From September 17 to 20, the Association of Religious Formators (NARF) from across Ghana gathered at the Pope John Paul II Formation House at Ofoase Kokoben in the Diocese of Obuasi, Ashanti Region, for their Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The theme for the meeting was Bridging the gap; journeying with the new generation.
Most Rev. John Yaw Afoakwah welcomed and celebrated the opening Mass at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Ofoase Kokoben.
The Bishop addressed over 40 formators from about 15 congregations.
In his homily, the prelate declared that “young people do not want to be managed; they want to be mentored,” urging formators to deliberate on the future of religious formation and adapt to the evolving needs of young candidates in the Church today.
The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Obuasi issued a passionate call for structural and spiritual renewal, cautioning formators against imposing rigid, outdated systems on incoming candidates.
He noted that formators are tasked with one of the most delicate ministries in religious life today, accompanying young men and women seeking to give their lives to Christ.
He stressed that bridging the generational gap requires formators to become active bridges rather than merely lamenting cultural shifts.
Echoing the core message of St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, Most Rev. Afoakwah insisted that religious formation must remain rooted in the Gospel rather than personal nostalgia.
He emphasised that handing on a received faith, not personal preferences or ideals of how religious life used to be, must serve as the immovable foundation for mentoring new vocations.
The Prelate pointed out that effective guidance stems from redeemed weakness and authentic witness, asserting that young candidates seek genuine mentors who can admit their own limitations rather than faultless instructors.
Throughout his homily, Most Rev. Afoakwah expressed deep concern over the persistent reliance on excessive rules and rigid structures.
He observed that formators often fall into the trap of leading through cold observation and judgment, drawing a stark contrast with the mercy demonstrated by Jesus.
He noted that while young religious today arrive with deep generosity, they also carry severe anxieties stemming from modern secularism, digital overload, and unstable backgrounds—challenges that cannot be fixed through surveillance or micromanagement.
Turning to practical pathways, the prelate advocated that modern formation prioritise active listening and emotional support over rigid interrogation.
He stated that formation houses must transform into safe spaces where young candidates can openly admit their struggles with commitment, chastity, and obedience without fear of dismissal.
He added that formators must be willing to adjust their schedules, learn digital languages, and understand mental health realities.
He further detailed five practical pillars for building sustainable bridges: memory and dream, interiority, community, accompaniment, and hope.
Most Rev. Afoakwah maintained that formators must encourage young religious to respect their order’s history while empowering them as co-creators of its future.
He argued that religious communities must act as “laboratories of mercy” where conflict resolution, authentic belonging, and mutual forgiveness are taught, rather than presenting community life as an ideal of perfect, unrealistic harmony.
This vision was strongly underpinned by Pope Francis’s insistence that formation must remain “artisanal, not industrial.”
Bishop Afoakwah explained that one-size-fits-all training models must be replaced with intentional presence, urging formators to open their doors and engage candidates informally.
He underscored the idea that young religious need hopeful, forward-looking mentors who do not prepare them for a nostalgic past or a Church that no longer exists, but for a living, joyful faith capable of facing tomorrow.
In his concluding remarks, the prelate urged formators to view those in training as delicate “alabaster jars” that break under cold rigidity but fill the Church with virtue when handled with mercy.
He cautioned that many young religious walk away not because they have lost their calling, but because they felt unloved after making a mistake.
Ultimately, he called on formators to walk alongside the youth not as distant managers of vocations, but as fellow pilgrims walking the shared road to Emmaus with the Risen Lord.
By Sr Michelle Ankrah, SSL (Catholic Sister Communicators Network Ghana-CASCON GH)
