Chronology of Catholic Dioceses:Notes on the Diocese of Wiawso, 1999
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has created (December 22nd 1999) the diocese of Wiawso in Ghana with territory taken from the diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, making it suffragan of the Metropolitan Church of Cape Coast.
The new diocese of Waiwso was created for the following reasons: good prospects for evangelization among the tribals; large size of mother diocese does not favour development; it will be easier for the Bishop to visit the villages and encourage and confirm the faithful in their faith.
Here are the statistics of the new diocese and the mother diocese
Wiawso |
Sekondi-Takoradi |
|
Area |
11,240 |
12,520 |
Population |
641,500 (circa) |
1,300,000 (circa) |
Catholics |
136,036 |
271,580 |
Parishes |
9 |
23 |
Out-stations |
222 |
312 |
Priests (diocesan |
41 |
80 |
Priests (religious) |
0 |
5 |
Brothers |
5 |
4 |
Sisters |
6 |
23 |
Seminarians (Major) |
20 |
36 |
Secondary schools |
2 |
5 |
Minor seminaries |
0 |
1 |
The diocese of Wiawso will border to the west with the Côte d'Ivoire and then with the Ghana diocese of Sunyani, Goaso, Kumasi, Obuasi, Archdiocese of Cape Coast and diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi. The new Bishop will have his see at Wiawso where St Joseph's parish church will serve as the cathedral.
See a map of the Dioceses of Wiawso and Sekondi-Takorado here.
Source: Fides, January 7th, 2000
- CT