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Pope Francis Erects New Catholic Diocese in Guinea, Appoints Pioneer Local Ordinary

Mons. Norbert Tamba Sandouno, appointed Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Guéckédou in Guinea. Credit: Archdiocese of Conakry

By Silas Isenjia

Guéckédou, 29 June, 2023 / 8:52 pm (ACI Africa).

Pope Francis has erected the Diocese of Guéckédou as a new Episcopal See in Guinea and appointed Mons. Norbert Tamba Sandouno as its pioneer Bishop. 

The latest administrative changes in the West African nation were made public by the Holy See Press office in its Thursday, June 29 publication. 

The newly erected Diocese that is a suffragan of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Conakry borders the Diocese of Kankan to the North, the Diocese of Kenema (Sierra Leone) to the West, the Diocese of Gbarnga (Liberia) to the South, and the Diocese of N'Zérékoré to the East.

Guéckédou Diocese measures 35,476 square kilometers and has a population of 1,285,308 of which 62,509 are Catholics representing 4.86 percent of the total population, according to the Holy See report.

Mons. Tamba, who until his appointment has been the administrator of St. Philip Parish in Houidou in Kankan Diocese, was born in June 1967 in Koniandou, Guéckédou Prefecture, the new Diocese.

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He was ordained a Priest for Kankan Diocese in November 2007 after completing his theological and philosophical studies at Saint Augustine Major Seminary in Bamako, Mali.

Since his Priestly ordination, the Bishop-elect has served in various capacities, including Parish Vicar of Notre Dame du Rosaire, Guéckédou; Vicar and then Parish Priest of St. Bernard, Kondiadou; and Parish Priest of St. Louis, Kissidougou.

He has also served as the Parish Priest of Kankan Cathedral, a member of the Council of Consultors and Head of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace; and Parish Priest of Notre Dame du Rosaire, Guéckédou, and Episcopal Vicar for the Pastoral Care of the family and the Laity.

After his Episcopal Ordination, the Bishop-elect is to oversee the newly erected Diocese, which has 17 parishes, 30 Diocesan Priests, and nine religious Priests, according to the June 29 Holy See report.

Silas Isenjia

Silas Mwale Isenjia is a Kenyan journalist with a great zeal and interest for Catholic Church related communication. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Linguistics, Media and Communication from Moi University in Kenya. Silas has vast experience in the Media production industry. He currently works as a Journalist for ACI Africa.

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