincial counsellor – 2nd triennium (since 2015); and rector of the Salesian Philosophate of Pyin Oo Lwin (since 2017).
Appointment of auxiliary of Quito, Ecuador
The Holy Father has appointed as auxiliary of Quito, Ecuador, the Reverend Fr. David Israel De La Torre Altamirano, SS.CC., parish priest of the “Sagrados Corazones e San Carlos” parish in Quito, assigning him the titular see of Bagai.
The Reverend Fr. David Israel De La Torre Altamirano, SS.CC., was born on 8 November 1972 in Quito, in the same archdiocese. In 1990 he began his postulate in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts and attended courses in philosophy and the first year of theology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador. He then continued his studies, completing the theological cycle, at the “Centre Sèvres” and at the “Institut Catholique” of the Jesuit Fathers in Paris, where he then obtained a licentiate in theology. He gave his religious vows on 27 March 1995 and was ordained a priest on 3 August 2001.
In the course of his priestly ministry he has held the following offices: director of the University Pastoral Centre in Quito (2003-2009); professor (from 2003) and director of the School of Theology (from 2007) of the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (since 2003); bursar (2004-2007) and then superior (2007-2017) of the vice-province of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts in Ecuador; parish priest of “Sagrados Corazones e San Carlos” in Quito (since 2008); and coordinator of the initial formation of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts in Latin America. In addition, he served as spokesperson for the Ecuadorian Episcopal Conference on the occasion of the apostolic trip of the Holy Father Francis in Ecuador in July 2015.
