The Vatican on March 31, 2021, announced several episcopal appointments:
Appointment of apostolic nuncio in Papua New Guinea
The Holy Father has appointed as apostolic nuncio in Papua New Guinea the Reverend Msgr. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, nunciature counsellor, elevating him at the same time to the titular see of Viruno, with the dignity of archbishop.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez was born in Izamal, Mexico, on April 12, 1968.
He was ordained a priest on July 12, 1998, and incardinated in the archdiocese of Yucatán, Mexico.
He graduated in canon law.
He entered the Holy See Diplomatic Service on January 1, 2003, and served in the pontifical representations in Papua New Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, the United States of America, Canada, and Serbia.
He knows Spanish, English, Italian, and French.
Appointment of bishop of Nebbi, Uganda
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Nebbi, Uganda, the Reverend Fr. Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J., until now Pontifical Commissioner of the Congregation Apostles of Jesus.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. Raphael P’Mony Wokorach, M.C.C.J., was born on 21 January 1961 in Ojigo, in the diocese of Arua. After his studies at the Saint Charles Lwanga College of Koboko he attended the minor seminary of Arua for five years (1975-1979), and subsequently entered the Institute of Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, giving his religious vows on October 12, 1992. He carried out his studies in philosophy at the Uganda Martyrs National Major Seminary Alokolum (1988-1989), and in theology at Tangaza University College of Nairobi (1989-1993). He holds a master’s degree in philosophy.
He was ordained a priest on September 25, 1993, and has held the following offices: parish ministry in Uganda (1993-1994); missionary in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bursar of the Comboni Community in Kisangani, and formator of the postulate of the Institute (1994-2001); missionary in Togo and formator of Comboni postulants (2001-2003); missionary in Chicago, in the United States, and formator in the Comboni International Theologate (2003-2007); missionary in Nairobi, Kenya, formator, and lecturer at Tangaza University College (2007-2015); member of the Provincial Council of Kenya and vice provincial (2011-2013); apostolic visitor of the Apostles of Jesus Congregation (2015-2018) and, since 2018, Pontifical Commissioner of the same Congregation, based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Appointment of bishop of Lafia, Nigeria
The Holy Father has appointed as bishop of the diocese of Lafia, Nigeria, the Reverend David Ajang, until now parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish and dean of Zaramaganda.
Curriculum vitae
Msgr. David Ajang was born on March 31, 1970, in Zaria, in the diocese of the same name. After his primary and middle school education, he attended the Saint John Vianney Minor Seminary in Barkin Ladi (1982-1987). As a seminarian of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos, he carried out his studies in philosophy at the Saint Thomas Aquinas Major Seminary in Makurdi (1987-1990), and in theology at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (1990-1994).
He was ordained a priest on December 3, 1994, and incardinated in the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos. He was subsequently awarded a licentiate in philosophy from the Pontifical Urban University of Rome (2002-2004) and a doctorate from the University of Jos.
After priestly ordination, he held the following offices: parish vicar of Saint James in Gombe (1994-1995); parish priest of Saint Molumba in Nasarawa Eggon, vocational director of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos; parish vicar of Saint Theresa in Jos (1998-1999); parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish in Zaramaganda and youth chaplain of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos (1999-2001); administrator of the Our Lady of Fatima Cathedral (2001-2002), and formator at Saint Augustine’s Major Seminary in Jos (2004-2012); parish priest of the Uganda Martyrs parish and dean in Kuru. Since 2012 he has served as member of the college of consultors of the metropolitan archdiocese of Jos; since 2015, chaplain of the governor of the State of Plateau, and since 2018, parish priest of the Immaculate Conception parish and dean of Zaramaganda.
