Ordination to the priesthood is a ceremony that parishioners, religious and priests look forward to each year. As the number of priests increases, the pastoral ministry and evangelisation mission of the Church continue to enhance. The 2020 Priestly Ordination for the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua took place in the assembly hall of St. Roses Senior High Secondary School at Akwatia on Saturday 3rd October, amid strict observation of the COVID-19 protocols by all and sundry. In the colourful and well attended ordination ceremony, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah Agyekum, the Bishop ordained three Deacons into the Holy Priesthood. The ordinandi were Rev. George Yeboah of St. Anthony Parish Akwatia, Rev. Martin Delali Atitson of St. John Parish, Nsawam and Rev. Samuel Eli Adadey of Our Lady of Lourdes Quasi-Parish, Akyem Akroso.

The Chief Shepherd of the diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum presided over the blessing and dedication of a Grotto at the Diocesan Pastoral and Training Centre, Koforidua. The event took place on the Nativity of Mary, September 8, 2020.  

TO : ALL CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS
SUBJECT: RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES
DATE: JUNE 3, 2020
May the Peace of the Lord be with you! Last Sunday, May 31, the President of the Republic , His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo addressed  the nation on the COVID -19 Pandemic. He announced a phased-easing of COVID - 19 restrictions beginning Friday, June 5, 2020. He also mentioned that religious activities could start on Friday for the Muslim communities while Christians would start on Saturday, June 6 with the Adventist and for the other Christian groups on Sunday, June 7 with some further details.

The Vicar General, Rev. Msgr. Francis Twum-Barimah received the items on behalf of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum. He stated that the gesture by KODPA is a demonstration that the Evangelisation Mission of the Church is not just a proclamation of the word by mouth but also expressing it through concrete actions.

The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo-Addo and his entourage attended Mass in Koforidua on October 13, 2019. On arrival, he received a rousing welcome from Parishioners and party faithful before joining the parishioners of the St. George Catholic Cathedral Church for Mass.

In his homily, Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, the Catholic Bishop of Koforidua,  entreated Nana Akufo-Addo and his ministers to continue to seek and trust God's guidance in governance.

Three full time Catechists of Koforidua diocese have received Papal honours and two priests honoured with the Pontifical title of Monsignors, the rank of Chaplain of His Holiness. The ceremony which took place on Sunday January 20th, 2019 at the St George Cathedral Church in Koforidua was presided over by His Excellency Most Jean-Marie Speich the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.

Holy Mother church has always desired that her members are always fed with the bread of life, the Body of Christ. It is therefore her wish that even in the absence of the Ordinary ministers of the Holy Eucharist or the lack of the ministers, some lay people could be appointed or delegated to serve in that regard; assisting the Clergy in serving the faithful with the Body of Christ. These lay people are called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. These are lay members of the church who are commissioned to assist Priests to distribute communion during Mass and take Holy Communion to the sick and aged in their homes so that parishioners can receive regularly Holy Communion.

The idea to embark on solarisation project which may gradually enable Catholic Churches, Mission Houses and other Catholic institutions in Ghana be connected to solar energy was conceived by Ghana Bishops’ Conference (GBC) about three years ago in the spirit Pope Francis’ Encyclical ‘Laudato Si’ to aid the environment and save money.   There has been a clarion call by Pope Francis that generation of electricity must be done in a way that avoids ‘creating environmental imbalances resulting in deterioration and pollution gravely harmful to our human family, both now and in the future’.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum Praises the Management of St Dominic Hospital

Addressing the gathering, Dr Maite Alfonso Romero, Medical Director of the facility, was full gratefulness to all the awardees for distinguishing themselves and encouraged other staff to learn from their good examples. Notable among the awardees was Dr Mercy Dawson an eye specialist who has served the facility for over 10years.