Bali has new Denpasar Bishop

DENPASAR, Bali: Mgr. Benyamin Y. Bria Pr was consecrated as the new bishop of Denpasar in a modest ceremony here on Sunday.

Benyamin filled the vacant position left by the late Mgr. Vitalis Djebarus SVD, who passed away on Sept. 22, 1998.

Thousands of people, including several bishops from Indonesian dioceses, attended the ceremony at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Renon area,

The ambassador of the Holy Vatican Mgr. Renzo Fratini and the Netherlands' Breda Bishop, Mgr. Mulkens, were among the attendees.

Bishop Benyamin was born on Aug. 7, 1956 in Oekabiti, in Timor, East Nusa Tenggara province. He received his doctoral degree on church law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Canada.

Benyamin is now serving the Denpasar diocese overseeing Bali, Lombok and Sumbawa islands which host around 25,000 Catholics. (zen)