In a profound and reverent ceremony, the diaconate ordination of six candidates; Ebenezer Adu, Maxwell Alaaje, Thomas Ahiaduvor, David Matey Nanor, Gilbert Gbogbo Morthy Jnr., and Kwame Amissah Adu, took place within the solemn context of the Holy Mass at the St. George Cathedral Church, Koforidua, on the 7th of January 2024.
The Holy Mass unfolded with each element carefully woven into the fabric of the diaconate ordination. The Liturgy of the Word featured scripture readings for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. The homily, delivered by V. Rev. Fr. Joseph Afum Attah Asumadu, the Cathedral Administrator, was meticulously crafted to touch on the Epiphany and the diaconate ordination. Addressing the soon-to-be ordained deacons, the homilist encouraged them saying; “... in the midst of a world darkened by immorality, fraud, same-sex unions, corruption, love of money, lies, and deception, abuse of technology…, the Lord is calling you. He wants you to be the light to enlighten the darkness of this world. The light to dispel the darkness of this world. He wants you to arise and shine so that the holiness of your lives will attract many to the light of the Messiah whose Epiphany we celebrate. He is sending you to make a difference. He is calling you to shine and be an instrument of transformation. He is sending you to go and enlighten the world with the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you will soon become”. He again stressed on the need for them to be available to serve.
Ordination Rite continued with conscientious attention to detail. The laying on of hands accompanied by the prayer of consecration, by the ordaining bishop, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah–Agyekum, the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua Diocese, imparted the sacred authority of the diaconate upon each candidate.
The newly ordained deacons were vested with the diaconal stole and dalmatic, outward signs of their new order. The presentation of the Book of the Gospels affirmed their role as heralds of the Word, entrusted with the sacred duty of proclaiming the Good News to the faithful.
The deacons actively participated in the liturgy, assisting at the altar and distributing Holy Communion. The faithful, gathered in prayerful witness, shared in the joy of this sacred occasion.
Click here for more photos of the diaconate ordination on our Facebook Page.
On Saturday, 12th August 2023, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, presided at Holy Mass during which he ordained on nine (9) Deacons as Priests for the Diocese of Koforidua. Concelebrating with the Prelate were Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare (Auxiliary Bishop of Accra Archdiocese), the Vicar General, Monsignori, as well as scores of Priests across the length and breadth of the Diocese and beyond. This colourful and solemn celebration, which was hosted by the Koforidua Deanery, took place at the Madonna School. Also in attendance were Catholic faithfuls, family relatives, benefactors and benefactresses, friends and loved ones of the Ordianadi, Religious Brothers, Sisters and Seminarians. It is of interest to note that in the history of the Diocese, the day’s event was a very historic one, because the nine deacons who were ordained into the priesthood, was the second highest when after twenty-two years, ten deacons were also ordained as priests in 2001 at a similar occasion by the then Bishop of Koforidua, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle (now the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast).
In a brief homily delivered by the Bishop, he expressed his gratitude to the Parents of the Ordinandi for offering their sons to be ordained for Mother Church, saying, “Today, these our sons are the center of attention of the People of God, symbolically represented by the families and parish communities which they come from. They fill here with their prayers and singing, with their sincere and deep affection, their authentic emotion, their human and spiritual joy.”
Reflecting on the chosen Readings, the Chief-Shepherd of Koforidua Diocese addressed those he ordained to be mindful of the fact that “many today have accepted the call to the Priesthood but are not doing the work of the Priest.”He exhorted them to exercise their sacred duty of teaching, sanctifying, pastoring in the name of Christ, in humility and obedience; imparting to everyone the Word of God which they have received with joy, meditating in prayer and contemplation and to believe what they teach and practice, adding that they must celebrate the Mass and other Sacraments in faith and reverence. He also entreated the faithful to pray for them and compliment them with good counsel.
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One of the enviable traits of the Catholic Church is the number of years and training involved in our priestly formation. It entails ten years of intense teaching, training, and learning. The formation requires a lot of money and other resources. In view of that, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum has decided that on the occasion of his 40th priestly Anniversary, which falls on 17th July 2023, he will raise funds to support the training of future priests for the Diocese of Koforidua.
