The Assistant Priest of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo, has urged aspirants to the religious life to respond positively to God’s call by drawing closer to Jesus, seeking His guidance and remaining steadfast in their relationship with Him.
He made the call during a two-day retreat organised for the diocesan aspirants of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church at Kwaekese, an outstation of the cathedral, under the theme “Come and See,” John 1:38–39.
In his presentation, Fr. Akakpo explained that Jesus’ invitation to “come and see” was personal and required an individual response, commitment and deliberate effort. He stressed that responding to God’s call demanded more than a desire; it required concrete action.
Drawing lessons from the Gospel account of the disciples of John the Baptist, including Andrew, who went to see where Jesus was staying and remained with Him, Fr. Akakpo encouraged the aspirants to seek Jesus and make their relationship with Him a lasting one.
He explained that after responding to Christ’s invitation, the aspirants must not turn away but remain with Him, allowing His presence to guide their decisions and actions in accordance with His will.
He therefore presented the invitation as one that goes beyond “Come and See” to “Come, See and Stay.”
Fr. Akakpo further noted that encountering Jesus begins with a genuine desire to seek Him. He urged the aspirants to approach this encounter with faith, hope and trust, emphasising the importance of an open heart in responding to God’s invitation.
He also reminded them that a genuine encounter with Christ should inspire them to share His goodness with others.
Citing the examples of Andrew, who brought his brother Simon Peter to Jesus, and Philip, who invited Nathanael, he encouraged the aspirants to become witnesses who lead others to Christ.
According to him, an authentic encounter with Jesus cannot be kept to oneself. The invitation to “Come and See” must therefore lead to a mission to “Go and Tell.”
Concluding his message, Fr. Akakpo urged the aspirants to cultivate a strong relationship with Jesus through a consistent prayer life, noting that this would help nurture their desire and readiness to embrace God’s call to religious life.
He emphasized the importance of prayer with the words: “A prayerful Christian is a powerful Christian but a prayer-less Christian is a powerless Christian.”
He also encouraged them to take their spiritual formation and participation in Church activities seriously, urging them to remain active in the life of the Church.
Activities during the retreat included Eucharistic adoration, the Sacrament of Recon◊ciliation, the celebration of the Eucharist and the praying of the Divine Mercy.
By Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo
Donkorkrom Diocese – DEPSOCOM
