Ordinariamente, o recém-consagrado Bispo da Diocese Católica de Yamoussoukro, na Costa do Marfim, foi encorajado a construir seu ministério episcopal em torno da prática do amor incondicional, acolhendo todo o povo de Deus sob seu cuidado pastoral “sem nenhuma discriminação”. Em sua homilia durante a ordenação episcopal de Monsenhor Joseph Kacou Aka, arcebispo de Kinshasa, na República Democrática do Congo (RDC), em 18 de fevereiro, o cardeal Fridolin Ambongo disse que o episcopado “é certamente uma honra, mas também um fardo”.
“Acolha a todos sem discriminação em sua casa e, especialmente, mostre grande solicitude pastoral para com os consagrados e leigos”, disse o Cardeal Ambongo durante a Santa Missa na Basílica de Nossa Senhora da Paz da Diocese de Yamoussoukro.
O Cardeal congolês exortou Mons. Aka para “aceitar com fé este dom que o Senhor está dando a você hoje, apesar de suas limitações e fragilidades, colocando-se a serviço de sua Igreja, em espírito de colegialidade e sinodalidade”. O membro da Ordem dos Frades Menores Capuchinhos (OFM Cap) que presidiu à celebração eucarística e à Ordenação Episcopal disse ao novo Bispo, “não tenha medo” apesar dos desafios do seu ministério episcopal.
“Confie em Deus, que colocou o olhar sobre você e sobre seus ombros, esta pesada tarefa”, disse o Cardeal Ambongo, e implorou: “Que o Espírito Santo o assista e torne fecundo o seu ministério episcopal aqui em Yamoussoukro, em comunhão com o Santo Padre e todos os Bispos, em perfeita compreensão e harmonia com o vosso presbitério, as pessoas consagradas e o povo de Deus confiado ao vosso cuidado pastoral”. Ele implorou ainda: “Que o Senhor lhe conceda um coração puro e bom, um coração aberto e atento a todos”.
Dirigindo-se aos membros do Clero da Diocese de Yamoussoukro, o Cardeal Ambongo pediu colaboração, dizendo: “Seja bem-vindo Bispo Joseph Aka como seu Pai e irmão; ajudá-lo de bom grado no cumprimento de seu ministério episcopal”. Ele encorajou os membros do Clero a “estar atentos para discernir em seu Bispo a própria autoridade de Cristo, o Pastor supremo. Se viverdes em obediência e perfeita comunhão com Ele, a pastoral pela qual cada um de vós deu a vida dará muitos bons frutos para a glória de Deus”.
“Confio o ministério episcopal do bispo Joseph Aka à intercessão da bem-aventurada Virgem Maria, Nossa Senhora da Paz, e exorto todos a apoiá-lo e rezar por ele e pela fecundidade de seu novo ministério”, disse o cardeal está à frente da Arquidiocese de Kinshasa desde novembro de 2018, disse. O recém-ordenado Bispo sucede a Dom Marcellin Yao Kouadio, que foi transferido para a Diocese de Daloa, na Costa do Marfim.
Em seu discurso após sua Ordenação Episcopal, o Bispo Aka assegurou à congregação sua determinação de assumir “com amor minhas novas responsabilidades” para o povo de Deus na Diocese de Yamoussoukro. Agradeceu ao Papa Francisco a confiança depositada nele e reconheceu com apreço a colaboração que até agora recebeu de todo o pessoal da Diocese da Costa do Marfim.
O Papa Francisco nomeou o Bispo Aka como Ordinário Local da Diocese de Yamoussoukro em 28 de dezembro de 2022. O ex-Secretário Geral imediato da Conferência Episcopal Regional da África Ocidental (RECOWA) nasceu em agosto de 1967 em Assinie na Diocese de Grand-Bassam e foi ordenado sacerdote Sacerdote em julho de 1994. Como Sacerdote, o Bispo Aka serviu em vários cargos, incluindo Curado, Pároco e Secretário interino da Conferência Episcopal da Costa do Marfim (CECCI).
recordamos que também atuou como Diretor do Apostolado Bíblico, secretário adjunto da RECOWA de 2012-2015 e secretário-geral da RECOWA de 2016-2022. O Bispo Aka é licenciado em Exegese Bíblica pelo Pontifício Instituto Bíblico de Roma.
Ele supervisionará a diocese católica de 19.890 quilômetros quadrados, erguida em março de 1992, com uma população de 148.270 católicos, de acordo com as estatísticas de 2020.
