The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, His Excellency Most Rev. Henryk Miecezyslaw Jagodzinki, paid a three-day visit to Ho Diocese from 12^th to 15^th September 2021.

As part of his visit, he presided over the Thanksgiving Mass of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Congregation of Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church at Sokode Gbogame. In attendance were Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, the bishop of Ho Diocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumodji, SVD, bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese and the Bishop Emeritus of Keta-Akatsi, Most Rev Anthony Kwame Adanuty. The superior general of SMMC Sr. Dr. Lucy Hometowu, the clergy and the religious from Ho Diocese and all over the country were present with a session of the lay faithful.

In his homily, His Excellency, Henryk Miecezyslaw Jagodzinki said “Religious life is a special vocation and privilege to follow Christ on the path of the evangelical counsels: chastity, obedience and poverty. Each congregation has its own particular charism, that is, a gift and tasks, which it is called to carry out in the community of the Church. As you know, the charism that a founder of a religious Congregation receives is practically reflected in the Constitutions of that Congregation”.

He also witnessed the official opening and the first matriculation ceremonies of Margret Marquart Catholic Nursing Training College at Kpando. He expressed his joy in being part of the historic events and commend the pioneers of this all-important project which aims at promoting the dignity of humankind. Under the theme “THE CHURCH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH STAKEHOLDERS IN TRAINING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS” the principal of Margret Marquart Catholic Nursing Training College, Kpando (MMCNTC) in his speech said the respective mission and vision of their noble institution are geared towards training qualified health professionals who will be well equipped with the needed competencies to go out there and render the needed health services of our dear nation and beyond.

He continued to said quality healthcare is a by- product of quality and qualified health trainees, who is/are well prepared to confront the dynamic health needs of our people at all times. The future of health care delivery to the people of Ghana would be guaranteed if these selected few are well equipped with the knowledge, skills and positive attitudes to be able to respond to the patients/client the legitimate medical and non-medical needs in a holistic manner.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, Catholic Bishop of Ho, Members of Convocation, Executive Secretary of CHAG, Director of NCHS, Representatives from various institutions, Torgbewo, Mamawo and other Akpini Traditional leaders, Staff of MMCNTC, Students, Parents, and the media were all present at this all-important function

At about 2:45 pm in the afternoon, he visited Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto at Kpando Agbenorxoe. In a short ceremony, he led the faithful through a short prayer at the feet of the St. Joseph statue. He later reflected on the life of St. Joseph as a tender and loving Father, an Obedient Father, an Accepting Father, a Creatively Courageous Father, a Working Father, a Father in Shadows, compassionate, caring, and loving father and called on the Catholic faithful to emulate him.

The Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. Walter Agbetoh on behalf of the bishop, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD presented to him a gift from the Diocese. There were other presentations from the Catholic Women Association and also from the Queen Mother of Kpando Agbenorxoe.

Rosary procession was made amidst the singing of Marian songs to the main grotto after which the Nuncio dedicated the Catholic Church in the Ho Diocese to the patronage of our Dear Mother Mary.

Later, on the same day, in the evening, he paid a courtesy call on the Bishop Emeritus of Ho Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu where he interacted with the curia and some elderly priests during a dinner organized by the Host Bishop at the Bishop Emeritus’ residence at Bame.

'Be Models, Not Just Teachers of the Gospel' Bishop Fianu Tells Newly Ordained Priests

The Bishop of Ho Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD,  has entreated six newly ordained priests to be good models and not just teachers of the gospel.

According to him, today's world was tired of teachers and rather looking for models to follow, hence the need for priests to endeavour to live exemplary lives to the people they lead.

Delivering his homily at the 2021 Ho Diocesan Priestly ordination at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ho Kpevele on Saturday, October 30, 2021, the Bishop noted that, priests were "salt and light" and therefore must guide the people they would pastor, adding that the call to serve God required a serious reflection since it entailed a lot of responsibilities.

In all, five Diocesan and one religious (Redemptorist) were ordained into the ministerial Priesthood of the church, pledging obedience to the bishop, his successors and also legitimate superiors.

