Newly appointed Bishop Afoakwah sent an email message on Dec. 22, 2014 in reply to a previous media request. An article about Bishop Afoakwah’s recent appointment by Pope Francis ran in The Daily & Sunday Review on Sat., Dec. 20 and on Dec. 21 in The Owego Pennysaver.
His Holiness Pope Francis appointed Reverend Father John Yaw Afoakwah as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Obuasi, Ghana in November 2014, just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Father Afoakwah, a former parochial vicar of Blessed Trinity Parish and Saint Patrick’s Parish group of churches in Tioga County, New York, was on pastoral assignment here from September 2007 until December 2011 as assigned by the Diocese of Rochester, N.Y.
Bishop Afoakwah’s message is to all citizens of Tioga County, and the faithful of Blessed Trinity and St. Patrick Parishes group of churches including Owego, Newark Valley, Apalachin and Waverly.
“Season’s Greetings from the Catholic Diocese of Obuasi.
My story as the Bishop of my diocese, Catholic Diocese of Obuasi, is known to the whole wide world, thanks to the internet and various social networks.
Did any of you ever conceive that the Ghanaian priest, Fr. Afoakwah, roaming along your streets, moving from one Catholic Church to another in Tioga County, driving in the snow, hitting black ice, undergoing surgery at Robert Parker hospital and receiving physical therapy at Peak Performance was one day going to be a Bishop of the Holy Roman Catholic Church in his diocese?
My greatest joy is that I enjoyed every moment of my stay and work among the Catholic faithful in Tioga County. I thank God for the moments I could share in the pain and sorrow of some bereaved families during calling hours and officiated at Funeral Masses. I had the joy and privilege to baptize babies and celebrate weddings, thus becoming part of their lives and their families. It was simply an honor visiting the home bound and the sick at the various hospitals to pray with them and to give them Communion.
Socially, many individuals notably Jim and Virginia Raftis, took me to various restaurants for meals and others to their homes to share their table. Within Tioga County, I attended almost every festival, parade and game, especially college basketball games with friends. A dear friend and brother, Deacon Mike Donovan, took me around the United States, to New York City (Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, Empire State Building), Niagara Falls, the Finger Lakes, Denver, Colorado, the Grand Canyon, the Sin City of Las Vegas, Philadelphia, etc.
My four-year continuous stay in the United States is an enriching exposure and experience that has contributed to enhance my personality.
I think the most singular and rewarding opportunity I had was to be able to do graduate studies in Education at Le Moyne, College, in Syracuse. I strongly believe that without this academic qualification, I wouldn’t have been appointed a Bishop despite whatever other qualities and capabilities Rome saw in me as a worthy material for the Church for this high and noble office and position of service.
For this I am extremely grateful to the Bishop Emeritus Matthew Clark of the Diocese of Rochester for inviting me through my then bishop, Archbishop Emeritus Thomas K. Mensah to his diocese. God bless the kindness and generosity of Most Rev. Matthew Clark, the Clergy, the religious and the faithful of the diocese of Rochester, especially my pastor William Moorby and priest friend John de Socio.
Know that you have a home in Ghana and rooms in the Bishop’s house in Obuasi. It will surprise you to know that a couple, Michael and Stacey Winters are now part of my family and have already made two trips to visit Obuasi, Ghana. I eagerly await your visit for me to reciprocate your kindness and warm hospitality. Do pray for me in my new and arduous responsibility as I do for you. I love you all and miss you dearly.
Have a wonderful and grace-filled Christmas.
Msgr. John Yaw Afoakwah
Bishop-Elect, Obuasi, Ghana”
For more information about the area where the newly appointed Bishop Afoakwah will be serving, visit obuasidiocese.com.
