Rev. Fr Dennis Kofi Agbenyadzi, SMA, Regional Superior of the Society of African Missions for the Central African Republic, has been appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as Bishop of Berbérati in the South-West of the Central African Republic (CAR). He is the second Ghanaian Missionary to be appointed a Bishop outside Ghana. The first was Most Rev. Frank Nubuasah, SVD, Bishop of Francistown, Botswana, who hails from Likpe in the Volta Region.
Bishop-Elect Agbenyadzi’s area covers 45,000 kms with a population of 450,000 of which 110,000 are Catholics. The area also has 33 Priests and 30 Religious.
He was born at Kadjebi-Akan, in the Diocese of Jasikan, Ghana on October 9, 1964 into a family of eleven children.
After completing his Primary and Secondary Schooling, he joined the SMA. He studied Philosophy at St. Paul’s Seminary, living at the SMA House of Studies in Sowutuom, Ghana.
He then left for the SMA International Spiritual Year Programme at Calavi, Benin Republic.
After taking his first Oath of temporary membership in the Society, he was assigned to Berbérati for a pastoral year (Stage), to prepare him for missionary life.
After his one year Stage, Bishop -elect Dennis was sent to study Theology at the Diocesan Major Seminary in Anyama, Cote d’Ivoire.
Along with his fellow SMA students, he lived at the SMA Foyer Méraud, Ebimpé. It was there, on June 29,1996, that Dennis became a permanent member of the Society of African Missions.
His Ordination to the Priesthood took place on July 12, 1997 in Ghana.
After Ordination, Fr Dennis returned to the Diocese where he undertook his Stage training and spent eight years in Parish Ministry.
In 2005, he was appointed as Superior of the SMA Formation House in Bangui. Two years later,. Fr. Dennis was appointed as the Regional Superior for the SMA team in that country, a post he still holds.
During that time he undertook the task of providing a Regional House in Bangui for the use of SMA members from the country as well as those who are on mission there. At present, the Society has eight Priests from the country, most of them working outside CAR.
As well as serving as Regional Superior, Fr Dennis served on the Council of the Bight of Benin District-in-formation, which covers Benin, Nigeria, Niger and the Central African Republic. Credit SMA website www.sma.ie
Write-up by Damian Avevor