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BRIEF HISTORY The late Monsignor Gabriel Dadzie Mensah was born on 12th May 1934 to Mr. Isaac Francis Mensah and Madam Akosua Badu all of Elmina. He was the fifth child out of eleven and was not considered as the precocious of them. At the age of 6, he started schooling at Prestea Infant Catholic School, then followed to Amisano and finally ordained on 7th December 1958 at the age of 24. Monsignor Gabriel Dadzie Mensah was appointed the Rector of St. Teresa Seminary, Amisano in the year 1966 when now His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson was a seminarian at Amisano Seminary. By dint of hard work, he rose through the ranks and became Monsignor having served as Vicar General and Chancellor of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast during the reign of the Late Most Rev. John Kodwo Amissah in 1995. After the demise of the late Archbishop, Most Rev. Kodwo Amissah, Monsignor Gabriel Dadzie Mensah was appointed the Administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast. He worked so hard that the Ministry of Education appointed him as the headmaster of St. Augustine’s College in Cape Coast, the position he held from 1991-1995. Since he was gifted with wisdom, understanding and knowledge he was appointed to be in charge of the Catholic Mission Press (CMP) a job he did so well until retirement. He was called by his maker on 29th June 2012. Sleep well Very Rev Gabriel Mensah in the bosom of your maker FROM SIBLINGS It's been ten years since you joined your maker but it seems to us the Mensah family as it was yesterday. May the Almighty Father continue to keep you in His bosom. Rest in peace Monsignor (Fondly remembered by Francis Awotwe Mensah, Thomas Ackon Mensah and Agatha Rebecca Mensah ) FROM NEPHEWS AND NIECES Exactly 10 years ago, i was planning to surprise you with a visit, after refusing to pick your calls for three days. I didn't know you were calling to say goodbye i thought you were disappointed after failing twice to pass my professional exams. You had so much hope in me especially after i had failed the first attempt. You never gave up on me but i guess i gave up on you in your last days. The tears are still fresh because i was never able to make that visit to pamper you and make up with the lost times. The regret is still deep but i also know you are smiling down on me and praying for me as never before. Monsignor Gabriel Dadzie Mensah, we know that you are resting peacefully in the bosom of Father Abraham. As you are now an Angel pray for us all. We deeply miss you.

Rev. Fr. Francis Oteng - Dumfeh, the Hospital administrator of Apam Catholic Hospital has joined his maker. The Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Very Rev Bonaventure Annan in a letter addressed to the Priests, Religious and the Lay faithful indicated that the sad event occurred on 28th June, 2022. The cause of the death is yet unknown. May he rest in peace.

Rev Fr. Emmanuel Abbey- Quaye has been appointed as the interim Bishop's Secretary for the Catholic Archdiocese of Cape Coast. In a letter signed by the Vicar- General of the Archdiocese Very Rev Fr Bonaventure Annan indicated that he takes over from Rev Fr Polycarp Hagan. More to follow

A death reported of Rev Fr. John Fiifi Edmundson, a priest of the Catholic Archdioceses of Cape Coast. The sad event according to the letter signed by the Vicar General of the archdiocese Very Rev Bonaventure Annan indicated that it happened at the early hours on 9th June 2022. Here is the statement from the diocese: May your soul rest in peace. more to follow

His Holiness Pope Francis has appointed Rev. Father Matthew YITIEREH as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Yendi. His appointment is officially announced today, Friday 3 rd June 2022 in the Vatican (Rome). This news is released from the Apostolic Nunciature by Rev. Msgr. Maher Chammas, the Chargé d' Affaires a.i. More to come

