He used the occasion to honour three senior priests with the title of Monsignor for their distinguished services.

They are Monsignor Samuel Batsa, Monsignor Theodore Quaye and Monsignor Peter Kofi Atsui.

During the visit, which started last Wednesday, Most Rev. Jagodzinski was hosted to a reception by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, and the laity.

On Thursday, the Apostolic Nuncio celebrated Mass with priests at the Christ the King Catholic Church at Cantonments in Accra and also at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Tema Community 1 on Friday. On the same day, some lay faithful were made knights and dames.

Ordination

On Saturday, he ordained six deacons as priests into the holy priesthood: five diocesan priests and one religious at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Sakumono.

They are Rev. Gerald Owusu-Amankwatia of St James Catholic Church, Osu; Rev. Fr Dominic Kwame Adjei of St Francis of Assisi Parish, Ashaley Botwe; Rev. Fr Joy Senanu Kwamla Ofori-Kumeni of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church, Madina; Rev. Fr Solomon Yayra Xelide of St Agnes Catholic Church, Dodowa; Rev. Fr Terry Ekow Hutchful of St Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Oyibi, and Rev. Fr Theodore Gbortsu of St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Adentan.

In May 2020, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor Henryk Mieczys?aw Jagodzinski to the position of Apostolic Nuncio of Ghana, and elevated him to the rank of Archbishop.

Delivering the homily at last Sunday’s Mass, Most Rev. Jagodzinski said whoever wanted to be close to Jesus must make a serious and faithful decision, which, he said, was not easy.

In a reminder to Christians that Jesus did not come to give believers smooth words and to make them feel good, he said: “He did not go to the cross for pious platitudes and pleasant religious feelings”.

“The radicality of the cross must correspond at least to some extent to the radicality of the Christian life; that is of living as a disciple of Jesus, and whoever is close to Jesus is close to the fire,” he said.

“Whoever, therefore, truly stood for Christ will not necessarily be applauded as people will shy away from such a Christian, and old friendships will end and he will face conflicts even in his own home”.

“This is what Jesus foreshadows when He says: From now on, five will be split in one house: three will stand against two and two will be against three,” he said.

Stand for Christ

Archbishop Jagodzinski explained that those who stood for Christ and showed strong attitude in holding firm their faith would become capable of doing good

“with great strength and fervour, and ultimately always victorious”.

“This is because the fire that burned in them is the fire of Christ. The example of the saints, who did not fall from heaven but grew up here on earth — often with considerable difficulty — can inspire us to imitate them or at least to try it,” he said.

Archbishop Jagodzinski added that whoever was close to Christ was close to fire, indicating that to burn for Christ was what holiness was all about.

The Cathedral Administrator, Very Rev. Fr Clement Wilson, said the diocese was happy to have back the Apostolic Nuncio.

He said his visit would honour Monsignors and senior priests who had worked so hard for the diocese.

“We have longed for this; it will interest you to know that the last time we had the creation of Monsignors was in 2005, 17 years ago,” he said.