The diocesan priests of the Catholic Diocese of Sunyani have successfully concluded their Annual Retreat, which took place from Sunday, 8th February to Thursday, 12th February 2026, at the Diocesan Pastoral and Retreat Centre, Odumase.

The five-day spiritual exercise was directed by Most Rev. John Kwabena Louis, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Accra, under the theme: “Examining Our Priestly Ministry in Ghana Today.”

In his conferences, Bishop Louis led our dear priests through profound spiritual reflections and practical pastoral discussions aimed at deepening self-awareness and fostering renewal in priestly life and ministry. A distinctive feature of the retreat was his use of the SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) as a pastoral framework to help priests critically assess their identity and effectiveness within the contemporary Ghanaian context.

The retreat created a sacred atmosphere of prayer, silence, Eucharistic celebration, and fraternity, offering priests the opportunity to encounter the Lord anew and to realign their lives more closely with the demands of their vocation.

At the Closing Mass, the Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Bishop Louis for the depth and clarity of his presentations. He commended the retreat director for making the retreat both spiritually enriching and pastorally practical, noting that the methodology adopted greatly facilitated sincere self-examination and personal conversion among the priests.

As a sign of thanksgiving, a specially designed chasuble produced by the Sunyani Diocese Sewing Centre, Pax Garments Ltd, located at the Catholic Secretariat and under the care of Rev. Fr. Peter Oppong Kumi, an establishment renowned for its quality liturgical garments, general clothing works, and training of young people in the country, was presented to Bishop Louis on behalf of the Diocese. In addition to the chasuble, a plaque of thanksgiving was also presented in appreciation of his dedicated service to the Diocese.

The Annual Retreat has once again reaffirmed the Diocese’s commitment to ongoing priestly formation and renewal, as the clergy return to their various parishes strengthened in faith and renewed in zeal to serve God’s people with humility, integrity, and pastoral charity.

Report: Rev. Fr. Peh

DEPSOCOM Sunyani