From Jamaica to Jamaica

The Holy Father has named as the new Bishop of Mandeville, Jamaica, Father Neil Tiedemann, C.P., an American Passionist. (The previous bishops of this young Diocese have been American religious.)

Bishop-elect Tiedemann was born in Brooklyn in 1948. He joined the Passionists in 1970 and took perpetual vows in 1974. He was ordained a priest May 16, 1975. Since ordination he has served in the following positions: 1975-1982 - Associate Pastor, Immaculate Conception Parish, Jamaica, New York; 1977-1978 - Catholic Charities, Jamaica, New York; 1982-1984 - Co-Pastor, St. Joseph’s Parish, Union City, New Jersey; 1984-1987 - Associate Pastor, Blessed Sacrament Parish, Springfield, Massachusetts; 1987-1994 – Pastoral ministry in Tegucigalpa, Honduras; 1995-1997 – pastoral ministry back at St. Joseph’s Parish in Union City; 1997-1998 - Immaculate Conception Monastery, Jamaica, New York; 1998 - Administrator-Pastor of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish (Hispanic ministry), Brooklyn; 2005-2006 – pastoral ministry back in Honduras; in 2006 he was elected a Provincial Consultor for the Passionists and has been serving in that position up to now.