John Oballa Owaa

Pope Benedict XVI appointed John Oballa Owaa the Bishop of Ngong Diocese, Kenya on 7 January 2012.^[1][2]

Msgr John Oballa Addressing Seminarians and their family members on 28 January 2012 at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary Nairobi

Bishop John Oballa Owaa had been the Rector and Professor of St. Thomas Aquinas National Major in Nairobi, Kenya. John Oballa Owaa was born on 28 August 1958 at Ahero, Nyando District, Kenya. He was incardinated and Ordained a priest of Kisumu (Arch-Diocese), Kenya on 28 August 1986 (on his 28th birthday ).

He studied in Kenya, He died his 'O' levels at St. Peter's Minor Seminary in Mukumu and then procceeded to do his 'A' levels at 'Tindinyo college'. Tindinyo College has since been turned to a Major seminary and Theologicum, Later he joined St. Augustine Senior Seminary, Mabanga from 1980 to 1982 and St. Thomas Aquinas National Major Seminary, Nairobi) from 1982 to 1986. He later went to Rome for studies and obtained a Licentiate and PhD in Canon Law at the Pontifical Urban University. In Rome he also worked as an official of the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care, from 1995 to 1997.^[3][4]

Bishop John Oballa Owaa was consecrated on the 14th of April 2012 in Ngong the Principal consecrator being John Cardinal Njue .^[5]

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  Oballa with Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski (2010)

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  Mass with Bishop Paul Kariuki (Embu), Bishop Peter Kihara (SEC), Msgr John Oballa and Fr. Pancraesus Juma Mogaka

A visit by Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education (since November 15, 1999) Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski^[6] at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary, Nairobi. With him is Msgr. John Oballa Owaa, Rector of the Seminary (Mege Joshua)

The Diocese of Ngong had been vacant since the resignation of Bishop Cornelius Schilder, M.H.M. in August 2009.^[7]

The Diocese of Ngong covers an area of 47,000 square kilometres, a population of approx. 1,011,000 people, Catholics 83,247, 29 parishes, 53 priests (39 diocesan and 14 religious), 40 religious brothers, 143 sisters and 19 seminarians among them being Seminarian John Kinuthia Njeri who is undertaking his studies in Tindinyo seminary Theology II.^[8][9]

Mass presided over by Bishop Paul Kariuki of Embu assisted by Bishop Peter Kihara (SEC, Msgr John Oballa and Fr. Pancraesus Juma Mogaka

APPOINTMENTS

• After his ordination he worked at St. Theresa’s Kibuye Cathedral and Barkorwa Catholic Church.
• From 1998 to 2010 he was appointed Parish Priest of Ojolla, (Upon his return to Kenya, from Rome).
• From 1999 to 2001 he also served as the Secretary and Director of Finance of the Archdiocese of Kisumu .
• In 2004 he was appointed General Vicar of the Archdiocese of Kisumu.
• In January 2010 he was appointed Rector of St. Thomas National Aquinas.
• In January 2012 Pope Benedict XVI has appointed entrusted to him the pastoral care of the Diocese of Ngong
• On the 14th of April 2012 he was consecrated the third Bishop of Ngong

References

1. Catholic Hierrachy, (2005-2010) .
2. News.va & all Vatican media sources
3. News.va & all Vatican media sources
4. Blogger
5. "Bishop John Oballa Owaa". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
6. Congregation for Catholic Education
7. David M. Cheney, (2005-2010)
8. News.va & all Vatican media sources