Pope Francis appoints Michael Odiwa as Homa Bay bishop
Father Michael Otieno Odiwa, who was on November 29, 2020 appointed bishop of the Homa Bay Catholic diocese.
Pope Francis on Sunday appointed Fr Michael Otieno Odiwa as the bishop of Homa Bay’s Catholic diocese.
Kisumu Archbishop Philip Anyolo confirmed the appointment, saying a letter was sent to to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) by the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, His Excellency Archbishop Hubertus van Megen.
"He is in Australia but will have to come back home for his ordination," Archbishop Anyolo told the Nation.
The announcement was made at the St Paul Cathedral in Homa Bay County on Sunday.
Fr Francis Leso, who is in charge of St Paul, said, "We have received the news with so much joy.”
Fr Odiwa will replace Archbishop Anyolo, who was transferred to Kisumu on November 15, 2018.
Archbishop Anyolo has been serving as the apostolic administrator of the Homa Bay diocese since then.
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Fr Odiwa was born on November 11, 1962 in Sori, Karungu, and baptised in 1963 at the Migori parish.
He was ordained a deacon on May 17 1992 and a priest of the Homa Bay diocese on July 3, 1993.
He acquired a Doctorate in Canon Law from Urbaniana University, Rome, between 2000 and 2005.
He also studied spirituality at St John's Senior Seminary in Molo in 1986, philosophy at St Augustine's Senior Seminary in Mabanga from 1987 to 1988, and theology at St Matthias Mulumba Kalemba in Tindinyo from 1989 to 1992.
Fr Odiwa is currently working in the Archdiocese of Adelaide, South Australia, as an assistant parish priest.
He has also been in-charge of the Italian speaking community of the Annunciation Church, Hectorville Parish, as well as the defender of the Bond Tribunal of the province of Adelaide and the northern territories.
The bishop-elect is the former Vicar-General of the Homa Bay diocese and the parish priest of the Homa Bay cathedral.
He has also worked at the parishes at Asumbi, St John's Seminary Rakwaro, Rakwaro, Ang'iya and Nyalieng'a.
