Catholic Diocese of Sekondi - Takoradi
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle based his sermon on the first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah who objected initially to the call of God because of inadequacies, admonished the newly ordained bishop not to be afraid of his inadequacies.
He reminded the newly ordained bishop that God knew him before he was born and had ordained this day long ago. Like Paul who encouraged Timothy his son whom he himself ordained as a bishop in Asia Minor, to fan into flames the gifts of the Holy Spirit so the new bishop must carry out his duties.
Dwelling on the Gospel reading of Jesus’ three fold questions to Peter if he loves him, he emphasizes that Jesus wanted Peter to look after His flock with love and not to lean on his own strength and understanding because he will fail just as he disowned him at his trial.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle drew the attention of the congregation to the motto of the Bishop “strengthen your brethren” as very apt in these times where the the devil wants to mess up the shepherds of the Church.
He called on the people of God to pray for the new bishop so that his faith will not fail and that when he is strong, he will strengthen the brethren.
Present at the ceremony were eighteen Bishops from the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference with about 290 priests and several Religious Brothers and Sisters .
POPE FRANCIS APPOINTS FR. ATTAKRUH AS NEW BISHOP OF SEKONDI-TAKORADI
Pope Francis has appointed Very Rev. Fr. John Baptist Attakruh as the fifth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi.
Rev. Msgr. Maher Chammas, Charge d’Affaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ghana made the announcement on Thursday morning at the Star of the Cathedral, Takoradi
Fr. Attakruh has been serving as Apostolic Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi since July 2019.
Addressing a gathering of priests, religious and laity, Fr Attakruh express gratitude to Pope Francis for the confidence reposed in him. He also added that he will “serve with love, steadfastness, courage and hope.”
Father was born on 13th October 1957. He was ordained a priest on 30th July, 1989.
After attending St. Teresa’s Minor Seminary at Amisano in Elmina from 1972- 1979, he joined the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) for his Notiviate and Philosophy from 1980-1985.
But he undertook his studies in theology at the St. Peter’s Regional Seminary at Pedu in Cape Coast from 1985-1989. He was ordained for the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi on 30th July, 1989.
Fr. Attakruh holds a licentiate in Sacred Liturgy from the Pontifical Institute of St. Anselm, Rome. He also holds a Master of Science in Educational Administration and Supervision of Instruction.
He has also served as formator and lecturer at St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu, Cape-Coast. Prior to the appointment as Apostolic Administrator, he was the Director of the Diocesan Catechetical Institute of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi.
Below are the names of past bishops of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi.
Joseph Amihere Essuah
November 20, 1969 – October 7, 1980
Charles Kweku Sam
September 30, 1981 – January 13, 1998
John Martin Darko
June 27, 1998 - December 14, 2011
John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp.
September 2014 - January 2, 2019
Appointed Archbishop of Accra
