A New Bishop is appointed in Ghana, A University Launches Master’s Program in Theology

CANAA || By Damian Avevor and Fr. Don Bosco Onyalla || 16 July 2015

On Tuesday, June 14, Pope Francis appointed Father Emmanuel Fianu, a member of the Society of Divine Word (S.V.D.), as bishop of Ho in Ghana.

Born in Tegbi in the Volta region of Ghana in 1957, the bishop-elect took his perpetual vows in 1984 and was ordained a priest in 1985.

He studied biblical theology at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and has served in a number of administrative and academic offices in his congregation and various Church institutions.

Until his appointment, the bishop-elect has been serving as secretary of the General Council of his Congregation. 

He succeeds Bishop Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu, whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese, upon reaching the age limit, was accepted by the Holy Father.

According to Vatican Information Service, the Catholic Diocese of Ho has a population of 658,845 with some 200,670 Catholics, who are served by 82 priests and 90 religious.

Meanwhile, the Spiritan University College at Ejisu in Ghana, has rolled out a Master’s Degree Programme in Theology.

Affiliated to Duquesne University, Pittsburgh in the U.S., the move to launch the MA program is aimed at strengthening the ties between the two sister institutions and to enable their students to receive certain educational benefits from each other, as expressed by Father Anthony Anomah, the Spiritan University Rector.

“The Master of Arts in Theology provides a graduate-level foundation in central areas of Theology,” Father Anomah said and added, “It is designed for those who wish to teach Theology, prepare for Doctoral-Level Studies in Theology or as a renewal Programme. It is an integrative curriculum for the theological education of people engaged in a variety of pastoral ministries.”

He noted that the courses were well structured with flexible hours to suit the working class and that it will be a summer part-time programme scheduled between May and August each year with residential and non-residential facilities.

Spiritan University College was opened in 1990 as an Institute of Philosophy to give the first stage of priestly and missionary formation specifically to candidates of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (the Spiritans).