The St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, in the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom in Ghana’s Eastern Region, administered by the Very Rev. Fr. Bernard Adjei Appiah, SVD, has appreciated the committed service of Mr. Osei Owusu Wilberforce at the Cathedral over the years, and is now leaving Donkorkrom for a new assignment.
Mr. Owusu, who is the Head of Finance at the Presbyterian Hospital in Donkorkrom, has served the Cathedral for several years: 13 years as Financial Committee Chairman and 15 years as Harvest Committee Chairman.
In a Citation presented to him by the Cathedral Administrator, and read out by Rev. Fr. Vincent Amuzu Asafo, SVD, Assistant Cathedral Administrator during the March 30, 2025 Sunday Mass officiated by the Most Rev, John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, Bishop of Donkorkrom, Mr. Owusu was described as “a beacon of unwavering dedication and kindness”.
According to the Cathedral Administrator, the Finance Committee Chairman had over the years performed his duties diligently, with love, humility, enthusiasm and dedication to the admiration of all.
He brought his expertise as an accountant to bear in the exercise of the responsibilities assigned him by the church, always availing himself anytime the Church sought his professional advice on financial matters, he added.
To Fr. Adjei, and according to the Citation, Mr. Owusu is an embodiment of warmth, compassion, and tireless efforts, which he exhibited from the very day he stepped foot into the Church Community. He has touched the lives of many members, either by lending a listening ear, offering a helping hand or leading with grace.
“Your presence and work among us can never be forgotten. It remains indelibly inscribed in our hearts,” he professed.
“With sincere appreciation, we honour your remarkable commitment to helping build and foster love, unity and faith within our community,” he affirmed, and prayed for God’s blessings upon him as he embarks on the next phase of his life.
Mr. Owusu, who was spending his last days in Donkorkrom in an address after the Mass, expressed deep appreciation to the Bishop for all the support he accorded him in his service to the Vicariate.
Celebrating the fact that he had so far worked with 5 different Parish Priests and been honoured with four different Citations by the Priests, Mr. Owusu extended immense gratitude to all the priests, both present and in absentia, for trusting him with so delicate a responsibility of handling the Church finances, and allowing him to stay on for so long a time, the Religious, Church leaders and the rest of the faithful for their support during his tenure of service.
Mr. Owusu, in one of the Citations, had been honoured as the most exemplary leader and strategist, as far as the Cathedral Project is concerned, and in another, for his generosity in contributing to the building of the Cathedral.
The Financial Committee Chairman was grateful to God for his services rendered in helping to inculcate in the parishioners the culture of contributing for Church activities, and especially for introducing the all-inclusive day-borns Mini-harvest, which had helped tremendously in improving the Church’s finances.
His dream, as he shared, was to someday establish that most of the church activities be based on the day-borns so that all in the church would participate fully, without giving excuses of not belonging to a Church group, since every single member of the church belongs to a day-born group.
He expressed that this goal of his for the Church had been more than halfway achieved, and he was optimistic that his co-workers would continue to harness the culture of giving among the Church members for the growth of the Church.
As part of activities during the Mass, there was the launching of the Annual Harvest in support of the Church project, which was facilitated by the Chairman, Mr. Owusu. He was also presented with a parting gift by the Church Chairperson, on behalf of the Cathedral.
The Monday borns of the Cathedral, to which he belonged, symbolically clad him in traditional attire, as a parting gift, and he received special blessings from Bishop Asiedu.
Among the faithful present at the Mass were the Knights and Ladies of Marshall from St. Margaret Mary Parish, who had come visiting and donated a Tabernacle to the Church.
Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (DEPSOCOM, Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate)
