Consecrated Persons of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom have gathered in the Small Chapel of the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, Eastern Region of Ghana, to climax the year-long activities for the Jubilee of Consecrated Persons.
The November 8, 2025, gathering took place within the context of a Solemn Holy Mass, followed by a talk. It was also the culmination ritual of the Jubilee Candle, brought from the National Jubilee Celebration at Sunyani in February, and moving from one Religious Community to another within the Vicariate.
Sr. Stella Nwosu, the Coordinator of Religious in the Vicariate, holding the lit Jubilee Candle, had joined the Priests in the procession at the start of the Mass and carefully placed it before the Altar.
Very Rev. Fr. Bernard Adjei Appiah, SVD, Administrator of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, who officiated at the Mass, centred his homily on one eternal truth. He underscored that there is only one thing that every human being is supposed to hold on to, that is his/her soul, for it is God’s and will return to Him at the end of time.
The SVD Priest reflected on the Gospel for the day (Lk 16:9-15), which kind of summarizes the end time, by clearly stating that if humans are not able to take care of what belongs to others, what is their very own will not be given to them.
He elucidated that if Christians, and Religious persons, for that matter, are not able to take care of the Soul which belongs to God, then the eternal life that has been promised to them will not be given to them.
“Let us pray and live with one another, purify our souls, live what is good for our souls, our Consecrated life, our Vows; not only living it in this world, but for the salvation of our souls,” he implored.
Fr. Adjei, who doubles as the President of the African Religious Union of Ghana (ARUG), buttressed the need to preserve the soul, which is God’s temporary gift to humanity, in a talk during the second part of the ceremony, calling on all present to surrender their wills to God and live in the hope of eternal life.
“The eternal life is our hope, and for our hope to be fulfilled, we must cherish that which has been given to us by God, that is our soul; only then can we inherit that eternal life,” he maintained.
The talk was on the theme: “The Year of Hope for Consecrated Men and Women in our wounded world”.
As part of activities to mark the celebration, a new team of Religious was constituted to coordinate the affairs of Religious men and women in the Vicariate after two former members had left the Vicariate. Fr. Godfred Koranteng, SVD, and Sr. Francisca Kumevor, SMMC, were elected to join Sr. Stella Nwosu (MSHR).
There were also refreshments and entertainment to mark this unique celebration.
The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, a Religious himself, was unavoidably absent at this gathering because he was attending another equally important meeting outside the Vicariate.
By Fr. Matthew Akakpo and Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM – AVD)
