He was born in Tamale on the 17th of May, 1985 into a Catholic family of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bieri Tonye. He is the fifth born among the seven children; God has blessed the Family with. His siblings are made up of three girls and four boys.
EDUCATION
Rev. Paschal Tonye had his primary and Junior Secondary School Education (J. H. S) at Kalpohin S.D.A. from 1988 to 2000. After his BECE examination, he was admitted into Kalpohin Senior Secondary School. There, he pursued a course in Agricultural science. He completed in 2003 and had admission into the Tamale Training College in 2005. At the college, He majored in science. He completed in June, 2008 as a trained teacher with diploma in Basic education. He did not remain there; he enrolled into the University of Education, Winneba to do a two years Degree distance programme in Education from the year 2009 and completed in 2011.
WORKING LIFE/ EXPERIENCE
Rev. Paschal, as a trained teacher, worked for the Ghana Education Service, under the Catholic Education Unit. He was posted to St. Peter’s School Complex at Duahnayili. The service rendered there, lasted for three (3) years. He also taught as a part-time teacher at the Little Flower School Complex.
Aside the above, Rev. Paschal has been a Sunday Liturgy Instructor for close to 15 years. It was something he was involved in loved to do, before he was admitted into the seminary.
Seminary Formation into Priesthood
Rev. Paschal as a Child and growing up had the desire of becoming a Priest. This desire was nurtured through the support of his family, Bishops, Priests and many individuals in the faith and devotions of the Church. His desire grew stronger in his final year of the Degree programme. Upon consultations with the then Vocations Director, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Zaato, the then Cathedral Administrator Very Rev. Fr. Matthew Yitiereh, and the then Vicar General, Mgn Christopher Bazaanah, he met the Archbishop, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, and he directed him to apply to the Seminary.
He applied to the Seminary to be formed as Priest in the year 2011 and was admitted that same year. He started his formation in St. Michael Major Seminary, Kaleo, for a year (2011/2012 academic). He had the recommendation from his formators to continue a course in philosophy for three years in St. Augustine Millennium Seminary. After the three (3) years of philosophical studies, he was recommended by the formators to pursue a course in theology, at the St. Victors Major Seminary. After three years in theology, and as part of the seminary, formation, the seminary recommended that he goes to a parish to have an experience for a year.
He was assigned to Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Salaga for his pastoral experience, from September, 2018 to June, 2019. He was recommended by the Parish family and he was readmitted into the seminary, for the 2019/2020 academic year. He and Sixteen of his colleagues were ordained deacons on 26th November, 2019, by His Grace Most Rev. Philip Naameh, the Metropolitan archbishop of Tamale. Today, by the grace of God, he has been ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Tamale.