(ANS – Vatican City) – Benedict  XVI has appointed Fr Rosario Saro Vella, Rector of the Salesian community in Bemaneviky and parish priest, Bishop of Ambanja, in Madagascar. He is the first Salesian bishop in Madagascar.

Fr Rosario Saro Vella, was born on 8 May 1952 at Canicattì (Italy), made his novitiate at San Gregorio, in Catania, and was professed as a Salesian on 12 September 1968. After completing his church studies, first at San Gregorio and then in the Theological Institute in Messina, he was ordained priest on 27 May 1979. Afterwards he obtained a degree in philosophy at  the University of  Palermo.

After ordination and two years on the staff with the Salesian students at San Gregorio, Fr Vella left  for Madagascar in 1981. Here between 1982 and 1995 he was parish priest of Ankililoaka; between 1989 and 1990 Director of Novices, between 1995 and 2004 parish priest of Betafo and from 2004 until the present Rector of the Salesian community in Bemaneviky and parish priest.

Fr Vella had been teaching Patristics in the Interdiocesan Major Seminary of Antsiranana and is also a member of the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Ambanja.

The diocese of Ambanja, erected on 14 September 1955, covers an area of 34.083 sq.km, with a population of 1,241,000, 8.8% of whom are Catholics. The diocese has 31 diocesan priests, 38 religious, of who 19 are priests, and 166 sisters.

Published 07/11/2007