The Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, has paid a pastoral visit to the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Catholic Church at Madina West in Accra on May 25, 2025.
The Church community warmly welcomed the Archbishop, considering his visit a blessing and joy, especially since it was his first visit to their community.
Mr. Bernard Ofei Tetteh, Chairperson of the Pastoral Council, who welcomed the Archbishop on behalf of the church, said, “We are delighted to have you on this day in our midst to share with us our journey of faith as a community moving towards hope.”
As part of the visit, Archbishop Kwofie administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 91 candidates from various Churches, including OLA Church, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Fatima, and St. Monica.
The candidates were presented to the Archbishop by Fr. Jean De Dieu, SMA, an Associate Priest, for questions, answers, and renewal of their baptism promises, after which Archbishop Kwofie anointed the candidates during the rites of confirmation.
In his homily earlier, Archbishop Kwofie emphasised the universality of the Catholic Church, saying, “The church we belong to is the Catholic Church, which means the universal Church,” and further explained that the Church is not the “Catholic Church of Ghana but the Catholic Church in Ghana.”
The Archbishop drew inspiration from Acts 15, which recounts controversies between Jewish and Gentile Christians in Antioch. He used this biblical reference to emphasize the importance of standing by the truth.
Addressing the candidates, Archbishop Kwofie said, “You will become adult Christians and soldiers of Christ after you have received the sacrament of confirmation.”
He stressed that this new status comes with the responsibility of maintaining their “Yes” and “No” and standing by the truth.
The Archbishop advised the confirmandi against the dangers of dishonesty, saying, “You must begin telling the truth at your early age; otherwise, you are going to be part of the liars and corrupt people in the country.”
He added, “They start from telling little lies, little lies until the lies grow bigger, bigger, and bigger,” underscoring the importance of honesty and integrity in the lives of the confirmands.
The Chief Shepherd of Accra emphasised that the Sacrament of Confirmation empowers the candidates to stand for justice and truth.
“You are being empowered; it is time for equality, justice, and the truth,” he declared.
The Archbishop urged the newly confirmed members to remain faithful to the Catholic Church. He encouraged them to stay in the Church, reminding them that they are confirmed in the Catholic Church.
Through his visit and the confirmation ceremony, Archbishop Kwofie reinforced the values that are central to the Catholic faith, inspiring both the candidates and the congregation to live out their faith with commitment.
By Alor Mercy//Newswatchgh.om
