There was great jubilation by People of God in the Catholic Diocese of Wa in Ghana’s Upper East Region when Very Rev. Fr. Francis Bomansaan, the Deputy Superior General of the Missionaries of Africa Congregation was announced as the new Bishop to lead the Diocese.
The appointment of the new Bishop was announced at the St. Andrew’s Cathedral at Wa on Wednesday, May 22, 2024 by Msgr. Maher Chammas, Charge d’Affairs at the Apostolic Nunciature in Ghana.
Priests, Religious and the faithful were gathered at the St. Andrew Cathedral at Wa to receive a message from the Holy See, through Msgr. Maher Chammas.
Over the past year, the Diocese of Wa has been praying, longing and yearning for a Bishop since the demise of His Eminence Richard Cardinal Kuuia Baawobr, M. Afr.
At exactly 9:30am on Wednesday, May 22, 2024, Priests, Religious and lay faithful were seated anxiously waiting to receive the good news.
According to the Administrator of the Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Cornelius Naa Bayirinoba, he recently received words from the Nunciature that the Secretary of the Nuncio who is now in charge of the Nunciature, that he “was coming to Wa with a message which we don’t know.”
“He came yesterday in the night on our terrible road and he has survived. He is the person of Msgr. Maher Chammas. He is here in our midst so we listen to what he had for us,” said Fr. Bayirinoba
“Allow me to greet you with the greeting the risen Lord used to greet his disciples “Peace be with you,” said Msgr. Maher Chammas. On behalf of his Excellency Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski “I brought to you good news today that you have been expecting.”
The Charge d’Affairs announced that “The Holy Father, Pope Francis has nominated Rev. Fr. Francis Bomansaan, M. Afr. as the New Bishop of the Diocese of Wa.”
Msgr. Chammas said the Diocese of Wa is known to be a vibrant which is very attached to the Catholic faith and deeply rooted in the entire Catholic Church, adding, that the story on how our ancestors converted to Catholicism is indeed touching and it reflects the abundance of God’s love and blessing to all.
The Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Matthew Tuurosong, thanked Msgr. Chammas for the good news he brought for the Diocese and acknowledged the presence of the Most Rev. Peter Paul Yelezuome Angkyier, Bishop of Damongo for making time to witness the announcement.
He also expressed his sincere gratitude to Very Rev. Fr. Cornilius Naa Bayirinoba, the Administrator of the Diocese for spreading the message to the faithful within a short time to be able to come and received this information and to everyone for making time to be there.
Sr. Christina Pogbeyir, the Superior General of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI) on belhaf of the Diocese presented a gift to Msgr. Chammas.
By Sr. Gloria Duongnaa SMI (Sister Communicator)
