Our Lady Flight Into Egypt ~ Mary is honoured as the Chief Patron of our Diocese of Port Elizabeth. In accordance with the official liturgical Pastoral Guide it is therefore elevated to a solemnity (big feast) for the local church and celebrated on the Sunday that occurs on 4th February or between the 4th and 10th February each year.

Right reverend
BISHOP MICHAEL GOWER COLEMAN EMERITUS

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Michael Gower Coleman was born in Mafikeng, South Africa, on 19 April 1939. He went to school in Mafikeng, Swaziland, Uitenhage Convent School, and Christian Brothers’ College, Kimberley.

After he matriculated at the age of 16 he left for Northern Rhodesia where he worked for almost a year when he heard the call to the priesthood. He returned to South Africa and entered the Seminary to study for the priesthood. He was ordained to the priesthood on 30 June 1963 and served the diocese in Bedford, North End, East London and King William’s Town. During his early priesthood he spent time in America on a Missionary Appeal for the diocese. In the early 1980's he was appointed to St. Paul’s Seminary Hammanskraal to lecture in Liturgy. Whilst there he was appointed Bishop of Port Elizabeth and returned to the diocese in April 1986. He was ordained Bishop on 22 June 1986 as successor to Bishop John Patrick Murphy. Since then he has been the Bishop responsible for Seminaries for six years. He also attended the Synod for Bishops in Rome in 1992. In 1996 he attended a sabbatical course in Sangre de Cristo. He was Bishops’ representative on the Southern African Council of Priests (SACOP) and served on the Interregional Meeting of Bishops in Southern Africa (IMBISA) until February, 2001. Since January 2000 he is First Vice-President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference.

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Bishop Michael with Mother Teresa

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Bishop's Office
10 Park Lane, Central 6001, Port Elizabeth
P.O. Box 12194 Centrahill, 6006
Tel: 041 373 2854 Fax: 041 374 3921
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