Some Priests have No Passion for Evangelisation – Bishop Louis
The Most Rev. John Kobina Louis, an Auxiliary Bishop of Accra, has lamented the lack of passion for evangelisation on the part of some priests in the country.
Delivering a Keynote Address during the Theology Week celebration of the St. Peter’s Seminary in Cape Coast last Monday on the theme: A Synodal Approach to Priestly Formation: Developing New and Creative Pathways For Ministry in Ghana, the Bishop said, “Some priests have little or no passion for primary evangelization.
He painted a stark picture of clergy members who appeared complacent with the status quo, content to confine their ministry within the walls of their Parish, neglecting the urgent call to reach out actively to the broader community.
“To go out, they are not part. The only outing is to give communion to the sick,” Bishop Louis observed.
He highlighted a concerning trend among some priests, who, instead of embracing a proactive approach to evangelization, restrict their activities to mere rituals, failing to engage meaningfully with the spiritual needs of their congregations.
Turning his attention to the preparation of homilies, Bishop Louis did not shy away from addressing a prevalent weakness within the clergy. “Some priests do not adequately prepare their homilies. It’s a weakness,” he asserted.
He urged his fellow clergy to invest more time and effort in crafting thoughtful and inspiring sermons that would resonate with their congregations and ignite a renewed sense of faith.
Bishop Louis also raised concerns about the delegation of catechetical instructions, stating, “We leave it in the hands of catechists who have been trained for only two weeks.”
He emphasized the need for priests to reclaim their role as primary educators of the faith, refusing to abdicate this sacred responsibility to individuals with insufficient training or understanding.
The Bishop further highlighted the absence of systematic and comprehensive programs for teaching different categories of the lay faithful within parishes, lamenting, “Most of our catechesis is for children up to 15 years. For adults, what type of catechesis do we give them?”
He called for a more nuanced and tailored approach to catechetical instruction, recognizing the diverse spiritual needs of parishioners across different age groups.
In his critique of priests’ involvement in religious education in Catholic schools, Bishop Louis coined the term “cementology” to describe the misplaced priorities that often overshadowed the core ministry of proclamation. “After ordination, priests are more involved in cement and concrete works,” he remarked, highlighting the pressing need for a renewed focus on spiritual nourishment and evangelization.
