TZANEEN, South Africa - The Holy Father appointed Father Joćo Noé Rodrigues, as the new bishop of Tzaneen. He succeeds Bishop Hugh Slattery, MSC. Father Rodrigues was born in Cape Town on 8 March 1953 and was ordained priest for the Diocese of Witbank on 4 July 1982. Details of the ordination are still to be finalised.

After his ordination, Father Rodgrigues was appointed temporary Rector of Christ the Priest Minor Seminary in Witbank (1983), Chaplain in the Army (1983-1984), Assistant-Priest in Ackerville (1985), Vice-Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary (1991-1993), Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Ackerville (1994-1996) and Administrator of the Cathedral (1997-2003). Download images

Father Joćo Noé Rodrigues is currently Pastor of the Sacred Heart Parish, in Ackerville (Witbank), Dean of the Highveld Deanery, Coordinator of the Catechetical Programme in the Diocese of Witbank and part-time Lecturer at St. John Vianney Seminary. The Bishop-elect has a Licence in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University (Rome) and a Master of Arts in Spirituality from Santa Clara University (California, USA).

At the same time, the Holy Father accepted the resignation from the office of Bishop of Tzaneen presented by the Right Reverend Hugh Slattery, MSC, in conformity with canon 401,1. Bishop Slattery assumed this charged since 1984.

Tzaneen Diocese was established by Decree of Pope Paul VI on 16 November 1972. It comprises the districts of Letaba and Soutpansberg, all of the former Venda, the districts of Malamulele and Giyani and of Ritavi in the former Gazankulu, the districts of Botlokwa, Sekgosese East, Naphuno and Namakgale in the former Lebowa.