Dear Brothers,

Today, as we celebrate Christmas Eve in unison with our confreres in Congo (Zaire) on the centenary of our mission there, we are invited to thank God for His Christmas gift we just received. The Holy See officially announced today, the nomination of Father Vital Chitolina, scj, a member of the South Brazilian Province, as bishop elect of the new Prelature of Paranatinga (South Brazil).

Fr. Chitolina was born in Tuparendi (RS) on January 3, 1954. He began his religious and priestly formation in various formation houses of the province. He made his first profession on February 2, 1976, studied philosophy in Brusque (SC), and theology in Taubaté (SP). He was ordained a priest on December 16, 1984 in his home village.

He dedicated the first six years of his priestly ministry as a formation director at the apostolic school at Corupà. From 1991 to the present he worked in Mato Grosso, in the Diocese of Sinop: first as an assistant parish priest in Porto dos Gaunchos (1991), and then as pastor in Novo Horizonte do Norte from 1992 to 1995. Finally as pastor of the parish of "Nossa Senhora dop Rosario de Fatima" in Lucas do Rio Verde (1996-1997). He also served as the scj regional community coordinator (RC11) .

He is now called to take episcopal responsibility for the new local Church of the Territorial Prelature of Paranatinga recently erected by the Holy Father, with the territory being taken from parts of the Diocese of Sinop, Rondonopolis and Barra do Garcas. Fr. Chitolina is the first bishop of this local Church in Mato Grosso.

On this Christmas Eve, let us give thanks to God for this gift, and as we offer our support to our new bishop, let us pray he may be able to live his episcopal ministry with joy, and be warmly received by the people of Paranatinga.