Mr. Felix Taah, a native of Dormaa Ahenkro in the Brong Ahafo Region and a final Year Theologian at St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu was raised to the Order of Deacons by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani through a solemn Eucharistic Celebration which took place at St. James Seminary Senior High School, Sunyani.

The Bishop in his homily made the congregation understand that the history of Deaconate in the Church dates back to the Apostolic Era where seven renowned men, filled with wisdom and of good repute were raised to the status of deacons to take care of the other responsibilities of the Church in order that the apostles could concentrate on Prayer and Preaching of the Word. He chanced himself on the occasion to teach the congregation and added that Catholics recognize two types of deacons:

· Permanent deacons who are men ordained to an office in the Catholic Church who normally have no intention or desire of becoming priests. A permanent deacon can be single or married. If the latter, he must be married before being ordained a deacon. Permanent deacons, especially those who are married, have secular jobs to support their families and also help the local pastor by visiting the sick, teaching the faith, counseling couples and individuals, working on parish committees and councils, and giving advice to the pastor.

· Transitional deacons are seminarians, students in the last phase of training for the Catholic priesthood who are raised to this status. After being a deacon for a year, they are ordained as priests by the bishop. Deacons, priests, and bishops are considered clerics, members of the clergy, in the Catholic Church.

The Bishop reiterated that the ministry of the deacon in the Roman Catholic Church is described as one of service in three areas: the Word, the Liturgy and Charity. The deacon's ministry of the Word includes proclaiming the Gospel during the Mass, preaching and teaching. The deacon's Liturgical ministry includes various parts of the Mass proper to the deacon, including being an ordinary minister of Holy Communion and the proper minister of the chalice when Holy Communion is administered under both kinds. The ministry of charity involves service to the poor and marginalized and working with parishioners to help them become more involved in such ministry. As clerics, deacons are required to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Deacons, like priests and bishops, are ordinary ministers of the Sacrament of Baptism and can serve as the church's witness at the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, which the bride and groom administer to each other (though if the exchange of vows takes place in a wedding Mass, or Nuptial Mass, the Mass is celebrated by a priest and the deacon acts as another witness). Deacons may preside at funeral rites not involving a Mass and may assist the priest at the Requiem Mass. They can preside over various services such as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and they may give certain blessings. They cannot hear confession and give absolution, anoint the sick, or celebrate Mass.

Bishop Matthew Gyamfi charged Rev. Felix to be a cleric of good reputation, filled with wisdom and the Holy Spirit. My son, show before God and humankind that you are above every suspicion of blame, a true minister of Christ and of God’s mysteries, a man firmly rooted in faith. Through these qualities, you will be writing your own recommendation proper for gaining admittance into the Kingdom of God and proper for priestly ordination. Never turn away from the hope which the Gospel offers.

(Report by Rev. Fr. Clement Amankwah Yeboah, Bishop’s Secretary)