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 Gatundu (Kiambu County) in the Catholic 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 Bishop-elects Kamomoe and Wallace, rekindles the memory of the 1999 twin appointment and subsequent ordination of Bishop David Kamau and Bishop Ireri Mukobo as auxiliaries of Nairobi on March 18, 2000.
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.
As reported by Catholic Information Service for Africa Archdiocese of Nairobi.
