The Most Rev. Justice Yaw Anokye, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi has advised the newly ordained Auxiliary Bishops of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra to avoid administrative incongruities, ambiguities and pastoral tentacles and obstacles in the discharge of the duties.
In a homily at the ordination of Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare and Most Rev. John Kobina Louis at the Holy Spirit Cathedral on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, Archbishop Anokye urged them to let their actions and ideas be consequential and tangential.
He reminded them that they were Titular Bishops of Dioceses which no longer existed, hence “historically, geographically, canonically and technically, you have no Diocese.”
“Accra Archdiocese is not yours. Avoid expressions like “In my Archdiocese of Accra… or in future I will do ABC… You have no Dioceses. You are just Assistants or Helpers by your very name and identity Auxiliaries.”
Archbishop Anokye who was Auxiliary Bishop of Kumasi between 2004 and 2008, admonished the new Auxiliary Bishops to always uphold the Archbishop of Accra’s vision and strategic planning, notwithstanding their lofty ideas.
He advised them to remain silent and efficient and avoid pomp and pageantry in the discharge of their duties, reminding them “As Assisting Bishops, you are the two ears, two, eyes, two hands and two legs of your Diocesan Bishop but there is only one head and one mouth in the Archdiocese of Accra.”
“You will need the Clergy and Religious as well as the entire people of God to help you in doing justice to the Accra Archdiocese,” he said, entreating them to avoid asking of the health of their Bishop but rather ask for more jobs to do.
“… Kindly keep in mind that your Archbishop must increase and you must always decrease,” he added.
The functionaries at the Episcopal Ordination were the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski who was the Principal Consecrator; Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie and Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as Principal Co-Consecrators.
Present at the ordination Mass were scores of Priest and Religious, Papal Knights and Dames, Government functionaries, Traditional Leaders, family members of the two Auxiliary Bishops and hundreds of lay faithful.
For easy and effective pastoral governance in the Archdiocese, Archbishop Kwofie appointed Bishop Asare as Vicar General in charge of the pastoral care of the Kaneshie, Osu, Kpehe and Mamprobi Deaneries put under a division of Accra West while Bishop Louis is the Vicar General to be in charge of the pastoral care of the Tema, Ashaiman, Battor and Madina Deaneries under the Accra East division.
According to the Archbishop, all Parishes under these Deaneries are to report their concerns and administration to Auxiliary Bishops assigned to them.
Meanwhile the Archbishop has also appointed Bishop Asare to have special oversight duty on youth affairs and Bishop Louis with special oversight duty at the Catholic Institute of Business & Technology (CIBT) in Accra.
Bishop Asare would reside at the Mary Mother of Good Counsel, Airport West but with office at the Holy Spirit Cathedral while Bishop Louis would be residing at St. Bakhita Catholic Church, Tema Community 20 but with office at the Corpus Christi Parish. However, the Archbishop noted that both Auxiliary Bishop would not have direct responsibilities over the Parishes they reside.
On behalf of the Ordinandi, Bishop Louis thanked pledged their support and commitment to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra and thanked the Holy Father Pope Francis for appointing them, the Nuncio for his support. He also thanked Archbishop Kwofie, the Clergy and lay faithful of the Accra Archdiocese for their prayerful support.
By Newswatchgh.com
