The Bishop of Ghana’s Ho Diocese, the Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, has entreated six newly ordained priests to be good models and not just teachers of the gospel.
According to him, today’s world was tired of teachers and rather looking for models to follow, hence the need for priests to endeavour to live exemplary lives to the people they lead.
Delivering his homily at the 2021 Ho Diocesan Priestly ordinationat the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ho Kpevele on Saturday, October 30, 2021, the Bishop noted that, priests were “salt and light” and therefore must guide the people they would pastor, adding that the call to serve God required a serious reflection since it entailed a lot of responsibilities.
In all, five Diocesan and one religious (Redemptorist) were ordained into the ministerial Priesthood of the church, pledging obedience to the bishop, his successors and also legitimate superiors.
They include, Reverend Fathers; David Seyram Addo – St Francis of Assisi Parish, Dzemeni, Prosper Toyi Akumani – Immaculate Conception Parish, Kpando, and Daniel Kwame Tenu Yeboah – Sacred Heart Parish, Fodome, Rudolph Kodjo Tsekpo – Immaculate Conception Parish, Kpando, Yohanes Komla Adjei- Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Kpando Agbenoxoe and Eugene Kodzo Adzaklu, C.Ss.R, Holy Rosary Parish – Hohoe.
Bishop Fianu entreated them to be good leaders, who will guide of the people of God and their communities, adding that, their actions and behaviours must make the faithful desire to live and not leave the Church.
He reminded them to keep to the traditions and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, apply energies in preaching Jesus Christ, teach the right thing and always prepare adequately for their homilies.
He called on the priests to learn to identify their weaknesses and pray to God for help to enable them become good examples.
While admonishing them, not to be priests who would bring disappointment to God’s people, Bishop Fianu also called on the faithful to pray for their priests and particularly for the newly ordained.
He added that, the congregation has the responsibility of bringing up and contributing to the identification and ordination of holy priests.
The ceremony was attended by several hundreds of priests, religious and lay faithful, including Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, Bishop Emeritus of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Kuupol, Provincial Superior, Society of Divine Word (SVD), Ghana-Liberia Province and Rev. Fr. Christian Ewoenam Klu, C.Ss.R, Superior, Redeemptorist Mission of Ghana.
