Filipino priest appointed new director of Paris-based institution

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino Vincentian priest has been named new director of a key institution based in Paris, France, and run by the Congregation of the Missions. The Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said Thursday night Fr Marcelo Manimtim was named new director of Paris-based Centre International de Formation (CIF). "We are happy and proud to announce that Fr. Marcelo Manimtim, CM, is the new director that takes care of the ongoing formation of the confreres in the international level: heritage program (April/May) and servant leadership (June/July)," Fr. Bienvenido Disu, provincial Visitor, said in a statement on the CBCP website. Manimtim will be the first Asian to hold this office, the CBCP statement said. It added the determinant considerations of this appointment were his linguistic capabilities (English, Spanish, Italian, French, and German), Degrees in Church History and Philosophy, Public Relations and adaptability. Manimtim is expected to report to his new assignment on October 2008, the CBCP said. The CBCP added Manimtim will succeed Fr. Hugh O'Donnell, whose term is ending this September. - GMANews.TV