The Catholic Diocese of Ho has been blessed with two new transitional deacons following the ordination of Rev. Edmund Elorm Ackuaku and Rev. Jude Tachie by the Bishop of Ho, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, at a solemn liturgical celebration held on Monday, December 29, 2025.
The ordination Mass, marked by deep prayer, joy, and thanksgiving, brought together priests, religious, seminarians, and members of the faithful who gathered to thank God for the gift of vocations to the Diocese.
The newly ordained deacons were joined by their family members, parish priests, vocation directors, fellow seminarians, and friends, all of whom shared in the joy of the moment and offered prayerful support as the two men took this important step in their vocational journey.
Rev. Edmund Elorm Ackuaku hails from St. Augustine’s Parish, Hohoe, while Rev. Jude Tachie is from Immaculate Conception Parish, Kpando.
Having successfully completed several years of rigorous spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation, the two candidates were formally presented to the Church and found worthy for sacred ministry. Their ordination to the transitional diaconate marks a significant milestone on their journey towards the Holy Priesthood.
Following their ordination, the newly ordained deacons will continue the final phase of their theological studies and pastoral formation, while actively exercising diaconal ministry within the Church. They will assist at the altar, proclaim the Gospel, preach when assigned, and engage in charitable and pastoral services, as they prepare for priestly ordination later in 2026, upon the full completion of their studies.
In his homily, Bishop Fianu explained the nature and importance of the diaconate in the life of the Church. He described the transitional diaconate as a preparatory stage on the path to priesthood and expressed the hope that, God willing, the newly ordained deacons would be ordained priests in the course of 2026, which remains the goal of their vocation and formation.
The Bishop further distinguished between transitional and permanent deacons, explaining that permanent deacons may be single or married men who do not intend to become priests but freely choose to serve the Church permanently in the diaconal ministry. Such deacons, he noted, usually continue in their professional work and are not ordinarily financially supported by the Church, with married deacons maintaining their family responsibilities as a primary obligation.
Describing deacons as heralds of the Gospel, Bishop Fianu said they are called to proclaim and live the Word of God in imitation of Christ Himself. While this ministry is visibly exercised during the proclamation of the Gospel at Mass, he stressed that it must also be lived daily through humility, personal witness, and selfless service to God’s people.
Bishop Fianu expressed gratitude to God for the vocations and encouraged the faithful to continue praying for and supporting vocations to the priesthood and religious life. He further charged the newly ordained deacons to serve the Church faithfully, carrying out their ministry with dignity, humility, and respect.
PC: Catholic Diocese of Ho, (Depscom Ho)
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