Hundreds mourn Fr. John Oppong

Hundreds of mourners including Prelates, Priests, Religious, relatives, faithful, and well-wishers from all walks of lives attended the funeral Mass for the late Rev. Bro. Fr. John Kwadwo Oppong, O.H., at the St. George Cathedral in Koforidua.

Among the mourners was a grief-stricken Maame Minta, mother of the deceased, with family members of Bro. Oppong, as well as the confreres of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God.   

Fr. Oppong, OH, 62, until his death was the First Councilor, as well as the Superior Director of the St. John of God Hospital at Sefwi Asafo and also a Management Advisory Board Chairman for the Order of the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God Centres in Ghana.

Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua, was the main celebrant at the Mass, concelebrated by Most Revs. Joseph Francis K. Essien, and Peter K. Atuahene, Bishops of Wiawso, and Goaso, respectively.

Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum in a remark expressed sadness at the death of Fr. Oppong and consoled the family and the St. John of God Brothers of the Hospitaller Order, reassuring them to take solace in the Lord Jesus Christ who will resurrect him.

Prelates and Priests praying for the deceased

He said death was inevitable, adding that ones we are born, we begin to die, but urged Christians to take consolation in the Gospel of our salvation.  

In a homily, Rev. Fr. Anthony Asare, Parish Priest of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Tema Community 8, the classmate of the deceased, recounted the gentleness, piety and spirituality of the late brother.

He extolled his goodness, love and friendliness, urging the mourners and the faithful to water the virtues he lived and emulate whatever good thing they remember of the deceased.

Tributes by the Confreres of the late Bro. Oppong; the National Catholic Health Service, Accra; the St. Joseph Hospital, Effiduase-Koforidua and the St. John of God Hospital, Sefwi Asafo, celebrated his love, selflessness, calm disposition.

The late Bro. Oppong was born, baptized and confirmed at the St. Mary’s Parish, Tepa in the Goaso Diocese. He made his simple profession on 24^th June 1985 in Rome and made his solemn profession in Koforidua on 3^rd November, 1991. He was also ordained a Priest at Koforidua on 31^st July, 1995.

Some Brothers  conveying the coffin of Fr. Oppong

He was nominated in August 1995 as Scholastic Master at Afagnan and First Counselor by then Africa General Delegation. He was appointed local Superior of Tanguita, Benin on 22^nd January 1996. He had also served as Scholastic Master in Nairobi, Kenya and appointed Superior and Director of St. John of God Hospital Tigania Community, Kenya.

Described as a good manager, a great listener and unifier, the late Fr. Oppong will forever be remembered for being a man of “great discretion and great attention” who brought a “ray of sunshine” to all he encountered.