Francistown

VICARIATE APOSTOLIC OF FRANCISTOWN

(Province of Bloemfontein)

PATRONS
Our Lady of the Desert and St Francis of Assisi
 
Francistown
 
Right Reverend
Bishop Frank Atese Nubuasah, SVD

Appointed first Bishop of Francistown 27 June 1998 ordained Bishop 7th November 1998.

Address
– Catholic Secretariat
PO Box 702, Francistown, Botswana
Plot 14061 Tsie Street, Area W
Tel: (00267) 241 3601 (Office), Fax: (00267) 241 7183
E-mail: catholicoffice@botsnet.bw
– Bishop’s House
364/5 Moffat Street, Francistown, Botswana
Tel: (00267) 241 0588
E-mail: catholicoffice@rcc.org.bw
Website: www.vicariateoffrancistown.org

 

BISHOP’S BIOGRAHPHY

Bishop Frank Atese Nubuasah, SVD was born the fourth child of Mr. Joseph Nubuasah and Mrs. Dora Nubuasah on the 7th of June 1949 in Likpe Agbozome a village in Ghana. The family com­prises of four girls and four boys. The bishop is the first boy. Of his four sisters, one is a Religious Sister of the local diocesan Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR).Frank Nubuasah was educated in his home village and Kadjebi here he did his secondary education. After working for a year he decided to join the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD). Completing his seminary formation at the Regional Seminary in Tamale, Ghana he was ordained on the 26th of July 1980. To­gether with another priest from his parish, they were the first priests of the parish. Soon after ordination, he was missioned to Botswana as one of the initial group of four SVD missionaries to start working in the country. After language learning, he spent the next eight years in Maun trying to establish the church.

He was later recalled to Ghana to assist in the formation of novices. He did two years of post graduate course at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh earning the Masters of Arts degree. Returning home, he was Master of novices until he was appointed Bishop of the newly created Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown. He is the Titular Bishop of Pauzerea.

BISHOP’S COAT OF ARMS

farncistown.jpg

Below is the official Coat of Arms of Bishop Frank Nubuasah and following is a detailed explanation of each component.Motto: Servus Domini (Servant of the Lord) – The call to the priesthood and episcopacy is one of service. It is the Lord who out of his love and goodness has called me to be a servant of His people.

In the top panel: The dove looking down on the open Bible. This symbolizes the gift of the Holy Spirit to all humanity. The Spirit is the one who gives life and meaning to the Word of God. Our lives as Christians are moulded and guided by the Word which was inspired by the Spirit.

The blue background in the panel symbolizes rain/water (pula). In Botswana due to the climatic conditions the value of rain is highly appreciated by all. Rain gives life and is a gift from God. I will seek the inspiration of the Spirit and the guidance of God’s Word in my life and ministry. I desire all people to know God’s Word and live by it.

In the lower left panel: Two hands and a broken chain. This is a symbol of emancipation. We who were slaves to sin and addictions of all sorts have been offered freedom in Jesus Christ. In Jesus we have salvation and freedom of the children of God.

In the lower right panel: A herd boy (cow boy) and two cows. This symbolizes the rich culture, wealth and tradition of the people of Botswana. We help build the kingdom of God in concrete life situations among specific groups of people whose culture and tradition form the field(ground) in which the seed of Christian faith is planted and nurtured.

HISTORY OF THE VICARIATE
Created Vicariate of Francistown in 1998 with territory taken from the diocese of Gaborone that covered the whole country. The territory of the Vicariate lies north of the Tropic of Capricorn. The Vicariate comprises the following civil districts: Central, North East, North West, Chobe, Ngamiland and Ghanzi.The Vicariate of Francistown is bounded to the East by the Archdiocese of Bulawayo and the diocese of Hwange(Zimbabwe), to the North by Livingstone diocese (Zambia) and the Vicariate of Rundu (Namibia), to the West by the Archdiocese of Windhoek (Namibia),  to the South by the Gaborone diocese and to the South East by the diocese of Polokwane (Pietersburg) in South Africa.

Area: 472 995 Sq. Km           Total Pop: 801 729            Catholic Pop: 20 000

ADMINISTRATION
Vicar General
Fr. Victor Noronha, SVD
PO Box 36191, Francistown, Botswana
Tel: (00267) 241 9584
E-mail: catholicoffice@rcc.org.bwFor further information, please go to the Vicariate of Francistown