Frs. Father Adrianus Sunarko OFM (Indonesia), Pius Moon Chang-woo (S. Korea) and Job Koo Yobi (S. Korea) - RV

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday made appointments in the Asia and Pacific regions, with a bishop in Indonesia, a coadjutor bishop and an auxiliary bishop in South Korea and a prefect apostolic in the Marshal Islands.

INDONESIA -PANGKALPINANG

In Indonesia he appointed Franciscan Father Adrianus Sunarko the Bishop of Pangkalpinang. The 50-year old priest is the Franciscan provincial superior of Indonesia as well as the president of the Conference of Men Major Superiors of Indonesia (KOPTARI). He takes over from Bishop Hilarius Moa Nurak SVD, who passed away on 29 April, 2016. Bishop Yohanes Harun Yuwono of Tanjungkarang was serving as its Apostolic Administrator.

Born on 7 December, 1966 in Merauke, Papua, Fr. Sunarko attended the minor seminary of Mertoyudan. He did his philosophical studies at the Driyarkara High School of Philosophy in Jakarta and his theology at the Wedhabhakti Pontifical Faculty in Yogyakarta. He took his perpetual vows as a member of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) on 15 August, 1994, and was ordained a priest on 8 July, the following year.

As a priest, Fr. Sunarko was assigned various responsibilities:

1995-1996: Assistant parish priest of Kramat (Jakarta Archdiocese)

1996-2002: Bachelors degree in theology at the Albert-Ludwig University of Freiburg, Germany

Since From 2002: Professor at Driyarkara High School of Philosophy in Jakarta

2004-2007: OFM provincial definitor

2007-2009: OFM vice provincial of Indonesia

Since 2010: OFM provincial superior of India ( 2 terms)

Since 2014: President of the Conference of Men Major Superiors of Indonesia (KOPTARI)

The Diocese of Pangkalpinang, created in 1961, is a suffragan of Palembang Archdiocese. Out of a total population of 3.345.000 over an area of 30,442 sqkm, Pangkalpinang has 58.000 Catholics. They are being ministered to by 76 priests (61 diocesan and 15 religious), 78 nuns and 15 seminarians.

SOUTH KOREA - SEOUL

In South Korea, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Job Koo Yobi as Auxiliary Bishop of Seoul Archdiocese in the capital. With this appointment, the 66-year old parish priest of Po-I Dong has been assigned the titular see of Sfasferia. Fr. Koo will assist the Archbishop, Cardinal Andrew Yeom Soo-jung who is already being aided by three other auxiliary bishops.

Born on 25 January, 1951, Fr. Koo studied at the major seminary of the Suwon (1985-1989 and 1990-1993). Enrolled for mandatory military service, he served as sergeant in aviation (1989-1990). He was ordained a priest for Seoul Archdiocese on 24 February, 1981.

As a priest he held the following positions:

1981-1982: Assistant parish priest of I-Mun Dong

1982-1983: Assistant parish priest of Shin-Dang Dong;

1983-1986: Studied at the Association of Priests of Prado at Lyons, France

1986-1991: Parish priest of Guro Dong

1991-1993: Parish priest of Sang-ge Dong

1993-1998: National director of the Association for Young Catholic Workers; member of the Labour Pastoral Commission, in-charge of the Association of Priests of Prado in South Korea.

1998-2000: Studied for licentiate in spirituality a the Catholic Institute of Paris

2000-2002: Parish priest of Jong-ro

2002-2007: Spiritual director of the major seminary

2007-2013: In charge of the Association of Priests of Prado in South Korea; member of the International Council of Association of Priests of Prado, headquartered in South Korea.

Since 2013: Parish priest of Po-I Dong.

SOUTH KOREA - CHEJU

Elsewhere in South Korea the Pope appointed Father Pius Moon Chang-woo as Coadjutor Bishop of Cheju Diocese that is headed by 71-year old Bishop Peter Kang U-il. Unlike an auxiliary bishop, a coadjutor bishop has the right to succession in the case of the retirement, resignation or death of the current bishop.

Fr. Moon, the principal of the Shinsong Girls Middle School in Cheju, was born on 15 March, 1963 in Cheju. He studied philosophy and theology at the major seminary of Gwangju, and followed it up with a masters degree in theology (1994-1996).

After his priestly ordination for Cheju Diocese on 10 February, 1996, he held the following positions:

1996-1997: Assistant parish priest of Seomoon

1997-1998: Assistant parish priest of Chungang

1998-1999: Parish priest of Choongmoon

1999-2006: Director of the diocesan Office for Youth and Education and of the Diocesan Students Association, director of the Office for Catechesis and Migrants.

2006-2016: Professor and spiritual father at the Catholic University of Gwangju

2010-2015: Doctoral studies

Since 2016: Principal of the Shinsong Girls Middle School

Erected in 1977, Cheju Diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Gwangju. Out of a population of 641,355 spread across an area of 1,849 sqkm, Catholics number 75,579. They are served by 47 diocesan priests, 7 religious priests, 108 nuns and 13 major seminarians.

MARSHALL ISLANDS

Meanwhile, in the Marshall Island in the Pacific Ocean, the Pope appointed Fr. Ariel Galido as Prefect Apostolic. The priest of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC) takes over from 71-year old Fr.. Raymundo Sabio MSC, who has stepped down.

Fr. Galido was born on 3 June, 1975, at Bacuag, Surigao del Norte, in the Philippines. He was ordained a priest on 9 June, 2004, and the following year was sent to the Marshall Islands, where he served in various islands of the islands.

Created in 1993, the Prefecture Apostolic of the Marshall Islands was entrusted to the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart. Made up of 5 islands and 29 atolls, Marshall Islands has an area of 181.3 sqkm with a population of 58,800. Of these, 4.925 are Catholics, who are ministered to by 6 priests (1 diocesan, 5 religious), a deacon, a religious brother and 8 sisters.

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Pope makes appointments in Indonesia, South Korea and Marshal Islands - Vatican Radio