Bishop - Elect Fianu calls for co-operation
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The Bishop-Elect of Ho, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Fianu, SVD, has appealled to all Priests, Religious and lay faithful of the Diocese to pray for him to be a faithful shepherd in the vineyard entrusted to him.
He said with his new appointment, “I would have to listen to my predecessor, the Clergy, Religious and lay faithful in order to envision my office. In an Interview, he said his expectation was to be accepted by all, saying that “most of them may not know me but I hope we will not be strangers to one another.” “What binds us is our common Baptism and the invitation to work together to create the Kingdom of God here among us,” he added. |
On July 14, 2015, the Holy Father, Pope Francis appointed Fr. Fianu, as Bishop of Ho to succeed Most Rev. Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu. Asked how he felt when the news was announced to him, the Bishop-Elect said “The news came to me like a thunderbolt. I could not believe my ears and thought they dialled a wrong number. It took me some time to come to terms with the information.”
“I accept this appointment in the spirit of Religious obedience and trust in the support of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as well as the Priests, Religious and faithful of the Ho Diocese.” He said he saw his new appointment a big challenge, noting that “although he had been in the General Administration of an international Religious Missionary Institute of over 6,000 members in more than 70 countries, it was not the same thing as being the shepherd of a Diocese.”
He stressed that the style of administration and the concerns to be addressed were different and being a Religious Missionary Priest, he owed obedience to the Holy Father and must be ready to go wherever he sends me.
“I accept this appointment in the spirit of Religious obedience and trust in the support of Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as well as the Priests, Religious and faithful of the Ho Diocese.” He said he saw his new appointment a big challenge, noting that “although he had been in the General Administration of an international Religious Missionary Institute of over 6,000 members in more than 70 countries, it was not the same thing as being the shepherd of a Diocese.”
He stressed that the style of administration and the concerns to be addressed were different and being a Religious Missionary Priest, he owed obedience to the Holy Father and must be ready to go wherever he sends me.
