[ACNS, by Rachel Farmer] The new Bishop of Mauritius is to be the Venerable Joseph Sténio André, who is currently the Archdeacon of Mauritius. He will take over from Bishop Ian Ernest who has moved to be the Director of the Anglican Centre in Rome.

Joseph Sténio André was elected at the Episcopal elections on 30 November at St Clement’s Church Curepipe.

The Bishop-elect was born in Rodrigues in 1960, and trained for the ministry at St Paul’s Theological College in Mauritius and at Westhill College Birmingham.

He was ordained deacon in Rodrigues in 1983 and priest in 1985 in the UK by the Bishop of Southwark. He served in the Seychelles from 1987 to 1989 and returned to Mauritius where he served as Parish Priest at St James Cathedral. He was appointed Archdeacon in 2009 and served till 2016 when he was transferred to St Paul’s, Vacoas.

Joseph Sténio André has served on the Diocesan Board of Commissioners for many years and as a school governor. He has been active in the ecumenical sphere. He is also currently an honorary chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers and works as a Bible translator for creole.

He is married to Marie Laurance Agathe and they have a son.

A date for his consecration has not yet been set.