By Anchor Reporter
Kenyan Archbishop Peter Joseph Kaloki Ndambuki has been named Patriarch of Africa by retiring Patriarch, Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo.
His Beatitude Emmanuel Milingo is the retired founder of the International Married Priests Catholic Prelature of Sts Peter and Paul. In the June 2020 letter passing on the office of Patriarch of Africa, Archbishop Milingo notes that Archbishop Ndambuki has “demonstrated our charism of married priesthood and faithfulness to your office as a Catholic Bishop and then Archbishop since our beginnings as a Prelature ever eager to tend to the flock of shepherds and others whom God has given into our care. Be mindful of the poor and little ones for of such is the kingdom of God.”
International Married Priests Prelature of Sts. Peter and Paul
Milingo, as Roman Catholic Archbishop, founded The International Married Priests Catholic Prelature of Sts. Peter and Paul in 2006 in order to give institutional support and reenergize the ministry of Catholic Priests who have a vocation to both priesthood and marriage. The appointment of the new leader is communicated in a press statement from Archbishop William Manseau, who is based in the United States of America.
"These married priests according to their charism given by ordination, serve outside the legal approval of the official Roman Catholic church, but validly exercise Christ’s priesthood in situations where the official church is inadequate to serve. The Prelature operates under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the consciences of the members. Members of the Prelature yearn for the day when all followers of Jesus celebrate our faith in one, holy, universal, and apostolic church" Archbishop Manseau said.
"Because of the COVID crisis, the formal installation ceremony has been delayed until a vaccine or treatment for COVID 19 is commonly available and the full joy of a gathering of bishops, priests, deacons, denominational clergy friends, and all the baptized followers of Jesus can once again raise our full voices to praise God and celebrate God’s loving presence and renewing power among us as One, Holy, Universal, Apostolic people", he stated.
Archbishop Kaloki was born in 1942 in Makueni County, Kenya. His parents were Patrice Ndambuki Mawili and Theresia Ndinda Ndambuki. He attended Holy Ghost Mission Primary School, Kyamuthei. He was baptized in 1957 and given the baptismal name of Peter. He was confirmed in 1959 and chose Joseph for his confirmation name. Archbishop Kaloki treasured his baptismal name because, “Peter would challenge Jesus at times, and was candid, simple and practical without being hypocritical.” He writes also, “Peter was quick to understand his failures and regret
[02/08, 7:42 pm] Martin Masai: them as he promptly corrected his position.” The new Patriarch treasured the confirmation name Joseph because the husband of Mary was “humble and worked with his hands to feed his family.”
Archbishop Kaloki began studying for priesthood in 1960 at Queen of Apostles Minor Seminary, Kiserian, under the Archdiocese of Nairobi. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas Regional Major Seminary, Nairobi, studying Philosophy and Religious Studies, and both Systematic and Biblical Theology. He was ordained a Roman Catholic Priest in 1973 by the late Bishop Urbanus Kioko of Machakos Diocese. His first assignment was assistant priest in the Cathedral Parish of Machakos, then served as military chaplain to the armed forces of Kenya from 1974-1984. He again served the diocese in the Kaumoni and Kathonzweni parishes in 1985-86.
Marriage Life
In March 1986 he married Francisca Katillo in what is now Makueni County. His wife came from the same village as Kaloki (Nzuuni, Makueni County). After schooling and training, she worked as a pre-primary school teacher. Later, she worked for 25 years until her retirement in 2014 as a revenue collecting clerk under the county council authority.
They have been blessed with six children, Elizabeth Ndunge, Jennifer Syombua, Juliet Mbinya, John Nzioka Kaloki, Kelvin Sila Kaloki, and Lucy Wanza Kaloki. The first three girls followed in their mother’s first path and took up careers in education. John served as a Kenyan peacekeeper in Somalia. Kelvin has studied business and law. He is an award winning leader in business and government projects regarding agroforestry. He is managing director of Africa Plantation Capital Ltd. in the East African Region. Lucy Wanza, the last born is not married and lives with her parents.
Archbishop Kaloki was consecrated as bishop in apostolic succession August 28, 2010 in Sasa Motto Centre in Karen Estate Nairobi, Kenya. The principal consecrator was Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, assisted by the late Bishop James Ngigi Chege and Bishop Mathew Theuri both of Nairobi. (Apostolic succession comes from the fact that Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo was consecrated bishop by Pope Saint Paul VI on August 1, 1969.
As a priest and bishop, Archbishop Kaloki has served the mission of Jesus Christ with community leaders across denominations. In addition to his official roles in the Roman Catholic service, he has served with Africa Brotherhood Church, the Anglican Communion, Baptists, and others.
Archbishop Kaloki’s involvement with Married Priests Now was inspired by Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo of Zambia. They embraced one another and decided to fight together for the release of the “imprisoned” “celibate priests” who wished to join. The new Patriarch attended a worldwide organizing convocation in Seoul South Korea in 2008. Archbishop Ndambuki was a founding member of this convocation at which the International Married Priests Catholic Prelature of Sts. Peter and Paul was formally established. Coming back to Kenya he joined hands with others of similar intentions and formed a council of bishops and priests in Nairobi. This work has involved all locations in Kenya’s towns, villages, and rural areas. His ministry has extended to parts of Uganda and Zambia. He has worked as coordinator in Anglophone Africa from his base in Nairobi and his rural home in Makueni County. He has maintained good relationships with the International Married Priests headquarters in the USA.
Archbishop Ndambuki was installed formally as Archbishop of the Prelature for Kenya, Africa, at a ceremony in Vienna, Austria, in 2014.
As St. Paul supported his ministry by tent weaving, the new Patriarch is a small scale farmer. He grows maize, beans and other cereals for his family, and keeps livestock as a subsidizing project.
Role as Patriarch of Africa
Patriarch Peter Ndambuki sees the mission of Christ in Kenya and Africa as better served by married clergy. In most African ethnic culture, the unmarried man is deemed as irresponsible. He is not experienced in marital social family matters. The married priest gives counsel which he can demonstrate in his own marriage and family. He teaches by word and by example. Denominational differences should end, and all followers of Jesus Christ should be served by leaders taken from among the followers. His role will cover the whole of Africa where he will have his vicars. In Kenya he has named Bishop George Jamba as his vicar who will additionally be in charge of the communications office. The Very Reverend Fr. Peter Chulu is his vicar in Zambia. Vicars for other countries in Africa where The Married Priests Catholic Prelature of Sts. Peter and Paul has members or projects, will be named in due time. He will work in unison with the International Prelature of Sts. Peter and Paul in the USA.
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