Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Catholic Bishop of Goaso, on the 19th of December, 2016, ordained one deacon for the Diocese at the St. Anthony of Padua Cathedra, Goaso. The newly ordained deacon, Rev. Francis Ayana, is a parishioner of St. Anthony of Padua Cathedral parish, Goaso. Rev. Ayana had his Senior High School education at Ahafoman Senior High School at Goaso, from where he proceeded to St. James Minor Seminary for his Post SHS studies at Abesim in Sunyani. He further pursued his Philosophical and Theological studies at St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary, Sowutuom, Accra and St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast, respectively. Currently, he is in the final year of his theological formation at St. Peters’ Regional Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast.
The Mass was concelebrated by scores of priests from the Diocese and beyond. Among them included; Rev. Msgr. Matthew Addai, the Vicar General, Rev. Msgr. Anthony Boahene Kyeremeh, the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Msgr. Benjamin Poku Donkor, Rev. Fr. Joseph Aduse-Poku and Rev. Fr. Captain Rudolf Sara Twumasi Ankra and many more. Also in attendance were the relatives and friends of the ordinandi..
In his homily, Bishop Atuahene thanked the parents, family, formators, benefactors, priests, religious, and parishes, who prayed, supported and helped and are still helping in the formation of the newly ordained deacon. He entreated them to continue to pray and encourage more young men and women to join the Priesthood and Religious life to help in the spreading of the Gospel. He also thanked the newly ordained deacon and commended him for willingly and humbly accepting the call of God and responding to it with the spirit of humility, prayer, perseverance and diligence, encouraging him to keep up the same spirit in finishing hard as by the grace of God he gradually brings his seminary formation to an end.
Bishop Atuahene advised the newly ordained deacon to shun anything that is inimical to the priestly vocation and could bring it and the name of God into disrepute, urging him to strive to be good shepherd who believes in what he preaches and practices what he preaches to win more souls for Christ. Adding that, people listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers and if they listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses to what they teach.
Making known the job description of the newly ordained deacon, Bishop Atuahene admonished him to administer the sacraments that pertain to his status with prayer and dedication, exercise the ministry of the word worthily, preaches the Gospel and to charitably and confidently explain the Catholic faith.
Launching the year of mercy at the Diocesan level in tandem with the diaconate ordination of Rev. Francis Ayana, Bishop Atuahene entreated him to serve God’s people with love and mercy, imitating the steps of Jesus Christ, whose mercies and love know no boundary.
He further encouraged Rev. Ayana to meditate daily on the word of God, make it his guide and also help the faithful to grow with the word to strengthen their relationship with God.