The third quarter of each year (July to September) is noted for priestly ordination ceremonies and first solemn Thanksgiving Masses of the newly ordained priests. The joy of families and friends as well as parishioners of the newly ordained priests is overwhelming during such celebrations. Priests who are already in the Lord’s vineyard are full of excitement as they welcome their new brothers to join them in the priestly and pastoral ministry. Ordinations ceremonies become the top priority on our schedules as Catholics.
Many of us have the desire to single handedly sponsor a seminarian, be it a family member or a parishioner, but we do not have the means to do that all by ourselves. The opportunity is here, let us all put our pennies together to fulfill this desire. By supporting the seminarian fund, you have helped raised a priest for Mother Holy Church.
A priest may come from a particular family but he belongs to all. He is chosen by God from among us, set aside, ordained through the Bishop and given back to us. Between the calling of men to formation houses /seminaries and ordination, family members and personal benefactors of individual seminarians provide personal needs to the would-be-priest. The Diocese, out of its meager resources, has to support seminarians with tuition fees, feeding, maintenance of seminary structures, utilities, books and other learning materials, not forgetting the seminarian “pocket money”.
In the past, “Rome” and other foreign donors brought logistics resources and even personnel to help seminarians’ formation. Manna has stopped falling, those days are gone! Though subsidy may come from Rome, it is just a widow’s mite to support the bigger effort that we have to provide for locally. The individual seminarian families cannot do this alone, the priests and the bishop cannot do this alone, they have nothing unless we give them, the seminarians themselves are helpless. It is our collective responsibility as a diocese to supplement whatever help we get from abroad and other benefactors.
The diocese spends over GHc250,000.00 on our seminarians each year with the help of some few individuals who contribute their widow’s mite each month. We appreciate the efforts of such donors.
We are appealing to all people of Goodwill within and outside the diocese, religious groups, private organizations, individual families, non-Catholics, both home and abroad to contribute to the seminarians’ funds that the Bishop is establishing through his 40th anniversary to sustain the training of seminarians’ formation. Be a partner to this vision. Support the fund monthly, quarterly, or yearly to raise our future priests in whichever amount you can and let the Lord open the gate of heaven and pour down His blessings upon you and your entire generation.
SUPPORT A WORTHY COURSE! SUPPORT BISHOP JOSEPH AFRIFA AGYEKUM’S SEMINARIANS’ FUND!
Fr Dr Abban Fr Dr Agbenohevi
Recently, two priests of our Diocese, by dint of determination and hard work, were awarded their Doctoral Degrees in their respective Universities of Studies. They are Very Rev. Fr Dr Ebenezer Kenneth Abban and Rev. Fr. Dr Isaac Agbenohevi. Congratulations Fathers!!!
1. Very Rev Fr Dr Ebenezer Kenneth Abban
Fr. Abban works as a healthcare person with some years of experience in the industry. He serves as the Administrator of St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia. Having obtained a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from St. Joseph’s University, New York, he continued a search for higher education in the healthcare industry and thus enrolled in a Ph.D. program in Healthcare Administration with the Texila American University in 2018. In August 2022, he successfully defended his thesis on the topic: "Financial Health of Mission Hospitals and Medical Outcomes in the Eastern Region of Ghana". On November 3rd, 2022, he graduated with Ph.D. in Hospital Administration.
2. Rev Fr Dr Isaac Agbenohevi
Fr Agbenohevi defended his Doctoral Dissertation entitled: "THE JONAH TRADITIONS IN THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS: A Redactional Critical Analysis and Typological Exegesis of Luke 11,16.29-32 and Its Parallels", on 24th February, 2023 in Rome. He entered Pontifical Biblical Institute (BIBLICUM), Rome – Italy in October, 2013 and Completed in February 2023. He has awarded with two degrees namely Licentiate in Sacred Scripture (SSL) and Doctorate in Sacred Scripture (SSD).