The Episcopal Ordination of Mgr Joseph Alessandro OFM Cap. will be taking place on Saturday, September 29 at 9.30am at St John’s co-Cathedral in Valletta.
Fr Effie Mallia, Provincial Vicar of the Franciscan Community of Malta, said today that the ceremony will be led by Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, together with the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr Paul Cremona and the Bishop of Garissa, Mgr Paul Darmanin OFM Cap.
Bishop Alessandro will serve as Coadjutor Bishop of Garissa in Kenya.
Fr Mallia said that on Friday, September 28 there will be a prayer vigil led by Bishop Darmanin at the Capuchin Church of the Holy Cross in Floriana.
The Maltese Capuchin Fathers have been in the mission of Garissa in Kenya since 1974.
Mgr Alessandro first went to the missions in 1989 and five years later was made Superior of the Capuchin Vice-Province. In 1994, he was shot and seriously injured whilst on his way to meet fellor priests.
During a spell in Malta he worked hard for the missions as secretary of the Kenyan mission as well as the Provincial of the Capuchin Province of Malta.
He returned to Kenya as a missionary in 2010 and was made Vicar General for the Diocese of Garissa by Bishop Darmanin.
Pope Benedict XVI nominated him Coadjutor Bishop of the same diocese last June 29.