The Vicar General of the Accra Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. John Kobina Louis, has asked newly ordained Deacons of the Diocese to be reminded of their call to service in the church and not focus on financial gains.
The Vicar General made the call while delivering the homily and reflecting on the readings and gospel of the day. To him, the deacons have been called “render a pastoral service not financial service in the church” and must therefore serve with love, and humility, and embrace teamwork in the vineyard.
He encouraged the Deacons to build a good reputation, to be filled with the Holy Spirit and with wisdom in their readiness to take up the call into the order of deacons.
It was all joy amidst singing and dancing at St. Dominic Catholic Church, Taifa, Accra when the fifteen diaconate candidates, eleven from the Accra Archdiocese (Ghana), one from the Archdiocese of Parakou and one from the diocese of Natitingou both in Benin, and two candidates from Diocese of Banjul (Gambia) were elected and ordained transitional deacons.
The Archbishop of Accra Archdiocese, Most Rev John Bonaventure Kwofie CSSp presided over the ordination Mass. The Archbishop also showed appreciation to the parents of the candidates and to the Parish Priest of the St. Dominic Parish and his assistant for accepting to host the diaconate ordination for the year 2023.
The Deacons are Rev. Derrick Senyo Abbey of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Taifa; Rev. Raymond Lord Ampong of St. Michael Catholic Church, Michel Camp; Rev. Julius Kofi Dela Gemadzie of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Mallam; Rev. Maxwell Kwame Azaglo of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Weija; Rev. Gabriel Edem Datsomor of St. Kizito Catholic Church, Nima; Rev. Jonas Abaifar Dong-Purye of St. Thomas Aquinas Chaplaincy, Legon and Rev. David Osei Dwumfour of St. Martin Catholic Church, Teshie Camp.
Others include Rev. Martin Bamelinam of the Archdiocese of Parakou in Benin; Rev. James J. Jatta of the Diocese of Banjul in The Gambia; Rev. Pa George Mendy also from the Diocese of Banjul in The Gambia; Rev. Clement Quagraine of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Darkuman; Rev. Joseph Effah Siaw of St. Dominic Catholic Church, Taifa; Rev. Christian Yekoute of the Diocese of Natitingou in Benin; Rev. Theophilus T. Ntiri-Andoh Jnr of Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church, in Mamprobi and Rev. Bernard J. Asamoah Kwarteng of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, Dansoman Last Stop.
Deacons perform duties in the church as they aid priests in their parish duties by visiting the sick, providing spiritual guidance in the community, and acting as a servant of God. In addition, deacons can witness marriages, perform baptisms, preside over funeral and burial services outside of Mass, distribute the Holy Communion and preach the homily.
Transitional deacons are those in the process of becoming ordained priests. They serve as deacons for one year and are then ordained by the bishop as priests.
