SEKONDI-TAKORADI DIOCESE
DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER
ISSUE NO. 4 N O V E M B E R
C ONT ENT CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2017
BISHOP’S DESK The first passage of Scrip-
tures read at the Carols
DIOCESAN of Nine Lessons during
the Advent season in or-
NEWS der to prepare us for the
great event of the birth of
DEANERY the Lord is from Gen 3:8-
15,17-19.
NEWS
This passage speaks of
the fall of our first par-
OTHER NEWS
ents, Adam and Eve. It is
undoubtedly placed at
UPCOMING the head of the celebra-
EVENTS tion of the Carols to re-
mind us of our existential
situation and to make
sense of the interventions
of the Prophets and
IN THIS God’s own plan to re-
ISSUE deem humanity.
CHRISTMAS
However, before this pas-
Pg
MESSAGE
sage, Gen 1 tells us that
.1
God created everything
good.
SOD Pg
CUTTING The writer of Genesis
.2
sings the goodness of
creation as a refrain at
ORDINATIONS Pg every instance of God’s
creation. When God cre-
.2
ated light to separate day
from night, He saw that
BISHOP VISITS Pg it was good.
EGYAM 4. When He gathered the
waters on the face of the
earth into a single mass
APOWA Pg and allowed the dry earth
DEANARY .4 to appear, He saw that it
HOLDS REVIVAL was good. When He
– D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 7
made the vegetation and manity (man and woman) in
fruit producing trees of His own image and likeness,
different kinds, He saw he saw that it was good. To
that it was good. humanity He gave them so
much to live on and enjoy
When he created the
life.
stars of the heavens to
divide day from night His first gift to humanity
was that he blessed us. On
one hand, God blessed us
and enjoined us to be fruit-
ful, multiply, fill the earth
and subdue it and on the
other hand to be masters of
all He had created (Gen
1:28).
God made us in His own im-
age and likeness (Gen
1:27).This makes man a mys-
tery hard to fathom. This
extraordinary grace helps us
Most Rev. John Bonaventure
in our everyday choices, de-
Kwofie, CSSp cision making, judgment,
and relating with God, our
When he created the
fellow beings and other cre-
stars of the heavens to
ated things.
divide day from night
and to indicate seasons
and festivals, He saw that When this truth escapes us,
it was good. When He we become destroyers of
created the different spe- God’s creation instead of
cies of fish of the waters exercising our role as co-
and birds of the air, He creators advancing God’s
saw that it was good. creation instead of irrespon-
When He created ani- sibly exploiting it. God
mals of all kinds, He saw handed over the world to
that it was good. man in a “very good” state.
(Gn 1:31).
When He created hu-
Continue on Pg. 4
 PAGE 2
SOD CUTTING CEREMONY FOR
NEW BISHOP’S HOUSE
On Thursday, 30th the current Bishop’s Monsignor Francis
November 2017, Most House) Yaw Tawiah, Very Rev.
Rev. John Bonaven- Fr. James Margret
In attendance at the
ture Kwofie led a sod Mesu, Very Rev. Fr.
ceremony were the
cutting ceremony for Peter Ekow Kaitoo
Vicar General of the
the construction of a and some other
Dioceses Monsignor
new Bishop House. Priests from the Dean-
Abuah-Quansah, Very
The new edifice which eries of Sekondi, Ta-
Rev Fr. Appiah Himin
will serve as residence koradi and Apowa and
Asante, Very Rev. Fr.
of the Bishop will be other lay faithful.
Raphael Mensah,
located at Fijai (near

ORDINATION OF 12 DEACONS AND 2

PRIESTS AT CHRIST THE KING PARISH
Most Rev. John Bonaven-
ture Kwofie, CSSp on
“IF YOU ARE WHAT YOU Wednesday 20th December
2017 ordained 12 young
SHOULD BE, YOU WILL men to the deaconate and
SET THE WHOLE WORLD 2 deacons to the Ministe-
rial Priesthood. In His
ABLAZE…”
homily the Bishop duly ac-
-St. CATHERINE OF SIENNA knowledged the immense
and indispensable contri-
butions of the faithful in
the formation of the Semi-
narians. He also expressed
worry about the decline in
the membership of the
Catholic population
in the Diocese. He
emphatically chal-
lenged the Priests
and the two-would
be priests to work
zealously to win
souls for Christ, to
the would be dea-
cons, he exhorted
them to execute their
tasks in the spirit of
wisdom and be im-
bued with the power
of the Holy Spirit. They dained priests were Rev.
are called to serve the James Robinson Jnr
Christ faithful. Thus, (Takoradi) and Rev. Seth
they are to execute their Kwame Korankye (Manso
tasks with humility and -Amenfi).
charity. To the faithful
The Candidates ordained
present, the Bishop
deacons were Benjamin
beckoned them to put
Doughan (Apowa), Philip
their God-given gifts at
Yaw Nsobiabah (Apowa-
the service of the
Funkoe), Martin Abu-
Church. He stressed that
Arthur (Agona-Amenfi),
the proliferation of
Nicholas Ukuwuomah
churches these days
( Manso-Amenfi), Albin
poses great challenge to
Kissi Ernim (Manso-
the Catholic Church.
Amenfi), Edward Cudjoe
Therefore, all Christ
(Samreboi), John Kofi Al-
faithful must work hard
lou (Half -Assini), Francis
for the Church to save
Isaac Armo (Takoradi),
souls.
Augustine Lobianco
After the Ordination Barnor (Ketan), Nicholas
Rites, the newly or- Kweku Nketsiah
dained priests gave their (Inchaban), Damien Wil-
first solemn blessing to liam Nketsiah (Inchaban)
the Bishop, then the par- and Marino Nana Kontoh
ents and subsequently (Effiakuma).
the priests and all the
faithful gathered.
The two deacons or-

SEKONDI-TAKORADI DIOCESE
DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER
ISSUE NO. 4 PAGE 3

BISHOP VISITS EGYAM

Most Rev. John Bonaventure
Kwofie, CSSp together with some
members of the laity from Se-
kondi, Takoradi and Apowa Dean-
eries visited the Egyam Children’s
home on Tuesday, December 26,
2017 to present them with some
items/gifts.
The Vicar-General Monsignor
Abuah-Quansah made known to
the faithful present that charitable
visit by the Bishop is an annual
event which was started 3 years
ago and this year happens to be at
the Children’s home. Mr. Daniel
Payne, the Director of the home
informed the gathering that the
home has a total of 47 children,
namely the basics and seniors and
how they go about their school-
ing. He also introduced some
who were tertiary students
and some were trained with
professions while others were
undergoing trainings.
He used the occasion to thank
the benefactors of the home
for their continual support
and further requested for fi-
nancial assistance to support
the education of the children.
The Bishop reminded the
gathering that the home still
remains dear to the Diocese
and soon the Diocese will take
full responsibility of it man-
agement with help from the
Daughters of the Most Blessed
Holy Trinity Congregation
(FST) – Kumasi.
He formally presented the gifts
which he said were the contribu-
tions of various different par-
ishes of the three Deaneries and
the Knights of the Altar of Se-
kondi Deanery for the orphan-
age.
Also in attendance were, Very
Rev Fr. Appiah Himin Asante,
Very Rev. Fr. Raphael Mensah,
Monsignor Francis Yaw Tawiah,
Very Rev. Fr. James Margret
Mesu, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Ekow
Kaitoo, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony
Eshun and some other Priests
from the three Deaneries with
various parish heads and asso-
ciations .

