DAMONGO GETS A NEW BISHOP

Most Rev. Peter Paul Yelezuome has been ordained and installed as the new Bishop of the Damongo diocese of the Catholic church Mission in the Gonja West District of the Northern Region.

Most Rev. Peter Paul Yelezuome Angkyier hails from Monyupelle, Nandom in the Upper West Region of Ghana. He was born on 26th November 1961 in his native village, to Mr. Sylvino Domekyere Angkyier of blessed memory and Victoria Bekpar.

He began his elementary education at the St. Anne's Catholic Primary School, Damongo in September 1970. From 1972 to 1973, he continued his elementary education at Gengenkpe L/A Primary, Nandom and later at the St. Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Tamale from 1973 to 1977.

He did his secondary education at St. Charles Minor Seminary/Secondary School from 1977 to 1982 and continued to Tamale Secondary School for his sixth form studies, from 1982 to 1984.

He gained admission into St. Victor's Major Seminary, Tamale in September 1985 and was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Tamale on 115th August 1992.

His first appointment was to the Martyrs of Uganda Parish, Bole (1992 to 1993). He was next transferred to the then St. Anne's Parish (now cathedral) from 1993 to 1994.

From January 1995 to July 1996, he worked as chaplain to the English speaking African students of the Archdiocese of Vienna, Austria.

From September 1996 to June 2000 he studied at the Institute of Psychology of The Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome obtaining a Licentiate in clinical psychology and formation work.

Returning to Ghana in September 2000, he was appointed lecturer and spiritual Director of the newly established St. Augustine's Millennium Major Seminary (the Philosophicum of the Tamale Ecclesiastical province) from 2000 to 2003.

From June 2002 till February 2009, he was appointed Vicar general of the Diocese of Damongo. He was the Episcopal Vicar for the Socio-Economic Development of the diocese (2002 to 2009) and the Administrator of the diocesan Secretariat (2003 to 2009).

Msgr Angkyier also served as a member of the Priests' Senate and the Bishop's College of Consultors (2000 to 2009).

Other responsibilities and offices held include: Diocesan Vocations Team Leader, Diocesan Coordinator Department of Pastoral Care; member of the Ecclesiastical Province ongoing formation Team (2002 to date); member of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province - Munster Partnership Committee (2000 to 20008); Priest in charge of the Counselling and Therapy Centre; diocesan Coordinator of the family Life Apostolate.

Present at the ceremony were Most Rev. Leon B. Kaleng, (Apostolic nuncio in Ghana), Most Rev. Philip Naameh (1st Bishop of Damongo and Metropolitan Bishop of Tamale), the Yabonwura Tuntumba Boresa Sulemana Jakpa I, the Northern Regional Minister Hon. Moses Magbenga, representatives from Rome, and across the world. Besides representatives from all catholic churches across the country were present.

The occasion was generally peaceful.



BY: ATULE REGINA