Dear Brothers,

Today, Solemnity of Christ the King, the Holy See officially announced that the Holy Father named our brother, Fr. Tomé Makhwéliha Bishop of Pemba (Mozambique). Till now, we was the third General Councilor.

Fr. Tomé was born at Gurué (Zambezia, Mozambique) on 21 January, 1945. After his initial years of seminary study at Zobué (Tete) he made his novitiate in Portugal and made his first vows on 29-09-1967. He studied philosophy in Lisbon and theology in Bologna. Ordained priest on 8-12-1973 he became our second Mozambican SCJ priest- He later studied Education Sciences at the Salesian University in Rome (1979-1981).

His ecclesial and congregational service as well as his priestly ministry were diverse and rich. He spent a number of years in formation and seminary education at our scholasticate at Milevane. He became rector, for a number of years, of the interdiocesan seminary at Maputo and afterwards novice master. He partook in the translation of the Roman Missal and Bible into the Lomue language. He was pastor, regional superior, member of the General Commission on Justice and Peace, and most recently elected third general councilor at the XXth general chapter.

Today the Church is assigning him the episcopal ministry for the diocese of Pemba in the northeastern part of Mozambique. Established as a diocese in 1976, it was without a bishop from November, 1993. The diocese comprises 82-625 square kilometers and 2,070,000 inhabitants. It is served by 20 priests, 4 religious brothers, and 44 sisters for 68 1,000 Catholics.

The task that awaits the new bishop will not be easy; he will have to express the best of the Dehonian spirituality. The task is one that Fr. Tomé undertakes with his Dehonian availability and with his great love for the Church.

Having known and esteemed him, we share a great joy with the Church at his nomination. We are grateful to him for the service he has given the Congregation and for his witness of life. We assure him of our fraternal support, grounded in friendship, prayer, and material assistance so that he can be that kind of pastor of which the Church has great need: a pastor according to the Heart of Christ.