Newly ordained bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wa-Ghana, Most Rev. Francis Bomansaan has said he is now convinced that his nomination as Bishop by the Holy Father was not about him but about the people entrusted in his care.
Reflecting on lessons he has learned at his first Thanksgiving Mass held on August 3 at the St. Andrew’s Cathedral, on August 3, the Bishop said he now understands better his new role considering all that have happened after his nomination.
“I do not know what to say, I am very thrilled and delighted and normally I say I am a shy fellow,” Bishop Bomansaan said emotionally.
The Bishop recounted a pivotal moment during his stay at the Vatican where a Cardinal’s words left a lasting impression on him. This statement, he said has come back to him severally at different moments.
“What has given me courage is a statement that was made to me when I was at the Vatican. When I finally left the Vatican, the Cardinal told me, ‘Your nomination is not about yourself nor your own convenience’. And that shut me up. Even before I left Rome, this statement has transformed me and what I have witnessed yesterday and today has transformed me.”
“And I say a very big thank you to you. I am convinced now that this nomination is not about me because when the Cardinal told me that, I said look, I have to change my wardrobe because many of my confreres know that I have only jeans in my wardrobe and I have only one black trousers for official duties and that was the only black trousers I wore to the Vatican so I told him that I have to change my wardrobe. But that statement, ” It is not about you” kept me reflecting and I must say it has converted me,” the Bishop said.
“I bought some new jeans that I never wore. I had to give them out and for those that were worn, I waited till 1 am and brought them to the dustbin along the road as a ritual of self empty. That, this appointment has given me a new life. And for me, that statement has followed me,” the Bishop added.
“When I was about to come home, one of my cousins called me and said is there any arrangement for you to be received officially in Accra, and I said no and I don’t expect that. I am going to come in my usual way. Quietly into Accra and sneak into Tamale then into Wa quietly. Then he said oh, if that is the case, you can no longer do that. He said it is no longer about you Francis. It is about us,”
“When I arrived in Accra, I felt cold. As soon as I came out of the plane, there was protocol that picked me into the VIP lounge. I have never been to that VIP lounge. I was there but more or less shivering asking where I was. Then I said what is this all about? it is not my lifestyle. Then as soon as this voice came that it is not my lifestyle, I heard a voice saying it is not about you. It continued in Tamale. It was the same and when I arrived here and yesterday and today,” the Bishop of Wa said.