The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains, Eastern Ghana has made a pastoral visit to the Lake Mission of the Vicariate, as a way of reaching out to the faithful who are cut off from the mainland, due to lack of physical access.
The November 22-25, 2024 Pastoral visit at Kokrobuta which included Christians from Galilea, Nyakuikope, Menekope, Battorkope, Kedekope and Kpatsakope Island Mission Stations featured three major activities, interspersed within the three days, all presided over by his Lordship: Celebration of Missionary Childhood, Solemnity of Christ the King, and Confirmation of eleven Catholics.
Other activities included a meeting with the bishop and the Church Council, fundraising to support the new church building under construction, games and dance presentations from the various Stations.
The Bishop and his entourage also paid a courtesy call on Torgbe Xatse Augustine IV, the Chief of Kokrobuta, who being a Catholic himself, had also been present for the fundraising for the church building. Pleasantries were shared and the bishop was offered the gift of a ram.
The journey by boat which commenced at Bruben, having travelled by land from Donkorkrom took over an hour and the bishop received a hilarious welcome from the Christians of Kokrobuta with 3 symbolic gunshots, while they led him in a dance procession to the Mission house where there was more singing and dancing. Other Christians had helped to carry the luggage of the arrivals, including clothing the bishop had brought for the people.
In a parting message, His Lordship said “We are looking forward to more happy occasions in the future where such celebrations will bring us together to celebrate with you again. And I am particularly looking forward to the occasion when one of your children, one of your sons, daughters, will become a priest, a brother or a sister, and for that occasion, we will all come here and celebrate with you”.
“So, pray and talk with your children, and help them in their education,” he added.
The Bishop also expressed the desire to have priests stationed in the Lake Mission with the Christians in the near future, but at the same time challenging them to give the Vicariate a priests, Brothers and Sisters.
“Be assured that we are all praying with and for you that the Lord will bless you with vocations from the Island also,” he said.
Bishop Asiedu also shared the wish that the Island Mission may produce not only priests and religious but also holy couples “who will serve as an example to our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters who are also looking forward to having their life partners”.
Rev. Fr. Sofronio Endoma, Priest in-charge of the Lake Mission, who had gone ahead days ahead to prepare for the Bishop’s visit, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all who had made out time to come for the ceremonies, and promised that the venue for next year’s visit will be disclosed before their departure.
The Bishop had been accompanied on his Pastoral visit by Rev. Fr. Otmar Auinger Aklah, one of the newly ordained for the Vicariate, together with two Religious Sisters, including Sr. Francisca Kumevor, SMMC, Coordinator of Missionary Childhood activities in the Apostolic Vicariate, and 5 young people from Donkorkrom.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
