By Paschal Norbert
NAIROBI, FEBRUARY 13, 2024 (CISA)– The Holy Father has appointed Rev. Fr. Simon Peter Kamomoe, until now the Cathedral Parish Administrator, and Rev. Fr. Wallace Ng’ang’a, until now the Pastoral Coordinator of the archdiocese and Parish Priest of Queens of Apostle Ruaraka Catholic Church as auxiliary bishops of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.
The two bishop-elects hail from the Archdiocese of Nairobi. It will be the second time that a diocesan clergy from the archdiocese has been picked as a prelate. They will assist the local ordinary of the archdiocese, Most Rev. Philip Subira Anyolo to run the diocese in various capacities as he may deem fit.
The appointment of Bishops-elect Kamomoe and Wallace rekindles the memory of the 1999 appointment and subsequent ordination of Bishop David Kamau and Bishop Ireri Mukobo as auxiliaries of Nairobi on March 18, 2000.
Bishop-elect Simon Peter Kamomoe
62-year-old Bishop-elect Simon Peter Kamomoe was born on November 26, 1962, in Gatundu, Kiambu County. After attending St. Mary’s Major Seminary in Molo, he studied philosophy at St. Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga and theology at St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo.
He was ordained a priest on June 18, 1994, for the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.
Since ordination, he has served as assistant at the Queen of Apostles Junior Seminary of Nairobi (1994-1995); assistant in the parishes of Thigio (1995), Mang’u (1995-1996), Ndundu (1996-1997), and St. Matthias Mulumba in Thika (1997-1998); parish priest of Our Lady of Fatima in Kiriko (1998-1999); parish priest of Sts. Peter and Paul in Kiambu and, at the same time, vicar forane as well as member of the College of Consultors (1999-2008). Since 2008 he has served as administrator of the Holy Family Basilica Cathedral of Nairobi and chaplain of the diocesan office for family pastoral care.
Bishop-elect Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi
50-year-old Bishop-elect Wallace Ng’ang’a Gachihi was born on March 26, 1973, in Gatundu, Kiambu County. After attending St. Mary’s Major Seminary in Molo, he studied philosophy at St. Augustine’s Senior Seminary in Mabanga and theology at St. Matthias Mulumba Senior Seminary in Tindinyo.
He was ordained a priest on May 21, 2005, for the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi.
After ordination, he first held the roles of assistant (2005-2006) and then parish priest of Sts. Peter and Paul in Kiambu (2006-2009). He studied for a master’s degree in pastoral theology at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) (2009-2011) and served at the same time as an assistant in the Regina Caeli parish in Karen (2009-2015); since 2015 he has been parish priest of Christ the King in Embakasi and, since 2011, coordinator of archdiocesan pastoral ministry. He is a member of the College of Consultors.
Role of an Auxiliary Bishop
The auxiliary bishop is strictly a helper to the diocesan bishop. Canon 403 states that an auxiliary bishop can be appointed if “the pastoral needs of a diocese suggest it.” As a result, when a bishop feels he requires assistance in his duties, he may ask the Holy See to appoint an auxiliary to help in the administration of certain diocesan affairs. The auxiliary does not enjoy the right to succeed the bishop as ordinary in the diocese.
An auxiliary bishop becomes a member of the presbyterate of the diocese but because of his episcopal hierarchy, he is considered at a higher level than any other clergy in recognition of his episcopal status.
Canon 408 states that an auxiliary bishop ordinarily is to carry out episcopal duties “whenever the diocesan bishop requires it,” and that the diocesan bishop is not to assign such duties “habitually” to anyone else.
These tasks include those which only a bishop can perform, such as ordinations or the dedication of a church. They can also involve presiding at other diocesan and important parish events that the diocesan bishop would ordinarily attend, including confirmations.
