AFRICA/KENYA-Appointment of Bishop of Ngong

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI on January 7, 2012 appointed Rev. John Oballe Owaa, Rector and Professor of the National Major Seminary of St. Thomas Aquinas in Nairobi, as Bishop of the diocese of Ngong (Kenya).
Rev. John Oballe Owaa was born on August 28, 1958 in the parish of Aher, Archdiocese of Kisumu. He studied philosophy at the Major Seminary of St. Augustine (1980-1982) and Theology at the National Major Seminary of St. Thomas Aquinas (1982-1986). He was ordained a priest on 28 August 1986 and incardinated in the Archdiocese of Kisumu. After his ordination he has held the following positions: 1986-1988: Parish Vicar, Kibuye and Cathedral; 1989-1990: locum tenens, Barkorwa, Catholic Church, 1991-1997: Studies for a Licentiate and Doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, at the same time he also obtained a Diploma in Law at the Gregorian University; 1995-1997: Official of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care; 1998-2010: Priest in the Parish of Ojolla; 1999-2001: Secretary and Director of Finance of the Archdiocese of Kisumu; 2004-2010: General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Kisumu. Since 2010 he has been Rector of the National Major Seminary of St. Thomas Aquinas in Nairobi.
The Diocese of Ngong, built in 1976, is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Nairobi, it has an area of 47,000 square kilometers and a population of 1,011,000 inhabitants, of whom 83,247 are Catholics. There are 29 parishes, 53 priests (39 diocesan and 14 religious), 40 religious brothers, 143 sisters and 19 seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 09/01/2012)