It’s all joys and Congratulations to the Archdiocese of Nairobi after the Holy Father, Pope Francis appointed two of the diocesan priests, Rev. Fr. Dr. Simon Peter Kamomoe and Rev. Fr. Wallace Ng’ang’a to be auxiliary bishops of the archdiocese of Nairobi.
The appointment was made public on Tuesday, 13th February 2024 by the Pope’s representative, His Excellency Hubertus Maria Van Megen, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, at the Holy Family Minor Basilica, Nairobi Kenya at 1400hrs EAT.
WHO IS AN AUXILIARY BISHOP AND WHAT DOES HE DO?
The auxiliary is strictly a helper, He’s an assistant bishop, but without any ordinary jurisdiction of any kind. The [diocesan bishop] maintains full and total jurisdiction, authority and administrative competence. In certain Dioceses, the high number of Catholics to be ministered to necessitates the appointing of one or more auxiliary bishops. But, because of his episcopal rank, he is considered at a higher level than anybody else. It’s a recognition of his episcopal status.
The Role of an auxiliary bishop ordinarily is to carry out episcopal duties, whenever the diocesan bishop requires it, and that the diocesan bishop is not to assign such duties “habitually” to anyone else.
Such tasks include those which only a bishop can perform, such as ordinations or the dedication of a church. But they can also involve presiding at other diocesan and important parish events that the diocesan bishop would ordinarily attend, including confirmations.
Mons. Kamomoe, born in Nov 1962 studied his philosophical and theological studies at St. Augustine’s Senior Seminary Mabanga in Kenya’s Catholic Diocese of Bungoma and St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary Tindinyo in the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret, Kenya, respectively. He was later ordained a Priest for the ADN in 1994. Since then, he has served as assistant Parish Priest, Parish Priest, and member of the College of Consultors of ADN, among other Priestly duties. He later on advanced and holds a doctorate from the Nairobi-based Catholic University of Eastern African (CUEA)
Until his February 13 Episcopal appointment, the Kenyan-born Catholic Priest has, since 2008, been serving as the Administrator of the Holy Family Minor Basilica; as well as the Family Life Chaplain of Nairobi Archdiocese.
Mons. Ng’ang’a, born in March 1973, had his Priestly formation and studies in the Kenyan Major Seminaries that the Bishop-elect Kamomoe attended. He later was ordained a Priest for the same Kenyan Archdiocese in May 2005. He later obtained a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
As a Priest, Fr. Ng’ang’a has served as the Assistant Parish Priest of Regina Coeli Parish Karen, and Parish Priest of Christ the King Church Embakasi, among other Priestly duties.
Until his February 13 Episcopal appointment, the Bishop-elect has been the Pastoral Coordinator of the ADN and Parish Priest of Queen of Apostle Ruaraka Parish.
Once Mons. Kamomoe and Mons. Ng’ang’a have been Consecrated Bishops, they, alongside Bishop David Kamau Ng’ang’a, will assist His Grace Archbishop Philip Anyolo in shepherding the people of God in the 3,721 square-kilometer Metropolitan See with 120 Parishes.
Congratulations to the two bishop-elects and we pray that the good Lord who called them to this noble task may grant them the zeal to carry it out till the end.
