AFRICA/TOGO - Coadjutor Bishop of Kara appointed

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Benedict XVI, on April 23, 2008, appointed Fr. Jacques Danka Longa of the clergy of the Diocese of Kara (Togo), Rector of the John Paul II Major Seminary (Lome), as Coadjutor Bishop of the same diocese.
The bishop-elect was born in Sokode on July 26, 1961, and was baptized in the Sokode Cathedral on September 11 of the same year. After receiving the Sacraments of Christian Initiation, he studied in Sokode, Pagoda, Ketao, and Mango. He attended the School of Physics at the University of Lome from 1984-1985. From 1985-1991, he studied Philosophy and Theology in St. Gall Seminary in Ouidah (Benin), where he earned a Licentiate in Theology. On January 25, 1992, he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Sokode, and was later transferred in 1994 to the Diocese of Kara. Since his ordination, he has ministered as follows: 1992-1995: Parish Vicar at the Parish of the Glorious Cross in Ketao; 1995-1997: Spiritual director and professor in St. Paul Interdiocesan Seminary in Notse (Kpalime); 1997-2001: studies in Rome at the Pontifical University Urbaniana, where he complete Licentiate studies in Canon Law; 2002-2003: Pastor of the Parish of Our Lady of Fatima in Niamtougou and Director of the Catholic Polytechnical Institute of Niamtougou; 2003-present: Rector of the John Paul II Major Seminary in Lome.
The Diocese of Kara is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Lome and was established in 1994. It has an area of 10,590 km sq. and a population of 920,000, with 123,288 Catholics, 43 diocesan priests and 24 religious priests, 94 religious, and 38 major seminarians. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 23/4/2008; righe 22, parole 270)