“PRAY, HOPE AND DON’T

APOWA DEANARY HOLDS REVIVAL WORRY”

-ST. PIO OF PIETRELCINO

The Apowa Deanery organized Ezekiel Takyi and Anthony Ackerson

the maiden edition of a Deanery
revival under the theme "MY
PRESENCE SHALL GO WITH
YOU." The revival was hosted by
the St. Anthony's Parish, Kwe-
siminstim from Wednesday,
29th November 2017 to Friday,
1st December, 2017. The 3 day
event was attended by all the
priests in the deanery. Rev. Frs.
were the guest speakers.
The mass celebrated to climax the
revival was presided over by the
Vicar General Msgr. Abuah-Quansah
with over 1700 faithful coming from
all the Parishes in the Deanery. The
next edition is scheduled to take
place at the St. Francis of Assisi's
Parish at Agona Nkwanta from 2nd
May, 2018 to 4th May, 2018..
 Continue from Pg.1
Gen 2 continues the narrative of the
goodness of God’s creation by tell-
ing us that God planted a beautiful
and rich garden in the East, Eden,
where he gave habitation to our first
parents. In this garden were all the
fruit-trees you could think of and
the source of the 4 great rivers of
the world known at that time: Pis-
hon, Gihon, Tigris and Euphrates.
In this garden could be found all the
mineral resources. In Ghana, we
could talk of gold, bauxite, manga-
nese, and in recent times oil. This
garden provided a lovely and well-
watered oasis for the relaxation of
man. It was indeed a paradise, a
place with everything to serve the
needs of humanity. There was abun-
dant water to assure that the earth
was fertile and productive. But God
gave this garden to man “to culti-
vate and take care of it” (2:15).
Creation continues to be good.
What then went wrong? What dis-
turbed the goodness of God’s crea-
tion? What broke the harmony of
God’s creation? This is what Genesis
3 seeks to answer. Our disobedience
has turned the table upside
down. God created by the
power of His word. We have
become disobedient to God’s
word and have sought to
create God in our image and
likeness. This is our fall.
The birth of Jesus Christ is
God’s way of restoring crea-
tion to its original goodness
and humanity to its original
dignity. The mystery of the
birth of the Son of God, of
God taking human flesh and
dwelling among us, makes
Christianity different from
other faith. It brings God
closer to us. God is not
locked up in the heavens but
lives with us. The Gospel
according to Matthew calls
the child to be
“Emmanuel” which means
God-is-with-us (Mt 1:23; cf.
Is 7:14). The Evangelist John,
reflecting on this in the pro-
logue to his Gospel, writes that
Jesus is the Word of God who
took flesh and dwelt with us.
He is the Word with God in the
beginning and who was God
himself and whose glory we saw
when he lived amongst us. This
is the mystery we celebrate at
Christmas.
Each Christmas directs our at-
tention to God’s way of restor-
ing our dignity as His children.
During this joyous celebration
of the birth of our Lord which
restores us to our original dig-
nity, harmony and goodness, I
would like to address a few
words of encouragement to our
political leaders: The govern-
ment has mentioned various
born
plans of creating jobs. Please,
hasten to implement your re-
solve to create job opportuni-
ties for our young people. Has-
ten also to strengthen training
centres where our youth will
grow their entrepreneurial skills
and the ability to create their
own jobs and promote their
businesses.
Unfortunately, we are not yet
a country whose citizens are
trained to create our own jobs.
In our current social status,
most of our youth, with or
without formal education, de-
pend largely on the State to
create and provide work op-
portunities. A government in-
terested in the well-being of
its citizens will create condi-
tions and make policies that
favour, direct and promote
prospects for employment of
its citizens especially its
youthful population. Work is a
right that belongs to every
citizen.
When one is fully and gain-
fully employed, his/her dignity
as a person is greatly en-
hanced. When a country’s citi-
zens are without work, the
risk of becoming “victims of
