A New Bishop for Queenstown.

Fr Mpako, Bishop Elect of Queenstown

 The Holy Father has appointed Fr Dabula Anthony Mpako as Bishop of Queenstown.  He is currently Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Pretoria and a parish priest.

He is also an intellectual, a former seminary rector and an administrator yet is grounded in what used to be called Pastoralia.  He has masters degrees in Pastoral Therapy and Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago and a doctorate in Pastoral Theology from the University of South Africa.

Bishop Sipuka of Mtata

If we look at the current Bishop of Mtata, Sithembele Anton Sipuka, who was appointed three years ago, we see a similar background.  An intellectual, former seminary rector, a man who is theologically conservative but who is a pastor at heart.   Both of these men are friendly people and very approachable.  I'm delighted that appointments are taking a pastoral turn as that is what the Church needs, Bishops in whom priests, deacons and laity alike can feel confident in their spirituality and at the same time know that they really are in their care.

Let's hope that the "Proud Prelate" is a thing of the past!