VoltaOnline: Monsignor Emmanuel Fianu ordained new Catholic Bishop of Ho

The ordination and installation of the new Bishop elect for the Catholic diocese of Ho in the Volta region region,Monsignor Emmanuel Fianu is underway at Jubilee park in Ho.

Monsignor Fianu who is an SVD priest was elected by Pope Francis in July 2015 as the successor to the first Ghanaian Bishop of the then Keta-Ho diocese, and now Ho diocese, Most Rev. Francis Kofi Anane Lodonu.

Bishop Emeritus, Lodonu was in charge of the Roman Catholic Church in the Volta region for the past four decades and over.

Thousands of Catholic faithfully across the Volta region and the country have thronged the Jubilee park in Ho to witness this special event.

Other dignitaries including members of the GHANA Catholic Bishops conference are also in attendance. Traditional leaders including president of the Volta regional house of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV and top government officials led by the the Speaker of Ghana's parliament Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho are also in attendance.

Togbe Afede XIV (2nd L) flanked to his left by Hon. Helen Ntoso (Volta regional minister)

There are missionary priests, bishops and other religious from parts of Africa, including Togo, Bennin, Nigeria among others in attendance. The Superior General of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) at Vatican is also presence to support of his members, who until his appointment, was the Secretary General of the SVD.

The principal consecrator at this ceremony is His Eminnce, Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Archbishop merit us of Cape coast in Ghana and the current President of the Pontifical council for Justice and Peace at the Vatican.

He will be assisted by the Apostolic Nuncio to GHANA, Most Rev. Jean-Marie Speich and Bishop emeritus of Ho Most Rev. Francis Lodonu.

Scroll down for more updates.

15:15GMT: the new bishop of Ho diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Fianu addressing the congregants. He expresses gratitude to all and sundry for their well wishes and prayers. Calls for everyone's support in his ministry as the new leader of the Catholic Church in Ho.

Bishop Fianu extols the good works of his immediate predecessor, Bishop emeritus, Francis Lodonu and expressed profound gratitude to him for successfully leading the church in last 40 years and more.

He promise to organize a grand event in the near future to honour the bishop emeritus.

Bishop Fianu, in shades, flanked by Apostolic Nuncio (L) and Cardinal Turkson (R)

14:25: Mass celebration over, delivering of goodwill messages to the new bishop underway.. First message from Ho diocesan priests association, followed by the Apostolic Nuncio, traditional leaders and a host of many other recognized groups.

13:30GMT: Bishop Fianu now takes over the continuation of the Holy mass with the celebration of the Eucharist

13:05GMT: Priests in the Ho diocese paying homage to the newly ordained bishop...

12:55GMT: Most. Rev. Emmanuel Fianu now consecrated as the new bishop of Ho Catholic diocese.. Peter Cardinal Turkson wears the mighter and hands over the crozia to him.

12:45GMT: Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, the Apostolic Nucio and Bishop emeritus Lodonu as well as other bishops laying hands on the Bishop elect Fianu to consecrate him.

12:30GMT: consecration rites underway, bishop elect lies postrate in front of the alter , as the litany of saints is being recitated..

11:42GMT: ArchBishop of Accra, Most Rev. Palmer Buckle delivering the homily of the day. His message is about the good shepherd. He expresses confidence in Bishop elect, Fianu to lead the Lord's flock in the Ho diocese.

11:15GMT: ordination rites start with the reading of Pope Francis' letter, appointing Monsignor Fianu as Bishop Elect for Ho diocese to the congregants. Monsignor Hilary Senoo read the Pope's letter to the congregation.