The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski, has told the newly ordained Auxiliary Bishops of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra that “God has chosen you as true witnesses to Christ the Good Shepherd.”
In a goodwill message at the Episcopal ordination ceremony of Auxiliary Bishops Anthony Narh Asare and John Kobina Louis at the Holy Spirit Cathedral today, Wednesday, April 19, the Nuncio prayed that God would endow the Auxiliaries with “knowledge, understanding and a heart of a Good Shepherd as you assist Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie in caring for God’s flock in the Archdiocese of Accra.”
The two Auxiliary Bishops were appointed by Pope Francis on February 14, 2023, the Feast of Ss. Cyril and Methodius upon a request by the Metropolitan of Accra, Archbishop Kwofie.
The Nuncio who was the Principal Consecrator at the ordination Mass, assured Bishops Asare and Louis of his prayer as they begin their service to the holy people of God.
“May these words of His Holiness Pope Francis inspire both of you in your ministry: Episcopate is the name of a service-it is not a true episcopate without service, not an honour like the disciples wanted, one to the left and one to the right of Jesus.”
Quoting from Pope Francis’ homily on October 17, 2021 at a Mass in the St. Peter’s Square, Archbishop Jagodzinski said: “Being a Bishop means to serve and with this service, you will safeguard your vocation and will not in honours, not in authority, not in power. No, in serving, always in serving.”
In his goodwill message, Archbishop Kwofie prayed that the light of the resurrection of Christ would overcome the darkness of despair and fear, and “His Love holds our faith in these times of new beginnings.”
“What a joy for the life of our Archdiocese to receive the gift of our new Auxiliary Bishops, Anthony Narh Asare and John Kobina Louis, today. We know well the power and meaning of actions in our communications – the way we smile, the way we stand, how we welcome those we know and those new to us,” he stated.
He prayed that through the power of the Holy Spirit they would receive the fullness of Holy Orders and the authority to teach, govern and sanctify, asking God that “these men be Good Shepherds after the heart of Jesus, in the Archdiocese of Accra, praying and caring for the whole flock, moving outwards especially to the poor and infirm, the stranger, and those who are isolated or lost; and that they draw deeply from the heart of the Gospel to serve the Church with abundant love and humility as Successors of the Apostles.”
He added: “May our prayers unite with theirs today. I welcome them cordially as my first collaborators. I entrust them and their pastoral ministries to our Archdiocesan patron: Immaculate Heart of Mary, St. Peter Claver, St. Martin de Porres and the Martyrs of Uganda.”
The functionaries at the Episcopal Ordination were Archbishop Kwofie and Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as Principal Co-Consecrators.
The homilist was the Most Rev. Gabriel Anokye, Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi with Rev. Fr. Felix Sesenyo Quarshie, Rev. Fr. Samuel Filton Mensah, Rev. Fr. John Ashitey Boye and Rev. Fr. John Kobina Obeng Amoah as Throne Priests.
The Papal Bull electing the Auxilairy Bishops were read in Latin by Rev. Fr. Michael Kodzo Mensah, University of Ghana and English by Rev. Fr. Raymond Osei-Tutu, Chancellor, chancellor of and in Ga by Rev. Fr. Alphonse Bulloro.
