St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Axim

06/01/2025

https://youtu.be/f1G0DzDssdI?si=Pu4uNIQ6mvBlmDxw

CATHSU members of Efutu Senior High Technical School, Cape Coast visited St. Joseph Minor Basilica, Elmina in 2024

27/08/2022

Video highlights of Pope Francis creating 20 new Cardinals at a Consistory in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday.

Find out more: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2022-08/pope-to-new-cardinals-may-we-bring-fire-of-god-s-love-to-all.html

29/05/2022

Congratulations to the Catholic Bishop of the Wa Diocese, Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M.Afr, on his elevation as a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church by the Pope.

This is good news for Ghana and worth celebrating.

Catholic Diocese of Wa

07/11/2020

Congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Mr Biden is the second Catholic US President, after John F. Kennedy.

Let us pray for unity, peace and reconciliation in our nation. And let us pray for Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, that they may serve wisely and well.

29/05/2020

20/04/2020

*Finding Nourishment in God's Word*
*Monday: Second Week of Easter 20/04/2020*
_Acts 4:23:31; Ps 2:1-9; John 3:1-8_
In this critical period of the Covid-19 pandemic and resultant hardships we can derive a lot of inspiration from the attitude of the early christians when faced with persecution. Their response to the report of Peter and John was to spontaneously raise their voices together in prayer to God. The prayer offered was essentially imprecatory. Imprecatory prayers are requests for God to bring swift and harsh justice on the enemies of his people (Ps 7;35;55;59;69;109;137). Yet instead of asking for vengeance, the believers pleaded above all for "parresia" translated as *boldness*. It actually means the freedom to say what the Spirit inspires. Thus they prayed for the freedom/boldness necessary to proclaim the goodnews without fear of man. Also, they dared to ask that through the name of Jesus healing, miracles and wonders should accompany their preaching. Two more elements: how God was addressed and aftermath of the prayer. First, God was called Sovereign Lord ("Despota"), meaning one who is powerful and has absolute control. This means that everything in heaven and earth is subject to God and his will. Second, after the prayer, the building shook and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Among the Greeks, shaking was a sign of prayer being answered. Luke used the word "saleuo" (shake, tremble) with the obvious intention to make the Christian message understandable and appealing to his Greek audience at the time. Crucial points for our situation today:
1. In our difficulties we should spontaneously turn to God in prayer. Need to find creative ways in view of COVID-19.
2. As human efforts are failing and proving futile in the fight against Covid-19 we need to turn to God and his sovereign will.
3. Miracles still do happen. God still hears and answers. We need to pray till the Spirit generates movement in us.
_A lovely and safe day to you all!_
*(Fr. Miezah)*

19/04/2020

*Finding Nourishment in God's Word*
*Second Sunday of Easter: Divine Mercy Sunday 19/04/2020*
_Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 118; 1Pet 1:3-9; John 20:19-31_
This Sunday was instituted by St. Pope John Paul II as Divine Mercy Sunday on 30th April 2000, on the occasion of the canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska. This feast was established in response to the request of the Lord Jesus to St Faustina. The Lord said _*"I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for souls. Humankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My Mercy".*_ There is no providential time to turn trustfully to the Divine Mercy than this time when our world is ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic. The readings offer deep insight into what the Divine Mercy can do in the life of the believing community and the individual believer. In the first reading, Luke gives a portrait of an ideal Christian community: it is one that has been moved by Divine Mercy to repent of its sins and it's opened to the Spirit's influence. Members of such a community have experienced a remarkable lifestyle change such that it attracts others to the Christian faith. Unique characteristics of this community include: *following apostolic teaching, sharing common life(koinonia), celebration of the Eucharist (breaking of bread) and praying together*. These characteristics clearly show that such a Christian community is under the influence of the Spirit. The second reading celebrates the Christian God as a merciful God and Father in contradistinction to the pagan god's. Through Jesus' resurrection (an act of his great mercy), he has given us new birth and a living hope. Nonetheless, this new birth as precious as it is may be tested. We therefore need to be on guard. The appearance of the Risen Lord to the fearful disciples and subsequent breathing on them and entrusting a mission to them are evocative of biblical imagery of creation of man (John 20:19-23//Gen 2:7). In sum, Jesus recreated the disciples and offered them five great gifts: joy, peace, mission, forgiveness and the Holy Spirit. One last point to note: despite the locked doors he manifested his presence to them. *This is an indication of his victory over the limitations human circumstances can impose. Regardless of our present global plague coupled with human weaknesses and wickedness, doubts and fears, lockdown and boredom, sin and shame, his divine mercy would always prevail. His presence will always be with us to comfort us.* Blessed Easter!
*(Fr. Miezah)*

18/04/2020

*Finding Nourishment in God's Word*

*Saturday within the Octave of Easter* *18/04/2020*
_Acts 4:13-21; Psalm 118; Mark 16:9-15_

When a person truly encounters Jesus or get the opportunity to be with him (Mark 3:14-15), he/she is touched in a way that transforms him/her to the amazement of all. Realizing that Peter and John were uneducated, the council was amazed at what being with Jesus had done for them (Acts 4:13). Few days earlier these same apostles were timid and wishy-washy (Mark 14:50; Luke 22:54-62; John 20:19). Now they are fearless, confident, articulate and passionate speakers. The change was obvious and it astonished the council. The point in this text is *a changed life convinces people of Christ's power*. Therefore let our greatest testimony be the difference others see in our life and attitude this eastertide. This change should make us seek to obey God no matter the opposition, allurements, pressures and difficulties in life.
*(Fr. Miezah)*