The Episcopal ordination of Msgr. John Kobina Louis and d Msgr. Anthony Narh Asare as Auxiliary Bishops for the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
A February 27, 2023 statement addressed to all Priests, Religious and ay faithful of the Archdiocese and sighted by Newswatchgh.com states that “I write on behalf of the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie to inform all that the episcopal ordination of the auxiliary bishops-elect, Msgr. John Kobina LOUIS and Msgr. Anthony Narh ASARE will take place as follows Date: Wednesday 19th April 2023”
The statement issued by Fr. Emmanuel Darfour Appah, the Secretary to the Archbishop of Accra indicated that the ordination would take place at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at 10:00am.
“All Priests, religious brothers and sisters and the lay faithful are cordially invited,” the statement added.
On February 14, the Holy Mother Church celebrated Sts. Cyril (Monk) and Methodius (Bishop), a day the Holy Ftaher gifted the Church in Accra two Auxiliary Bishops, Very Rev. Fr. John Kobina Louis, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Accra and Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Narh Asare, Parish Priest of Ss. Anne and Joachim Parish, Teshie.
The announcement was made in Rome on February 14, 2023 and simultaneously in Accra by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, His Excellency, the Most Rev. Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka.
As Auxiliary Bishops, they would be assisting the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSPs.
An Auxiliary Bishop is a Bishop assigned to assist the Diocesan Bishop in meeting the pastoral and administrative needs of the Diocese. Auxiliary Bishops can also be titular Bishops of sees that no longer exist as territorial jurisdictions.
In Accra, they become the second and third Auxiliary Bishops after Bishop Oliver Bowers, SVD and in Ghana they join others who were once Auxiliary Bishops: Archbishop John Amissah of Cape Coast, Bishop Oliver Bowers of Accra, Bishop Francis Lodonu, Emeritus of Ho, Bishop Gabriel Justice Anokye of Kumasi Archdiocese and Archbishop Matthias Nketsiah, Emeritus of Cape Coast.
Canon law states that “When the pastoral needs of a diocese suggest it, one or more auxiliary bishops are to be appointed at the request of the diocesan bishop. An Auxiliary Bishop does not possess the right of succession.” (Can. 403 §1)
Subsection §2 of the Canon also states that “In more serious circumstances, even of a personal nature, an auxiliary bishop provided with special faculties can be given to a diocesan bishop.”
By Newswatchgh.com
