Fr Enrico Parry Appointed Bishop of Keimoes-Upington

Pope Leo XIV has appointed Fr Enrico Parry as the new bishop of Keimoes-Upington. This appointment follows the death of Bishop Edward Risi, who passed away on December 4, 2025, at the age of 76. Bishop Risi had led the diocese since 2000. The appointment of Bishop-elect Parry was announced on November 12, 2026.

Bishop-elect Parry was born on December 28, 1968, and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Oudtshoorn by Bishop Edward Adams on April 17, 1995, in St Saviour’s cathedral. He began his ministry with parish work from 1995 to 1998. He then moved to Pretoria, where he served in various roles at St Peter’s Seminary in Garsfontein.

In Pretoria, Bishop-elect Parry served as professor, dean, vice-rector and acting rector of St Peter’s Seminary. He later held several positions at St John Vianney Seminary, also in Pretoria. Notably, he was appointed rector of St John Vianney Seminary in 2008, a position he held until 2011. This seminary has been a significant part of his career, as it has been for several other bishops.

Bishop-elect Parry is one of five full-time rectors of St John Vianney Seminary between 1985 and 2011 who have been appointed bishops. The others include Archbishop William Slattery OFM, Bishop Graham Rose, Bishop Mlungisi Pius Dlungwane, and Archbishop Sithembele Sipuka, now archbishop of Cape Town. This connection highlights the seminary's influence on the Catholic hierarchy in Southern Africa.

In addition to his seminary work, Bishop-elect Parry has held various diocesan roles in Oudtshoorn, including chancellor, financial administrator, director of catechesis, and director of the Pontifical Mission Societies. He has also served as chaplain to correctional services, the South African National Defence Force, and police services in the Oudtshoorn area.

Currently, Bishop-elect Parry serves as director of the Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA), based in Harare, Zimbabwe. He was appointed to this position in September 2025, after previously serving as coordinator of IMBISA’s Pastoral Department. IMBISA unites the Catholic bishops’ conferences and communities of nine Southern African countries.

Bishop-elect Parry’s appointment as bishop of Keimoes-Upington brings new leadership to the diocese. His extensive experience in both pastoral and administrative roles prepares him for this new responsibility. His articles have appeared in The Southern Cross, including a recent piece titled “Death will be defeated” in the November 2026 issue.

Key points

• Bishop-elect Parry was ordained a priest in 1995 and has served in various roles, including seminary work and diocesan administration.
• He is the fifth rector of St John Vianney Seminary between 1985 and 2011 to be appointed a bishop.
• Bishop-elect Parry currently directs IMBISA, which serves nine Southern African countries.