ZAMBIA: Pope Francis Appoints Fr. Gabriel Msipu As Auxiliary Bishop for Chipata Diocese
Bishop-elect Rev. Fr. Gabriel Msipu Phiri
Mwenya Mukuka
Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Gabriel Msipu Phiri as the new Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Chipata.
The bishop-elect Fr. Gabriel Msipu Phiri is a Diocesan priest of the Diocese of Chipata. Until this appointment, Fr. Msipu has been serving as Manager for Diocesan Income Generating Activities (IGAs) of Chipata Diocese.
The appointment comes following the elevation of Rt. Rev. Benjamin Phiri as the Ordinary of Ndola diocese on 3rd July 2020.
ZCCB President Most Rev. Ignatius Chama has since conveyed his congratulations to the Auxiliary Bishop-elect for Chipata Diocese and wished him God’s continued blessings and success as he takes up the new appointment.
Born on 13th December 1964 Rev. Fr. Msipu completed Secondary education in 1984. In 1985 Fr Msipu proceeded to St. Augustine’s Major Seminary in Mpima, Kabwe where he graduated with for a Diploma in Philosophy. Later, in 1989, he went to St. Dominic’s Major seminary in Lusaka for pastoral and Theological studies and was ordained priest on 15th September 1991.
Fr. Msipu has served in various pastoral offices in the Diocese of Chipata and at National level among them, Diocesan Vicar General, Diocesan Treasurer General and Human Resources Officer, Dean for St. Anne’s Cathedral in Chipata Diocese and ZCCB Finance and Administration Manager at the Catholic Secretariat in Lusaka.
Meanwhile the Association of Zambia Diocesan Catholic Clergy (AZADCC) has saluted the appointment of Fr. Gabriel Msipu Phiri as Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata Diocese. AZADCC National President Fr. Augustine Mwewa has described the appointment of Fr. Phiri as a blessing to the Church.
“It is a blessing and we are excited that one of us has been appointed Bishop. I want to congratulate him and we will be praying for him,” Fr. Mwewa told Radio Icengelo News in Ndola.
Fr. Mwewa told Valentine Mukuka of radio Icengelo that the bishop-elect is an experienced Priest, who will help with the pastoral care of Chipata Diocese and assured him of prayers from the local clergy.
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