Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, has called on Christians to be prepared for death since nobody knows when he or she would be called by the Maker.
He stressed on the importance of always preparation for death or else Christians would behave like the five foolish virgins in the St. Matthew’s Gospel.
The Bishop said this at in a homily at the Burial Mass for the Late Sir Kt,. Bro. Sir Kt. Andrew Ransford Kwasi Osei (alias Master Osei, aka ARK) held at St. George’s Catholic Cathedral in Koforidua on Saturday April 25, 2015.
In a homily which centred Matt 25: 1-13 “The The Parable of the Ten Virgins”, Most Rev. Afrifah-Agyekum lamented that many people live as if nothing mattered in the world and that there was no judgement after death. He stressed that Heaven and Hell was real.
Most Rev. Afrifah-Agyekum pointed out that Sir Kt. Bro. Osei was a man who devoted his life to the service of the Church and for many years was a teacher-catechist of the Church. The Bishop lauded the animated dancing skills of Sir Kt. Osei which always got many to join the queue during collection and harvests. Bishop Afrifah-Agyekum prayed fervently for God to grant peaceful rest to the soul of Master Osei.
Concelebrating the Mass with the bishop were: Very Rev. Mosg. Francis Adoboli, Vicar General of Accra Archdiocese; Rev. Fr. Felix Davordzi, Administrator of St. