ARCHBISHOP KWOFIE URGES 46 CONFIRMED CANDIDATES TO REMAIN IN THE CHURCH
Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, has urged 46 newly confirmed Catholics at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, Lashibi, to remain faithful to the Church and not leave after receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.
The Archbishop made the call on Sunday, 27th September 2026, during his Pastoral Visit to St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, located at the Catholic Youth Formation Centre, Lashibi. He was welcomed by Rev. Fr. Edmund Ekow-Neizer, Priest-in-Charge and Vocations Director, Rev. Fr. Raymond Lord Ampong, Parochial Vicar and Youth Chaplain, the Church Pastoral Council, and the faithful.
In a welcome address, the Church Pastoral Council Chairman, Mr. Francis Agyemang, expressed gratitude to the Archbishop for visiting the community. He said the St. Raphael community was growing as a vibrant family of faith and explained that the name Raphael means “God heals.” He described the Centre as a place for spiritual retreats, fellowship and healing, adding that the parish was committed to supporting the formation of young people.
He said the youth had a special place in the life of the community because of its location at the Catholic Youth Formation Centre. He noted that the parish continued to support Archdiocesan youth programmes and prayed that God would bless the community with more vocations, including a priest who could one day come from St. Raphael.
Mr. Agyemang also appealed for support for the development of the chapel at the Youth Formation Centre. He recalled that the Archbishop had previously given permission for the chapel to be built and said the community had raised funds to bring the project to the roofing stage. He appealed for further assistance as the community looked forward to celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2027.
Presenting the 46 candidates to the Archbishop, Rev. Fr. Raymond Lord Ampong said the candidates were prepared to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation and to deepen their commitment to the Catholic faith
In his homily, which reflected on the readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, Archbishop Kwofie focused on the need for Christians to move beyond words and demonstrate their faith through their actions.
The Archbishop thanked the former Priest-In-Charge and Youth Chaplain, Very Rev. Fr. Alphonse Buloro, and Very Rev. Fr. Raymond Lord Ampong for their efforts in preparing the youth and for their contribution towards the successful celebration of the West African Youth Day. He also acknowledged Very Rev. Fr. Edmund Ekow-Neizer, the Vocations Director and the current Priest-In-Charge of the Centre, and Very Rev. Fr. Raymond, the Parochial Vicar and Archdiocesan Youth Chaplain, for their ministry.
He challenged those responsible for youth ministry to develop more activities that would help young people remain active in the Church. He said the youth needed opportunities for Bible studies, catechism, retreats, camps, social gatherings and other programmes that would strengthen their spiritual lives and help them grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
According to him, the work of the youth chaplain should not be limited to one place, but should involve reaching out to young people in different communities and creating opportunities for them to interact with one another. He encouraged the youth ministers to engage, mentor and form young people who would become committed witnesses of the Gospel.
Turning to the theme of the readings, Archbishop Kwofie cautioned Christians against making constant complaints about life while failing to recognise the blessings they receive from God. He reminded the faithful of the biblical call to give thanks in all circumstances.
He explained that people sometimes complain about their work, salaries, marriages, and other difficulties, but Christians are called to remain grateful even in challenging situations. He also spoke about complaints against God, saying that human beings could experience pain and confusion but should not allow such experiences to lead them away from a life of righteousness.
Reflecting on the first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, the Archbishop said God calls His people to turn away from sin and live lives that are true and just. He encouraged the faithful to strive to do what is good, seek justice and avoid evil.
He then reflected on the Gospel passage from Matthew 21:28-32, in which Jesus tells the parable of the two sons. One son initially refused his father’s request to work in the vineyard but later changed his mind and went, while the other agreed to go but failed to do so.
Archbishop Kwofie said the first son demonstrated the importance of action because he eventually did what his father asked. He stressed that words alone are not enough and that a person’s deeds reveal the seriousness of his or her commitment. He described the change of mind by the first son as a form of repentance and said Christians must be ready to acknowledge their mistakes and change their ways. He noted that saying, “I am wrong, I am sorry, I need to change,” can be difficult, but genuine Christian life requires such humility and conversion.
The Archbishop further reminded the faithful that hearing the Word of God must lead to action. Referring to the teaching in the Letter of James that faith without works is dead, he urged Christians to put their faith into practice through their daily lives.
After the homily, Archbishop Kwofie administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to the 46 candidates, praying for them to receive and live by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
In his appreciation, Very Rev. Fr. Edmund Ekow Neizer expressed gratitude to God for the successful celebration and thanked Archbishop Kwofie for his pastoral care, commitment and love for the community. He also thanked the Archbishop for the confidence placed in him and Very Rev. Fr. Raymond Ampong to serve at the Centre and said they would need the Archbishop’s prayers and support as they carried out their responsibilities, particularly in youth and vocation ministry.
Very Rev. Fr. Neizer commended the parishioners for their hard work in preparing the Centre for the Archbishop’s visit. He also expressed appreciation to the choir, altar servers, ushers, Parish Pastoral Council, welfare committee, organisers and all those who contributed in various ways to the success of the celebration. Addressing the newly confirmed candidates, he congratulated them and reminded them that the Holy Spirit they had received was a precious gift from God which they should cherish and allow to guide their lives. He encouraged them not to consider Confirmation as the end of their Christian journey but as a new beginning. He urged them to remain active in the Church and to put into practice what they had learnt, stressing that they must not only be hearers of the Word but also doers of the Word.
Fr. Neizer also expressed appreciation to the parents of the candidates for their sacrifices, prayers and support throughout the preparation for the Confirmation. He appealed to the Archbishop to continue supporting the community and its developmental projects. Referring to the biblical account of the multiplication of the five loaves, he said the community was offering its lives, resources and commitment to the development of the Centre and prayed that God would multiply their efforts to enable them to build a community where young people from across the Archdiocese could come, receive formation and return to their communities as witnesses to God’s love.
He further extended appreciation to the visitors and well-wishers who joined the community for the celebration and supported the young candidates on their special day. He thanked them for taking the time to be present and encouraged them to continue praying for and supporting the youth in their Christian journey.
The celebration ended with prayers and blessings, as the St. Raphael the Archangel community expressed its gratitude to Archbishop Kwofie for his pastoral visit, guidance and encouragement.
Among those in attendance were Rev. Fr. Gerard Owusu-Amankwatiah, Secretary to the Archbishop; Rev. Fr. Morris Ofori of the Jasikan Diocese; members of the Parish Pastoral Council, clergy, parish leaders and the faithful of St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church.
Story by:
Thelma N.E. Impraim -Holm
Depsocom Accra
