Pope appoints bishop for Soroti Diocese
Rev Fr Joseph Oliach Eciru. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Fr Eciru also worked as formator and teacher of latin at St Peters Seminary Madera.
- He also served as a formator and lecturer of sacred scripture at St Paul’s National Seminary Kinyamasika Fort-Portal and St Mary’s National seminary Ggaba, Kampala.
Soroti. Pope Francis has appointed the Rev Fr Joseph Oliach Eciru as the new Bishop for Soroti Catholic Diocese which had taken five years without resident bishop.
Fr Eciru replaces Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo, who was elevated from bishop for Soroti Diocese to Archbishop for Tororo Archdiocese in January of 2014.
In a March 13 letter signed by Fr. Alfred Rayan D’ Souza, the Charge d’ Affairs, addressed to Apostolic Nunciature in Uganda, he said, he has the honour and joy to communicate that the Holy Father; Pope Francis, has appointed the Rev Fr Joseph Oliach Eciru as the new Bishop of Soroti.
The diocese has been under the apostolic administration of Archbishop Emmanuel Obbo.
Fr Eciru will be the third bishop to serve Soroti Catholic Diocese. Bishop Obbo took over from Bishop Erasmus Wadera.
Fr Eciru is currently a staff at St Mary’s National Major Seminary in Ggaba.
He started work as a priest after being ordained on August 9, 2003, at Soroti Catholic Diocese.
“Lets assure our prayerful support to Bishop-elect Eciru that he will be guided and strengthened by the wisdom and courage of the Holy Spirit to discharge with fidelity and joy his mission,” the letter read in part.
About Rev Fr Eciru
Fr Eciru, born in 1970, is the last born in the family of eight. He attended St Aloysius Demonstration Primary School before joining St Peters Seminary Madera, Soroti, and later St Pius X Seminary Nagongera, Tororo. He also attended his Philosophicum at St Thomas Aquinas National Seminary Katigondo, Masaka, Theologicum at St Paul National Seminary Kinyamasika, Fort-Portal.
His diaconate ordination was on 10 August 2002, at St Ann’s Catholic Parish, Usuk.
Fr Eciru also worked as formator and teacher of latin at St Peters Seminary Madera.
He also served as a formator and lecturer of sacred scripture at St Paul’s National Seminary Kinyamasika Fort-Portal and St Mary’s National seminary Ggaba, Kampala.
Fr Eciru is the first catholic Bishop of Teso origin to work in his native Soroti Catholic Diocese.
The Archbishop for Tororo Diocese, Emmanuel Obbo, said, “I am happy because that is own.”
