KAMPALA – Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Raphael p’Mony Wokorach as the new Bishop of Nebbi Diocese.
The Diocese of Nebbi was vacant after the appointment of Rt. Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok as Bishop of the Diocese of Lira on 23th November 2018.
In a March 31 letter, Luigi Bianco, the Apostolic Nuncio to Uganda, made the announcement.
“The Apostolic Nunciature has the pleasure to announce that on 31th March 2021 the Holy Father Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. Raphael p’Mony WOKORACH, M.C.C.J. as the new Bishop of Nebbi Diocese. On this occasion the Apostolic Nunciature desires to congratulate the new Bishop Rt. Rev. Raphael p’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J. and to thank Rev. Msgr. Emmanuel Odaga for his generous service as Diocesan Administrator,” he wrote.
Fr Wokorach, a Combonian Missionary of the Heart of Jesus, was born on January 21, 1961 in Arua.
After the studies at Ragem Primary School, he joined the minor seminary of Ss. Peter and Paul, Pokea-Arua (1975-1979). In 1980-1982 he went St. Joseph College Ombaci, Arua, for Advanced Secondary School certificate.
In 1983-1987, he joined the Comboni postulancy and studied Philosophy at Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary in Alokolum, Gulu-Uganda, where he obtained a BA degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University.
In 1988-1989, he did the novitiate of the Comboni Missionaries in Tartar, Kenya, and in Kampala.
In 1989-1993: studies of Theology in Tangaza College, Nairobi-Kenya.
In 1994 he obtained Master degree in Philosophy at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Nairobi, Kenya. His thesis title is: “The Good-for-man as a principle of Moral Character in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics”.
In 2000-2001, he did course for formators at the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome. He took first religious profession on April 29, 1989 and the perpetual vows on October 12, 1992. He was ordained priest on September 25, 1993 at Wadelai Parish-Nebbi diocese by the Bishop of Nebbi Martin Luluga.
From 1993-1994, he was a member of the Ugandan province while pursuing his Master’s program in Philosophy in CUEA;
Between 1994 and 2001, he served in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo, as curate in a parish for a couple of years and later formator in the Postulancy for candidates to the priesthood;
From 2001-2003, he was in Lomé, Togo, as formator at the Brothers’ Postulancy;
From 2003-2007, he was in Chicago, USA as formator in the Theologate;
From 2007-2015, he was in Nairobi, Kenya as formator in the Theologate and lecturer at Tangaza University College where he served for several years as Chair of the Governing Council of the College;
He was Vice Provincial of the Kenyan Province from 2011-2013 and from 2015-2018, he was Apostolic Visitator for the Institute of the Apostles of Jesus;
On June 21, 2018, the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life appointed him Pontifical Commissary for the same Institute of the Apostles of Jesus.
He speaks English, French, Italian and local languages: Alur, Acholi, Kiswahili.