Pope Francis has appointed a South African-trained priest as the bishop of Keetmanshoop, Namibia, to succeed Bishop Phillip Pollitzer, who retired last year.
Bishop-elect Willem Christiaans (right) was born on February 12, 1961, in Gabis in the Karasburg district. He made his first vows as an Oblate of St Francis de Sales in 1983, and his perpetual vows in 1988.
He completed his studies in philosophy in 1984, and in theology in 1988 at St Joseph’s Theological Institute in Cedara, KwaZulu-Natal.
He was ordained a priest on December 10, 1988. A provincial superior of his order for three consecutive terms, he also served as vicar-general of Keetmanshoop diocese from 2008-13; and from July 2017 as diocesan administrator.
News Editor for The Southern Cross
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