On August 15, 2026, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, several Religious Sisters joined hundreds of Catholics to witness the Ordination of six candidates into the priesthood.
Religious women, present at the ordination at the Our Lady of Seven sorrows Minor Basilica, Navrongo were the Holy Child Sisters, Daughters of Charity, Sisters of Mary Immaculate, Medical Mission Sisters, Franciscan Missionary of Mary, Salesian Sisters, Handmaid of Redeemer, Religious Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Handmaid of the Holy Child Jesus ( HHCJ), Marian Sisters of the Eucharistic love (MASEL).
The newly ordained were Rev. Bernard Asampana Adua,(M.afr) Rev. Julius Abanga Abariche,(M.afr), Rev. Julius Adunga Atega, Rev. James Aweeo, Rev. Magnus Asukanyok Atumba, Rev. Isaac Awindaug Adakurugu.
The ordination Mass began at with Procession with a gathering of many Priests from the Diocese, Missionary of Africa, (M.afr) Divine Word Missionaries, (SVD); Salesians of Don Bosco.
Present also at the Mass were Government officials, the royals, the media, lay faithful from the length and breadth of the diocese as well as the country.
The Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta welcomed all to this significant celebration in particular in the life and faith history of the Diocese as they celebrate 120 years of grace since the creation of the diocese.
He also thanked the missionary of Africa (white Fathers) for sowing this seed of Baoba tree of faith in the diocese by coming to evangelize them.
His Lordship, also thanked the parents of the candidates for their generosity and sacrifices in the formation of these young men from the domestic church, that is the various families.
After the introduction, the candidates to be ordained were called one after the other and they all responded present signifying their willingness to offer themselves for the ordination and accompanied by their parents to the Bishop. When the Bishop enquired and found them worthy to be ordained, all the congregation responded thanks to God.
The Bishop then gave the homily during which he thanked God for the fruit of faith of the priests to be ordained from the humble beginning under the Baoba tree in Navrongo where the Missionary of Africa (white fathers) planted this seed of faith and today we witness a vibrant church which is a great gift.
This ordination was planned as part of the year-long celebration of the 120 years anniversary of the Diocese.
Through the Diocesan Pastoral Congress, the Diocese decided to reflect on six pillars, one to reflect on their vocation as Missionaries of Christ so as to fulfil the great commandment to go into all the world to make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
The second is to pray for vocations for their children by paying attention to their educational and upbringing.
Thirdly, Pastoral communication, considered as a double edge sword and a useful tool for evangelization, to use them responsibly and consider the danger signs in using these tools.
Again, to spend time to pray and reflect on the life of their fore mothers and fathers in faith who have gone before us and lastly the education of our faith for the integral development of the human being that the glory of God will be fully manifested when the human being is fully alive and reaches his full potential.
There would have been no fruits of all these reflections if they had not been young men to be ordained today as Priest as a vivid example.
He compared the priests who offer pastoral guidance like a vehicle that provides spiritual and leadership to the sheepfold.
As a people of faith they are expected to be drivers of faith to the glory of God. He thanked his brother priest for their active participation in the just ended diocesan pastoral congress.
Bishop Agyenta told the newly ordained Priest that they were a blessing crop and blessed in a lot of ways.
According to the Bishop, being ordained in the strategic phase in the life of the Diocese’s 120 anniversary was a manifestation, saying that they are blessed because they are beginning their ministry with a pastoral guide curved out for them.
The Church exists to evangelise, so he encouraged them to move from maintenance to mission orientated Parishes and as newly ordained Priests, they need these two tips to live as mission-oriented pastors.
He advised them to love their sheep and learn their language and culture.
He also mentioned indiscipline in schools because for the last two months conferences were held to discuss the issue which is becoming a canker among the youth and encouraged the new Priests to promote discipline among the youth.
On the use of information technology, he said is a useful tool in one sense and a bad master in the other.
It can steal your time scrolling from one page to the other, he stated, advising the newly ordained to be conscious in the use of their phones and IT gadgets.
The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Bishop entrusted the new Priests unto the maternal protection of Mother Mary, mother of Priest.
At the end of the homily, the candidates to be ordained were examined to find out their readiness to exercise the ministry into which they were about to enter which entails celebrating the sacraments, meditating on the word of God, and guiding and leading the people of God.
After the examination the went one by one to the bishop, kneeling before him placing their hands in between that of the bishop which is a sign of submission and obedience to him and all his successors. After the promise was duly made, the bishop invited us to call upon the saints who have gone before us to intercede for us especially the to be ordained priest.
This was led by the choir while the priest prostrated themselves on the floor as a sign of reverence, humility and nothingness before God.
The Bishop and all the concelebrating priests laid their hands on them in silence which is the gesture of the impartation of the Holy spirit and was the most solemn part of the celebration.
After this exercise the Bishop said the prayer of the ordination, a very powerful and important prayer as it configures the priests to Christ the high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
After this prayer, they were now called Rev. Fr. Bernard Asampana Adua, Rev. Fr. Julius Abanga Abariche, Rev. Fr. Julius Adunga Atega, Rev. Fr. James Aweeo, Rev. Fr. Magnus Asukanyok Atumba, Rev. Fr. Isaac Awindaug Adakurugu.
They were now vested fully as priests wearing their stoles hanging down in front of their necks and under a chasuble signifying the dignity of the holy priesthood.
The Bishop then anointed their palms with the oil of chrism which signifies their consecration for sacred duties particularly the Eucharist, to administer the sacrament of reconciliation and anointing of the sick. This also endowed them with the power of God to sanctify things and people through blessing.
The newly ordained priests were now presented with the gift of bread and wine as a reminder to them that it is their duty to offer sacrifices always for the people and for themselves.
The Bishop, the Vicar General, the Provincial Superior of Ghana- Nigeria Province of Missionary of Africa, the Rector of the major Seminary, the vocation Directors some few priests due to time gave the fraternal kiss to the newly ordained as a sign of welcome and acceptance into the presbyterium. Now as full members of the presbyterium they joined the bishop in concelebration.
This was followed with a collection, offering was presented by various church confraternities, family and friends of the newly ordained.
Since two of the newly ordained belonged to the Missionary of Africa, Rev. Fr. Bernard Asampana Adua and Rev. Fr. Julius Abanga Abariche, they received their Missionary assignment from the Provincial Superior Rev. Fr. Bernard Mba as they read their missionary oath and received final blessings from their home diocese Bishop Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta. All the missionary of Africa family present both priest and religious joined their brothers in singing the Santa Maria to entrust themselves unto the maternal protection of Mary, our Lady of Africa and mother of Priests.
The mass was brought to an end followed with photographs.
Jubilations with songs and displays of many cultural dances. Congratulations again to our newly ordained priests Rev. Fr. Bernard Asampana Adua, Rev. Fr. Julius Abanga Abariche, Rev. Fr Julius Adunga, Rev. Fr. James Aweeo, Rev, Fr. Magnus Asukanyok Atumba, Rev. Fr. Isaac Awindaug Adakurugu. May God bless your Ministries.
By Sr. Sheila Lieru, MMM (Catholic Sister Communicators Network Ghana- CASCON-GH)
