Caritas Nebbi is honored to introduce our new bishop, Rt. Rev. Raphael P’mony Wokorach, who was appointed by Pope Francis on March 31, 2021 and ordained on August 14, 2021 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Nebbi. He is the fourth bishop of Nebbi Catholic Diocese, succeeding Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok, who was transferred to Lira Diocese in 2018.
Rt. Rev. Wokorach was born on January 21, 1961 at Ojigo Village in Wadelai, in the then Diocese of Arua, in present-day Arua District in the West Nile sub-region, in the Northern Region of Uganda. He attended Ragem Primary School, before entering the highly selective Saints Peter and Paul Minor (Preparatory) Seminary at Pokea, in Arua, studying Sciences, Mathematics, Social Studies and Latin from 1975 until 1979, for his O-Level education. He transferred to the all-boys’ boarding school, St. Joseph’s College Ombaci, also in Arua, where he completed his A-Level education, graduating in 1982, with the equivalent of a high school diploma.
Between 1983 and 1987, Rt. Rev. Wokorach studied philosophy at Uganda Martyrs’ National Major Seminary Alokolum, in Gulu, Uganda. In 1987, he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, by the Pontifical Urban University, in Rome. He continued with his studies in Kenya, graduating with a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in 19941.
He is a member of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (M.C.C.J.), also known as the Comboni Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, the Verona Fathers, or the Sons of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a male religious institute of papal law founded on June 1, 1867 by Italian priest Daniel Comboni1. Rt. Rev. Wokorach was ordained priest on September 25, 1993 at Wadelai Parish, in Arua Diocese, by Martin Luluga, the Bishop of Gulu at that time. He served as priest in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Nebbi until his appointment as bishop.
As bishop, Rt. Rev. Wokorach is expected to shepherd the flock of Nebbi Catholic Diocese with love and care. He has chosen as his episcopal motto “To Serve and Not to Be Served” (Mark 10:45), which reflects his humble and generous spirit. He has also expressed his commitment to work closely with the priests, religious and lay faithful of the diocese to promote pastoral care, social development and evangelization.
We at Caritas Nebbi are grateful for the gift of Rt. Rev. Wokorach as our new bishop and we pledge our support and collaboration with him in his ministry. We also thank Pope Francis for his paternal solicitude and concern for our diocese. We pray that God may bless and guide Rt. Rev. Wokorach as he begins his episcopal service.
