AFRICA : KENYA : NEW BISHOP OF NGONG OWAA

CISA NEWS REPORT:
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NGONG’, April 17, 2012 (CISA) – The Catholic Diocese of Ngong’ has a new Bishop.
54-year-old Rev Fr John Oballa Owaa, who was the immediate Rector of Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary, Langata, was ordained on April 14 at the Ngong’ Police Traffic Training Grounds.
John Cardinal Njue presided over the occasion. He was assisted by archbishops Zacchaeus Okoth of Kisumu Archdiocese and Archbishop Boniface Lele of Mombasa Archdiocese.
In his homily, Cardinal Niue welcomed the new Bishop to the diocese, observing that he has been shepherding it for the last two and half years as its apostolic administrator.
“Here you will find people, the clergy, religious men and women and lay people, ready to support you and the church,” he told the huge congregation that had turned up for the historic occasion.
The congregation included over 30 bishops, scores of priests, religious men and women and the laity.
A large number was from the Archdiocese of Kisumu, where the new Bishop was ordained as a Diocesan priest as well as working in various capacities , chief among them being Diocesan Vicar General, Diocesan Finance Administrator and as well as a Parish priest.
Cardinal Njue urged the new Bishop to steer the Diocese in the right direction.
Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin said the diocese was missionary. “We have a huge presence of missionaries in the Diocese and this, it is expected, will always remain the case,” said the Apostolic Nuncio.
He asked the clergy, religious men and women as well as the laity to ensure that they have given Bishop Owaa their maximum support.
Bishop Owaa in his address assured the Diocese of his full commitment.
Area local Member of Parliament and minster for Internal Security, Professor George Saitoti reminded Bishop Owaa that the Diocese was cosmopolitan. “Here you will find the Maasai pastoralists, living along side farmers and businesspeople,” explained Prof Saitoti.
He also paid tribute to the two Bishops, Colin Davies and Cornelius Schilder who have shepherded the diocese before Bishop Owaa.
“The two have played their part and we look forward to benefit from your contribution in the missionary service of the diocese,” he added.
The diocese covers the whole of maasai land.
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