Submitted by admin on April 22, 2009 - 23:04
TONGA
Rodgers, John Hubert Macey
(1915– ).
Titular Bishop of Sbida and Vicar Apostolic to Tonga and Niue Island.
John Hubert Macey Rodgers was born on 9 October 1915 at Upper Hutt, New Zealand, and educated at St. Patrick's College, Wellington and Silverstream. In 1940 he was ordained priest and arrived at Tonga in the following year, where he became principal of the Catholic College (1941–53). He was consecrated titular Bishop of Sbida, and Vicar Apostolic of Tonga and Niue, in 1954. He served on the Tonga Education Board (1941–53) and on the hospital board since 1952. Bishop Rodgers is the first New Zealand Catholic missionary bishop.