Religious Men and Women, Priests and lay faithful from the Wa Diocese living in the Sunyani Diocese have come together to welcome the Most Rev. Francis Bomansaan, M.Afr., Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wa, during his pastoral visit to the Wa Diocesan Catholic community in Sunyani.
The pastoral visit, which took place from September 18 to 20, 2026, provided an opportunity for the Bishop to interact with his faithful in the diaspora, listen to their experiences and concerns, encourage them in their faith, and strengthen their connection with the Diocese of Wa.
The visit also brought together members of the Wa Diocese Catholic community in Sunyani, Religious Men and Women, Priests and lay faithful, as they sought to deepen their unity and discuss ways of supporting one another and contributing to the development of their home Diocese.
Bishop welcomed to Sunyani
The visit officially began on Friday, September 18, 2026, with the arrival of Most Rev. Francis Bomansaan, M.Afr., in Sunyani.
He was warmly welcomed by some Priests and Religious from the Diocese, representatives of the Wa Diocese Catholic community in Sunyani, and some lay faithful.
The reception created an atmosphere of joy and thanksgiving as members of the community gathered to receive their Bishop and express their delight at his presence among them.
The Bishop’s arrival marked the beginning of a three-day pastoral engagement aimed at strengthening the bond between the Diocese of Wa and its faithful who are currently living and working within the Sunyani Diocese.
Interactive session with the faithful
The major engagement of the pastoral visit took place on Saturday, September 19, 2026, when the Bishop met with opinion leaders, delegates, Religious Men and Women and other representatives of the Wa Diocese Catholic community in Sunyani.
The interactive session began at 10:00 a.m. and ended at 2:00 p.m.
The programme was moderated by Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah, HHCJ, who guided the discussions and facilitated the interaction between the Bishop and the members of the community.
The session provided a platform for members of the community to reflect on their experiences as Catholics from the Wa Diocese living in the Sunyani Diocese, identify some of the challenges they face, and consider ways of strengthening their relationship with one another and with their home Diocese.
State of Wa Diocesan Catholics in Sunyani presented
Following the welcome address by Rev. Fr. Ismael Karadaar Besingh, Chaplain of the Wa Diocesan Catholics in Sunyani, the state of the Catholic community in the Sunyani Diocese was presented by Mr. Dari, President of the Wa Diocese Catholics in Sunyani.
The presentation offered an overview of the community, its experiences and the circumstances of its members living outside the geographical boundaries of the Diocese of Wa.
It also highlighted some of the concerns confronting the community, including challenges relating to unity, communal participation and the need to maintain strong links with the Diocese of Wa.
The presentation provided the basis for the pastoral message of the Bishop and the subsequent open forum, during which participants were given the opportunity to share their perspectives, make suggestions and raise concerns.
Bishop encourages the faithful to remain united
Addressing the gathering, Most Rev. Francis Bomansaan, M.Afr., expressed his joy at being in the midst of his people.
The Bishop said he was particularly happy to see members of the Wa Diocese Catholic community continuing to hold on to their faith and representing the Diocese well in the diaspora.
He encouraged the faithful to remain united and to continue to demonstrate genuine concern for the welfare of one another.
He urged them not to lose sight of their common identity and roots, stressing the importance of maintaining a strong connection with the Diocese of Wa even while living and working outside the Diocese.
The Bishop also drew attention to some of the challenges confronting the people of the Diocese of Wa and encouraged the faithful in the diaspora to remember their brothers and sisters at home and consider ways in which they could contribute to addressing some of the difficulties facing the Diocese.
His message was therefore not only one of encouragement but also a call to responsibility, solidarity and continued commitment to the growth and wellbeing of the Church and the people of the Wa Diocese.
Open forum provides opportunity for concerns and suggestions
Following the Bishop’s pastoral message, the forum was opened for contributions, suggestions and concerns from participants.
Members of the community were given the opportunity to speak openly and share their experiences and perspectives. The concerns raised and suggestions offered were listened to and taken into consideration as the participants reflected on the way forward.
The discussions acknowledged that the Wa Diocese, like many communities, faces a number of challenges. Concerns about unity among members of the Wa Diocese community in the diaspora also formed part of the discussions.
However, the gathering emphasised the need to approach these challenges with a spirit of collaboration, dialogue and commitment rather than allowing them to become obstacles to progress.
Participants agreed that, despite the challenges, nothing is impossible to handle when people work together with a common purpose.
Commitment to support the Diocese of Wa
At the end of the discussions, there was a shared resolve that all hands must be put on deck to identify practical solutions and provide support for the Diocese of Wa and its Bishop.
The gathering recognised the importance of strengthening unity among members of the Wa Diocese Catholic community in the Sunyani Diocese and encouraging greater participation and mutual support.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for the faithful to renew their sense of belonging to the Diocese and to reflect on how their presence in the diaspora could become a source of strength and support for the Church and the people back home.
The pastoral visit therefore served as a bridge between the Diocese of Wa and its faithful living in the Sunyani Diocese, creating an avenue for dialogue, listening, encouragement and renewed commitment.
Visit concludes with Benediction
The interactive session on Saturday ended successfully with Benediction by Most Rev. Francis Bomansaan, M.Afr., Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Wa.
The pastoral visit continued through Sunday, 20 September 2026, bringing the three-day engagement to a close.
From the Bishop’s arrival on 18 September through the interactions and discussions of 19 September and the conclusion on 20 September, the visit provided an important opportunity for the faithful from the Wa Diocese living in Sunyani to welcome their Bishop, share their experiences and concerns, and renew their commitment to the faith and to the Diocese of Wa.
The visit also reaffirmed the importance of unity, solidarity and continued connection between Catholics of the Wa Diocese and their home Diocese, wherever they may find themselves.
For the faithful who participated, the pastoral visit was not simply a meeting with their Bishop but an opportunity to reconnect with their roots, strengthen their communal bonds and explore ways of working together for the good of the Diocese and its people.
By Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah, HHCJ
(Catholic Sister Communicators Network-Ghana, CASCON-GH)
