Bishop of Alghero-Bosa
Bishop Mauro Maria Morfino, S.D.B., Bishop of Alghero-Bosa, was born on March 23, 1958, in Arborea, in the province of Oristano. He attended the gymnasium at the Salesian formation house in Genzano di Roma, and after those studies began his novitiate at Lanuvio, which concluded with temporary profession on September 12, 1975. He obtained a teaching diploma and, in 1978, a licence in music theory and solfeggio. He made his perpetual profession on September 25, 1983. He was ordained a deacon at Arborea on June 29, 1985, and a priest on July 19, 1986, in Alghero. He obtained a diploma in philosophical studies from the Pontifical Faculty of Sardinia and completed his academic studies in the Middle East, obtaining a bachelor's degree in sacred theology (1986), a licentiate in biblical studies at Jerusalem (1988) and a doctorate in biblical studies in the same city (1992). He taught music education in middle schools (1977-1980) and was secretary of the Don Bosco middle school at Arborea (1981-1982); collaborator with the Pontifical Representation in Jerusalem (1987-1990); spiritual director of the Sardinian Pontifical Regional Seminary (1995-1998); and vice-dean of the Pontifical Theological Faculty of Cagliari (1998-2006). Since 1992 he has lectured in sacred scripture at the same theological faculty, where he is ordinary professor of biblical studies and director of the department of biblical and patristic studies. He is the author of numerous biblical studies published in various reviews, and has been active in leading retreats and in biblical animation. On January 31, 2011, he was appointed Bishop of Alghero-Bosa, and he received episcopal ordination on April 3, 2011, at Alghero.