The head of the Catholic Church in Mauritius, Bishop Maurice Piat, celebrated his 80th birthday today, July 19. On the website of the Diocese of Port-Louis, one can read: “Happy birthday to Cardinal Maurice E. Piat who is celebrating his 80th birthday today. Let us give thanks and pray for this shepherd that God has given us.
Bishop Maurice Piat was born on July 19, 1941 in Moka, Mauritius. The youngest son of Maurice Piat and Alix Koenig, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Jean Margéot on August 2, 1970. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Port-Louis on March 4, 1991 by Pope John Paul II.
On May 19, 1991, he was ordained bishop in Marie-Reine-de-la-Paix by Cardinal Jean Margéot, surrounded by three other consecrating bishops: Bishop Gilbert Aubry of Reunion, Bishop Maurice Couve de Murville of Birmingham, England, and Bishop Matthias of Bangalore, India. Appointed Bishop of Port-Louis on March 15, 1993. The motto he chose that day was the exhortation of Jesus to his apostles: “Push out into the deep”.
Since his elevation to the rank of bishop, Bishop Maurice E. Piat has spoken on a variety of subjects affecting daily and civil life.
In addition to his interventions specifically concerning Catholics – pastoral letters, homilies, Lenten messages – he has given numerous interviews to the written and spoken press, not to mention his contributions to the open forums of newspapers and his messages to believers of other religions.
