Bishop of Polokwane
Jeremiah Madimetja Masela was born on June 28, 1958, in the village of Bergzich, within the parish of Doornspruit—then in the Diocese of Pietersburg, now the Diocese of Polokwane. He studied philosophy at St. Peter’s Major Seminary and theology at St. John Vianney Major Seminary. He was ordained a priest on December 15, 1984, at the parish of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Doornspruit. Following his ordination, he held the following positions: 1985–1999: initially parochial vicar of St. Peter and Paul in Seshego, and subsequently parish priest of the same parish from 1988; 1999–2004: Vicar General of Polokwane; 2000–2005: Administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Polokwane; 2005–2008: Spiritual Director at St. John Vianney National Major Seminary in Pretoria; 2008–2011: Vicar General once again; concurrently serving as parish priest in Makopane and later in Doornspruit. Since 2011, he has served as Apostolic Administrator *sede vacante* of Polokwane.