AFRICA/ COTE D’IVOIRE - The Pope creates the diocese of Agboville (Cote D’Ivoire ) and appoints first Bishop

Monday, 16 October 2006

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 14 October 2006, created the diocese of Agboville (Cote D’Ivoire), with territory taken from the diocese of Yopougon, making it a suffragan of the archdiocese of Abidjan. The Holy Father appointed first Bishop of Agboville Rev. Alexis Touably Youlo, of the clergy of San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire, until now parish priest and vicar general of the diocese.
The new diocese of Agboville (nom. lat. Agbovillen/sis/), covers the north of the present diocese of Yopougon. It borders to the north with the diocese of Yamoussoukro; to the east with the diocese of Abengourou; to the south with the archdiocese of Abidjan, and the mother-diocese of Yopougon; to the west with the archdiocese of Gagnola. Here are the statistics.
Yopougon
area 18.668 sq. km ; population 3.000.000; Catholics 900.000; parishes 48; diocesan priests 146
religious priests 21; women religious 94; major seminarians 100; catechists 2000
Agboville
area 11.301sq km ; population 800.256; Catholics 400.000; parishes 21; diocesan priests 30; religious priests 1; women religious 14; major seminarians 25; catechists 600;
Yopougon today
area 7.367sq km; population 2.199.744; Catholics 500.000; parishes 27; diocesan priests 116; religious priests 20; women religious 80; major seminarians 75; catechists 1400

The parish church of St John Vianney in Agboville will be the cathedral for the new Diocese.

The first Bishop, Alexis Touably Youlo, was born on 17 November 1959, at Bereblo, department of Tabou, today diocese of San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire. After primary he entered the St Dominique Savio minor seminary in Gagnoa and then when to Saint Joseph de Mukassa Seminary in Yopougon, 1978-1981. He studied philosophy and theology 1981 - 1987 “Holy Heart of Mary” College Anyama. He was ordained on 8 August 1987 at Tabou. He has been a member of the clergy of the diocese of San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire since it was created in 1992. Since his ordination he has been: 1987-1990: teacher at St Dominique Savio minor seminary in Gagnoa; 1990-1992: teacher at Yopougon Seminary; 1992-1995: licentiate in philosophy at the Institut Catholique de Paris; 1995-1997: assistant priest at the cathedral of San Pedro-en-Côte d’Ivoire; 1997-1999: teacher of philosophy at Saint Pierre major seminary in Daloa; 1999-2001: licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical University Santa Croce in Rome; 2001-2002: parish bursar of Saint André parish in Sassansra; since 2003 parish priest and vicar general for the diocese. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 16/10/2006; Righe 73; Parole 379)


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