social exclusion” is massive.
The Catholic Church through
its social teachings has always
taught that work enables us to
build and grow families, pro-
vide for our basic needs, ac-
quire property to serve our
needs and positions us to con-
tribute to the good of all. Un-
employment, therefore, is a
“real social disaster” (LE 18).
Engaging in a meaningful
work is a right that belongs to
every citizen of the world. God
himself worked (cf. Gen 1) and
wants us to work. Without
meaningful jobs, our youth
dream of doing unimaginable
things.
For instance, a major drive hearts in their recent meet-
behind the migration of our ing in Abuja. Please, deploy
people to countries with your security forces and in-
stronger economies is the telligence agencies to follow
search for a greener pasture up this disturbing news and
where they can work and save arrest human agents or
some money from their “connection men and
monthly income in order to women” both at home and
support family member sat abroad who facilitate this in-
home. human business.
In the process of migrating to May the celebration of
Europe, some of our youths Christmas renew our resolve
have made long journeys on to create more jobs so that
foot through the desert to the unemployed youth will find
Maghreb countries, notably jobs for decent living. Let us
Libya and Algeria, to wait for treat this matter as an urgent
opportunities to cross the vast socio-political agenda. I wish
ocean by boat of all sorts. you all a merry Christmas
and prosperous 2018.
Some have lost their lives in
the process, others too have
ended up stranded on some
Most Rev. John Bonaventure
islands in the Mediterranean
Kwofie
and are seeking asylum.
Bishop of the Catholic
Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi
Those who managed to reach
a European country have dis-
covered to their disappoint-
ment and frustration that con-
ditions there are not as easy as
they thought or were made to
believe.
Some have also ended up as
slaves in Libya and have ex-
perienced abhorrent inhuman
treatment. Thanks to the me-
dia, we have heard of this
wicked phenomenon. I add
my voice to the West African
leaders who condemned this
barbaric happening meted out
by people with inhuman
 PAGE 6 IN OTHER NEWS...
• Rev. Fr. George E. the laity of the dio- • St. Mark Catholic
Ansah has been cese. Church, Abesewa
appointed as Gyaman (Wassa Ak-
• Most Rev. John
Headmaster for ropong Parish) cele-
Bonaventure
the St. Mary’s brated her centenary
Kwofie, CSSp on
Boys’ Senior High with the Bishop pre-
1st November, 2017
School, Apowa., siding over the
celebrated Mass
effective from 9th thanksgiving mass
for the commemo-
October, 2017. on Sunday, 3rd No-
ration of the de-
vember, 2017.
• On 30th October parted clergy of
2017, Most Rev. the diocese at the • 67 Candidates from
John Bonaventure Priests’ cemetery the Funkoe and New
Kwofie paid a pas- at Apowa. A total Amanful communi-
toral visit to the of 30 priests, 1 dea- ties were on 10th
“Nothing and nobody Refugee camp at con and 3 Bishops December, 2017 con-
Ampain and pre- have been called to firmed during the
can block the light that sented to them eternity since the Bishop’s pastoral
Christ puts in our hearts some gifts from diocese was visit to Funkoe.
erected.
and on the face of His

friends.” UPCOMING EVENTS...

• 9th January, 2018—C0-workers Appreciation Day at Myohaung Barracks,
- Pope Francis Apremdo at 10am.

• 10th January, 2018—Priests’ Assembly at St. Kizito Pastoral Centre at Apowa.

• 11th January, 2018—Diocesan Priests’ Association Meeting at St. Kizito Pastoral

Centre at Apowa.

• Funeral arrangements for the late Mr. Anthony Frans, former Diocesan Lands
Officer are as follows;

13th January, 2018—Burial mass at 7:30am . 14th January , 2018—Thanksgiving

Venue: Christ The King Catholic Church, Effiakuma.

• 13th—14th January, 2018: Centenary Celebration, Sacred Heart Parish, Afran-

sie.

• 15th January, 2018: Handing Over, Egyam Children Home.

• 20th—21st January, 2018: Pastoral Visit, St. Paul’s Parish, Bonyere.

SEKONDI-TAKORADI DIOCESE
DIOCESAN NEWSLETTER