Pope Francis announced at the end of Regina Coeli for August 27th a consistory to create new cardinals. Here are the names of the new cardinals: Artur Roche, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Lazzaro You Heung Sik, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy Fernando Vergez, President of the Governorate SCV Jean-Marc Noël Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille Peter Ebere Okpaleke, Bishop of Ekwulobia (Nigeria) Leonardo Ullrich, Archbishop of Manaus Blacks António Sebastião Filipe do Rosário Ferrão Archbishop of Goa (India) Robert McElroy, Archbishop of San Diego Virgilio do Carmo Da Silva, Archbishop of East Timor Oscar Cantoni, Bishop of Como Anthony Poola, Archbishop of Hyderabad (India) Cesa Paulo Costa, Brasilia Archbishop Richard Kuuia Baawobr, Bishop of Wa (Ghana) William Goh, Archbishop of Singapore Martines Adalberto Flores, Archbishop of Asuncion Giorgio Marengo, Apostolic Prefect of Ulan Bator In addition to these bishops, the Pope decided to create even five cardinals over eighty: Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal, Archbishop Emeritus of Cartagena (Colombia) Lucas Van Looy, Bishop Emeritus of Gent Arrigo Miglio, retired archbishop of Cagliari P. Gianfranco Ghirlanda SI Monsignor Fortunato Frezza congratulations my Lord Bishop.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer Buckle has declared a 40- day spiritual preparation towards the first ever Archdiocesan Marian pilgrimage to Jukwa- Krobo Grotto for the celebration of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Feast on Saturday, June 25th, 2022. The 40 day spiritual preparation starts on Sunday, 15th May to Thursday, 23rd June 2022. All Catholics in the the Archdiocese - Parishes, Stations, Religious Houses and Institutions will meet to pray the Holy Rosary and do intercessions especially towards the spread of the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and peace in Ukraine and Russia. May God answer our prayers. Amen.

Pope Francis on Monday appointed Cardinal Peter Turkson as the new chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. The Ghanaian cardinal succeeds the 79-year-old Argentine Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, who has led both institutions since 1998. The pope accepted Turkson’s resignation as prefect of the Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development last December. Turkson served as the archbishop of Cape Coast, Ghana, before he was called to Rome in 2009 to be president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The 73-year-old cardinal, who speaks six languages, became the first president of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development in 2016 after his pontifical council was merged into the new body along with three others. The rumors of his resignation appeared a few months after Pope Francis ordered an inspection of the dicastery, led by Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, that was followed by personnel changes. Turkson’s departure left the Vatican without no African leaders among the heads of its ​dicasteries for the first time since 1977. Bishop Sorondo’s long tenure at the pontifical academies has been marked by controversy in recent years. In 2018, he praised China’s global leadership, saying that “at this moment, those who best realize the social doctrine of the Church are the Chinese.” In 2020, he defended his decision to administer the Eucharist to Argentina’s president, despite Alberto Fernández’s effort to legalize abortion in his country. In the same year, he also defended the frequent presence of economist Jeffrey Sachs, an advocate for contraception and “reproductive justice,” at Vatican conferences. The Buenos Aires-born bishop will celebrate his 80th birthday on Sept. 8. The Pontifical Academy of Sciences traces its roots to the Accademia dei Lincei, one of the world’s first exclusively scientific academies, founded in Rome in 1603. The short-lived academy’s members included the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. Bl. Pius IX re-established the academy as the Pontifical Academy of the New Lynxes in 1847. Pius XI gave it its current name in 1936. The Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences was established in 1994 by Pope John Paul II. Its website says that its aim is “promoting the study and progress of the social sciences, primarily economics, sociology, law and political science, thus offering the Church those elements which she can use in the development of her social doctrine.” Both pontifical academies are based at the Casina Pio IV in the Vatican Gardens. source: www.catholicnewsagency.com

