The Catholic Church in Kenya has a reason to rejoice and thank God again after his Holiness Pope Francis made another appointment of Rev. Fr. Peter Munguti Makau, I.M.C. as a coadjutor bishop for the catholic diocese of Isiolo, barely 15 months after its elevation to the status of a Diocese
This announcement, which comes as the third in a row for Kenya, was made public alongside other appointments by the Vatican on Saturday, May 4. Mons. Peter will take over from 74-year-old Rt Rev Anthony Ireri Mukobo, IMC, upon retirement, as the second bishop of the diocese of Isiolo. Once ordained as Coadjutor bishop, he will have the right of automatic succession.
Who is a Coadjutor Bishop?
This is an assistant bishop with the right of succession upon the resignation/retirement or death of the diocesan bishop. Before a bishop coadjutor is elected, the diocesan bishop must consent to such an election and state the duties which will be assigned to the bishop coadjutor when duly ordained and consecrated.
The presence of a coadjutor bishop, therefore, ensures that there is no period during which the episcopal see is vacant. Under this arrangement, the transfer of authority to a new diocesan bishop from his predecessor is as seamless as possible.
Mons. Peter Munguti Makau, I.M.C., was born on May 6 1975 in Nairobi. He began his religious formation as a Consolata Missionary in Nairobi at the Consolata Seminary where he carried out his postulate and completed his studies in philosophy.
He carried out his novitiate in Sagana, Kenya, and gave his first vows on 6 August 1999. He completed his studies in theology in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, at the Institut Saint-Eugène de Mazenod and gave his perpetual vows on December 5 2003. Later he was ordained a priest on November 20, 2004 in the diocese of Machakos.
After ordination he obtained a Diploma in Canon Law at the Universidad Monteávila in Caracas (Venezuela).
Leadership Roles
He has held the following positions: Parish Priest in Carapita, Catholic Archdiocese of Caracas (2006-2014); Superior Delegate for Venezuela for two mandates (2014-2019). Since 2019 he has been Regional Superior of the Consolata Missionaries in Kenya and Uganda.
Mons. Makau will help Bishop Ireri in administration of the 25, 336 square kilometers diocese with a population of about 177,730 people with 69,070 being catholics. It has 21 diocesan priests and 5 religious priests, 6 male religious and 78 female religious persons serving the faithfuls in the 14 parishes.
Congratulamur Episcopo Electo necnon toti Romano-Catholicae Fideli Catholicae Dioecesis Isioloae
Sources:
- Catholic Information Service for Africa– CISA
- Vicariate Apostolic of Isiolo: Acta Apostalicae Sedis, Volume 88, page 348
