Oita Diocese ordained its new bishop, Sueo Hamaguchi, 62, during a ceremony at the Beppu International Convention Center over the weekend.

The seat, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, had remained vacant for more than three years since the diocese’s former bishop, Ryoji Miyahara, was transferred to Fukuoka in May 2008.

Archbishop Mitsuaki Takami of Nagasaki presided over the event, attended by all 15 active bishops in Japan, as well as three retired prelates, a bishop-elect and the Apostolic Nuncio to Japan.

More than 1,800 parishioners from around the country also attended the ordination.

Bishop Hamaguchi expressed his “fear” during the ordination of the scope about his new responsibilities but said he had a keen sense of having “gained a marvelous community of priests who welcomed him as their new steward.

He was ordained in 1975 in Nagasaki diocese, where as a youth he attended Shitsu Church and served the parishes for six years. He later transferred to Takamatsu diocese, where he worked at the Bishop’s residence.

Bishop Hamaguchi is the third prelate to have come from Shitsu Church, the previous two having later become cardinals.