POPE Francis on February 14, 2023, appointed Very Rev Fr John Kobina Louis and Very Rev Fr Anthony Narh Asare as Auxiliary Bishops-Elect for Accra Archdiocese.
Until their appointment, Very Rev Fr Louis was the Vicar-General of the Archdiocese while Very Rev Fr Asare was the Parish Priest of Ss Anne and Joachim Parish, Teshie.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski announced this during a meeting with the priests, religious and representatives of the lay faithful at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra.
While Very Rev Fr Louis was assigned the Titular Seat of Fessei (Fesseitanus), pr. Numidia Very Rev Fr Asare was assigned the Titular Seat of Castello di Numidia (Castellanus in Numidia).
The two will be assisting the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, who was installed Archbishop of Accra on March 1, 2019.
Context
This brings to seven the total number of Auxiliary Bishops ever appointed for Ghana.The Auxiliary Bishops later assumed the full mantle of the Dioceses for which they were appointed.
They were Most Rev. Joseph Oliver Bowers SVD, Most Rev. Francis Kofi Anani Lodonu, Most Rev Gabriel Yaw Anokye, Most Rev. John Kodwo Amissah and Most Reverend Matthias Kobena Nketsiah.
Who is an Auxiliary Bishop?
He is a bishop appointed to assist a Diocesan Bishop. Whether in a Diocese or Archdiocese. His title is Bishop.
The role of the Auxiliary Bishop is to assist the Diocesan Bishop in all matters related to the clergy, religious, and laity. He may help the bishop in his pastoral duties such as visiting parishes and attending to the spiritual needs of the people of the diocese. He may also help in the administrative affairs of the diocese such as budgeting, preparing reports, and overseeing financial and legal matters.
The auxiliary bishop is also, in a sense, a “deputy” bishop who has the same authority as the diocesan bishop. He shares the same responsibility for the spiritual, liturgical, and administrative activities of the diocese and is therefore expected to cooperate with the diocesan bishop in all matters.
He may be given the authority to ordain priests and confirm candidates, though this is usually done with the approval of the diocesan bishop
Profiles
Very Rev Fr Louis
Very Rev Fr Louis, is one of the newly announced Auxiliary Bishop-Elect of the Archdiocese of Accra. Catholic Priest of the Archdiocese of Accra. He was born on the 24th of November,1964 to Mr. Vincent Louis and Mrs. Catherine Esi Dede Louis.
He had his basic education at the Roman Catholic Basic School, Nima -Accra and went to St. Augustine’s College, Cape Coast from 1978 to 1985. He was ordained a Priest on 18th July,1992 after his priestly training by the late Most Rev Dominic Kodwo Andoh.
He also had his BA in Religious Studies and Sociology at the University of Ghana from 1988 to 1991. Between 2002 and 2004, Fr. Louis studied at the Pontifical Urbaniana University (Rome) and obtained a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.
He has a certificate in Financial Management and Budgeting at GIMPA, Accra from 1996 to 1996.
He is currently the acting President of the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology. He is also a lecturer and the academic Dean of the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology, Accra.
Monsignor John Louis served in various sectors of the archdiocese of Accra. From 2006 to 2012 he was the Cathedral Administrator, at Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra. From 1998 to 2002 he was the Parish Priest of the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Tema.
From 1997 to 2002 he was the Director of, Pastoral Centre, Accra Archdiocese.
From 1996 to 2002 he was the Financial Administrator, of Accra Archdiocese.
From 1995 to 1998 he was the Priest-in-charge of the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Tema.
From 1992 to 1995 he was the Assistant Parish Priest of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Tema (he was responsible for the outstations: St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Tema; St. Peter’s Church, Tema New Town; and St. Michael’s Church, Michel Camp).
From 2017 to 2018 he was the Chairman of the Academic Quality Assurance Committee, CIBT
From 2016 to date he is the President, of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists (Ghana Chapter)
From 2015 to date he is the Chairman of the Faculty Board, CIBT.
From 2015 to date he is the Chairman of the Examination Committee, CIBT.
From 2015 to 2018 he was the Chairman of the Graduate Programme Management Committee, CIBT.
From 2014 to date he is the Chairman of the Congregation Planning Committee, CIBT.
From 2010 to date he is a Member of the Academic Board, CIBT.
From 2006 to date he is a Member of the Council of Priests, and the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.
From 2007 to 2011 he was the President, of the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Associations.
From 2006 to 2014 he was a Member of the College of Consultors, Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.
From 2006 to 2010 he was the Chairman of the Archdiocesan Catechetical Committee, Accra.
From 2003 to 2004 he was the President of the Ecclesiastical Union of Ghanaian Students in Rome (Italy).
From 1997 to 2002 he was a member of the College of Consultors, Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.
From 1997 to 2002 he was a Member of the Council of Priests, the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.
From 1996 to 2002 he was the Financial Secretary of the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Associations.
From 1996 to 2002 he was a member of the Board of Directors, of Accra Catholic Press (Accra).
Between 2010 to 2014 Monsignor John Kobena Louis obtained his PhD in Religions at the University of Ghana.
He was the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Accra until Holiness Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, and is assigned the Titular Seat of Fessei (Fesseitanus), pr. Numidia. on 14th February 2023.
Rev Fr Asare
For his part, Very Rev Fr Asare was born on 29 September 1965 in Odumase-Krobo, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. After attending the Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary in Koforidua, he completed his studies in philosophy at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Sowutuom and in theology at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Pedu.
He was ordained a priest on 22 July 1995 for the clergy of Accra.
Following ordination, he first served as parish vicar of Martyrs of Uganda, in Mambrobi (1995-1997); head of the Sacred Heart in Derby Avenue (1997-1999); parish vicar of Saint Peter’s in Osu (1995-2005); bursar of the archdiocese of Accra (2002-2008); and parish vicar of Saint Maroun’s in Tema (2005-2008). He then studied at All Hallow’s College in Dublin, Ireland, where he obtained a Master of Arts degree in management, a Master of Arts in leadership and pastoral care, and a Master of Arts in Supervisory Practice (2008-2012). He went on to serve as parish priest of Saint Joseph the Worker in Tema (2013-2019); and since 2019, parish priest of Saints Anne and Joachim in Teshie and head of priestly personnel.
Write-up by Sir Kt Bro Albert K. Salia, Supreme IT Officer