(A Reflection by Frs. Patrick Kwasi Kuma Amedeka & Vincent Kwasi Asare-Bediako) Theme: Privileged, not excused Whatever our position or condition, God gives us sufficient graces by which we experience his salvation. These graces do not excuse us from playing our role in God’s bigger plan of saving souls, including ourselves. Jesus teaches us that without God’s grace each of us is like a barren fig tree. Through Christ we receive God’s grace to make us better persons. This privilege neither gives us the impetus to judge others nor exempt us from actively pursuing a life of conversion and repentance. If we fail, justice will demand that we be cut down or cursed for our fruitlessness (John 15:2; Mk. 11:12-14). Moses, a sinner, has just committed murder in the name of nationalism and is on the run. Now he is privileged to meet God who reveals himself not to condemn him but to assure him of his unfailing saving presence, draw him into a personal relationship with God, and make known his redeeming plan. But Moses cannot take this privilege for granted. First, he must demonstrate his conversion by showing total respect to God as signified in the removal of his sandals. Second, he must return to Egypt as an agent of redemption not destruction. Apostle Paul references the Jewish Scriptures to warn the believers in Corinth against presumption and overconfidence. Like the Israelites, they too have been privileged to be led out of the wilderness of sin and death into the pledge of eternal life through the mercy of God’s revelation and the gift of faith. They must carefully safeguard this gift by shunning all forms of idolatry, lest they be drawn back into that past wasteful life. Beloved, some of us may never have experienced war, famine, poverty, abuse, loss, etc. Some of us may have suffered all these but may have come out stronger. Some of us may be blessed with good jobs, education, a stable family and peace. Yet, there are those who may be struggling with no help in sight. Out of God's love, we enjoy sparks of light in our gloomy days. Ours is not an excuse to judge or stand aloof. Rather, every event or situation, good or not too good, is a privilege given by God and intended to be beneficial to us, to teach us to get closer to our God, to learn his ways, and to amend our lives in line with his will for us. By learning to give up all forms of corruption that keep us wasteful and destructive to our world, and focusing rather on bearing fruits of faith through courage, gratitude, optimism, patience, perseverance, calmness, kindness, and mercy, we participate in God's plan of saving humankind. God gives us Lent as a sacred time and privilege to do the needful, to turn to God and so contribute to effect positive change in our world. God loves you 💕 God is Good - All the Time!

Theme: The Lord takes us to prayer. We are presented with the image and symbol of God's presence; the mountain and the cloud. The Mountain represents God's presence where the Israelites encountered the Lord during the exodus and desert wandering and thereafter. On the Mountain, Abraham had the near-sacrifice of Isaac(Gen 22), the Israelites encountered the Lord through theophanic experiences, Decalogue was given(Exod 19-20), Moses encountered God and his face was changed(Exod 34:27-35), Elijah also encountered God on the Mountain(1Kings 17, 19). The psalmist prays to corroborate this belief that the mountain is a symbol of God's presence when he says " I will lift my eyes to the mountains from when my help shall come from. My help shall come from the Lord who made heaven and earth"(Ps 121:1-2). This is why, the Temple was built on a mountain. This is the reason behind the Church's praxis of building Churches on mountains or hilltops. Mountain is simply the presence of God. Today, the gospel pericope presents to us a theophanic symbol of cloud. Pursuant to the theophanic presence, a celestial voice was heard"This is my chosen Son; listen to him."(Luke 9:37). We are called to listen to the voice of the Lord. This listening must lead us to obey. Abram did not only listen. He also trustfully obeyed and this obediential faith was credited or reckoned to him as righteousness. God took Abram for an encounter and to show him the evidential proof of the promises made to him. Jesus also took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. Let us avail ourselves like these people to be taken up for prayer. Peter, John, and James fell in the arms of morpheus as they went to pray. This only shows our human weakness and frailties. In fact, we do not know how to pray. It is the Holy Spirit who prays within, for and with us (Roms 8:26). Let us always avail ourselves for the Holy Spirit to lead us to pray. Let us know that we are celestial beings and therefore let us always commune with our heavenly Father in prayer. Let us remember that in prayer, we encounter the Lord and his glorious nature. We are consumed by the theophanic presence of the cloud in prayer. We are called to silence. Let us as much as possible have quiet time with the Lord to listen to his voice. Our obedience is fruitlessly futile if we fail to listen to the Lord Jesus. We pray for the grace to listen to the Lord in prayer. May He bless and keep us all. We pray for God's strength for the clergy and the religious. God loves you precious one. Have a blessed Sunday. +Padre Petros Paulos+

