Pope Francis appoints new Vicar for Donkorkrom

The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Fr. John Alphonse Aseidu of the Divine Word Missionaries as the new Apostolic Vicar for the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom in Ghana. His appointment was announced yesterday at the National Catholic Secretariat by the secretary to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference Very Rev. Fr. Lazurus Anondee. His appointment was contained in a communique released by the Apostolic Nunciature in Accra.

Now Monsignor John Alphonse Aseidu SVD replaces Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji SVD, who was the Apostolic Vicar of Donkorkrom until 17^th March 2017 when he was appointed Bishop of the Keta Akatsi Diocese.

The Apostolic prefecture of Donkorkrom was erected on June 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI separating the civil district of Donkorkrom from the Koforidua Diocese. It was assigned to the Congregation of Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) for the spiritual growth of the lay faithful and appointed then Rev. Fr. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD as the first Prefect.

In 2010, it was elevated to an Apostolic Vicariate, a form of territorial jurisdiction of the Catholic Church established in missionary regions and countries which do not have a Diocese. It is therefore essentially provisional, though it may last for a century or more.

Rev. Fr. John Alphonse Asiedu, now, Monsignor, is a member of the Society of Divine Word (SVD). He was born on 12^th May 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.

He 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 program. He did three years philosophy studies at St. Victor Major Seminary, Tamale from 1987-1990. He then went to Nkwatia-Kwahu for his SVD Novitiate Formation and had his First Religious Profession on 21^st 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 (OTP) from 1994-1996. On 8^th 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 19^th 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, Monsignor Asiedu 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.

He served as Director of Overseas Training Programme (OTP), SVD Ghana Province from 1998-2001; 2003-2005; Assistant Novice Director, Divine Word Novitiate, Nkwatia-Kwahu -1999-2001 and 2002-2005; SVD Ghana Province Treasurer from 2005-2008; Director of Divine Word Catholic Conference Centre, Nsawam-Adoagyiri from 2005-2008; Chairman of SVD Ghana Province Formation Board from 2008-2014.

He aslo served as prefect of SVD Common Formation Centre, Tamale, 2008-2017; SVD AFRAM (Africa and Madagascar) Zonal Coordination for Formation since 2013; Board member of Tamale institute of Cross-Cultural Studies (TICCS), 2013-2017; and Tutor in Spiritual theology (Ascetics) and Biblical Apostolate in St. Victors Major Seminary from 2014-2017. Fr. Asiedu is the Novice Director of Divine Word Novitiate, Nkwatia-Kwahu until his appointment as Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom on 11^th February, 2019.