Le correspondant de RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA en poste au siège de la capitale de la Côte d’Ivoire appelée Abidjan était pleinement sur le terrain pour la consécration du nouvel évêque catholique de Yamoussoukro. Heureusement, il était un membre de première ligne de RECOWA-CERAO et notre organe de presse a attendu de rassembler toutes les informations nécessaires avant de venir sur Internet. L’un des conseils significatifs et bien médités au nouvel évêque est venu du président de RECOWA-CERAO, Mgr Alexis Touabli qui était l’administrateur de ce diocèse. Il a averti le nouvel évêque qu’il sait très bien de ne pas se voir comme un commandant mais comme un serviteur de tous. Il appelle en outre le nouvel évêque à apprendre à accueillir tout le monde sans discrimination.
Ordinairement, l’évêque nouvellement consacré du diocèse catholique de Yamoussoukro en Côte d’Ivoire a été encouragé à construire son ministère épiscopal autour de la pratique de l’amour inconditionnel, accueillant tout le peuple de Dieu sous sa garde pastorale “sans aucune discrimination”. Dans son homélie lors de l’ordination épiscopale du 18 février de Mgr Joseph Kacou Aka, archevêque de Kinshasa en République démocratique du Congo (RDC), le cardinal Fridolin Ambongo a déclaré que l’épiscopat “est certainement un honneur, mais c’est aussi un fardeau”.
« Accueillez tout le monde sans aucune discrimination dans votre foyer, et faites surtout preuve d’une grande sollicitude pastorale envers les consacrés et les laïcs », a déclaré le cardinal Ambongo lors de la messe à la basilique Notre-Dame de la Paix du diocèse de Yamoussoukro.
Le Cardinal congolais a exhorté Mons. Aka pour « accueillir dans la foi ce don que le Seigneur vous fait aujourd’hui, malgré vos limites et votre fragilité, en vous mettant au service de son Église, dans un esprit de collégialité et de synodalité ». Le membre de l’Ordre des Frères Mineurs Capucins (OFM Cap) qui a présidé la célébration eucharistique et l’ordination épiscopale a dit au nouvel évêque « de ne pas avoir peur » malgré les défis de son ministère épiscopal.
“Ayez confiance en Dieu, qui a posé son regard sur vous, et sur vos épaules, cette lourde tâche”, a dit le cardinal Ambongo, et l’a imploré, “Que l’Esprit Saint vous assiste et fasse fructifier votre ministère épiscopal ici à Yamoussoukro, en communion avec le Saint-Père et tous les Evêques, en parfaite entente et harmonie avec votre presbyterium, les personnes consacrées et le peuple de Dieu confiés à vos soins pastoraux ». Il a en outre imploré : “Que le Seigneur vous accorde un cœur pur et bon, un cœur ouvert et attentif à tous”.
S’adressant aux membres du clergé du diocèse de Yamoussoukro, le cardinal Ambongo a appelé à la collaboration en disant : « Accueillez Mgr Joseph Aka comme votre père et frère ; aidez-le volontiers dans l’accomplissement de son ministère épiscopal ». Il a encouragé les membres du clergé à être « attentifs à discerner dans leur évêque l’autorité même du Christ, le Pasteur suprême. Si vous vivez dans l’obéissance et la parfaite communion avec lui, l’œuvre pastorale pour laquelle chacun de vous a donné sa vie portera beaucoup de bons fruits à la gloire de Dieu.
“Je confie le ministère épiscopal de Mgr Joseph Aka à l’intercession de la Bienheureuse Vierge Marie, Notre-Dame de la Paix, et je vous exhorte tous à le soutenir et à prier pour lui et pour la fécondité de son nouveau ministère”, a déclaré le Cardinal qui est à la tête de l’archidiocèse de Kinshasa depuis novembre 2018 a déclaré. L’évêque nouvellement ordonné succède à Mgr Marcellin Yao Kouadio qui a été transféré au diocèse de Daloa en Côte d’Ivoire.
Dans son discours suite à son ordination épiscopale, Mgr Aka a rassuré la congrégation de sa détermination à assumer “avec amour mes nouvelles responsabilités” auprès du peuple de Dieu dans le diocèse de Yamoussoukro. Il a remercié le pape François de lui avoir accordé sa confiance et a salué avec satisfaction la collaboration qu’il a reçue jusqu’à présent de tout le personnel du diocèse ivoirien.
Le pape François a nommé Mgr Aka comme Ordinaire du lieu du diocèse de Yamoussoukro le 28 décembre 2022. L’ancien secrétaire général immédiat de la Conférence épiscopale régionale de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (RECOWA) est né en août 1967 à Assinie dans le diocèse de Grand-Bassam et a été ordonné Prêtre en juillet 1994. En tant que prêtre, Mgr Aka a occupé divers postes, notamment celui de vicaire, de curé et de secrétaire par intérim de la Conférence épiscopale de Côte d’Ivoire (CECCI).
rappelons qu’il a également été directeur de l’apostolat biblique, secrétaire adjoint de RECOWA de 2012 à 2015 et secrétaire général de RECOWA de 2016 à 2022. Mgr Aka est titulaire d’une licence en exégèse biblique de l’Institut biblique pontifical de Rome.
