AFRICA/BURKINA FASO - The Pope creates new diocese of Dori and appoints first Bishop

Saturday, 20 November 2004

AFGHANISTAN

2024-02-07
Manipur, torn by conflict, tries to reconnect the threads of dialogue

2023-12-04
The Franciscan Pastoral Center of the Diocese of Jinan celebrates the 60th anniversary of Sacrosanctum Concilium, to continue walking on the paths opened by the Second Vatican Council

2023-10-16
Prayer for the reconciliation of the peoples of Israel and Palestine

2022-02-24
Integrating refugees into society: the commitment of the Pro Bambini Association of Kabul

2021-12-18
The Barnabites, with their hearts in Kabul: "Pray for Afghanistan"

2021-12-17
Serious food crisis: 23 million people in need

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II created, on 20 November 2004, the diocese of Dori (Burkina Faso) with territory taken from the dioceses of Fada N’Gourma and Ouahigouya, making it suffragan of the Metropolitan See of Koupela. The Pope also appointed first Bishop of Dori (Burkina Faso) Reverend Joachim Ouedraogo, until now Rector of the minor seminary and vicar general of the diocese of Ouahigouya.
The new diocese of Dori, will included 4 civil provinces: Oudalan, Seno, Soum and Yaga.
After the creation of the new diocese of Dori, the situation in Fada N’Gourma and Ouahigouya diocese is as follows:
Fada N’Gourma
--> previous --- present
area - 61,640 sq. km - 47.681 sq. km
population - 1.590.579 - 1.133.984
Catholics - 52.730 - 50.969
Parishes - 14 - 11
priests Diocesan - 28 - 23
priests Religious - 14 - 9
Sisters - 92 - 64
Catechists - 254 - 243
--------------------------------------
Ouahigouya
--> previous --- present
area - 32.000 sq. km - 19.126 sq. km
population - 1.248.904 - 995.131
Catholics - 89.872 - 88.907
Parishes - 10 - 8
priests Diocesan - 38 - 35
priests Religious - 10 - 7
Sisters - 74 - 70
Catechists - 240 - 218
--------------------------------------
Dori
area - 36.896 sq. km
population - 710.000
Catholics - 2.726
Parishes - 5
priests Diocesan - 8
priests Religious - 8
Sisters - 32
Catechists - 33

The parish Church of St Anne will serve as the Cathedral.
The first bishop elect of Dori Reverend Joachim Ouédraogo was born on 18 March 1962 in Rouko, diocese of Ouahigouya. After attending St John Baptist minor seminary in Ouagadougou he went to Koumi Seminary in Bobo-Dioulasso. Later he studied in Rome at the Teresianum College, obtaining a licentiate in spiritual theology. He was ordained a priest on 6 July 1991 for the diocese of Ouahigouya. He has since been: assistant priest in the parish of Kongoussi and at the same time head of vocations pastoral (1991-1994); Professor at Our Lady of Africa minor seminary in N.D. Koudougou (1994-1995); Secretary at the Bishops’ Residence in Ouahigouya (1995-1998); 1998 to 2000 he studied spirituality in Rome, at the Teresianum; parish priest at Gourcy and head of the diocesan Council for Catholic Education (2000-2001). Since 2001 he has been rector of the Pour Lady of Nazareth minor seminary and diocesan Vicar General. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2004; Righe 78; Parole 319)