Holy Mother Church celebrated Sts. Cyril (Monk) and Methodius (Bishop) on 14th February, NOT ST. VALENTINE. the liturgical colour for the day is WHITE for PASTORS OF THE CHURCH, AND NOT RED AS FOR A MARTYR.
SO, DID THE ROMAN POPE OFFER THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ACCRA A VALENTINE GIFT OF TWO AUXILIARY BISHOPS ELECT? NO! THE HOLY FATHER WORE WHITE VESTMENTS FOR MASS, SAME AS EVERY PRIEST AND BISHOP IN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. RATHER, THE CHURCH MIGHT HAVE CHOSEN 14TH FEBRUARY IN HONOUR OF THE TWO SLAVONIC BROTHERS, STS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS, WHO WERE PASTORS OF SOULS, NOT MARRYRS.
Now, this is the beauty: Monsignor Louis was the first Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Tema, Community 8. It was under his Pastoral care that the parish hosted her first Priestly ordination in 1995 at the Community 8 No. 3 JSS park. Among the six candidates was then Rev. Anthony Narh Asare (who was in clutches). He was the first Priest from the host Parish.
Later on, when Monsignor Louis had to leave for further studies in Rome, he handed over his portfolio as the Financial Administrator (Bursar) of the Archdiocese to Monsignor Asare. He also left the office for studies for the second son of St. Joseph the Worker, Fr. Joseph Arthur. Upon his return from studies, Monsignor Asare served as a Parish Priest in his own Parish where Monsignor Louis was the First to Minister in that capacity.
As providence would have it, the two, “Father and Son”, or in other words, BROTHERS FROM THE CARPENTER’S WORKSHOP SERVED in very sensitive capacities – the Vicar General and the Priests Personnel. Thus, although Monsignor Louis is from Nima Parish, his long stay and impact in Tema often make him a “Tema priest”.
Hence, for the Holy See to appoint two “brothers” from the same carpenter’s workshop, it was very fitting to choose the memorial of Sts. CYRIL AND METHODIUS. It also means that Mother Church wants the Church and the bishops elect to GO BACK TO THE TIMES OF THOSE TWO PASTORS AND RELIVE THE SPIRIT OF THE MINISTERS WHO WERE SELFLESS IN TEACHING AMIDST PERSECUTIONS.
Surely, these times are very challenging, and so I humbly call on all and sundry to offer a NOVENA FOR THE ARCHDIOCESE AND HER THREE PRELATES: ARCHBISHOP KWOFIE, AND HIS AUXILLARY BISHOPS ELECT – LOUIS AND ASARE. May Sts. Cyril and Methodius intercede for us but especially our AUXILLARY Bishops elect.
PEACE AND JOY!
