This office seeks to promote and maintain the pure doctrines and cathechsis of the Universal Church. It does so by organizing quarterly formation programmes for all the catechists in the diocese.

Priests, Religious and Lay faithful serve as facilitators for the formation courses. The syllabus covers, Catechetics, Sacred Scripture, Liturgy, Moral Theology, Basic Christian Communities, Social Teachings of the Church and the Sacraments etc. The Catechists are trained to become facilitators in their various Parishes and Deaneries and some are prepared to become Full Time Catechists.

The office also tries to involve other lay faithful who are not catechists in teaching since the work of evngelization is for all.

Diocesan Catechetical Office:
c/o Diocesan Pastoral and Training Centre
P. O. Box KF 1750
Tel.: 03420- 26137

Coordinator:
VR Fr. Charles Boniface Ahenkorah

As the lay faithful form the larger majority in the church, this office seeks to form, tap and use the expertise of the faithful to build the diocese. The diocese is able to do this by collaborating with the faithful in the governance and teaching aspects of the church.

As instructed by Lumen Gentium #31“… they are called by God that, being led by the Spirit to the Gospel, they may contribute to the sanctification of the world…by fulfilling their own particular duties…”, they are thus guided and formed to embrace their roles both in the church and in the country.

In trying to fulfill the above, the office:
1. Trains facilitators for the various societies.
2. Organizes talks, retreats/recollections for the faithful.
3. Relevant documents of the Church are made available to the faithful to be better equipped for their expected roles in the Church and in society.
4. Laity formation programmes are organized on parish and diocesan levels for the faithful.

Diocesan Laity  Office
c/o Diocesan Pastoral and Training Centre
P. O. Box KF 1750
Koforidua
Tel.: 03420- 26137

Coordinator:
VR Fr. Anthony Agyemang-Bonsu

YOUTH AND VOCATIONS OFFICE

(Location: Diocesan Pastoral and Training Centre)

POLICY FOR THE PROMOTION OF VOCATIONS IN THE DIOCESE OF KOFORIDUA

PREAMBLE
With the creation of the Diocese of Koforidua there is the serious need of getting labourers for the vineyard. Therefore, the Diocesan Vocation Office is charged with the promotion of Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life and Family Apostolate. Cf. (Rom. 10:14-15).

PURPOSE
To get Priests and Religious for the Diocese and Religious Congregations working in the Diocese. To promote holiness of the Christian and prepare couples for marriage.

MISSION
To establish Vocation Promotion Committee in every Parish in the Diocese and to campaign for more candidates to the Priesthood and Religious Life.

b. Each member body can organize retreat for its aspirants. They should however, make their intentions known to the Priest and PVC of the place where the retreat is to take place.

EVALUATION
The DVC shall assess its work at the end of every year.
APPENCIX V

GUIDELINES FOR THE PARISH VOCATION PROMOTION COMMITTEE

Every Catholic is a member of God's people – his own Parish Family. As a member of a Parish family, we are to develop our own spiritual leaders by training and supporting them. It therefore, behooves every parish and deanery to establish a Vocation Promotion Committee.

NATURE
Vocation Promoting Committee is an important organ of the Parish or Deanery in order to promote the growth of the Church by encouraging and assisting the youth to take to religious and priestly vocations in the parish.It is the duty of the Promoters to strengthen, develop, nourish, and promote vocations through prayers, Masses, seminars, symposia,etc. To encourage special benefactors to sponsor seminarians, give donations, gifts and endowments in any form for the upkeep of those called. Promote better Christian family life and prepare couples for marriage.

ACTIVITIES
Retreats
Symposia
Seminars

There should be special programmes for :
Those aspiring candidates

MEETINGS
There should be periodic conferences of the Deanery Vocation Promotion Committees. During these meetings there should be reporting and updating the knowledge about Vocation Promotion as well as deepening of their own faith.

Note:

THE YOUTH AND VOCATIONS OFFICE

P.O.BOX KF 1750

KOFORIDUA.

SECTION 7: VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE DIOCESAN STATUTES (Pg. 16)

87. A youth and Vocations Director shall be appointed by the bishop to coordinate youth apostolate and the affairs of those who intend to enter the seminary.

89. Parishes must organize Vocation Week to create awareness of vocations among the faithful, especially the youth.

91. Priests are to show maximum interest in the pastoral apostolate of seminarians assigned to their parishes and institutions.

93. Parents and guardians of seminarians are partners in the formation of our future priests.

116. Priests must attend formation courses and other lectures organized by the diocese and other Church institutions (c.279).

118. As and when the need arises, the bishop may send priests in or outside the country to pursue further studies. The bishop will discuss and determine the area of study with the priest and shall not be altered on the priest's own accord.

120. Any major decision taken while on studies must be discussed with the bishop. Permission must be sought from the bishop before travelling outside the country of studies.

SECTION 9: CONSECRATED LIFE DIOCESAN STATUTES (Pg. 23)

122. The life consecrated through the profession of the evangelical counsels is a stable form of living in the church. Thus the Religious brings to perfection a total self-giving as a sacrifice offered to God, through which his or her whole existence becomes a continuous worship of God in charity (Cf.cc 573;607).

122 Religious Institutes and societies of Apostolic Life must operate according to the terms and contract entered into between themselves and the diocese.