Theme: Call to holiness. Jesus gives us love as the yardstick for the entry the Kingdom of Heaven. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that our ordinary existential duties are to know God, love and serve him and through this experience the beatific vision. Today, the gospel pericope gives us the practical demonstration and expression of love. Love must be expressed in good deeds. These deeds, the Church calls corporal works of mercy. We must love one another. We must share our bread. We must of a necessity feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned. We must sensitive to the plight of people and come swiftly to their aid. We come into contact with these people each day of our lives. Sometimes, we refuse to help because of mistrust. Never be blinded by mistrust only to escape the genuine ones who need our care and tenderness, helping hand. One of the powerful tool of help is smile. Smile is free. Let's offer our free smile to the afflicted, the sick and even those who are hungry. Infectious smile is therapeutic. Through our infectious smile, our world may be healed. God calls us to holiness in our first reading. Indeed, this is our vocation. Holiness is love in action. Holiness is nothing but love of God and neighbour. Our Lenten observance must make us holy. It must make us grow in our corporal works of mercy. These corporal works of mercy are the path to holiness and are the standard for entry of the Kingdom of God. We are blessed when we chart these paths of holiness. We pray for the grace to always seek to love one another. May He bless and keep us all. We pray for God's grace for those seeking job employment. God loves you precious one. Have a blessed day. +Padre Petros Paulos+

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent. Lent is a forty (40) day period of fasting, praying, and abstinence. It is also known as the Day of Ashes. It is called so because on that day at church the faithful have their foreheads marked with ashes in the shape of a cross. The name Day of Ashes comes from "Dies Cinerum" in the Roman Missal and is found in the earliest existing copies of the Gregorian Sacramentary. The celebration originated by the Roman Catholics around the 6th century. Though the exact origin of the day is not clear, the custom of marking the head with ashes on this Day is said to have originated during the papacy of St Gregory the Great who ruled the Church from 590 AD - 604 AD. In the Old Testament, ashes were used for two purposes 1. as a sign of humility and mortality. 2. as a sign of sorrow and repentance for sin. The Christian connotation for ashes in the liturgy of Ash Wednesday was taken from the Old Testament custom. Receiving ashes on the head as a reminder of mortality and a sign of sorrow for sin was a practice of the Anglo-Saxon church in the 10th century. It was made universal throughout the Western church at the Synod of Benevento in 1091. Originally, the use of ashes as a sign of penance was a matter of private devotion. Later, it became part of the official rite for reconciling public penitents. In this context, ashes on the penitent served as a motive for fellow Christians to pray for the returning sinner and to feel sympathy for him or her. Putting a 'cross' mark on the forehead was in imitation of the spiritual mark or seal that is put on a Christian in baptism. This is when the newly born Christian is delivered from slavery to sin and the devil and made a slave of righteousness and Christ (Rom. 6:3-18). "And the LORD said to one of the four cherubim, 'Go through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.' And to the others he said in my hearing, 'Pass through the city after him, and smite; your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity; slay old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one upon whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.' So they began with the elders who were before the house." (Ezekiel 9:4-6) The early Church Fathers seized on this connection and expounded it in their homilies, seeing in Ezekiel a prophetic foreshadowing of the sealing of Christians as servants of Christ. It is also part of the background to the Catholic practice of making the sign of the cross, which in the early centuries as was documented from the second century on was practiced by using one's thumb to furrow one's brow with a small sign of the cross like Catholics do today at the reading of the Gospel during Mass. So on Ash Wednesday, during the signing of the cross of the ash on our forehead, the priest says "remember you are dust and dust you shall return", Gen 3:19 or "repent and believe in the Gospel". Mark 1:15". May our Lenten Season bear fruits. Amen Roncalli