Manado Diocese in Indonesia's North Sulawesi province has a new bishop following the episcopal ordination of Father Benedictus Estephanus Rolly Untu on July 8.
Bishop Untu replaces Sacred Heart Bishop Joseph Theodorus Suwatan who retired in April.
The new bishop was ordained during a ceremony at Maesa Tondado Stadium in Minahasa district. Archbishop Antonio Guido Filipazzi, Indonesia's outgoing apostolic nuncio, led the ceremony attended by more than 35,000 Catholics.
Bishop Untu, born on Jan. 4, 1957, was the former provincial of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Indonesia. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1983 after attending St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in Kakaskasen and the Sacred Heart Major Seminary of Pineleng.
The new bishop "is a humble and simple figure," according to Father Steven Lalu, who heads the diocese's commission for communications.
"This, is the most beautiful thing for the diocese. But the diocese also needs a bishop with good leadership. And I believe he is capable of that, because of his experience serving as a provincial," he said.
Manado Diocese is one of two suffragans of Makassar Archdiocese. This diocese has nine vicariates with 62 parishes and more than 250,000 Catholics.