The Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, has called on Catholics to live out their faith through compassion, patience, and concrete service to society.
He emphasized that the Church must be recognized not only for prayer and preaching, but also for providing tangible care to the sick, the poor, and the vulnerable.
Delivering his homily in Mass during a pastoral visit to the Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at Tema 1 on Sunday, December 14, 2025, the Archbishop expressed joy at worshipping with the parish community and reflected on the deeper meaning of Advent as a season of hope, patience, and loving action.
“Today our hearts are filled with joy as we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday,” he said, explaining that the rose colour of the liturgy symbolizes “love and beauty” as Christians draw closer to the celebration of Christ’s birth.
Drawing from the First Reading from Isaiah, the Archbishop spoke of God’s promise to transform despair into hope, likening it to how once-barren places such as Lebanon and Sharon were celebrated for their beauty and fruitfulness.
“The people who were once mourning would be joyful, and those who were hopeless would become hopeful,” he noted.
The Archbishop urged the faithful to practice patience and trust in God’s timing. “We cannot force God to come,” he said. “Like the farmer who cannot force the rain, we must wait patiently and trust more.”
He cautioned against blame and division, calling instead for compassion. “It is not a time to blame one another for what we are doing and not doing, but to live with compassion and love,” he emphasised.
Turning to the Gospel reading from Matthew, the Archbishop highlighted the moment of doubt experienced by John the Baptist while in prison and Jesus’ response to it. “If you don’t believe me, look at the works I am doing,” he quoted Jesus as saying, pointing to healing, liberation, and care for the poor as signs of God’s presence. “The compassion at work is tremendous,” he added.
The Archbishop challenged the faithful to reflect on what it truly means to be Church. “A church is there to evangelise,” he said, identifying preaching, worship, and service as the three pillars of evangelization. However, he warned that these pillars must be examined honestly. “Are we preaching the word of God to win souls for God or are we preaching about ourselves?” he asked.
Focusing on Christian service, he stressed the Church’s responsibility in building schools and hospitals to serve communities that would otherwise lack access to education and healthcare.
He cited the urgent need for resources to complete projects such as children’s hospitals and other Church institutions. “We need money to complete it,” he said repeatedly, underscoring the seriousness of the appeal.
“To be truly Church, we must not just be people who listen to the word of God or pray,” the archbishop said. “We must also be people who minister to the sick and help others find education.”
He reminded the congregation that such acts of service do not go unnoticed by God. Quoting Scripture, he said those who support these efforts are the ones to whom Christ says, “When I was sick, you took care of me.”
The archbishop also referenced the importance of archdiocesan projects such as the pastoral centre and grotto, recounting advice he received from Archbishop Palmer-Buckle on the need to make Catholics aware of their shared responsibility in building and sustaining Church institutions.
As he concluded, Archbishop Kwofie pressed the congregation to reflect seriously on their role. “Are you aware?” he asked, to which the congregation responded in affirmation.
He ended his homily with a call for awareness, generosity, and active Christian witness.
By: Vanessa Kekeli Yeboah//Newswatchgh.com
