The Parish Priest of Louva in Temotu, Patteson Nibeo has been announced as the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Temotu in the Anglican Church of Melanesia. He was elected by the Diocese of Temotu Electoral Board on 15 September at the headquarters of the Community of the Sisters of the Church, Tete Ni Kolivuti, east of Honiara, Tenaru area.
The 46-year-old bishop-elect will succeed Bishop Willie Tungale who retired in June 2023.
Nibeo is currently in his third year studying for a bachelor’s degree in theological studies at Bishop Patteson Theological College (BPTC), Kohimarama, west Guadalcanal and is due to graduate at the end of 2023. He also graduated with a diploma in theology from BPTC in 2006.
He was ordained a deacon at Saint Luke, Luova Parish in December 2006 and made priest in 2007 at Transfiguration Church, Lale village, Vanikoro.
He served as district priest at Nembao, Tanibilei, Tanelu and Asubuo, District, Utupua Island. In 2011 he served as parish priest at Luova Parish. He also served as hospital chaplain in Lata from 2012 to 2013 and then moved to Noro Parish in Western Province as parish priest in the Diocese of Ysabel from 2014 to 2018. In 2019 he returned to Louva Parish in Temotu to serve as parish priest.
He is married to Petrina Mary Nibeo and they have two children.
The Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Melanesia and Bishop of Central Melanesia, Archbishop Leonard Dawea, has called on all members throughout the province to uphold Bishop-Elect Patteson and his family in prayer as they prepare to take on this important responsibility in the church.
A date for the consecration will be announced at a later time.
