KENYA: “I Look Forward to Our Cooperation,” Says Newly Appointed Bishop for Garissa Diocese
Bishop-elect of Garissa Catholic Diocese Msgr. George Muthaka
Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA
The newly appoint bishop for Garissa Diocese Monsignor George Muthaka, has said after his appointment by Pope Francis on Thursday, February 17, that he is an unworthy servant of the Lord, but in his unworthiness he looks forward to working together with the people of Garissa whom he has served for the last four year.
“Deep down in my heart I am aware that I am unworthy but I have faith that the Lord knows why he has done this to me,” Msgr. Muthaka who has been serving as the Vicar General of Garissa Diocese told AMECEA online hours after announcement of his appointment.
“I feel like Isaiah who felt unworthy to carry out the call of the Lord and also like Saint Peter who felt unworthy. I even wonder just like King David why the Lord has chosen me because deep down I am aware that I am not worthy,” the Bishop-elect, a member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap), narrated.
The appointment of Msgr. Muthaka was officially communicated in a letter to the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) by Archbishop Bert van Megen the Apostolic Nuncio in Kenya and South Sudan.
During the Thursday interview, the Friar who has served in his Congregation as a Vice Minister Provincial of the Capuchins in Kenya for two consecutive terms 2009-2015, disclosed his incredulity about the appointment saying, “I had prior information about it from His Excellency the Nuncio but I’m still in a state of disbelief and confusion because it’s something that I never expected in my lifetime that it would ever happen.”
At the time of his appointment, Msgr. Muthaka has been serving in the same Diocese of Garissa with Bishop Joseph Alessandro whom he is to succeed and whose resignation letter from the pastoral care has been accepted by the Holy Father on the same day of the new appointment for the Diocese.
Besides working as the Vicar General for the Catholic Diocese of Garissa, the Former chairperson for the Franciscan Family Association (FFA) in Kenya has also been serving as the Finance Administrator, Chairman for Caritas Garissa Board and as In-charge of Child-protection desk in the Diocese.
Having known well the people he has worked with in the past four years, the Bishop-elect’s desire is to serve the people of Garissa as a servant seeking for their cooperation and advice to help him serve better.
“I am coming as a servant and I look forward for our cooperation that we work together because the responsibility I have been give is not for myself, it is not for my honour or for my glory; I am coming a s a servant,” he shared during the interview, requesting the people of Garissa to pray for him, for the diocese and for team work.
Bishop-elect appreciated his predecessor and confrère for the lessons learnt from him during their stay and service together.
“I consider Bishop Joseph not only as my Bishop but also a brother, a father, a friend and a mentor. I have learnt from him humility and how he has been a true servant to the people of Garissa; the priests, Religious and all the faithful,” Msgr. Muthaka disclosed and continued, “If I can only emulate that one particular aspect of being a humble servant to the people of Garissa, I will be satisfied.”
He promised to carry on with the plans they already began with Bishop Emeritus Alessandro especially those in the strategic plan which could not be implemented because of the interruption of Covid-19 pandemic and especially promotion of vocation which is a challenge in the Diocese.
“One of the issues that we have been struggling with is more vocations because we have only three Diocesan Priests in the whole of the Diocese. The Bishop thinks that we need to have more young people joining us. I will work extra hard on that area so that we can get more vocations,” Msgr. Muthaka said.
On his part Bishop Emeritus expressed his joy for the appointment of Msgr. Muthaka whom he describes as “a person of trust.”
“I am extremely happy and grateful to God since I have been looking forward to this day… I always prayed for the Holy Spirit to enlighten everyone involved in the process of giving input for the new Bishop and I am grateful to God because he has given me more than what I asked for,” the Maltese Prelate expressed.
Bishop Alessandro who has been at the helm of the Diocese since 2012 acknowledged that the people of Garissa including priests, Religious, the faithful and the youths, accepted Msgr. Muthaka from the very beginning when he went to the Diocese since “he is a person who people can reach quite easily.”
He urged his successor “to be close to the people, the poor, those considered to be in the margin” because “if we assist these people (the needy), the providence of God is highest.”
“It is not that easy to do charity,” he said, “but we need to be prudent and at the same time be generous to support the people,” he concluded.
