His Excellency, Julien Kabore, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, has declared that the primary duty of every Catholic Bishop is to teach. He made this known in a homily during the August 8, 2026 Installation Mass of the First Bishop of Donkorkrom Diocese, Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
He maintained that the Bishop has the responsibility to guard the good treasure, which is the “Deposit of Faith” entrusted to him. It does not belong to him; he has received it from Christ through the Apostles and is called to hand it on faithfully to future generations.
“The bishop does not invent doctrine; he safeguards it. He does not reshape the Gospel according to the changing fashions of the age; he proclaims it in its fullness, convinced that the truth of Christ never grows old because it is the truth that sets humanity free,” he buttressed.
Mindful of the present age of remarkable scientific progress and extraordinary technological achievements, which have contributed greatly to the advancement of humanity, the Nuncio however noted the profound confusion that such advancements have brought to the world; “Truth is often reduced to personal opinion; what is morally good is frequently determined by popularity rather than by the Gospel; the dignity of human life is questioned from its very beginning to its natural end; marriage and the family, established by God Himself is subjected to increasing pressures; many young people search for meaning in a digital world that offers unlimited information but often very little wisdom. Even religion can be reduced to emotion, personal preference or material prosperity, forgetting that the heart of Christianity is the Cross of Christ and the call to conversion”.
He therefore called on every Bishop to be a vigilant Shepherd, underscoring that the “wolves” are not always outside the fold; sometimes they come disguised in attractive language, appealing promises or ideologies that appear compassionate while slowly distancing men and women from the truth of the Gospel.
“The greatest danger for the Church has never been persecution from without, but confusion from within,” he observed, adding that the Shepherd who remains silent when the flock is threatened does not truly love the flock. He further underlined that, to love God’s people means to nourish them with sound doctrine, to protect them from error, to correct with patience, to accompany with compassion and to proclaim the whole Gospel without fear or compromise. Adding, he said a bishop must possess the tenderness of a father, but also the courage of a guard who remains awake while others sleep.
The Apostolic Nuncio urged the First Bishop of Donkorkrom to teach more by example, stating that the people entrusted to his care will look to him above all as a man of God; they will expect wisdom from his words, but even more from his example, seek direction in moments of uncertainty, consolation in times of suffering and encouragement when their faith is tested.
“Your greatest strength will never be found in administrative ability or human achievements, important though they may be. Your greatest strength will always be your intimacy with Christ,” he appealed, upholding that “a bishop who prays leads his people to prayer. A bishop who loves the Eucharist teaches his people to love the Eucharist. A bishop who regularly celebrates the Sacrament of Reconciliation inspires others to seek God’s mercy. Before being a leader, the bishop must remain a disciple. Before speaking about Christ, he must remain close to Christ”.
Archbishop Kabore reminded the Local Ordinary of the import of creating the new Diocese of Donkorkrom, which marks the beginning of a deeper commitment to the mission entrusted by Christ when He said to His Apostles: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature”.
He underlined that the First duty of the Church is not to preserve institutions, administer properties or seek recognition from society, but to proclaim Jesus Christ, crucified and risen; the only Saviour of the world.
Evangelization, he maintained, is never mere instruction, nor is it propaganda or the promotion of an institution, but the joyful proclamation of a Person. It is introducing people to Jesus Christ, leading them to know Him, to love Him, to follow Him and to become His disciples. He further stated that wherever Christ is truly proclaimed, hearts are transformed, families are strengthened, forgiveness becomes possible, hope is reborn and societies are gradually renewed. Adding, he said that the greatest gift the Church can offer the world is not an idea or a programme but Christ Himself.
Acknowledging the unique and challenging terrain of the Afram Plains, and affirming the endless sacrifices of the early missionaries who first brought the Good News to the area, the Nuncio entreated the Bishop that there must be no community so distant that it is forgotten, no family so poor that it is neglected, no young person so discouraged that hope cannot reach him or her, and no sinner so far away that the mercy of God cannot embrace.
“The Gospel has always advanced through sacrifice. The Apostles crossed seas, deserts and mountains to proclaim Christ. Missionaries left their homes and families because they believed that every person has the right to hear the Good News of salvation. The Church has never measured her mission by convenience but by fidelity to Christ. If reaching a remote village requires patience and sacrifice, Christ still desires that village. If crossing the waters of Lake Volta demands courage and perseverance, Christ Himself crossed an infinitely greater distance when He descended from heaven to seek every human person,” he encouraged.
He entrusted the young Donkorkorm Diocese to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “May she watch over Bishop John, sustain his priests, encourage the consecrated men and women, strengthen the catechists, inspire the lay faithful and awaken many generous vocations to the priesthood and the religious life,” he prayed.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Diocese)
