Rev Fr Asiedu appointed new Apostolic Vicar of Donkorkrom
Pope Francis has appointed Reverend Father John Alphonse Asiedu, a Priest of Society of the Divine Vocation (SVD) as the new Apostolic Vicar for the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate, in the Eastern Region.
The new Apostolic Vicar replaces the Most Reverend Gabriel Edoe Kumordji SVD, who is now the Bishop of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese in the Volta Region.
Rev. Father Lazarus Anondee, the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference, who announced this at a News briefing said the appointment was signed by the Mt. Rev. Jean Marie Speich, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.
Rev. Anondee explained that an Apostolic Vicariate is a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries which do not have a Diocese.
He said an Apostolic Vicariate is to be distinguished from an Apostolic Prefecture, a similar type of territory that is usually under the leadership of a Priest, which is not yet organised enough to be termed an Apostolic Vicariate.
A profile of the New Apostolic Vicar available to the Ghana News Agency states that he was born on May 12, 1962 at Adeemmra-Kwahu in the Afram Plains, part of Koforidua Diocese, before, but now the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, to the late Opanin Daniel K. Boadu from Adjena in the Akwamu Traditional area and to Madam Rebecca Akua Boadu from Nkonya Ntumda.
The Apostolic Vicar had his Elementary education in Adeemmra-Kwahu and Amankwakrom and completed middle school at Adeemmra-Kwahu in 1978.
He had his Secondary school education at Donkorkrom Agric School from 1978-1981; Nkonya secondary school from 1981-184 obtaining GCE Ordinary Level and at Kadjebi-Asafo Secondary School with GCE Advance Level.
In 1987, he got admission into SVD formation programme.
He did three years philosophy studies at St. Victor Major Seminary, Tamale from 1987-1990 and then went to Nkwatia-Kwahu for his SVD Novitiate Formation and had his First Religious Profession on 21st September 1991 at Nsawam-Adoagyiri.
He had his four years theological studies at St. Victor’s Major Seminary (1991-1994,1996-1997).
He went to Mexico for his overseer Training Programme from 1994-1996. On 8th September 1996 he had his perpetual Religious Profession at Holy Family Parish, Mataheko, Accra.
He had his Diaconate Ordination at St. Victor’s Major Seminary, Tamale by Most Rev. Gregory E. Kpiebaya, the then Archbishop of Tamale and on 19th July 1997, he was ordained to the Priesthood at the Holy Spirit Cathedral by the Late Archbishop Dominic Andoh in the Archdiocese of Accra.
After his Ordination, he was assigned assistant Priest at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish Kwahu-Tafo.
In 2001 the Apostolic Vicar studied Religious Course at the Institute of St. Anselm, Cliftonville, Kent, England taking up the following Diploma and certificates: Diploma in Human growth and Development; Postgraduate Certificate in individual group Psycho-Spiritual Counselling Skills and Human Development; and certificate in Integrative Group Facilitation.
Source: GNA