Il doit superviser le diocèse catholique de 19 890 kilomètres carrés qui a été érigé en mars 1992, avec une population de 148 270 catholiques, selon les statistiques de 2020.
The Correspondent of RECOWACERAO NEWS AGENCY, RECONA stationed at the headquarters at the capital city of Ivory Coast called Abidjan was fully on the ground for the consecration of the New Catholic Bishop of Yamoussoukro. Fortunately, he was a frontline member of RECOWA-CERAO and our news organ has been waiting to gather all the necessary information before coming on the internet. One of the significant and well-meditated advice to the new bishop came from the President of RECOWA-CERAO, Bishop Alexis Touabli who was the administrator of this diocese. He admonished the new bishop who he knows very well not to see himself as a commander but as a servant of all. He further calls on the new bishop to learn to welcome everyone without discrimination.
Ordinarily, the newly Consecrated Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yamoussoukro in Ivory Coast was encouraged to build his Episcopal Ministry around the practice of unconditional love, welcoming all the people of God under his pastoral care “without any discrimination.” In his homily during the February 18 Episcopal Ordination of Monsignor Joseph Kacou Aka, the Archbishop of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Fridolin Cardinal Ambongo said the episcopate “is certainly an honor, but it is also a burden.”
“Welcome everyone without any discrimination in your home, and especially show great pastoral solicitude towards the Consecrated and the Laity,” Cardinal Ambongo said during Holy Mass at the Our Lady of Peace Basilica of Yamoussoukro Diocese.
The Congolese Cardinal urged Mons. Aka to “accept in faith this gift that the Lord is giving you today, in spite of your limitations and fragility, by placing yourselves at the service of his Church, in a spirit of collegiality and synodality.” The member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin (OFM Cap) who presided over the Eucharistic celebration and Episcopal Ordination told the new Bishop,“not to be afraid” despite the challenges in his Episcopal ministry.
“Trust in God, who has placed his gaze on you, and on your shoulders, this heavy task,” Cardinal Ambongo said, and implored, “May the Holy Spirit assist you and make your Episcopal Ministry here in Yamoussoukro fruitful, in communion with the Holy Father and all the Bishops, in perfect understanding and harmony with your presbyterate, the Consecrated persons and the people of God entrusted to your pastoral care.” He further implored, “May the Lord grant you a pure and good heart, a heart that is open and attentive to all.”
Addressing himself to the members of the Clergy of Yamoussoukro Diocese, Cardinal Ambongo called for collaboration, saying, “Welcome Bishop Joseph Aka as your Father and brother; help him willingly in the accomplishment of his episcopal ministry.” He encouraged members of the Clergy to be “attentive to discern in their Bishop the very authority of Christ, the supreme Pastor. If you live in obedience and perfect communion with him, the pastoral work for which each of you has given your life will bear much good fruit to the glory of God.”
“I entrust the Episcopal Ministry of Bishop Joseph Aka to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Peace, and I urge you all to support him and to pray for him and for the fruitfulness of his new ministry,” the Cardinal who has been at the helm of Kinshasa Archdiocese since November 2018 said. The newly ordained Bishop succeeds Bishop Marcellin Yao Kouadio who was transferred to the Diocese of Daloa in the Ivory Coast.
In his speech following his Episcopal Ordination, Bishop Aka reassured the congregation of his determination to assume “with love my new responsibilities” to the people of God in Yamoussoukro Diocese. He thanked Pope Francis for placing his trust in him and acknowledged with appreciation the collaboration he has so far received from all the personnel in the Ivorian Diocese.
Pope Francis appointed Bishop Aka as Local Ordinary of Yamoussoukro Diocese on 28 December 2022. The immediate former Secretary General of the Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa (RECOWA) was born in August 1967 in Assinie in the Diocese of Grand-Bassam and was ordained a Priest in July 1994. As a Priest, Bishop Aka served in various capacities, including Curate, Parish Priest, and interim Secretary of the Episcopal Conference of Ivory Coast (CECCI).
recall that he also served as Director of the Biblical Apostolate, adjunct secretary of RECOWA from 2012-2015, and, RECOWA Secretary-General from 2016-2022. Bishop Aka holds a licentiate in Biblical Exegesis from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.
He is to oversee the 19,890 square-kilometer Catholic Diocese that was erected in March 1992, with a population of 148,270 Catholics, according to 2020 statistics.
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