The Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC), a Women Religious Congregation in Ghana’s Volta Region has celebrated a Mass in honour of the Emeritus catholic Bishop of Ho, the Most Rev. Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu.
Prior to the Mass, the Sisters welcomed the Bishop with songs and presentation of a bouquet by the newly Professed Sister, Bridget Kator. Hymns to Mary were sung amid Rosary Prayer in thanksgiving to God for the life of Bishop Lodonu.
The Mass was presided over by Rev. Fr. Paschal Afesi, the Parish Priest of St. Augustine Church, Hohoe and the homilist was Rev. Fr. Michael Joy Akposu, the Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Ho.
In a homily at Mass at the SMMC Chapel at Sokode Gbogame, Fr. Akposu, the congratulated Bishop Lodonu for the hard work he has done.
“Not all of us will see the fruit of our labour. Bishop, you are among the few who live to see the fruit of their labour, contrary to what happened to Moses. Moses was mourned, the Sisters celebrate you,” he said.
Fr. Akposu told the Sisters to do what they were called to do, with passion and joy, and to the glory of God, saying, “Do not expect to benefit. If it comes, glory to God and if it does not come too, glory to God.”
In a goodwill message, Sr. Dr. Lucy Hometorwu, SMMC, the Superior General of SMMC expressed gratitude to Bishop Lodonu for nurturing the Institute from its very beginning and laying good foundation for it.
Sr. Hometorwu enumerated some of the sacrifices Bishop Lodonu made to see to the growth of the young Institute. Among them was packing of bed and some utensils from Keta to Dzelukope for the commencement of the formation of young Sisters.
She quoted Bishop Lodonu as saying “I was a young priest, a chaplain, teaching in St. Paul’s Secondary School, Denu, when in August 1970, I was asked by my predecessor, the Venerable Bishop Anthony Konings to prepare for the start of the Institute of Religious Sisters.”
Sr. Hometowu again quoted the Bishop: “The Boarding House of the Catholic School in Keta was closing at the time. I had to pack their beds and utensils from Keta to Dzelukope, into the historic house which Bishop Herman built for himself in 1935, which also became the minor Seminary for some time.”
She blessed Bishop Lodonu with the Priestly blessings from Numbers 6:24-26 saying “May the LORD bless you and keep you: May the LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you: May the LORD turn his countenance to you and grant you peace.”
A citation was presented to the Bishop Lodonu by Sr. Cecilia Afari, SMMC, the Vicar General of SMMC on behalf of the Institute, which contains the same Priestly blessings.
In his remarks, Bishop Lodonu encouraged the Sisters in their ministry and urged them never to give up.
Some of the SMMC Sisters shared fond memories of their encounter with Bishop Lodonu.
Present at this celebration were Rev. Fr. Simon Peter Esiawonam Dagadu, Chaplain of Mater Ecclessiae School, Sokode, Rev. Fr. Kizito Pesekumah, the Secretary to Bishop Lodonu, Fr. Hope Klutsey, SMA; Rev. Fr. Samuel Eco Kornu, the Director of Communications, Ho; Sr. Bernadette Dery, SSpS, SMMC Sisters, Novices, Postulants.
By Sr. Agnes MercyNyatsoe, SMMC
