BISHOP WALLACE NG’ANG’A APPOINTED AS THE BISHOP OF THE MILITARY ORDINARIATE
Rt. Rev. Wallace Ng’ang’a, an Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi, has been appointed as the Bishop of the Military Ordinariate. This new elevation comes barely four months after his consecration as an Auxiliary Bishop of Nairobi, alongside Rt. Rev. Simon Peter Kamomoe.
In an interview with CISA, an electronic news bulletin owned by the Consolata Missionaries, Bishop Ng’ang’a shared, “I have served for just over four months since my ordination as a bishop. The news of my appointment was a surprise to me, as I felt I had not yet fully acclimated to the episcopal role or understood its operations. Nonetheless, we are ordained to serve, and when the Holy Father extended this call, I accepted it with an open heart. I am prepared to serve within the Military Ordinariate.”
Although he has no military background, His Lordship is optimistic about his new role, drawing confidence from the guidance of his predecessors to uphold the dignity of the office. He noted, “I am quite new to the military context. Unlike those trained in military affairs, I am not. However, my primary role will be to tend to the apostolate and journey spiritually with the members of the military, as my predecessor, Bishop Rotich, did. While Bishop Rotich was trained in military matters and part of their world, my approach will be different. I will join them and rely on guidance from church leaders, including the archbishop and the current administrator. Their support will be crucial as I navigate both my role and the military’s operations.”
Bishop Ng’ang’a also acknowledged the importance of learning from those with experience, stating, “To understand the military environment better, I will seek advice from Monsignor Njue, the current administrator, and Monsignor Maswili, who served previously. Their insights will be invaluable in helping me grasp how the military operates.”
Bishop Ng’ang’a has served in various capacities within the Archdiocese of Nairobi before his episcopal ordination on April 6, 2024. As he prepares to officially take office on October 12, 2024, he expresses his willingness to serve and calls on all to join in fulfilling Christ’s mission on earth.
The Military Ordinariate is an Apostolic Constitution on spiritual assistance to the military, established in April 1986. It is mandated to address the pastoral needs of the faithful in the armed forces. The bishop leading the Ordinariate is termed the “Military Ordinary” and oversees military chaplains. Unlike traditional dioceses, the Military Ordinariate is not confined to a specific geographical area but serves wherever the nation’s military personnel are stationed.
Bishop Rotich, who previously held the position of Military Ordinary, retired in 2016 upon reaching the retirement age of 55. At the time of his retirement, he had attained the rank of colonel, the highest rank a religious figure can achieve in the military. Since then, two Apostolic Administrators have served: Monsignor Benjamin Maswili, appointed in December 2016, and Monsignor John Njue Njeru, appointed on January 30, 2024.
