CENTRAL AFRICA: Fr. Aurelio Gazzera OCD nominated Co-Adjutor Bishop of Bangassou
On Friday 23 February 2024, Fr. Aurelio Gazzera was nominated Co-Adjutor Bishop of Bangasso, in the Central Africa Republic.
Fr. Aurelio was born 27 May 1964 in Cuneo (Italy) and entered the OCD Minor Seminary of Arenzano in 1974. In 1979 he made his First Profession in our Genovese Province and then completed a year of formation in the Central Africa Republic Delegation. He made his Solemn Profession on 11 October 1986 and was ordained priest 27 May 1989.
After serving for a period as a Formator in the Arenzano Minor Seminary he began his mission in the Central Africa Republic. He served in the following roles there: Assistant in the Minor Seminary of Yole (1992-1994); Director of the Primary Sector of the same Seminary (1994-2003); Parish Priest of St.-Michel in Bozoum (2003-2020); Superior of the Delegation of the Central Africa Republic (2014-2020). Since 2003 he is responsible for Caritas in Bouar and since 2020 is responsible for Christians in the villages and Director of the School of Mechanics of Baoro.
INDIA: Fr. Johannes Gorantla OCD nominated Bishop of Kurnool
On Tuesday 27 February 2024, Fr. Johannes Gorantla was nominated Bishop of Kurnool in India.
He was born on 27 February 1974. He made his First Profession, 11 February 1994 and Solemn Profession 2 April 2000. On 10 January 2002 he was ordained a priest. He studied Theology at the Teresianum and was awarded a Licence in Sacred Scripture at the Biblical Institute, both in Rome. He got a Doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Gregorian University. Before these Roman years of study, he had studied Philosophy at the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala, India.
From 2008 to 2011, Fr. Johannes was Superior of the Andhra Pradesh Commissariat and was the first Provincial of the new Province for the triennium 2011 to 2014. From July 2010 to July 2014 he was President of the Conference of Religious in Andhra Pradesh and an executive member of the National Conference of India. He has served as Vice-President of Catholic Education and a member of the Biblical Commission and the Commission for Evangelization, all in Andhra Pradesh. He was a Consultor of the Diocese of Khammam for 6 years and taught Sacred Scripture for 7 years in the “Jyothirbhavan” Institute of Theology and Spirituality. He has translated the Book of St. Teresa’s Life into Telugu and has written 2 books, one on St. Teresa of Jesus and a second on St. Therese of Lisieux, plus writing numerous articles.
At the OCD General Chapter of 2015, held in Avila (Spain), Fr. Johannes was elected to the General Definitory and from 2021, he was Superior of the Missionary Seminary, the Specialization Community of the Teresianum.
