In a homily during the Opening Mass of the Annual Retreat of Diocesan Priests of Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate, in the Kwahu Afram Plains, Eastern Region of Ghana, Rev. Fr. Ebenezer Kofi Hanson, a Priest of the Archdiocese of Accra reminded his brother Priests that they were just unworthy servants, and so, must not seek to be celebrated, when they have done their duties.
Reflecting on the Gospel of Luke (17:7-10), talking about service, the homilist drew the attention of the Priests to the actions of Christ with his disciples in the Upper Room, where he washed their feet and fed them, as a laudable illustration of unworthiness and service.
According to him, once a Priest is ordained, he no longer has a will of his own; his will has been “configured into the Will of the one who suffered to the point of death”. Priests must therefore appreciate the fact that they are just servants, in the hands of God. They have been “bought and owned” as echoed in 1Cor. 6:20.
“Until we come to appreciate the fact that we are just unworthy servants, we will keep struggling, especially in an era where we seem to appreciate reward,” he buttressed.
The Preacher shared with consternation a growing tendency wherein, right from the seminary, some priests begin to imagine their places of appointment, aiming for the bigger parishes, at the detriment of the hinterlands, and when their dreams do not come through, they feel frustrated. To him, Priests must be servants, sharing in the ministry of the one who had learnt to obey through suffering.
Fr. Hanson charged his brothers against doing things to be recognized; to be celebrated, because they are not “celebrities,” maintaining that Christ himself with all His power, was never celebrated. He was treated as though he were a criminal, and was even abandoned by his closest collaborators.
“If we are not careful, we will blame people for even what we are doing well,” he warned.
For him, Priests should look forward to the acknowledgment that awaits them in Heaven. They should draw inspiration from the quotation in the First Reading (Wisdom 2:23-3:9): “the Salvation of the just comes from the Lord”.
Reflecting further on the life St. Martin of Tours, whose Memorial it was, he entreated his fellow Priests to try to live as though everything they did, depended on Christ, and they should fix their gaze always on Him who had called them into His service.
“We are not a mistake. We are here because we want to serve God, and God has called us,” he underpinned, invoking the intercession of the Blessed Mother on the retreatants.
The November 11, 2025 Opening Mass of the Retreat which had been integrated with Mid-day Prayer, took place in a make-shift Chapel at the Alfons Merten’s Center, where the Retreat was hosted (from November 10 to 15, 2025). It was the very first time for the Diocesan Priests to hold their Annual Retreat within the Vicariate. Other years, it had been done outside the Afram Plains.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM – AVD)
