The Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom in the Eastern Region of Ghana has charged the newly ordained Priests for the Vicariate to be shepherd to the flock the Lord has entrusted to them by virtue of their Ordination.
“My sons, you are being ordained priests today to become shepherds like the good shepherd who sought at the danger and threat of his life for the sheep which was lost (Mat. 18:12-14; Lk. 15:4-7). You are the disciples of Jesus called to be shepherds, and sent out to gather in the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Mt. 10:6),” the Bishop noted, adding that there is no better way of carrying out such a mission than uniting with Jesus who is ‘the best way’.
“Like the Master and Good Shepherd, himself, your hearts should move with pity and compassion, at anyone or crowd that is like sheep without a shepherd (Mt. 9:36; Mk.6:34). Be like Jesus the Good Shepherd who is always ready and willing to lay down his life for the sheep (Jn.10:1-18).
In a homily during the October 26, 2024 Ordination Mass, his Lordship underlined the age-long and pivotal character of the Sacred Priesthood, saying that “by their Ordination as priests, these our brothers will be raised to what was the most ancient and most important office in the early Church, the office of eldership which St. Peter talks about in our second reading”.
He continued by saying that the call to be shepherds of the Lord’s Flock can be traced from St. Peter, the chief of the Apostles and an elder, writing to his fellow elders on the office of eldership.
The Bishop underpinned that to become an elder or leader in the Church is a great honour and responsibility as a shepherd of the flock and defender of the faith (Acts 20:28,29). He further explained that “the elder is to accept office not under coercion, but willingly – and only after a thorough, deep and sincere self-examination”.
He admonished the would-be priests to shepherd the Lord’s flock in the same manner as the Lord commanded Peter to feed his sheep after his three-fold confession of faith and love for the Master.
The Prelate however noted that there is always some kind of reluctance in accepting high office accounted for by a genuine feeling of unworthiness and a sense of inadequacy, as it was with the Prophet Jeremiah.
He, therefore, entreated the deacons to hear the voice of the Lord re-echoing His words of assurance to the Prophet Jeremiah “Do not be afraid, for I am with you”.
“The Lord knows you; he knew you even before you were conceived in your mother’s womb. The Lord knows your strengths and your weaknesses, he knows you are not perfect, you are fragile. That is why He promises to be with you and to rescue you. But you need to depend on Him totally,” Bishop Asiedu emphasized.
He further reminded the priests-in-the making as well as the faithful that if their call to office for service in the Church is genuine, it is difficult to resist. They should heed to the advice of Peter not to enter into the office of priesthood or accept any Christian service as if it were a ‘burdensome and unpleasant duty’.
“So, it is not only priests, but every Christian should be anxious to render such service as he can, although fully aware how unworthy he is to render it – your absolute dependence on the grace of God to guide, inspire, lead and give you strength and courage,” he buttressed.
His Lordship further cautioned the priestly candidates to guard against using the Catholic Priesthood as a means of enriching themselves but rather they must always desire to give of themselves, and their very best, and not to get – for there is more blessing in giving than receiving.
“Be careful not to enter into the office of the priesthood to make a shameful profit out of it. You are not becoming a priest in order to make money and acquire wealth,” he warned.
Making reference to Jesus’ words to his ambitious disciples in Mark 10:42-44, the prelate underscored that for some priests, it may not be so much the love for money attracting them to the office, but excessive quest for prestige, power and authority, and that too, he said, must be guarded against.
“Accepting the office of priesthood should not make you a petty tyrant. Rather, you are to be the shepherd and example of the flock,” he said, adding that the priests should always look up to Christ, the good shepherd in his selfless care and his sacrificial love for the sheep.
According to the Bishop, the task of those who occupy high office in the Church is to show to people God’s forbearance, his forgiveness, his seeking love, and his unlimited service.
“God has allotted to us a task and we must do it as he himself would do it,” he reiterated.
Reflecting further, his Lordship underlined the fact that the duties of the priest or bishop, and indeed any service offered by whoever, calls for an attitude of utter humility and selflessness, after Christ’s example, being cognisant of the fact that the office was never earned by any merit of ours, but allotted by God.
He further drew the attention of the faithful to the gospel message for the day – “only by death comes life”, which he described as “the Central Truth which is at the heart of Christian faith and life”.
“The grain of wheat is ineffective and unfruitful so long as we preserve it, and keep it safe and secure. It is only when we throw it into the ground, and bury it as if in the tomb, that it will bear fruit,” the Bishop explained.
His Lordship further elucidated that in the Church’s history and in the life of every community or nation, it is always because people have been prepared to die that the great things have lived, adding that the Church has suffered and continues to suffer persecution, and great men and women of faith are always prepared to defend and protect “the deposit of truth that the Church proclaims”.
“Jesus asks each of us to bury our personal aims and ambitions to begin to be real use to God- by the loyalty which was true to death, a person becomes a servant of God,” he accentuated.
“It is only by spending our life that we retain it. If you love your life, you are always moved by two aims, namely, selfishness and the desire for security; you don’t look away from yourself and reach out to others,” the bishop buttressed, adding that anyone who wants to be remembered should serve the needs of others, because it is only by service that one achieves greatness.
Mindful of the fact that the journey to the Roman Catholic Priesthood takes a long time of training and formation and involves many people, the Chief Shepherd thanked the parents, relatives, friends, formators, teachers, and the entire Christ’s lay faithful for their fervent prayers and kind contributions in preparing the deacons for the high office of the Priesthood.
And to all, he endeared “pray for your priests, support them in every good way possible, and encourage them. Do not be a hindrance to them in their quest for holiness, but collaborate with them effectively so that altogether, we can grow closer to God”.
He further congratulated the Priestly Candidates for their courage in offering themselves for service in the church as priests, and implored that they should always conform their wills to that of Christ and serve his majesty in sincerity of heart, and be instruments of God’s grace, love and mercy.
“My sons, you come to share in the priesthood of Christ. Model your life after him. Take the Word of God to heart, meditate on it, believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach. Pray constantly and strive after holiness, and be true examples for the Lord’s flock. Be faithful to your priestly commitment, and unite yourselves in a bond of love with the Bishop and the priestly fraternity,” he endeared.
“May our desire to serve the Lord with sincerity of heart, always prompt us to follow him and keep our focus on him, so that wherever the Lord may be, we, shepherds and flock alike, may be with him,” the prelate prayed.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
