Bishop of Fukuoka
Fr. Josep Maria Abella Batlle, C. M.F., was born on 3 November 1949 in Lleida, Spain. After completing his studies in philosophy and theology at the Faculty of Jesuit Theology in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, he was sent to Japan to learn the language. He gave his first profession on 22 August 1966, and his perpetual profession on 8 December 1972. He was ordained a priest on 12 July 1975. Since priestly ordination he has held the following positions: coadjutor of the parish of Midorigaoka in the diocese of Nagoya (1975-1977); counsellor of the Claretian Province (1976-1981); director of the Uminohoshi kindergarten in the archdiocese of Osaka (1981-1984); pastor of the Hirakata parish in the archdiocese of Osaka (1981-1988); director of the scholastic institute (1981-1991); director of the Akenohoshi kindergarten in the diocese of Nagoya (1989-1992); provincial of the Claretian Fathers (1981-1992); director of the Claretian Committee for Evangelization in Rome (1991-2003); and superior general of the Missionaries Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Rome) for two terms (2003-2015); following his return to Japan, he resided at the parish of Imaichi, in the archdiocese of Osaka (2015-2016); since 2016 he has been a member of the Shirokita Foraria vicariate, in the archdiocese of Osaka; and since 2017 he has been parish priest of the Cathedral of the archdiocese of Osaka.