Unprecedented! Pope names two Auxiliary Bishops for Accra Archdiocese

February 14, 2023, will go in the history books of the Catholic Church in Ghana as the very first time two Auxiliary Bishops have been named for a Diocese at the same time.

This feat comes after Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Narh Asare, Parish Priest of Ss. Anne and Joachim Parish and Very Rev. Fr. John Kobina Louis, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Accra were announced as Pope Francis’ picks for Auxiliary Bishops in Accra.

The announcement was made by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski on February 14 at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra.

This brings to 7 the total number of Auxiliary Bishops appointed for Ghana.

The two join 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 as the only Auxiliary Bishops in the History of Ghana.

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.