Fifty-four newly confirmed Catholics at the St. Michael Garrison Church at 37 Military Hospital in the Archdiocese of Accra, have promised not to leave the Catholic Church after receiving the Sacrament of confirmation.
The candidates, eleven from St. Michael, 41 from St. Catherine, Burma Camp and two from Our Lady of Assumption, New Achimota who were confirmed by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp on Sunday, February 6, 2022, pledged their commitment to hold onto their Catholic faith and not allow themselves to be swayed to other Churches.
The candidates collectively declared their readiness to receive the Sacrament of confirmation after their Pastor, sponsors, families and parishioners attested on their behalf.
The confirmation Mass was part of the pastoral visit of the Archbishop to the St. Michael Church pastored by Fr. Lt. Col. Benjamin Effah. Concelebrated the Mass with the Archbishop were Fr. Col. Anthony Kemetse, Parish Priest of St. Catherine, Burma Camp and Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Darfour Appah, Secretary to the Archbishop.
As part of the confirmation rite, Fr. Effah testified to the Archbishop, “These candidates have prepared for the confirmation by participating in the sacramental life of the Church by meditating on the word of God, by attending classes, by participating in a retreat and other activities.”
Presenting the candidates as a testimony of their readiness, Fr. Effah added, “they have found strength in God’s grace and support in our community’s prayer and example. Now they ask to be confirmed and after consultation with their teachers and parents.”
Fr. Effah, in a homily, asked the Confirmandi to grow in faith and avoid using their lips for but use them to proclaim the word of God and bring people nearer to God.
On his part, Archbishop Kwofie reminded sponsors of the candidates that the Christian life and the demands that flow from the Sacraments were not to be taken lightly.
“Therefore before granting these candidates their request to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is important that the church also hear the testimony of their sponsors who have journeyed with them,” he told the sponsors as they affirm.
To the newly confirmed, Archbishop Kwofie expressed worry about how some confirmed Catholics after receiving the Sacrament stopped attending Church, lamenting that “some even stop going to church a week after receiving the Sacrament.”
He again expressed worry how some newly confirmed Catholics leave the Church to other Churches in search of miracles and some because of marriage, appealing to priests and sponsors to ensure they always guide newly confirmed Catholics so that they do not leave the Church.
He also urged the Confirmandi to avail themselves to proclaim their faith not only by word of mouth but also by their very lives.
Just as Baptism gives new life, Eucharist nourishes life, and Reconciliation restores life when it is broken, Confirmation strengthens that life by the gifts of the Holy Spirit (cf. CCC 1285). It is about strengthening what God has given, and continues to give, to his sons and daughters (cf. CCC 1302-1303).
Confirmation is therefore a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation for Catholics. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
