Soroti diocese set to consecrate its third Bishop

Soroti Diocese is set to consecrate and install its  3rd Bishop on Saturday, 25th May 2019.

On March 19, Pope Francis appointed Rev. Fr. Dr. Joseph Eciru Oliach as the 3red Bishop of Soroti Catholic Diocese to succeed the Most Rev. Emmanuel Obbo who was elevated to the position of Archbishop of Tororo Archdiocese in 2007. The Archbishop Obbo, had succeeded Bishop Erasmus Wandera, who was the first Bishop if Soroti Diocese when it was created in 1981.

The consecration and installation of the newly appointed Bishop will be hosted at Immaculate Conception Cathedral and it will be attended by leaders of the Catholic Church from all over the country. The event is also expected to be graced by President Yoweri Museveni.

In the Catholic Church, the episcopal consecration ceremony  marks the official elevation of the priest to the Order Of Bishop; and installation is the ceremony in which the elected and consecrated Bishop officially takes charge of the diocese. The Bishop is the "ordinary" of a diocese, meaning he is the proper administrative head of the Diocese.

Rev. Fr. Robert Ecogu, the Diocesan Coordinator for  Social Communications and Chairperson of the Publicity Committee for the event said;

" The election of the new Bishop is very welcome in the Diocese, especially coming after over 5 years of waiting. The people are preparing for the celebrations with immense gratitude."

Sorority Catholic Diocese covers 9 civil districts in Teso including: Bukedea, Kumi, Ngora, Serere, Soroti, Amuria, Katakwi, Kapelebyong and Kaberamaido. The sub region has a population of about 2.9 million of which about 1.6 million are Catholics.

Born to John Francis Oliach and Anna Maria Aguti ( both deceased ), Fr. Excited is the last of 8 children. He went to St. Aloysious Primary School in Ngora for his primary education, St. Peter's Minor Seminary Madera for his O'level, St.  Pius X Seminary  Nagongera for his A' Level. He thereafter joined Katigondo National Major Seminary in Masaka for Theological studies. He thereafter pursued post graduate studies leading to a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture (2009) and a doctorate in Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome (2012).

Fr. Joseph Eciru has been a letter at St. Mary's National Major Seminary Ggaba. He has also been Chaplain to the Catholic communities working and living in Kampala and neighbouring towns, coordinated under their umbrella association, Sorority Catholic Laity Association (SCALA).

The Bishop-elect will arrive in the diocese on Wednesday May 22 and Christians are preparing to give him a rousing homecoming from Fika Salalama, the border between Tororo Archdiocese and Soroti Catholic Diocese.