Catholic Missionary group inducts new officers to lead Ghana Province
The Society of African Mission, Ghana Province (SMA), the Catholic missionary congregation credited with founding the Catholic Church in Ghana, has inducted into office new leaders to steer the affairs of the mission for the next six years.
The New Provincial Council of the SMA Ghana Province has Rev. Fr James Owusu Yeboah as the Provincial Superior; Rev. Fr Jean de Dieu Ahorloo as Vice-Provincial Superior; Rev. Fr David Agbevanoo as 1st Provincial Councilor, and Rev. Fr Kouamé René Dan Yao as Second Provincial Councilor.
This was after a 10-day Second Provincial Assembly of the Catholic missionary congregation in Accra.
At the closing mass, where the new leaders were inducted, the Vice-Provincial Superior in a homily called on fellow priests to remember the way in which they must conduct themselves as they serve the church and its people.
Speaking on the theme “The mystery of Godliness and the Rejection of Wisdom”, Rev. Fr Ahorloo said priests should mind the profession in which they find themselves and how they must behave in that regard.
Drawing on 1 Timothy 3:14-16 and Luke 7:31-32, he asked that priests have an introspection and think of their priestly purpose so that their lives may be an example of faith, love, purity and holiness “lest we fall prey to discord, impatience or judgemental attitudes within our fraternity, our province or in our pastoral ministry.”
He further provided some principles to serve as a guide in their SMA priestly life and ministry.
Authentic spirit of harmony
Rev. Fr Ahorloo said priests must first “cultivate an authentic spirit of harmony” built on the values of humility and charity.
He said that every member of the province had special gifts and charisma to bring on board and they should therefore create an environment where their differences would become a source of enrichment for the common mission of the church as a whole and the province rather than creating division.
The Vice-Provincial Superior of SMA said the proclamation of the gospel and sanctification of God's people required fidelity that was not just in words but in actions too, and encouraged priests to commit wholly to their common goal which Christ has entrusted to them.
Rev. Fr Ahorloo added that priests should recognise the differences in their respective journeys of faith and interact among one another and the people in their care with patience and sensitivity.
He said they should be examples in the ministry, showcasing integrity, holiness and doctrinal soundness.
“Saint Paul’s exhortation to Timothy to be an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity remains ever relevant. Our personal sanctity undergirds the credibility of our ministry,” he added.
Rev. Fr Ahorloo entreated his fellow priests to embrace the religion with a renewed joy and let truth be the bedrock of the fraternity and ministry so that they could live in harmony and commitment.
Background
The 10-day gathering, which took place in Accra recently, brought together SMA missionaries from Ghana and abroad to review their pastoral work, discern the future direction and elect new leaders who will steer the entity’s affairs for the next six years.
It was held on the feast day of St. Peter Claver, Patron Saint of the SMA, and on the theme: “Missionaries of Hope: Called to Proclaim the Gospel to the Most Abandoned in Africa, with Africa and from Africa.”
The Assembly is centred around the biblical journey of the disciples to Emmaus (Luke 24), which is designed to be a period of encounter, discernment and evangelism.
