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Superior of Spiritans in Gabon, Equatorial Guinea Appointed Apostolic Vicar in Gabon

Mons. Severin Nziengui Mangandza (Center), Apostolic Vicar for the Apostolic Vicariate of Makokou in Gabon. Credit: Episcopal Conference of Gabon/Facebook

Pope Francis has appointed the Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans - CSSp) in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea as the Apostolic Vicar for the Apostolic Vicariate of Makokou in Gabon. 

The Thursday, January 5 appointment of Mons. Severin Nziengui Mangandza was published by the Holy See Press Office

Mons. Mangandza is expected to succeed his confrere, Bishop Joseph Laurent Koerber, whose retirement has been accepted by the Holy Father.

The 78-year-old native of France has been at the helm of Gabonese Apostolic Vicariate from March 2003, first as Prefect, and since October 2014, as Vicar Apostolic.

Mons. Mangandza has been serving as the Provincial Superior of the Spiritans in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea since 2016. He is expected to become the second Apostolic Vicar of Makokou, which was an Apostolic Prefecture till July 2014.

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Born in Gabon’s Archdiocese of Libreville, Mons. Mangandza who will turn 51 next month joined the Spiritans in 1996. 

He was ordained a Priest in July 2008 after completing Priestly studies in various Catholic institutions, including Daniel Brottier Spiritan Seminary in Gabon and the Cameroon-based Catholic University of Central Africa.

As a Spiritan Priest, Mons. Mangandza has served in various capacities including Parish Vicar at St. Kisito in Makélékélé, Congo Brazzaville, Novice Master in Mbalmayo, Cameroon and Director of Studies and Bursar of the Daniel Brottier Spiritan Seminary in Libreville.

The alumnus of the Catholic University of Paris in France is expected to be at the helm of Makokou Apostolic Vicariate that measures 46,075 square kilometres and with 23,000 Catholics, according to 2021 statistics

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.