Bishop Richard Edmund Pates to Visit the Diocese of Karonga; Already Landed in the Country
By Rev. Fr. Joseph Moloka Sikwese
The Diocese of Karonga is waiting eagerly for the visit of Rt. Rev. Richard Edmund Pates, Bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines in the United States of America. Bishop Pates will be visiting the Diocese of Karonga from 27th July to 30th July 2017. Meanwhile, Bishop Pates, travelling with Mr Mathew Sweeney already arrived in Malawi in the afternoon of 26th July, 2017 through Kamuzu International Airp
ort where he was received by Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese among other dignitaries.
Some forty years ago, when Bishop Pates was a deacon and student in Rome, he once served at St. Mary’s Parish in Karonga. His visit is a clear testament of the cordial relationship which exists between the Diocese of Des Moines and the Diocese of Karonga. Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of the Diocese of Karonga, also visited the Diocese of Des Moines last year.
During the visit, Bishop Pates will celebrate the Eucharist with the Christians of Zambwe Outstation in Chitipa (28th July), launch the new Catechism of the Diocese of Karonga at St. Joseph the Worker Cathedral (29th July) and celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St. Mary’s Parish (30th July).
Brief Profile of Bishop Richard Edmund Pates
9th and current Bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines.
Born: February 12, 1943), Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
Education: Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity
Ordination: December 20, 1968
Vocation Director of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis: 1970 – 1974
Vice-Chancellor: 1973 – 1975
Secretary of the Apostolic Delegation to the U.S.A in Washington, D.C.: 1975 – 1981
Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary: 1981-1987
Moderator for Minneapolis Deaneries Council of Catholic Women: 1990-1998
Founding Pastor of St. Ambrose of Woodbury Church: 1998 – 2001
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis: 22 December 2000
Consecration: March 26, 2001
Appointed of Des Moines: April 10, 2008