TO : ALL CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS
SUBJECT: RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES
DATE: JUNE 3, 2020
May the Peace of the Lord be with you! Last Sunday, May 31, the President of the Republic , His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo addressed  the nation on the COVID -19 Pandemic. He announced a phased-easing of COVID - 19 restrictions beginning Friday, June 5, 2020. He also mentioned that religious activities could start on Friday for the Muslim communities while Christians would start on Saturday, June 6 with the Adventist and for the other Christian groups on Sunday, June 7 with some further details.

The Vicar General, Rev. Msgr. Francis Twum-Barimah received the items on behalf of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum. He stated that the gesture by KODPA is a demonstration that the Evangelisation Mission of the Church is not just a proclamation of the word by mouth but also expressing it through concrete actions.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo and his entourage attended Mass in Koforidua on October 13, 2019. On arrival, he received a rousing welcome from Parishioners and party faithful before joining the parishioners of the St. George Catholic Cathedral Church for Mass.

In his homily, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua,  entreated Nana Akufo-Addo and his ministers to continue to seek and trust God's guidance in governance.

Three full time Catechists of Koforidua diocese have received Papal honours and two priests honoured with the Pontifical title of Monsignors, the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness. The ceremony which took place on Sunday January 20th, 2019 at the St George Cathedral Church in Koforidua was presided over by His Excellency Most Jean-Marie Speich the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.

Holy Mother church has always desired that her members are always fed with the bread of life, the Body of Christ. It is therefore her wish that even in the absence of the Ordinary ministers of the Holy Eucharist or the lack of the ministers, some lay people could be appointed or delegated to serve in that regard; assisting the Clergy in serving the faithful with the Body of Christ. These lay people are called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. These are lay members of the church who are commissioned to assist Priests to distribute communion during Mass and take Holy Communion to the sick and aged in their homes so that parishioners can receive regularly Holy Communion.

The idea to embark on solarisation project which may gradually enable Catholic Churches, Mission Houses and other Catholic institutions in Ghana be connected to solar energy was conceived by Ghana Bishops’ Conference (GBC) about three years ago in the spirit Pope Francis’ Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ to aid the environment and save money.   There has been a clarion call by Pope Francis that generation of electricity must be done in a way that avoids ‘creating environmental imbalances resulting in deterioration and pollution gravely harmful to our human family, both now and in the future’.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum Praises the Management of St Dominic Hospital

Addressing the gathering, Dr Maite Alfonso Romero, Medical Director of the facility, was full gratefulness to all the awardees for distinguishing themselves and encouraged other staff to learn from their good examples. Notable among the awardees was Dr Mercy Dawson an eye specialist who has served the facility for over 10years.

Each year the health departments of Accra Archdiocese and Koforidua Diocese hold a joint programme to launch the World Day of the sick in a selected health facility. This year, St Martin de Porres Hospital at Agomanya, Odumase- Krobo in the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua was chosen for the joint launching of the 27th World Day of the sick. The theme for the celebration as given by the Pope, was ‘you received without payment, give without payment’’ (Matt. 10:8). This occasion also marked the blessing and commissioning of a newly built Sixty Beds Maternity Complex Unit sponsored by Kindermissionswerk of Germany through the initiative of the Sisters of Handmaid of the Divine Redeemer.

Fifteen years ago the  seed of St. Bakhita Catholic Church was sown at Old Estates, Koforidua. This seed has grown to become a big tree under whose shade the people of God sit.

The Parishioners and Priests marked this milestone with a monthlong celebration. Among the activities organised were a pilgrimage to the Franciscan Valley of Prayer and Silence, a 5 Days Revival,  Memorial Mass for deceased parishioners, a day with the sick and aged and free health screening over the period of the celebration.

The anniversary was climaxed with a Thanksgiving Mass on October 28, 2018 presided over by the Local Ordinary of the diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum and concelebrated by scores of priests from the diocese.