Prelate in Ghana Calls for Stewardship, Accountability to Parishioners at Ordination Event

It is a sin for a priest not to perform his Priestly duties, including praying for parishioners and visiting the sick and needy in the society,” he said.

The 74-year-old Prelate also lamented that some Lay faithful now end up in prayer camps and other healing centers due to the inability of Priests to visit the sick in hospitals, prisons and homes to pray for them.

"Let us not deny our parishioners prayers and services. If we do not pray for them as priests, we will be practicing what is called the culture of exclusion or rejection,” he stated, and added, “The mission of the Church is to go out there to search for the lost sheep.”

According to the Local Ordinary of Ghana’s Wiawso Diocese, the Priesthood is a vocation, which is demanding on the time and talent of all who accept the call.

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“Priestly life is a life of sacrifice,” Bishop Essien said, and added, “Those who are not ready to sacrifice themselves for the Church have no business being in the Priesthood.”

The Ghanaian Prelate cautioned the Deacons he was about to ordain as Priests against the love material things such as cars and money, which he said had become a major source of tension among Catholic Priests.

Addressing himself to members of the Clergy, he said, “Do your work as people who have sacrificed your lives to serve God's people. You sacrificed yourselves to serve the people of God by your Priestly vows and you must perform your Priestly duties diligently and cheerfully.”

He went on to urge parents to strive to train their children with strong moral values saying, “The Church needs more Priests with good moral character. Parents have a role to play in the formation of Priests. They are the primary educators of children and they must diligently discharge their duties.”

The three Deacons ordained were Ernest Boateng from the Immaculate Conception parish Asankrangwa, Justice Kenyah Azane from St. Peter's Parish Jaway-Wharf in the Jomoro Municipality, and Stephen Awortwe Baidoo from St. Anthony of Padua Parish Kwesimintsim.

The Apostolic Administrator of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Msgr. John Baptist Attakruh and more than 50 priests were among the Concelebrants at the Holy Mass that was celebrated under strict COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Msgr. Attakruh called on the Clergy and Lay faithful to continue to pray and support the new Priests as they begin their priestly duties saying, “Priestly work is not easy. Pray for them; when they are strong, they will, in turn, strengthen you with their prayers.”