The Rt. Rev. Benoni Y. Ogwal-Abwang, D.D

The Rt. Rev. Benoni Y. Ogwal-Abwang, the 5th Rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Simon the Cyrenian, affectionately known as “Bishop Ben,” has come to serve, to provide leadership, and spiritual and physical growth of the ongregation, especially children, youth and young people and to actively participate in civic activities in the growing City of New Rochelle.

Bishop Ben was installed in a spirit-filled worship service as Priest-In-Charge on Sunday November 25, 2001. Presiding was the Rt. Rev. Catherine S. Roskam, Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of New York and in charge of Region II.

While at St. Simon's, Bishop Ben indicates that his Ministry will focus on strengthening the life of the conregation to realize that they are the Baptized of the community of the body of Christ and as such they have to understand “The Spirit of Baptism” and “Living in the Spirit of Baptism.”

He has been in New Rochelle a little over two years and has already made marks of his ministry at St. Simon's and in the larger New Rochelle Community.

Bishop Ben's Ministry

Bishop Ben has been known throughout his ministry as a great spiritual leader, a peacemaker and a very kindhearted person who accepts everyone in His Church and encourages their active participation.

He was ordained Deacon (February 1969) and Priest (December 21, 1969) and consecrated and enthroned Bishop of Northern Uganda (September 29, 1974). Each of these ceremonies were presided over by the Most Rev. Janani Luwum who was Bishop of Northern Uganda and later elected Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire.

Bishop Ben was Curate of Christ Church, Gulu (1969) where he attracted thousands of young people to the Church. He was Chaplain to many of the Church of Uganda students in the surrounding Secondary Schools, and the Nurses Training College.

He has now served in Episcopal Church in the USA parishes for the last 16 years. He served St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Harrisburg, PA, which quickly grew and had to relocate to a larger facility. He organized children's summer programs, after school Programs, computer programs which also donated computers to children who successfully completed the program courses.

Courses were also started for adults.

Bishop Ben was also Assisting Bishop to the bishops of the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, the Rt. Revs. Charlie F. McNutt and Michael W. Creighton. Bishop Ben served St. Paul's and the Community of Harrisburg and the diocese for twelve years, March 1989 to August 2001.

He then served Robert E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church in Lexington, VA, as Associate Rector.   He was able to effectively minister with the Rector to the students at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and Washington and Lee University law students. 

He next became Vicar of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Martinsville, VA. St. Paul's was financially a very poor congregation but spiritually very rich. During his short period there, Bishop Ben started a joint Bible study with the wealthy and large congregation of Christ Church in Martinsville with the intention of bridging the gap between the two Episcopal Churches. It was very successful and the members of the group reached out with job placements for many minority persons who were well qualified but could not find jobs. While in Lexington and Martinsville, Bishop Ben was (Bishop-in-Residence) Assisting Bishop to the Bishop of Southwestern Virginia, the Rt. Rev. Heath Light (1987-1989).

Bishop Ben was also Associate Rector of St. Michael and All Angels in the Anglican Church of Canada, Toronto. He served many West Indian communities very effectively. Many there did not have the proper papers to live and work in Canada but Bishop Ben and Bishop Arthur Brown worked with the government and regularized their documents.

Bishop Ben served the national Church of Uganda as Deputy Executive Provincial Secretary (1970-1972) for the Church of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Boga-Zaire for the welfare (physical and spiritual needs) and education of refugees. Thousands of these refugees were from the African Countries of Rwanda, Burundi, Zaire, Southern Africa , Sudan and Ethiopia.

Bishop Ben initiated the "Ministry of Reconciliation and No Revenge (MRNR)" with the Roman Catholic Bishop of Gulu, Uganda, after Idi Amin was overthrown in 1980.

He has been a member of Episcopal Service Ministry to Appalachian Peoples; Member, Department of World Mission, Diocese of Central Pennsylvania; Co-Chair, Bishops Commission on Racism; Member, Anglican Consultative Council (1984-1987); Participated in two Lambeth Conferences, (1978 and 1988); Co Founder/Member, St Baranbas Center for Ministry; Member Rainbow Program now run by St. Barnabas Center; Member, Episcopal Urban Caucus, Founder/President, Habitat for Humanity Project in Uganda; Walked 1,000 miles to raise 1 million dollars (From Americus Georgia to Kansa City, MO; President, Rural Development Program in Agriculture, Health, Education, Poultry and Well Digging; President Heifer Project International, Nothern Region;

Bishop Ben has translated many books of the Bible into his language of Acholi (1963-1965).

Currently Bishop Ben is serving as Rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Simon the Cyrenian. He has initiated programs such as the Brown Bag lunch program (with distribution at Trinity-St. Paul), and a Community Christmas Dinner. There are special Children's Services once a month and Christian Education for children, youth and adults. The emphasis is to help strengthen the spiritual growth of the church community.  A leadership retreat is being planned to help the congregation examine her ministry. The retreat theme is “Growing in Worship, Nurture and Mission”

Education and Honors

* Huron College, the university of Western Ontario, London Ontario, Bachelor of Ministry Degree, 1974.

* Makerere University, Kampala at Bishop Tucker Theological College, Mukono, Uganda, University Diploma in Theology, Provincial Certificate in Theology, 1968

* Huron College, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Honorary Doctor of Divinity, 1975

* Lutheran Seminary, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, STM (Thesis in Progress).

Personal

Bishop Ben was born in Adilang, Uganda in 1942. In 1971 he married Alice Nyadoi Okoth, daughter of the late Archbishop Yona Okoth, Archbishop of the Church of Uganda. Bishop Ben and his wife have seven children (three deceased, David, Patrick and Philip) and two sets of twins, Peter (a twin), Jessica, Gladys and Janani (Twins) and five grand children, Patrick Dennis Olal, Kyal Akoth, Kyra Lawino, Kylee Bernard Olal, Janani Kenneth Moses.