Bishop Joseph Alessandro is new Bishop of Garissa

Bishop Joseph Alessandro, the Coadjutor Bishop of Garissa has now been appointed as substantive Bishop of the diocese. This follows the resignation of Bishop Paul Darmanin who has attained 75 years which is the canonical age for retirement.

In a letter written to the Catholic Bishops of Kenya, the Apostolic Nuncio to Kenya, Archbishop Charles Balvo informed Kenyan Bishops that Pope Francis had accepted the resignation of Bishop Paul Damanin.

“In accord with the norms of the Code of Canon Law, Rt. Rev. Joseph Alessandro automatically succeeded Bishop Darmanin on Tuesday 8 November 2015 at 2 p.m. local time,” the letter read.

Speaking at the Kenya Catholic Secretariat, Waumini house, during the celebration in honour of the consecrated women employees, the Archbishop of Nairobi, John Cardinal Njue called on the staff of the secretariat to support and pray for Bishop Alessandro as he assumes his duty as the shepherd of the Diocese of Garissa.

Bishop Alessandro was born on 30 November 1944 in Paola Malta. At the age of 17, he was professed as a member of Order of Friars Minor Capuchin and in 1966 made his perpetual vows to the same order.

He was ordained priest on 5 April 1970. He came to Kenya in 1989. 

On Holy Thursday, this year 2 April 2015, Al Shabaab militants, the terrorist Somali-based group attacked Kenya’s Garissa University College campus, killing 148 persons comprising mostly Christian students and 6 members of the security services.

(Rose Achiego, Waumini Communications in Nairobi)

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