Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr Paul Donoghue SM as Bishop of Rarotonga.
Born in Auckland, Paul was ordained a priest in 1975. After ordination, Paul taught for some time at St Bede’s College Christchurch, before joining the Marist Oceania province.
Paul currently serves as the Provincial Superior of the Oceania province. Prior to being provincial he taught at Chanel College, Samoa, was Marist novice master at Tutu.
The diocese has 2,500 Catholics which represents 17% of the population, as well as the Cathedral, the diocese ministers in two parishes, two primary and one secondary school. While Rarotonga is reasonably small, the geographical area of the Cook Islands covers the area similar to that occupied by Europe.
Bishop elect Donoghue succeeds Bishop Stuart O’Connell SM.
A little while back Bishop O’Connell turned 75, the retirement age for a bishop, and the Holy Father accepted his resignation.
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