Pope Francis Makes Kenyan Appointment

Bishop-Elect Joseph Mwongela’s appointment was officially announced through a notice released by the Vatican on March 17, 2020, made public in Rome at noon, Rome Time (2.00 p.m. Kenyan Time).

“The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Kitui, Kenya, the Reverend Joseph Mwongela, of the clergy of Kitui, currently vicar general of the same diocese,” the statement reads.

Mwongela would be replacing Bishop Anthony Muheria, who has been the head of the diocese since August 10, 2018.

According to the Vatican release, Reverend Joseph Mwongela was born on 7 April 1968 in Kakumi, Diocese of Kitui.

He attended the preparatory year at Saint Mary’s Senior Seminary in the diocese of Nakuru (1989).

He then carried out his studies in philosophy at Saint Augustine’s Senior Seminary of Mabanga, in the diocese of Bungoma (1990-1991) and in theology at Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Nairobi (1992-1995).

He was then ordained a priest in September 1996, after which he was posted at the diocese of Kitui.

The release further adds that he held the roles parish vicar of the Migwani parish (1996-1997); parish priest of the Nguni parish (1997-1998), and the formatter at the Saint Patrick Formation House (1999-2001).

He is also reported to have served as the diocesan chancellor and, at the same time, director of the diocesan office for vocational pastoral care (2003-2008).

From 2003 to 2008, he studied in Rome where he was awarded a licentiate from the Pontifical Gregorian University (2003-2006) and a doctorate in dogmatic theology from the Angelicum (2005-2008).

He went on to serve as chaplain of the Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Kitui (2008); parish priest of the Muthale parish (2008-2013); director of the Saint John Paul II Institute of Professional Studies and parish priest of the Boma parish (Our Lady of Africa Cathedral); and vicar general of the diocese of Kitui (since 2015).

Father John Mwongela during a past oathing ceremony.

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