Bishop of Klerksdorp
Victor Hlolo Phalana was born on April 3, 1961, in Erasmus, Odi, in the North West Province (Archdiocese of Pretoria). He studied philosophy and theology at St. John Vianney Major Seminary in Pretoria. He obtained a Licentiate in Spirituality from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1993–1995) and also pursued studies in African Culture at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi (1999). He was ordained a priest on May 14, 1988, and incardinated into the Archdiocese of Pretoria. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1988–1989: Parochial Vicar of St. Camillus, Hammanskraal; 1989–1992: Parish Priest of Christ the King, Mabopane; 1992–1993: Professor at the Propaedeutic Seminaries in Hammanskraal and Cape Town; 1993–1995: Studies for the Licentiate in Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (residing at the Pontifical College of St. Peter the Apostle); 1995–1999: Spiritual Director of St. Peter’s Philosophical Seminary and lecturer at St. John Vianney Major Seminary; 1999–2004: Lecturer at the Lumuko Pastoral Institute; 2004–2008: Parish Priest of Good Shepherd and St. Peter in Winterveldt; since 2007: Administrator of the Cathedral of Pretoria; since 2011: Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Pretoria.