Donkorkrom Clergy and Religious Leaders Hold Advent Retreat

   Priests and Religious from the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate in the Kwahu Afram Plains, Eastern Region of Ghana, came together on December 14, 2024, for their annual Advent Recollection under the theme “Our Call to Leadership” (cf. Hebrews 4:14-16; Mark 10:32-45). The gathering, held under the leadership of Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, was a moment of deep reflection and spiritual renewal for the clergy and religious of the Vicariate.

The Advent Recollection, which was facilitated by Rev. Fr. Leopold Ettuh, the Chancellor of the Vicariate, culminated in a solemn Holy Mass at the small Chapel of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Donkorkrom. This Mass provided an opportunity for the priests and religious to come together in prayer and contemplation during the season of Advent, a time of preparation for the coming of Christ.

During his homily, Fr. Ettuh emphasized the importance of focusing on spiritual rather than material preparations for the Christmas season. He urged his fellow priests and religious to deepen their spiritual readiness, noting that the true essence of awaiting Christ is found in the spirit, not in the flesh. He cautioned against the temptation to focus solely on the material aspects of the season, stating, “Our awaiting for Christ is more or less spiritual. It is no more in the flesh, but we are going to meet Him in the spirit. The only way we can meet Christ in the spirit is to prepare ourselves spiritually, not materially, as many people are doing.” He warned that focusing only on physical preparations would mean missing the true meaning of the Savior’s arrival.

Fr. Ettuh also prayed that the Advent season would be an opportunity for all the priests and religious present to seek Christ in prayer and open their hearts to His presence. He encouraged them to make space in their lives for Christ, especially within the communities they lead. He made a reference to King David from the Bible, who regularly turned to God in prayer and guidance, and invited the priests and religious to reflect on how they have lived their lives and led others to Christ. He asked them to consider: How have their actions and leadership attracted others to Christ? What kind of leadership have they demonstrated for the people entrusted to their care? How will they fulfill their mission in the Afram Plains?

“We all know that the purpose of our being here is to bring Christ to the people in the Afram Plains,” Fr. Ettuh reminded them, reinforcing the central role of their mission in bringing the message of Christ to their communities.

In addition, Fr. Ettuh emphasized the importance of forgiveness in leadership. He explained that forgiveness plays a key role in making prayer powerful and effective. “That is what we are called to do if we want people to follow us,” he stated, underlining that forgiveness is essential to building trust and leading others to Christ.

Fr. Ettuh also reminded his fellow priests and religious that their apostolates are not about their personal fulfillment but about advancing the reign of Christ among the people. He urged them to remain focused on their divine calling, saying, “We are not doing the Apostolates for our own fulfilment, but we are doing it so that Christ will reign among His people forever and ever.” He prayed for God’s grace to continue enabling them to fulfill their mission in the Afram Plains.

In addition to the homily, the Advent Recollection featured several other activities, including Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Confessions, and a thoughtful input session on “Our Call to Leadership.” These activities allowed the priests and religious to deepen their spiritual lives and reflect on their leadership roles within the Vicariate.

Rev. Fr. Philip Gyapong, the Vicariate Liturgist and Parish Priest of St. Anthony Parish in Amankwakrom, expressed gratitude on behalf of the Bishop, priests, and religious for Fr. Ettuh’s insightful leadership throughout the day. He thanked Fr. Ettuh for his valuable contributions and for facilitating the spiritual exercises that allowed the clergy to grow in their faith and leadership.

The annual Advent Recollection served as a powerful reminder for the Donkorkrom clergy and religious to center their lives on Christ and to focus on spiritual preparation, especially as they lead their communities in the coming season. It also reinforced the call to spiritual and moral leadership, reminding all present of their mission to bring Christ to the people of the Afram Plains.