The Carmelite Order is delighted to announce today, 28th May 2016, that the Holy Father, Pope Francis has nominated bishop of the diocese of Mutare, in Zimbabwe, Fr. Paul Horan O.Carm., of the Irish Province. Fr. Paul was born at Drangan in Ireland, on 17th October 1962. Following his profession in the Order on 1st September 1990, he was ordained priest on 7th June 1997. During these past years he has worked in Zimbabwe and is presently the Prior of the Pre-Novitiate house in Nyazure, Rusape in Zimbabwe.
To Fr. Paul we offer our warmest congratulations on behalf of the whole Carmelite Family.
Diocese of Mutare, Zimbabwe
The Diocese of Mutare is situated in the Eastern part of Zimbabwe along the border with Mozambique. It corresponds to the Province of Manicaland and is centred around the Cathedral City of Mutare which is 170 miles east of Harare, the Capital of Zimbabwe.
The Prefecture Apostolic of Umtali (Mutare) was erected on 2nd February 1953 and was confided to the care of the Carmelites of the Irish Province. On 15th February 1957 the Prefecture was raised to the status of a Diocese with the Rt. Rev. Donal Lamont O.Carm (born in Ballycastle, Co. Antrim) as its first Bishop.
Biographical Note
Father Paul Horan was born on 17th October 1962. Having attended the Convent of Mercy Primary School in Drangan (Co. Tipperary, Ireland) and the Presentation Sisters Secondary School (Ballingarry) he qualified as a Certified Accountant (ACCA) and worked in Ireland and London. Fr. Paul was received into the Carmelite Order at the novitiate in Kinsale in 1989, making his first profession there on 1st September 1990. After completing his Baccalaureate in Philosophy and Bachelor of Divinity degrees (Milltown Institute) he was ordained a priest on 7th June 1997.
Fr. Paul was appointed to Terenure College where he held various roles including teaching at both primary and secondary level, head chaplain and head of the Province’s Vocations Team. He went for further studies and completed a M.A. in Theology (specialising in Carmelite Studies) in May 2001 (Washington Theological Union) in the USA.
In September 2001, Fr. Paul was appointed to work in Zimbabwe where he held various roles including Director of Pre-Novices, Director of Novices, School Manager (Kriste Mambo High School), and he served at St. Kilian’s Mission, Makoni. He was elected to serve for two terms on the Zimbabwean Carmelite Commissary Council in 2009 and 2012. Fr. Paul was highly instrumental in getting the first Carmelite (enclosed) Nuns to Zimbabwe who arrived there from the Monastery of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Machakos, Kenya) in February 2015. Fr. Paul was also been appointed by the Carmelite General Council to the International Commission for Carmelite Schools and Youth. Currently, he is the Prior of the new Carmelite Community in Prophet Elijah Priory, Nyazura, Rusape.
