Archbishop Kwofie Celebrates 12th Episcopal Anniversary at Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church.

On Sunday, September 13, 2026. The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp,  paid a pastoral visit to the Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church (OLAQA) at Oshuman Estate, where he celebrated Holy Mass with the growing Catholic community.

The pastoral visit coincided with the Archbishop’s 12th Episcopal Anniversary, making the occasion a particularly joyful and memorable one for the parish community.

The Archbishop was warmly received by the Provincial Superior of the Society of African Missions (SMA), Very Rev. Fr. James Owusu Yeboah, SMA, the priest in charge of Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Abraham Gulitiri, SMA, and children of the church who presented flowers to him.

In his welcome address, Rev. Fr. Abraham Gulitiri, SMA, expressed great joy and gratitude for the Archbishop’s decision to celebrate his 12th Episcopal Anniversary with the young and growing church. He described Archbishop Kwofie’s 12 years of episcopal ministry as a journey of grace, sacrifice, and selfless service to God’s people. He prayed for God to continue to grant the Archbishop wisdom, good health and abundant blessings as he leads the Archdiocese of Accra.

Rev. Fr. Gulitiri said Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church began on October 20, 2020, with about 35 people under the pastoral care of the SMA Fathers. The worshipping community initially gathered at the SMA Provincial House chapel before moving to a classroom and eventually into the present church building on January 1, 2025. He said the growth of Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church was a testimony to God’s grace and the dedication of the SMA Fathers and parishioners. He added that the Archbishop’s pastoral visit had strengthened the faith and commitment of the parishioners to continue building the church for the glory of God.

In his homily for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, Archbishop Kwofie urged parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church to embrace forgiveness and mercy as essential elements of Christian life.

Speaking on the theme, “Forgiveness Leads to an Enduring Relationship,” he said Christians who have experienced God’s mercy must also be willing to show mercy to others. Reflecting on the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:21-35, the Archbishop explained that although the servant had been forgiven a huge debt by his master, he refused to forgive another servant who owed him a much smaller amount. He said the attitude of the unforgiving servant should remind Christians that receiving God’s mercy comes with the responsibility of extending mercy to others.

Archbishop Kwofie, drawing from the Book of Sirach, cautioned parishioners against holding on to anger and past hurts. He said forgiveness does not mean that people forget what happened to them but means bringing the hurt under control and refusing to allow anger to dictate their lives. He said forgiveness allows people to choose peace and move forward. According to him, holding on to anger can prevent people from progressing in life, while forgiveness creates room for healing, peace and reconciliation.

The Archbishop also referred to Matthew 18:15-20 and encouraged Christians to take practical steps towards resolving conflicts. He said when someone is wronged, the person should first approach the offender privately, and if the matter is not resolved, witnesses and eventually the Church may be involved. He urged parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church not to wait for others to make the first move before seeking peace. He said seeking forgiveness or asking for understanding should not be regarded as weakness but as a sign of strength received from Christ.

The Provincial Superior of the SMA, Very Rev. Fr. James Owusu Yeboah, SMA, congratulated Archbishop Kwofie on his 12th Episcopal Anniversary and thanked him for choosing Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church to share in the celebration. He used the occasion to explain the SMA’s vision for the property at Oshuman, describing it as a “Centre of Excellence” and a signature of the SMA as the missionary congregation approaches 150 years of evangelisation in Ghana.

Very Rev. Fr. Owusu Yeboah explained that the SMA headquarters was moved from Winneba to Accra in 2014. He said the congregation subsequently planned to establish a distinctive missionary centre at Oshuman to demonstrate its commitment to mission and service to the Church and society. According to him, the SMA has planned major facilities for the Centre of Excellence such as a school, church,  retirement home for SMA priests. sisters’ convent, clinic, and multipurpose centre.

He said the school has already reached the Junior High School level, while Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church serves the growing Catholic population in the area.

The Provincial Superior said the convent would accommodate the OLA Sisters, who have an important role in the SMA mission, particularly in education and healthcare. He added that the planned clinic would serve the people of Oshuman and surrounding areas, with special attention to physically challenged and vulnerable persons.

The Chairman of the Church Pastoral Council, Mr. Stephen Brenya, described the Archbishop’s visit to Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church as a joyful and long-awaited occasion. He said parishioners had been looking forward to the visit since the previous year and expressed gratitude to God and Archbishop Kwofie for making time to worship with them.

Mavis Adiali, Vice President of the Catholic Women’s Association and Parish Financial Secretary, also expressed her joy at welcoming the Archbishop. She invited Catholics living around the estates of Olebu, Odumase and Amomoli to join Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church. She said the church’s slogan, “Our Lady Queen of Africa, Strong and Happy Family,” reflects the welcoming and family-oriented nature of the parish.

Youth Called to Serve the Church.

The Youth President, Mr. Victor Yeboah, said the Archbishop’s visit had encouraged the young people of Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church. Referring to their participation in the recent World Youth Day, he said the experience demonstrated the energy and enthusiasm of young Catholics in serving God. He urged young people to deepen their faith, become actively involved in the Church and take responsibility for its future. Mr. Yeboah expressed the hope that Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church would one day produce future Church leaders, including an Archbishop.

Among the priests present were Rev. Fr. Roy Marana, SMA; Rev. Fr. Barnabas Osie-Owusu, SMA, a missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo; and Rev. Fr. Francisco, SMA.

The celebration ended with thanksgiving and joy as parishioners of Our Lady Queen of Africa Catholic Church marked the Archbishop’s 12th Episcopal Anniversary and renewed their commitment to growing the church in faith, unity, and service. The cake-cutting served as a sign of love from the Community.

Story by:

Thelma N.E. Impraim -Holm

 Depsocom Accra