Cleric Appointed at Ghana’s Catholic Secretariat “willing to offer expertise” in Liturgy

However, the Cleric stressed, “Silence has to be seen as a positive attitude of every disciple, who really wants to welcome God by listening.”

He underlined the value of silence in Catholic liturgy saying, “If we really want to enhance our Catholic liturgy, the Bishops, who are the moderators of the mysteries of God, will have to pay attention to the place of silence; with its different moments and symbols the liturgy cannot ignore silence.”

Hinting to inculturation, Fr. Sarfo said that “the Church in Ghana is of age to go beyond talking and reflecting about inculturation to really celebrating and making our liturgy truly Christian and truly Ghanaian.”

“Perhaps, there is nothing as essential to the Church's future as making the liturgy meaningful to those who celebrate it,” the Priest of 13 years said during the interview.

“The sacraments and sacramentals, liturgical year, liturgical music, arts and furnishing, catechesis will have to be imbued with the cultural patrimony and heritage of Ghanaians,” Fr. Sarfo said and continued, “this is one of the ways to combat the clamour for creative liturgical enticements.”

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NCS was established in 1960 by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and registered as a corporate body in the West African country in 1962, with the mission to implement the decisions and policies of the Local Ordinaries in the West African nation through its departments and commissions for the spiritual and human development of the people of God.

“It is my dream to assist in making leadership in NCS a pearl every member of the family here will desire. I hope to help the Secretary General to foster the necessary synergy among the various departments of the secretariat,” Fr. Sarfo said during the Wednesday interview.

The Priest also expressed his appreciation to God, “without whom all efforts come to nothing,” the GCBC for his appointment and to his Ordinary for “for releasing me immediately after my further studies to assume this office and for his fatherly blessings and encouragement.”

Part of his duties as NCS’ Deputy Secretary General will be writing minutes for GCBC meetings, facilitating contacts between the Secretariat and Government officials and supervising the archives and documentation section of the Secretariat among others.