In a remarkable milestone for the Catholic Diocese of Kitui, Deacon Joseph Mutisya will be ordained a priest by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIV on June 27, 2025, at the Vatican in Rome. The once-in-a-lifetime event places the young deacon among the few from Kenya to be ordained by the Pope himself.
Deacon Mutisya, who will be accompanied to Rome by Fr. Josephat Ndunda, signed his pre-ordination documents on June 12, 2025, at the Kitui Pastoral Centre, witnessed by Very Rev. Fr. John Mwandi (Vicar General) and Rev. Fr. Edward Mulwa (Vocations Director).
His journey in ministry began when he was ordained a deacon on December 8, 2024, by Bishop Joseph Mwongela at St. John Paul II Institute alongside fellow deacons Emmanuel Mwanzia, Julius Munyoki, Joseph Manzi, Stephen Kivite, and Martin Ndonyi—who are expected to be ordained priests later this year on December 8, 2025, during a major diocesan ordination that will also see 15 acolytes become deacons.
Deacon Mutisya currently serves at St. Francis of Assisi Kamutei Parish and also holds the role of Diocesan Youth Coordinator, where he has shown exceptional dedication to mentoring and guiding young Catholics across Kitui County.
Academically, he began at Ketyethoka Primary School, sat for KCPE in 2007, and later attended Kwa-Ukungu Secondary School, completing KCSE in 2012. In 2015, he joined Christ the King Major Seminary, later earning a Certificate in Spiritual Studies, a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA).
Asked why Deacon Mutisya had to travel all the way to Rome for ordination, Rt. Rev. Edward Mulwa, Vocations Director and Bishop’s Executive Secretary, said:
“It’s an opportunity the Diocese has. During the Jubilee Year of Hope, the Pope is set to ordain deacons to priesthood. Chances were given to all countries, and as Kitui, we got the chance. We thank God for this opportunity.”
The Catholic Diocese of Kitui, currently home to 97 active priests and 80 seminarians, has outlined an ambitious plan to ordain 50 priests by 2028 under its 2024–2028 Pastoral Strategic Plan. The diocese continues to attract many vocations, with 10 new seminarians scheduled to join the Major Seminary on August 1, 2025.
Deacon Mutisya’s ordination by Pope Leo XIV will be the second priestly ordination personally presided over by the Holy Father since his election to the papacy on May 8, 2025. The Pope conducted his first ordination on May 31, 2025, at St. Peter’s Basilica, where he ordained 11 new priests for the Diocese of Rome—signaling a return to the tradition of the Bishop of Rome personally conferring Holy Orders.
This extraordinary recognition not only highlights Deacon Mutisya’s personal devotion but also positions the Kitui Diocese prominently within the global Catholic Church.
