On July 25, 2025, the Provincial Custody of St. Anthony of Padua in Ghana had cause to rejoice once again as six of its friars were ordained into the Order of the Diaconate, marking their reception into the clerical state.

The newly ordained deacons are Friars Stephen ADUSEI; Moses Kodjo Sassou WALLACE; Paul KUSI; Prosper YAW-KUMAH; Abraham APPIAH; and Ebenezer Kwabena ARTHUR. The ordinations took place at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, in Awoshie-Anyaa, located in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Accra. The ordaining prelate was the Most Reverend Anthony Narh ASARE, Auxiliary Bishop of Accra. Those attending included many friars from various communities, as well as friends and family members of the newly ordained. Also present were parishioners from St. Francis of Assisi Church and from the home parishes of the newly ordained along with some religious and priests from the Archdiocese of Accra. It was a colorful event which brought joy and smiles to the faces of the Conventual Franciscan Family in Ghana.
The Mass started at 5:00 p.m. and the entire program lasted for two hours and thirty minutes. In his homily, the bishop entreated the brothers to hold their office of service in high esteem and to always be found worthy of their calling into the Order of the Diaconate, just as the apostles selected worthy individuals to serve the community rather than choosing people at random. The bishop also encouraged the brothers to approach the transitional stage of the diaconate with all seriousness and learn as much as possible before their priestly ordination.
The Provincial Custos, Friar Vitus Edem Yao MENSAH, speaking on behalf of the Custody, thanked Bishop ASARE for ordaining the friars. He also thanked the Most Reverend John Bonaventure KWOFIE, C.S.Sp., Archbishop of Accra, Ghana, for always availing himself whenever the friars knock on his door. We thank God for the progress the Conventual Franciscans in Ghana have made thus far, and we congratulate our confreres for taking this latest step in their vocational journey.

Friar Francis Pascal AFFUM, Custodial Secretary