Fr Lagho appointed Bishop of Malindi Diocese
What you need to know:
- The Bishop-elect is a former consultor in the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (Rome) Italy.
- Bishop-elect holds a Masters degree in Religious Studies from Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi.
After serving as Mombasa Catholic Archdiocese Vicar General for 12 years, Fr Willybard Lagho has been appointed as Bishop of Malindi Diocese.
On Monday at noon Rome time, Pope Francis appointed Very Rev Fr Lagho, as Bishop of Malindi Diocese to fill in the vacancy left by the late Bishop Emanuel Barbara, who died on, January 5, 2018..
The letter of his appointment was sent to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, his Excellency Archbishop Hubertus van Megen.
“I have the honour and pleasure to inform you that Pope Francis has appointed the Right Reverend Father Willybard Lagho as Bishop Malindi. The Bishop elect comes from the clergy of Archiodicese of Mombasa,” reads a letter signed by Bert van Magen, Apostolic Nuncio to the Archbishops and Bishops Apostolic and Diocesan Administrators in Kenya.
The Bishop-elect is a former consultor in the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (Rome) Italy.
He was ordained Deacon on, December 21, 1985 and ordained a Priest on, April 25, 1987 in Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
Bishop-elect Lagho holds a Diploma in Arabic Language from the Pontifical Institute of Arabic & Islamic Studies (Rome), Licentiate in Arabic and Islamic Studies from the Pontifical Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies (Rome), Masters in Religious Studies from Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi
In 2011-2016, he was the Chairman Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics Trust (CICC) Mombasa. In 2015-2016 he was Lead Consultant for the pilot study on Religion and Peace in East Africa sponsored by DANMISSION-Netherlands.
Preaching peace
Bishop-elect Lagho has been at the forefront of preaching peace in Kilifi and Mombasa counties to ensure unity and peaceful co-existence between the Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and traditionalists at the coast region.
In 2007-2008, he was a Pastor of Our Lady of Fatima (Kongowea) and Education secretary of Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
He has also served as the Rector and formator in St. Augustine’s Seminary (Bungoma, 2002-2006), Formator and Lecturer in St Mathias Mulumba Seminary (Tindinyo, 2000-2001), Rector of St. Mary’s Minor Seminary (Kwale, 1990-1992) in Catholic Archdiocese of Mombasa.
According to the Catholic Media Publication, in 1989-1990, he was a Parish Priest at Christ the King (Miritini) and Youth/Vocation Director. In 1987-1988 he was an Assistant Parish Priest at St Michel’s Parish (Giriama) and Youth/Vocation Director at the Archdiocese of Mombasa.
He began his education at St James Primary School in Mgange Dawida village in Taita Taveta County, where he studied between 1965 and 1974.
Thereafter he attended St Charles Lwanga Secondary School (1974-1978) in Mombasa for his O levels and Queen of Apostles Minor Seminary (1978-1980) in Nairobi for his A Levels.
Between 1982 and 1986, he studied Theology at St Thomas Aquinas Seminary (Nairobi) and 1980-1982, he studied Philosophy at St Augustine’s Seminary Mabanga (Bungoma).
