Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
Hours after announcement of the new Shepherd of Bungoma Catholic Diocese Monsignor Mark Kadima, Tuesday, December 14, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan revealed that the episcopal ordination and installation will be next year Saturday, February 19. Monsignor Mark Kadima
Speaking to a local media, Capuchin Television and addressing the clergy at Bungoma Pastoral Centre, His Excellency Archbishop Bert van Megen highlighted that until the ordination of the Bishop-elect in February, the Diocese will still be under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Obanyi Sagwe of Kenya’s Kakamega Diocese who has been the Apostolic Administrator since June 2018.
The Nuncio thanked all the faithful of Bungoma Diocese for their prayers and especially “those who contributed to the process of finding a new Bishops,” asking all the Christians and people of good will to support the Bishop-elect with prayers and in every possible way.
On his part, Bishop Obanyi welcomed the new Shepherd who is to take over from Bishop Norman King’oo Wambua of Kenya’s Machakos Diocese saying, “We thank God that finally we have a Shepherd and the Church in Bungoma can make a step forward.”
“As the clergy and faithful of Bungoma, we are happy, we acknowledge the appointment by the Holy Father and we are in unity and communion with the universal Church welcoming the appointment with love and faith,” Bishop Obanyi who has been administer of the diocese for the last three years said while addressing the Pope’s representative.
Expressing his excitement for his home Diocese of Bungoma, Fr. Jacob Barasa shared with AMECEA online, “I congratulate the new Bishop and welcome him to Bungoma.”
“It has been a while since the diocese has been vacant and it is with gratitude to God and to those in administration ,especially to the Apostolic Administrator Rt. Rev. Bishop Obanyi and Vicar General Rev Fr. John Ogola, for serving and ensuring that the sheep of the diocese were not scattered,” Fr. Barasa a member of the Augustinians of the Assumption congregation said in an interview Wednesday, December 15, a day after the appointment news adding that Bishop–elect who was his rector in the minor seminary is “loving, caring, hardworking and a disciplinarian.”
The Vicar General on his part, during the Capuchin TV livestreaming, assured the Bishop-elect who was present at the event that the clergy of the Diocese “are very committed, focused, hardworking and love the Church and the Diocese.”
“You know us and we have interacted with you in many occasions,” Fr. Ogola said while addressing Msgr. Kadima a Kenyan from the neighboring Diocese of Kakamega and continued, “We now welcome you in our midst as a Father, we are happy that our prayers have been answered and we congratulate you.”
He further thanked the Apostolic Administrator whom he said has been close to the people of Bungoma and always encouraged them in the mission.