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THE BISHOP’S MOTTO: GRATIAS VOBIS ET HUMILEM
The Diocese of Kafanchan looks ahead with hope. Her first Bishop, Most Rev Joseph Danlami Bagobiri worked assiduously to build the faith of the people, with structures and projects in place. The focus of the second Bishop, Most Rev Julius Yakubu Kundi, therefore, is to continue these projects and initiate new ones for the glory of God as well as the benefit of the Church in the Diocese of Kafanchan and humanity in general. Hence, everyone is called to offer their support to him to realize these objectives.
His motto: GRATIAS VOBIS ET HUMILEM which translates to (God gives) GRACE TO THE HUMBLE (English) and ALHERI GA MAI TAWALI’U (Hausa) inspired by James 4:10, “Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up” takes its root from Proverb 3:34 which reads: “Towards the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favour”. Grace, we know is an unmerited favour. Quoting the above text, the last part of James 4:5 paraphrase it thus: “But he gives more grace; therefore, it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble”. We also find a similar usage in the last part of 1 Peter 5:6 which reads “Likewise you are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”.
Humility is the watchword in the life of the Bishop and key to understanding the path the Diocese has been toeing. This motto serves to designate how God, through time, puts down the proud and exalts the humble. It reechoes the yearnings of the people he governs and encapsulates our common vision as a people of God whose humble background tilts towards God who alone exalts. As such, with humility, the Bishop conquers his fears and works courageously to build a firmer foundation.
BRIEF BIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP JUIUS YAKUBU KUNDI
Most Rev Julius Yakubu Kundi was born on 15th February 1968 to the family of Mr Kundi Bissallah and Mrs Hauwa Yelwa Bissallah in Danladi Village of Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State. He is the fourth of ten children and lost his parents while he was in his teens. This unfortunate saga forced the young Julius into farming to self-sustain and subsequently support his siblings. However, not even this could deter his pursuit of education. He had his First School Leaving Certificate at L.E.A Primary School from 1976-1982. Upon acquiring this, he proceeded to Government Day Secondary School, Pambegua, from 1982-1983. With the support of his uncle, Mr George Bissallah, he was transferred to the then Religious Training Center (RTC), Rahama, Saminaka, from 1983-1985 where he gained additional training. Consequent upon the fact that those who went to RTC Saminaka completely their training at the Kafanchan Teachers’ College (KTC) to obtain their Grade II Certificate, Bishop Julius accomplished this from 1985-1987.
Having attained this height, he returned to Danladi, hoping to take up a teaching appointment with the Local Government. Within this period of quest, he dedicated himself to his parish, teaching catechism and leading the local choir. This marked the point of departure for his journey to the priesthood having made a commitment to God of taking the first opportunity that would come his way in this period of wait. In 1988, he gained admission to study for the priesthood under the careful watch of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna. Bishop Kundi had his Propaedeutic Year and Philosophical studies at St Thomas Aquinas’ Major Seminary, Makurdi from 1988-1992. After he obtained his certification in philosophy and his compulsory pastoral year experience, he was sent to St Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, Plateau State, for his theological studies.
Upon his completion in 1996 with a Diploma in Religious Studies from the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, and a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) from the University of Jos, he was ordained to the ministerial priesthood on 14th July 1997 by the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kaduna. His first assignment was to work at St andrew’s Parish, Kakuri. By 1998, the then Archbishop of Kaduna, Most Rev Dr. Peter Yariyok Jatau sent him on mission to the Diocese of Jalingo where he worked at St Paul’s Parish Bali from 1998-2003. The Diocese of Zaria was created within this period of his sojourn outside his Diocese in 2001. Upon the completion of his mission and with the approval of his Bishop, Most Rev George J. Dodo, he was sent to the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, to bag an STL in Moral Theology. At the end of the specified period, Bishop Kundi returned to his Diocese of Zaria with an STL in Moral Theology from CIWA, Port Harcourt, and a Masters in Theology from the University of Calabar, Cross Rivers State, in 2006.
His immediate appointments on his return were the St Joseph’s Minor Seminary as the Vice Rector, the Parish Priest of St Enda’s Parish, both in Bassawa, and Vocations’ Director from 2006-2007. Shortly after this, he was appointed the Administrator of Christ the King Cathedral, Zaria and the Diocesan Procurator from 2007-2010. Added to these two appointments, he functioned as the Chaplain of the Knights of St Mulumba in the Diocese, a position he held even after leaving the Diocese for his provincial appointment at the Good Shepherd Seminary, Kaduna which marked another phase of his life. Upon the recommendations of the Provincial Bishops, Julius joined the team of Formators at the Seminary where he assumed the responsibility of the Vice Rector up until 2014 when he became its acting Rector, a position he held till 2016 when he left the seminary. This was the most decisive period that showcased his prowess as he worked very closely with the Provincial Bishops and the donor agencies to seeing to the building and stabilization of the seminary’s formative programmes.
Having returned to the Diocese 2016, he was assigned to St John’s Parish Muchia. In 2018, he was sent to the Diocese of Phoenix in Arizona, USA, to work and pursue a doctoral degree from any University of his choosing. There, he was assigned to Our Lady of the Lake, Lake Havasu City; a Parish that hosted a good number of Zaria Diocesan Priests from 2010-2020. As a Parochial Vicar, Bishop Kundi worked closely with his Pastor, Fr Chauncey Winkler for eighteen months. During this time, he was appointed a Chaplain for the Knight of St Columbus and began to work closely with the Latino and Asian communities. It was during the celebration of the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on 12th December 2019 that the nomination of the then Fr Julius as the second Bishop of Kafanchan Diocese in the Southern part of Kaduna State was made. With this announcement, he had to return to Nigeria to be consecrated a Bishop and, subsequently, take up the canonical possession of the Diocese of Kafanchan on 20th February 2020.
Bishop Julius Yakubu Kundi is renowned for his simplicity, kindheartedness and selfless concern for the plights of the indigents of society. His hobbies, among others, include: singing, making friends and playing badminton.