|
|
Sierra Leone: A New Dawn in the Archdiocese of Freetown, Bo
 |
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
Concord Times (Freetown)
28 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
Freetown
By Rev. Fr. John E. Garrick Reverend Father Dr. Edward Tamba Charles, Rector of St. Paul's Major Seminary was appointed on Saturday March 15, 2008 by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, as the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo.
The pronouncement was made by the Papal Nuncio or Apostolic Delegate Archbishop George Anthonysamy in the Archbishop Brosnahan Memorial Hall at the Santanno House, Howe Street in Freetown .
Upon the retirement of Archbishop Joseph Henry Ganda, (Emeritus) in March 2007, the Archdiocese has been administered by the Very Rev. Monsignor Samuel. N.
Gandi. Bishop Ganda's retirement was due to the attainment of the retiring age of a bishop which is seventy five years.
Several dignitaries were present including His Lordship Bishop George Buguzzi, Bishop of Makeni Diocese; His Lordship Bishop Patrick Daniel Koroma, Bishop of Kenema Diocese; local dignitaries and several priests, religious and an impressive number of the lay faithful.
In his remarks the Apostolic delegate emphasized on the need to support the newly appointed Archbishop for the development of the Church in Sierra Leone .
This was a unique ceremony because no one knew who was going to be the new Shepherd of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo. But within three minutes of the proceedings the name was pronounced which generated heavy applause and jubilation.
The Archbishop elect, full of sentiments, expressed his gratitude to God Almighty for his appointment. He also requested much cooperation from every well wisher to accomplish his pastoral duty: I believe and I am confident that we will work together to develop the Church. My job will be to animate you.
Archbishop elect Monsignor Dr. Edward Tamba Charles is 52 years old. He hailed from Kono District, in the Eastern Province of the Republic of Sierra Leone . He was admitted to the St. Paul's Major Seminary in Gbarnga , Liberia in 1978 and was ordained a priest on the April 4, 1986 at the Uganda martyrs Parish Church , Koidu, by Bishop John C ORiodan, CSSp (emeritus).
He has lectured several courses in Theology for years after completing a doctorate degree in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome . He has traveled extensively on matters of the Church and Seminary. He was Rector of the St. Paul's Major Seminary until his appointment as Archbishop.
The newly elected Bishop will be consecrated within three months with effect from the date of his appointment. Meanwhile, the Apostolic Administrator will continue to administer the Archdiocese until the Archbishop elect is consecrated.
The need to carve out a new Diocese out of the Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo has also surfaced.
Bishop Patrick Daniel Koroma expressed concerns from the people of Bo to have their own Diocese now. This was welcomed by the Apostolic Delegate who also emphasized that His Holiness the Pope is presently thinking towards that direction and that the Catholic Diocese of Bo will soon become a reality.
|
Editor's Note: Rev. Fr. John E. Garrick is the Catholic Communication Office, Santanno House, Howe Street in Freetown .
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 Concord Times. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
