The Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sunyani, has urged parents who offer their daughters to the Consecrated Life to make their sacrifices complete by allowing them to fully respond to God’s call.
He said parents who bring their daughters to God for Religious Life make a sacrifice comparable to that of biblical parents who offered their children for God’s service, and therefore must avoid actions that could hinder the young women from faithfully living out their religious vocation.
Bishop Gyamfi made the call in his homily during the First Profession of Vows of eight (8) Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ) at Nsoatre in the Sunyani Diocese on Saturday, August 22, 2026.
He expressed gratitude to the parents of the newly professed Sisters for offering their daughters as gifts to God, but cautioned them against making demands on their daughters that could conflict with their religious vows.
“Thank you, parents, but let your gifts be complete,” he said, stressing that although it was natural for children to support their parents because of the bond of family and blood, religious vows demanded a deeper level of commitment.
According to him, when parents continually expect their daughters in religious life to fulfil certain family obligations, they could unknowingly hold them back from responding totally to their vocation.
He referred to the biblical account of Ananias and Sapphira, who failed to give completely what they had promised, and urged parents to ensure that their sacrifice of offering their daughters to God was total.
Bishop Gyamfi also reminded the newly professed sisters of Christ’s call to leave everything behind in order to follow Him wholeheartedly.
He said the Religious Vocation required courage, sacrifice and complete trust in God, particularly when the sisters encountered difficulties in their apostolate.
Addressing the newly professed Sisters, Bishop Gyamfi encouraged them not to be afraid, drawing inspiration from the words of the prophet Isaiah.
He explained that the religious life was fundamentally a life of joy and inner peace, even in the midst of material deprivation and suffering.
“You have nothing but you have everything,” he said, describing this as one of the paradoxes of religious life. He noted that some people who possessed great wealth and material things could nevertheless remain unhappy and frustrated, while consecrated persons could experience profound joy despite having very little materially.
The Bishop reminded the Sisters of the experience of the Apostles, who endured arrest, scourging, humiliation and suffering but remained joyful because they considered themselves privileged to share in the work of Christ.
He, therefore, urged the Sisters not to allow insults, disgrace, humiliation or difficulties in their apostolate to dampen their joy.
He acknowledged that the sisters could encounter challenges in their communities and apostolic work, including difficulties arising from relationships with fellow sisters, but assured them that such difficulties would not last forever.
Bishop Gyamfi further stressed the importance of prayer in sustaining Religious Vocation, warning the Sisters not to allow excuses or distractions to prevent them from maintaining a strong prayer life.
He encouraged them to remain open to the Holy Spirit, especially in moments of weakness, so that they could continually receive spiritual nourishment and grow stronger in their vocation.
“A sisyter who does not pray is useless,” he cautioned, urging the newly professed to make prayer a constant and indispensable part of their lives.
He also challenged them to make holiness their primary goal and to compete, not in worldly matters, but in faithfulness, holiness and commitment to the charism of their congregation
“Compete on who is more holy, more faithful to the charism,” he urged, encouraging them to strive to become outstanding witnesses to Christ through their consecrated lives.
Bishop Gyamfi cautioned the Sisters that not everyone who bears the title of a Religious or Priest necessarily lives the true demands of the vocation.
Referring to Jesus’ warning about “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” he urged the sisters to remain vigilant and authentic in their religious commitment.
He also called on them to support one another on their spiritual journey, particularly when a sister was experiencing a crisis or facing difficulties.
The Bishop congratulated the newly professed Sisters and described them as women who had chosen to dedicate their lives completely to God despite the beauty and attractions of the world.
He encouraged them to treasure their vocation, remain faithful to their vows and continually seek the Lord, assuring them that true happiness could only be found in God, the ultimate source of joy and fulfilment.
The First Profession of Vows marked a significant milestone in the spiritual journey of the newly professed Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus as they formally committed themselves to a life of consecration and service to God and His people.
By, Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah, HHCJ, Sr. Vera Tina Tay, HHCJ and Sr. Victoria Lagbie, HHCJ( Catholic Sister Communicators Network Ghana- CASCON – GH)
