Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Ouagadougou (Fides Service)- On 1 October thousands of Catholics filled St Anne’s Cathedral in Dedougou, Burkina Faso, for the ordination and installation of the new Bishop Judes Bicaba.. The main celebrant was Bishop Zéphirin Toé emeritus of Dédougou. The 21 Concelebrating bishops included Bishop Anselme Sanon of Bobo-Dioulasso, Bishop Philippe Ouédraogo of Ouahigouya, and Archbishop Mario Roberto Casari papal nuncio in Burkina Faso. More than a hundred priests took part and the Mass was attended by Catholics from the 11 parishes of the dioceses, from all over the country, and from other countries of Africa and other continents.
After the Mass the new Bishop was installed by Archbishop Casari. The congregation sang out its joyful thanks to God and welcome to the new Bishop. For his part Bishop Bicaba said his priority would be unity in the community and with others as indicated in his motto: “That all may be one, I consecrate myself to you”. In his homily retiring Bishop Zéphirin Toé reminded his successor that the ministry of the bishop “is an adventure of holiness and dignity and also a form of immolation demanding many sacrifices”.
The governor of Boucle region of which Dedougou is the main town, greeted the new Bishop and said he hoped the existing good relations between the local Church and public administration and state Church collaboration to eliminate poverty would continue.
Judes Bicaba was born in 1947 at Wakara. He was ordained a priest in 1975. Parish priest of Dedougou cathedral since 2001, on 4 June 2005 he was appointed Bishop of Dedougou by Pope Benedict XVI. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2005 righe 31 parole 333)