They include Reverend Fathers; David Seyram Addo - St Francis of Assisi Parish, Dzemeni, Prosper Toyi Akumani - Immaculate Conception Parish, Kpando, and Daniel Kwame Tenu Yeboah - Sacred Heart Parish, Fodome, Rudolph Kodjo Tsekpo - Immaculate Conception Parish, Kpando, Yohanes Komla Adjei- Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Kpando Agbenoxoe and Eugene Kodzo Adzaklu, C.Ss.R, Holy Rosary Parish - Hohoe.

Bishop Fianu entreated them ordained to be good leaders, who will guide of the people of God and their communities, adding that, their actions and behaviours must make the faithful desire to live and not leave the Church.     

He reminded them to keep to the traditions and doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church, apply energies in preaching Jesus Christ, teach the right thing, and always prepare adequately for their homilies.

He called on the priests to learn to identify their weaknesses and pray to God for help to enable them to become good examples.

While admonishing them,  not to be priests who would bring disappointment to God’s people, Bishop Finau also called on the faithful to pray for their priests and particularly for the newly ordained.

He added that the congregation has the responsibility of bringing up and contributing to the identification and ordination of holy priests.

The ceremony was attended by several hundreds of priests, religious and lay faithful, including Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, Bishop Emeritus of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Cyprian Kuupol, Provincial Superior, Society of Divine Word (SVD), Ghana/Liberia Province, and Rev. Fr.  Christian Ewoenam Klu, C.Ss.R, Superior, Redemptorist Mission of Ghana.

Ho Diocese launches Two-Year Synodal Process

The Ho Diocese has launched the Synod on synodality, a two-year consultative process aimed at the “Church reflecting on a theme that is decisive for its life and mission.”

The process, which is on the theme, “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission,” begins from October 2021 to October 2023, when it will be climaxed with the Synod of Bishops at the Vatican.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu SVD, Bishop of Ho who performed the launch during the 2021 Diocesan Priestly Ordination in Ho on Saturday, October 30, called for the support and cooperation of all faithful with the Diocesan Synod Committee for a successful process.

The Vicar-General, Very Rev. Fr. Walter Agbetoh, who chairs the committee, mentioned two major levels of engagement - the first being the Steering Group, consisting of the Priests, Catechists and Pastoral Councils with the second group being the Religious.

He indicated that, due to the coronavirus pandemic, engagements for members under the groups during the Synod period would be at the three Deanery levels throughout the Diocese.

The Vicar General also noted that when the Steering Group received information and the necessary education, they would then engage and involve the identifiable groups in the various Deaneries including Catholic Women, Youth groups, Catholic Men.

He said discussions were expected to focus on what the Church was already doing, the difficulties and how they could improve on them to “capture the Communion, Participation and Mission of the Church. 

Pope Francis, on Sunday, October 10, 2021, performed the global launch of the Synod, which would be done in three phases - the Diocesan, Continental and universal levels within the 2-year period.

During the period, bishops around the world are expected to consult with everyone at the local Church level before coming together for a discussion in 2023.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Ho, on the 4^th of January 2022, ordained two ‘Transitory’ Deacons. The two are Rev. Prosper Yao Agbosu from Immaculate Conception Parish, Kpando and Michael Wonders Tsekpokumah from St. Augustine Parish, Alavanyo. Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, Bishop of the Ho Diocese in a homily at the Bishop Holland Centre in Sokode Gborgame where this memorable event took place, called on the newly ordained deacons to be men of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit just like the deacons in the Act of the Apostle chapter six.

Pope Francis, on January 23, 2022, during Mass at the St Peter’s Basilica to mark the Church’s celebration of the Sunday of the Word of God, conferred on two Ghanaian Women, Mrs. Ellen Bosso and Madam Cecilia Agyeman Anane, the ministries of Lector and Catechist respectively. Mrs. Ellen Bosso is a native of Peki in the Ho Diocese while Madam Cecilia Agyeman Anane hails from the Kumasi Archdiocese.