Hundreds of mourners on Thursday , July 17, 2025, gathered at the Mater Ecclesiae School (MES) hall in Sokode Gbogame (Sisters’ Convent) in Ho Diocese to bid farewell to Sr. Rejoice Eugenia Ami Sedegah, SMMC, who was called to her Maker on Saturday, July 5, 2025.
The mourners included the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC), Priests and Religious, family, lay faithful and sympathizers from far and near.
The Requiem Mass was presided over by the Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji SVD, the Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese and concelebrated by the Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, Bishop Emeritus of Keta- Akatsi and numerous Priests.
In a Homily, Bishop Kumordji expressed condolences to the biological family of Sr. Rejoice and the SMMC family and assured them that the Diocese was with them.
Bishop Kumordji described Sr. Rejoice as a woman of strong Faith and recalled the days he visited Sr. Rejoice when she was in the hospital.
According to him, Sr. Rejoice rather encouraged and consoled those who visited her.
Dwelling on the First Reading taken from Romans 8:35-39, Bishop Kumordji challenged the faithful to exhibit faith in every circumstance as Sr. Rejoice did.
“Many of us get discouraged, we get distracted because of hunger or no money and many other things; but she said ‘who will separate us from the love of God’”, he said.
The homily emphasised the quiet strength, sense of duty, and unwavering faith of Sr. Rejoice.
She was Known for her deep spirituality, gentle spirit, and commitment to the mission of the Church.
The words from Bishop Kumordji “the way we saw how she coped with a long suffering before death, she has really exchanged it for eternal happiness” were consoling.
The Bishop was with the opinion that suffering that is not accepted is a waste and destruction but suffering that is accepted can lead to witness; and the latter was seen in Sr. Rejoice who was always smiling anytime she was very sick and in pain.
The Office for the dead was prayed, preceding the Requiem Mass, for the peaceful repose of her soul, commending her into the hands of the Lord she served so faithfully.
Sr. Rejoice served in various apostolates across the country and won many awards, including The Catholic Standard Nuncio Award which she earned for her communication work and publication of numerous stories about the Ho Diocese and her congregation in Ghana’s National Catholic Weekly newspaper.
Sr. Rejoice worked selflessly, touching many lives with compassion and devotion.
Her passing has left a void in the hearts of the SMMC Congregation and all who knew her.
She was laid to rest at the SMMC Cemetery in Sokode Gbogame, where fellow Sisters and mourners gathered to commit her body to the earth with songs of hope in the resurrection.
May her soul rest in perfect peace. Amen
By Sr. Agnes Mercy Nyatsoe, SMMC (Sister Communicator)