123. Religious are subject to the authority of the bishop whom they are bound to follow with devoted submission and reverence in those matters which regard the cared of souls, the public exercise of divine worship and other works of the apostolate (c.678).

124. All missionaries and religious are subject to the prescripts issued by the bishop for the promotion, direction and coordination of works which pertain to missionary activity (c.790).

125. Religious are to participate fully in all diocesan celebration and programmes. Religious who are clerics are to be part of the Deanery Council of Priests.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR SEMINARY; CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF KOFORIDUA

The basic qualification is the WASCCE certificate.

Grade points should rang from A-C^6. As stated below.

Three core subjects with three elective subjects are required for the calculation.

Meanwhile, even though integrated science or social studies may not be needed in the calculations, depending on the course offered, whether science or Arts, it is mandatory that every candidate must have the pass mark of A-C⁶ for those subjects.

Unfortunately, a D⁷ in any of the subjects needed for the requirements is unacceptable.

CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION (CPE)
CPE at Adweso is run between Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8.30am till 1.00pm.
There is a residential facility including catering.

Fridays and week - ends are for pastoral placements and written assignments.
It is a continuous 12 week program.
Fees are negotiated with the Supervisor depending on ones needs.

Minimum entry requirement is the ability to be able to read and write. Life experience is a big advantage.

PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION
·         Actual practice of ministry to persons
·         Detailed reporting and evaluation of that practice
·         Pastoral supervision
·         A process concept of learning
·         A theoretical perspective on all elements of the programme
·         An individual contract for learning.
·         CPE  students and the Administrators at St Dominic’s Hospital, Akwatia

THE INDIVIDUAL LEARNING CONTRACT
A Student’s Learning Contract is personalized and is developed around the following issues:
Personal & Pastoral Growth
Professional Growth(Psychological)
Theological/Spiritual Growth

Required Hours
· 1 Unit = 400 hours
At least 100-200 hours in group process
At least 200-300 hours in ministry
·  4 Units = 1600 hours required for national certification as a chaplain

DIDACTICS
Throughout the unit, students are engaged in learning didactics:
A Didactic is a presentation on a specific topic in which the presenter invites the CPE student to share relevant experience.
All didactics have a theoretical basis.  This helps to provide the “why” of the process as well as the intended outcome.  Every didactic also has an evaluation component.

VERBATIM REPORTS/PASTORAL CONSULTATIONS
·         Report of a conversation with a patient/client

    Analysis from psychological, theological sociological and pastoral perspectives

·         INSERT: Ken explaining his Family Tree

IPR (INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP GROUP
·         Opportunity to give and receive feed back.
·         Lab for looking at interpersonal dynamics.

Ministry Placement Sites
·         Hospital based:
St Joseph Hospital
·         Community based:
Matthew 25 House clients
·         Parish Based
·         St Dominic Parish Homebounds

CERTIFICATION
Students can be nationally certified as a chaplain after completing 4 units of CPE.  In order to obtain certification a student must also have a Masters of Theology or Masters of Divinity degree.   In Ghana the program has not been accredited yet and Masters degree for students does not apply.

In some cases, students who complete less than 4 units of CPE and have completed some theological coursework with a significant amount of ministry experience, are able to obtain work in the area of chaplaincy.  However, this is at the discretion of the employer.

 
FACTS ABOUT CPE
Policy:
We accept persons into our education program irrespective of race, gender, faith group, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

Purpose:
To enact the professional values and policies of the training center and to ensure that the CPE peer group is composed of a variety of trainees from diverse backgrounds.

Procedure:
All applications are thoroughly read and considered.

Every attempt is made by the CPE supervisor to ensure that the CPE peer groups are inclusive of a variety and diversity of students.
An attempt is made to accept more than one trainee of each gender so that no gender will be alone in the peer group.
Groups may be composed, if possible, of persons from a variety of settings with a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and denominational affiliations.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
1.       Theologically, the applicant must be willing to live out the values and mission of the training and internship center, their own faith traditions, and exhibit a willingness to learn from and with people of other theological traditions.
2.       Psychological requirements include adequate emotional and mental energy so that the prospective CPE trainee can minister to persons in a variety of emotional states. The CPE trainee must have a willingness to learn and an openness to communicate and listen effectively to those who possess different values.
3.       The prospective trainee must be able to speak, write, and read English.
4.       The time requirement is to be available for seminars, individual supervision, and clinical placement in order to complete the 400 hours (1 unit of CPE).

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
·         A completed application (this includes autobiography & resume)
·         Application fee of GHc25.00
·         Ability to reflect on ministry and learn from experiences
·         An admission interview
·         Adequate background in ministry to participate in theological reflection
·         Ability to participate in an Adult Learning Model
 
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION (CPE)
The CPE programme started at Akwatia, St. Dominic Hospital in 1998.Over 200 Students made up of Priests, Sisters, Seminarians, Men and Women ( Laity) have taken part in either four units, three units, two units and one unit. Most of them are from the Forces: Police, Military, Prisons, Fire Service, Hospital and Schools.

CONTACT INFORMATION
CLINICAL PASTORAL EDUCATION
MSGR. ALEX BOBBY BENSON
SITUATED ON THE

KOFORIDUA -ABURI MAIN ROAD
AREA 205, ADWESO

KOFORIDUA – EASTERN REGION
GHANA- WEST AFRICA
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
P. O. Box 2807, KOFORIDUA