Rufin Anthony
Encyclopedia
Rufin Anthony is a Pakistan
i Roman Catholic Bishop. He completed his primary and secondary school in Khushpur. He received his religious training at the St. Pius X Minor Seminary
in Quetta and the Christ the King Major Seminary, Karachi
and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad
on 29 June 1969. He also studied at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
in Rome, where he obtained a Licentiate in Spirituality.
The former vicar general
of Faisalabad diocese was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
by Pope Benedict XVI
on August 4, 2009. The Bishop-elect had served as formator and spiritual director at St. Pius X Minor Seminary
in Quetta and as a professor at the Major Seminary in Karachi. He also had served as national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and later as rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Minor Seminary
in Faisalabad and the major seminary in Karachi from 23 April 2004. He again became vicar general of Faisalabad diocese in 2005 and was parish priest of Khushpur until the announcement of his new appointment.
His other appointments have been:
Parish Priest in Chak, Okara
, 1974–1976; Vicar General of Faisalabad and Parish Priest of the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
, 1979–1990; Parish Priest of Khushpur, 1990–1994; Parish Priest of Chak, 1994-1995.
On 21 September 2009, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, presided at the ordination in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rawalpindi
of Bishop Anthony. More than 1,500 people attended the event.
On 26 September 2009, hundreds of people gathered in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Faisalabad, to greet Bishop Anthony, a native of Faisalabad, who on 21 September 2009 took possession of the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
On Thursday, February 18, 2010, Bishop Anthony automatically succeeded Bishop Lobo
as Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi upon the latter's resignation.
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt
was attacked by a group of armed men on 28 March 2011 which resulted in damages. It is believed that the incident was related to the recent episode of the burning of the Quran by Pastor Terry Jones in the U.S. Bishop Anthony visited the scene shortly after the incident. He met the police and asked for more protection for churches.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
i Roman Catholic Bishop. He completed his primary and secondary school in Khushpur. He received his religious training at the St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary is the preparatory seminary in the Archdiocese of Karachi, Pakistan. It had 25 seminarians in January 2010. Father Benjamin Shehzad is the seminary’s rector....
in Quetta and the Christ the King Major Seminary, Karachi
Christ the King Seminary (Pakistan)
Christ the King Seminary is a Roman Catholic seminary in Karachi. It is located adjacent to the Portiuncula Friary. In its early years most of the faculty were provided by the Franciscans....
and was ordained a priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad
Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan.Erected in 1960, as the Diocese of Lyallpur, the diocese was created from the Diocese of Multan...
on 29 June 1969. He also studied at the Pontifical Urbaniana University
Pontifical Urbaniana University
The Pontifical Urbaniana University or Pontifical Urban University is a pontifical university under the authority of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.-History:...
in Rome, where he obtained a Licentiate in Spirituality.
The former vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of Faisalabad diocese was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Pakistan....
by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
on August 4, 2009. The Bishop-elect had served as formator and spiritual director at St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary
St. Pius X Minor Seminary is the preparatory seminary in the Archdiocese of Karachi, Pakistan. It had 25 seminarians in January 2010. Father Benjamin Shehzad is the seminary’s rector....
in Quetta and as a professor at the Major Seminary in Karachi. He also had served as national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies and later as rector of St. Thomas the Apostle Minor Seminary
St. Thomas the Apostle Minor Seminary
St. Thomas the Apostle Minor Seminary is the preparatory seminary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad in Pakistan.It was started in 1981 at the initiative of Bishop Paul Andreotti OP in a rented property at Nalka Kohala on Sargodha Road in Faisalabad. Father Bashir Francis was the first...
in Faisalabad and the major seminary in Karachi from 23 April 2004. He again became vicar general of Faisalabad diocese in 2005 and was parish priest of Khushpur until the announcement of his new appointment.
His other appointments have been:
Parish Priest in Chak, Okara
Okara, Pakistan
Okara is the capital city of Okara District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The name Okara is derived from Okaan, a name of a tree, the city is located south-west to the city of Lahore and is famous for its agriculture-based economy and cotton mills...
, 1974–1976; Vicar General of Faisalabad and Parish Priest of the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul
The Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul is the main church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Faisalabad, Pakistan, 250 kilometers south of the Capital Islamabad. The foundation of the Cathedral was laid in 1965 and the building was consecrated in 1969....
, 1979–1990; Parish Priest of Khushpur, 1990–1994; Parish Priest of Chak, 1994-1995.
On 21 September 2009, Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana, apostolic nuncio to Pakistan, presided at the ordination in St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rawalpindi
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rawalpindi
St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is the main church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.St. Joseph's Cathedral is well known for the large congregations from Rawalpindi, Islamabad and surrounding areas, that attend Good Friday, Easter and Christmas services each...
of Bishop Anthony. More than 1,500 people attended the event.
On 26 September 2009, hundreds of people gathered in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Faisalabad, to greet Bishop Anthony, a native of Faisalabad, who on 21 September 2009 took possession of the Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi.
On Thursday, February 18, 2010, Bishop Anthony automatically succeeded Bishop Lobo
Anthony Theodore Lobo
Anthony Theodore Lobo is a Pakistani Roman Catholic bishop. He was born in Karachi, Pakistan on July 4, 1937 to parents of Goan origin. He received his early education at Saint Patrick's High School and religious training at the Christ the King seminary in Karachi, and was ordained a priest in...
as Bishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi upon the latter's resignation.
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt
St. Thomas’ Church, Wah Cantt is a Catholic church located about 50 km from Rawalpindi, Pakistan.The church was attacked by a group of armed men on 28 March 2011 which resulted in damages. About 6.30 pm six armed men broke into the Church's courtyard, throwing rocks and trying to force open the...
was attacked by a group of armed men on 28 March 2011 which resulted in damages. It is believed that the incident was related to the recent episode of the burning of the Quran by Pastor Terry Jones in the U.S. Bishop Anthony visited the scene shortly after the incident. He met the police and asked for more protection for churches.