The Holy Father, Pope Francis, on 10 February 2014 appointed the Former AMECEA Secretary
for Social Communications Department, Fr. Moses Hamungole, a New Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Monze, Zambia.
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| Fr Moses Hamungole (second from right) with Vatican Radio staff (English Africa) |
The Bishop–elect is taking over the diocese from Right Rev. Emilio Patriarca who will continue as Bishop of Monze until the new Bishop is ordained.
The Bishop–elect, who is incardinated to the Archdiocese of Lusaka, worked at AMECEA Secretariat as Social Communications Secretary in Nairobi, Kenya between 2002 and 2008 when he went for further studies at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
This is the third time that AMECEA Secretary for Social Communication is appointed a Bishop. The first communication secretary to be appointed a Bishop was the late Rt Rev Joseph Mukwaya who headed the department from 1974 to 1979. Bishop Mukwaya was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Kampala, Uganda in 1982 and later became Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana, Uganda. The second person was Rt Rev Fortunatus Lukanima, Bishop Emeritus of Arusha, who worked from 1985 to 1986 as Social Communications Secretary. He was appointed Bishop of Arusha, Tanzania in 1989.
Speaking to AMECEA Online News, the AMECEA Communications Secretary, Fr Chrisantus Ndaga who took over the office from the Bishop-elect in 2008 said it is a great honor for the department and for AMECEA secretariat in General. “May God strengthen and guide him as he takes greater responsibilities in the Church,” he said adding that “We are planning also to join him during his ordination day in Monze.”
A Congratulatory message from the first AMECEA Social Communication Secretary and founder of the department, Fr. Joseph Healy, MM to the Bishop–elect said AMECEA communication department is proud of him because of this appointment. “Prayers for sure, Moses. Let us call on the intercession of Servants of God Cardinal Otunga and Bishop McCauley to help and strengthen you,” read the message of Fr Joseph Healey.
Until this appointment, Fr. Hamungole has been working as the Director of English Service -Africa and Kiswahili radio programmes at the Vatican Radio in Rome, Italy.
The Bishop-elect, Fr. Moses Hamungole was born on 1 May 1967 in Kafue. He started his junior secondary school at Kafue Boys but completed his senior secondary school education, in 1986, at Mukasa minor seminary school in Choma. In 1987, he was accepted to study philosophy and start his priestly studies at St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Mpima, Kabwe. Later, in 1990, he proceeded to St. Dominic’s Major seminary in Lusaka for pastoral and Theological studies. He graduated with a degree in Theology in 1994.
After his ordination as a priest on 6 August 1994, Fr. Hamungole worked as an assistant parish priest in Lusaka and Kabwe before being appointed to the then Yatsani TV Production studios (now CMS-TV Production studios) as studio manager, in 1997. Two years later, he proceeded to study at the Gregorian University in Rome where, in 2002, he graduated with a Licentiate in Social Science.
While working at the Vatican Radio, Fr. Hamungole has also been studying as a doctoral student of the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium.
SOURCE: ZEC and AMECEA Social Communications Office