I set eyes on him for the first time during a diocesan Corpus Christi celebration at Vadarah Barrack Park, Kumasi, in the company of many priests and religious, with the late Sacristan, Mr. Ampadu, organizing the umbrella and fontomfrom while Kwakye led the Holy Rosary as the priests continued to arrive. Initially, his presence, active devotion, dedication, and selfless nature made me think he was a priest, though he was not in a cassock but rather in his culturally sewn One Bread One Body cloth.
Kwakye: A Model for Lay Catholic Ministers
With his background as an ex-seminarian, he formed himself so well and fell deeply in love with sound, authentic, and orthodox Catholic doctrine, defending the faith for many years free of charge on radio and television. Not to mention his love for teaching, forming, and accompanying many Catholic youth in the non-Catholic chaplaincy, moving from school to school to offer his services, whether invited or not. This commitment led him to devote many years to teaching Christian Religious Studies at Prince of Peace Senior High School, where he was truly loved by his students.
Kwakye: The Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist
It was the dawn of Ash Wednesday when, as a curate at the Cathedral, a call came from one of the parish priests that one of his parishioners had been rushed to Kuffour Emergency and needed pastoral care. I drove there only to see Mr. Mark Kwakye giving ashes to the sick as late as 2 a.m. I was speechless. On another occasion, I went there late only to see him feeding birds at KATH, and one could see his great love for them and for nature.
He took great interest in bringing the Holy Eucharist to the sick in support of pastoral work in most parishes, whether he had been granted permission or not. Sometimes the pastors needed to caution him so that he would not go to the tabernacle to take Communion without permission.
For Kwakye, there was virtually no hospital in Kumasi where, as a priest visiting the sick, you would not meet him. Most often, you would encounter him there.
He had a very deep Eucharistic spirituality because there was no day Kwakye would miss Mass. If he was not seen in the morning, one could count him present at the afternoon or evening Mass, if there was one. He attended Mass fully present, active, and conscious, reciting aloud all the liturgical prayers and responses. That was a clear sign of his presence; once he was present, his voice would make it known.
He loved Adoration and Corpus Christi so much that he spent most of his hours during the day in the Adoration Chapel, praying the rosary meditatively and occasionally dozing when fatigue set in. Whenever there was Corpus Christi, one could be assured of seeing him.
Kwakye As Theologian and a Fine Scholar
One must confess that he distinguished himself as a theologian, an expert in religious studies, and a linguist. There was virtually no theological question one could ask him that he would not answer accurately. Even though at times he would exaggerate or add emotion, he ensured that he cleared doubts and strengthened faith.
His many years of experience enabled him to impact countless lives through sound, systematic morals and Catholic doctrine, influencing many students he taught, including Nana Ama Mark Brown and many others.
In fact, there was hardly any diocesan, provincial, or sometimes national committee that did not appoint him as secretary due to his prolific writing, rich experience in the Church, and his commitment to distributing correspondence. Thus, when it came to liturgical committees, he often attended alongside the bishops.
Kwakye As a Great Marian Devotee and a True Son of Our Mother Mary
The legionaries and devotees of Mary, they have lost a true brother. There was virtually no Marian programme in the diocese or province that Kwakye ever missed—from legionary meetings, outreaches, hospital and home visitations, the annual consecration to Our Lady at the Cathedral, and legionary vigils in the Legion Hall and parishes.
When it was the Assumption of Mary, it was like Christmas for Kwakye. He never missed being part of the core organizers, assisting the priests and religious. During the Litany of Our Lady at Buoho, after carrying the holy statue of Mother Mary, Kwakye would recite all the traditional prayers and the Litany of Our Lady from memory. He did this for many years, winning the admiration of all pilgrims.
His constant praying of the Holy Rosary with his rosary ring and the Catena prayers demonstrated his deep love and service to Our Lady. At times, one could be with him at the Cathedral and, an hour later, find him at the Buoho Grotto for a pastoral assignment or private prayers.
Conclusion
Even though Mr. Kwakye did not become a priest or accept further encouragement, despite several efforts by Archbishop Sarpong for him to go to Rome to train as a catechist and return to serve the Archdiocese, he nevertheless served the Church with his gifts—from education to non-Catholic chaplaincy, and on many diocesan, provincial, and national committees, as secretary, catechist, extraordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist, acolyte, and a great pillar of the faith, a true son of Mother Mary and of the Church of her Son, Jesus.
In spite of his limitations and ill health due to advanced age, Mr. Kwakye served to the point where he could serve no more. St. Gregory the Great Provincial Major Seminary is forever grateful to him for being a great fundraiser for the annual Benefactors’ Day and many other diocesan programmes. His love for the training of future priests and catechists was dear to his heart.
Special thanks go to the Archbishop, the clergy and religious—particularly the Daughters of the Most Blessed Trinity—for their necessary support, as well as to his family, his legionary brethren, and admirers.
Agya Mark Kwakye, thank you so much for your friendship and fraternity toward everyone, and may St. Peter open for you the door of the heavenly banquet, great son of Mary and of the Church.
Though he remained a layman, he fully lived the evangelical counsels of obedience, poverty, and chastity until death. His life as a Catholic is a model to each one of us—steadfast in faith, faithful to the Church, selfless, living a life of simplicity, and always available for pastoral service without expecting anything in return, even after leaving his position as a teacher at Prince of Peace Girls Senior High School. It is known that, while he was there as a teacher, he used his meagre salary to pay the fees of countless students under his care.
Mr. Kwakye embodied three principal characteristics: great pastoral zeal for souls from St. John Vianney; love for the sick and the poor from St. Vincent de Paul; love for the care of the environment and nature from St. Francis of Assisi; love for the Eucharist from Mother Mary; and devotion to Mary from St. Maria de Montfort and all the saints.
By: Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso
Chaplain, Holy Family Ghanaian Catholic Community Church, Italy
