New Bishop for Rarotonga

Fr Paul Donoghue sm - Bishop-elect of Rarotonga

Fr Paul Donoghue - Oceania Marist Provincial named for Diocese of Rarotonga

He will be ordained July 16
Pope Benedict has appointed 62 year old Paul Donoghue sm as Bishop of the Diocese of Rarotonga. The Holy Father has accepted the resignation of Bishop Stuart O’Connell sm, who has reached the age limit. Fr Donoghue was ordained 29 June 1975.

Born in Auckland, Paul after ordination 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, Taveuni Fiji.
The diocese of Rarotonga 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 the island of Rarotonga is reasonably small, the geographical area of the 15 Cook Islands of the group covers the area similar to that occupied by Europe.
Bishop-Elect Donoghue is the eighth bishop since the Diocese was set up in 1966. He succeeds Bishop Stuart O’Connell SM. who recently turned 75, the retirement age for a bishop, and the Holy Father accepted his resignation.
Source:Cathnews NZ