Franklyn Atese Nubuasah S.V.D., (born 7 July 1949), also Frank Atese Nubuasah, is a Ghanaian-born Roman Catholic prelate who has been serving as the Bishop of Gaborone, Botswana since 2019. Before that, he was the Bishop of Francistown, Botswana (2017–2019) and Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown (1998–2017). He was appointed Bishop on 27 June 1998 by Pope John Paul II, and elevated to the rank of Archbishop (personal title) on 5 July 2021 by Pope Francis.
Background and priesthood
He was born on 7 July 1949 at Likpe Abozome, Ghana. He made his solemn vows as a member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) in 1979. He was ordained a priest of that Order on 26 July 1980. He served in that capacity until 27 June 1998. He served as the novice master of the Society of the Divine Word in Ghana from 1994 until 1998.[1][2]
He was sent to the United States for further studies, where he earned a Master of Arts from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
As bishop
On 27 June 1998, Pope John Paul II created the Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown, Botswana and appointed Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. as the founding Apostolic Vicar on the same day. He was concurrently appointed as Titular Bishop of Pauzera.[1][2] He was consecrated and installed at Francistown on 7 November 1998 by the hands of Bishop Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi, Bishop of Gaborone assisted by Bishop Erwin Hecht, Bishop of Kimberley and Bishop Johannes Ludgerus Bonaventure Brenninkmeijer, Bishop of Kroonstad.[1] On 2 October 2017, Pope Francis elevated the vicariate of Francistown to a diocese and appointed him the first bishop of the new diocese.
While still leading the Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown, Franklyn Atese Nubuasah, S.V.D. was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Gaborone, Botswana on 9 August 2017. On 6 June 2019, he was appointed Bishop of Gaborone after being the Local Ordinary in Francistown for more than 20 years. He was installed as Bishop of Gaborone, Botswana on 17 August 2019.
On 5 July 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Archbishop (Personal Title) of Gaborone, Botswana.[1][3][4]
Nubuasah was the South African Bishops' Conference coordinator for the Catholic Church's initiatives against HIV/AIDS. In 2009, Franklyn Nubuasah participated in the second special assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa on the theme "The Church in Africa at the Service of Reconciliation, Justice and Peace."
Succession table
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byNone (Vicariate Created) (Before 27 Jun 1998) | Apostolic Vicar of Francistown (27 June 1998 - 2 October 2017) | Succeeded byNone (Vicariate elevated to Diocese) |
| Preceded byNone (Diocese Created) (Before 2 October 2017) | Bishop of Francistown (2 October 2017 - 6 June 2019) | Succeeded byAnthony Pascal Rebello |
| Preceded byValentine Tsamma Seane (5 February 2009 - 9 August 2017) | Bishop of Gaborone (6 June 2019 - 5 July 2021) | Succeeded byIncumbent |
| Preceded byNone (Personal Title Created) (5 Mar 2011 - 16 Nov 2019) | Archbishop of Gaborone (Personal Title) (since 5 July 2021) | Succeeded byNone |
References
- 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4]David M. Cheney (7 May 2024). "MicroData Summary for Archbishop Franklyn (Frank) Atese Nubuasah S.V.D. (born 7 July 1949), Bishop of Gaborone". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Kansas City. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- 2.[2.2]The Catholic Church in Norway (30 July 1998). "New on these pages (archive for 1998): Updated diocesan overview following the establishment of the Apostolic Vicariate of Francistown in Botswana" (Translated from the original Norwegian language). The Catholic Church in Norway. Oslo, Norway. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- 3.Magdalene Kahiu (14 July 2021). "Newly Appointed "Archbishop ad personam" in Botswana Says Elevation "was a surprise"". ACI Africa Organization. Nairobi, Kenya. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
- 4.SACBC (5 July 2021). "New Bishop For The Diocese of Francistown, Botswana". Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference (SACBC). Gaborone, Botswana. Retrieved 6 February 2025.