Jerome Pistoni
On the 13th day of May 2023, the Solemn Feast Day Celebration of the Cathedral of Makeni in honor of the Our Lady of Fatima, the Most Rev. Bob John Hassan Koroma was Consecrated to the Order of Bishops. He is the first Diocesan Bishop of Makeni since 1962 after the three Xaverian Bishops who shepherd the Diocese.
His Principal Consecrator was the Apostolic Nuncio to Sierra Leone Archbishop Walter Erbi. His Co-Consecrators were Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bishop Natale Paganelli – Apostolic Administrator of Makeni (2012-2023). With the presence of one Bishop from Nigeria, one Bishop from Guinee, one Bishop from Gambia, two Bishops and one Monsignor from Liberia, one Emeritus and the other three Bishops of Sierra Leone. Added to the colorful celebration were the presence of the many hundreds of Priests and Religious and Congregations of Sisters coming from the four Dioceses of the country.
The occasion was also graced with the presence of the various civil national and local leaders and authorities and Pastors from other Christian Churches in Makeni. And of course the huge crowds of the Lay Faithful from the 26 Parishes of the Diocese.
For the Xaverians, the Bishop Emeritus of Makeni George Biguzzi, though weak in physical health, came from Italy to witness and graced the celebration with Fr. Franco Manganello who baptized Bp. Bob John in Kamabai and Fr. Anthony Guiotto. Both of them worked in Sierra Leone for many long years.
On the next day, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, was followed by the symbolic Installation of Bishop Bob John as he took the possession of his New Diocese.
Bishop Bob John used to be the Vicar General of Makeni. He was nominated the new Bishop of the Diocese of Makeni by the Holy Father Pope Francis which officially announced on February 11, 2023 in Pastoral Center Makeni by the Apostolic Nuncio. His election is not only for Makeni Diocese , but for the entire Local Church of Sierra Leone.
Bishop Natale on the day of Consecration gave his Address of Welcome, Farewell and Thanksgiving for the 11 years of being Apostolic Administrator which he worked so hard. The new Bishop and the Makeni Clergy and Faithful were very grateful to him for the job he has done.
Moreover, Bishop Biguzzi gave also his concluding remarks and express his jubilant exaltation and thanksgiving that one of his son is now shepherding his former Diocese.
Bishops Present on the Consecration:
1. Archbp. Walter Erbi – Apostolic Nuncio to Sierra Leone
2. Arhcbp. Edward Tamba Charles – Archdiocese of Freetown
3. Bishop Natale Paganelli – Apostolic Administrator (2012-2022)
4. Bishop Charles Campbell – Diocese of Bo
5. Bishop Henry Aruna – Diocese of Kenema
6. Bishop Gabriel Mende – Diocese of Bajul, Gambia
7. Bishop Alexis Aly Tagbino – Diocese of Kankan, Guinee Conakry
8. Bishop Anselm Umoren, MSP – Auxiliary of Abuja, Nigeria
9. Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah – Diocese of Gbarnga, Liberia
10. Bishop Andrew J. Karnley – Diocese of Cape Palmas
11. Monsignor Gabriel Joey – Diocese Administrator of Monrovia
12. Ret. Bishop George Biguzzi – Bishop Emeritus of Makeni
On the 13th day of May 2023, the Solemn Feast Day Celebration of the Cathedral of Makeni in honor of the Our Lady of Fatima, the Most Rev. Bob John Hassan Koroma was Consecrated to the Order of Bishops. He is the first Diocesan Bishop of Makeni since 1962 after the three Xaverian Bishops who shepherd the Diocese.
His Principal Consecrator was the Apostolic Nuncio to Sierra Leone Archbishop Walter Erbi. His Co-Consecrators were Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bishop Natale Paganelli – Apostolic Administrator of Makeni (2012-2023). With the presence of one Bishop from Nigeria, one Bishop from Guinee, one Bishop from Gambia, two Bishops and one Monsignor from Liberia, one Emeritus and the other three Bishops of Sierra Leone. Added to the colorful celebration were the presence of the many hundreds of Priests and Religious and Congregations of Sisters coming from the four Dioceses of the country.
The occasion was also graced with the presence of the various civil national and local leaders and authorities and Pastors from other Christian Churches in Makeni. And of course the huge crowds of the Lay Faithful from the 26 Parishes of the Diocese.
For the Xaverians, the Bishop Emeritus of Makeni George Biguzzi, though weak in physical health, came from Italy to witness and graced the celebration with Fr. Franco Manganello who baptized Bp. Bob John in Kamabai and Fr. Anthony Guiotto. Both of them worked in Sierra Leone for many long years.
On the next day, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, was followed by the symbolic Installation of Bishop Bob John as he took the possession of his New Diocese.
Bishop Bob John used to be the Vicar General of Makeni. He was nominated the new Bishop of the Diocese of Makeni by the Holy Father Pope Francis which officially announced on February 11, 2023 in Pastoral Center Makeni by the Apostolic Nuncio. His election is not only for Makeni Diocese , but for the entire Local Church of Sierra Leone.
Bishop Natale on the day of Consecration gave his Address of Welcome, Farewell and Thanksgiving for the 11 years of being Apostolic Administrator which he worked so hard. The new Bishop and the Makeni Clergy and Faithful were very grateful to him for the job he has done.
Moreover, Bishop Biguzzi gave also his concluding remarks and express his jubilant exaltation and thanksgiving that one of his son is now shepherding his former Diocese.
Bishops Present on the Consecration:
1. Archbp. Walter Erbi – Apostolic Nuncio to Sierra Leone
2. Arhcbp. Edward Tamba Charles – Archdiocese of Freetown
3. Bishop Natale Paganelli – Apostolic Administrator (2012-2022)
4. Bishop Charles Campbell – Diocese of Bo
5. Bishop Henry Aruna – Diocese of Kenema
6. Bishop Gabriel Mende – Diocese of Bajul, Gambia
7. Bishop Alexis Aly Tagbino – Diocese of Kankan, Guinee Conakry
8. Bishop Anselm Umoren, MSP – Auxiliary of Abuja, Nigeria
9. Bishop Anthony Fallah Borwah – Diocese of Gbarnga, Liberia
10. Bishop Andrew J. Karnley – Diocese of Cape Palmas
11. Monsignor Gabriel Joey – Diocese Administrator of Monrovia
12. Ret. Bishop George Biguzzi – Bishop Emeritus of Makeni