Archdiocese of Nassau—

Vatican City (Fides Service) – The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has, (12 June 2003) appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Nassau archdiocese (Bahamas) Mgr Patrick Pinder, vicar general of the same archdiocese, assigning to him the titular see of Case Calane. The new Auxiliary Bishop Mgr Patrick Pinder was born in Nassau on 1 November 1953. He studied in the United States and at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium where he obtained a Licentiate. He studied Sacramental Theology at the Catholic University of America in Washington obtaining a doctorate and was ordained a priest on 15 August 1980. He has since been: assistant priest, teacher of religion, rector of the cathedral, moderator of the diocesan curia, diocesan consultor, diocesan director of the Pontifical Mission Societies, president of the diocesan liturgy commission, judicial vicar and vicar general of the archdiocese of Nassau. Nassau archdiocese embraces the whole territory of the Bahamas (77 islands of which in 30 are inhabited). Nassau diocese was created in 1960 as a suffragan of Kingston archdiocese in Jamaica. In 1999 it was elevated to the rank of metropolitan archdiocese with suffragans Hamilton diocese in Bermuda and the missio sui Iuris of Turks and Caicos Islands. The archdiocese has an area of 13,939 sq. km, and a population of 312,000. There are 47,688 Catholics gathered in 28 parishes, looked after by 29 priests (14 diocesan and 15 religious) 3 Brothers, 28 Sisters, 14 permanent deacons and there is 1 major seminarian. (Fides Service 27/6/2003 EM lines 23 Words: 257).