About the Diocese

Fr. Shoening, a German SVD missionary working in Togo, cycled to Yendi and appealed for missionaries to be sent to the area.

Bishop Hermans, SMA, made a sixteen-day bicycle journey from Kpando to Yendi to assess where the Catholic mission could begin.

After earlier restrictions, the colonial government allowed Catholic missionaries to evangelize in the Yendi District.

The Society of African Missions began missionary activity in the Yendi District, using Bimbilla as its base.

The Missionaries of Africa took up monthly pastoral visits to Yendi after the SMA period ended.

Fr. John McNulty, M.Afr., arrived in Yendi as the first resident priest and began pastoral work from the Yaa Naa’s palace.

The infant parish in Yendi was dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes on 8th December 1958.

The Divine Word Missionaries agreed to assist the White Fathers, with Yendi as their base of operations.

The first Catholic school opened in Yendi, marking a new phase in education and evangelization.

The Sisters of Mary Immaculate arrived in Yendi, supporting health care, pastoral outreach, and formation.

Our Lady of Lourdes Church and the Yendi Health Clinic were blessed, strengthening worship and social service.

St. Joseph Parish, Bimbilla, became one of the early parish communities of the Yendi Mission.

Holy Spirit Parish, Chamba, was officially opened under the pastoral care of Fr. Joseph Renner.

During the ethnic conflict in Yendi and its environs, Church property was damaged, but the mission continued.

Repair work on the Yendi Church and Presbytery was completed, and resident pastoral ministry resumed.

Pope John Paul II created the Catholic Diocese of Yendi on 16th March 1999, carved out of the Archdiocese of Tamale.

Bishop Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, SVD, was ordained and installed as the first Bishop of Yendi on 10th July 1999.

Bishop Vincent ordained Fr. Gregory Dery as the first diocesan-ordained priest of the Diocese.

The Diocese held its First Pastoral Days to define pastoral vision, mission, and orientation.

After the murder of Ya-Naa Yakubu Andani II, Bishop Vincent promoted dialogue and mediation for peace in the area.

St. Martin’s Catechists Training Centre was renamed St. Martin Centre for Pastoral Formation.

St. Rita’s Centre was constructed to support children, vulnerable adults, and legal services for the Diocese.

Most Rev. Matthew Yitiereh was ordained and installed as the second Bishop of Yendi on 20th August 2022.

The Catholic Diocese of Yendi celebrated its 25th anniversary, continuing its mission of faith, service, and communion.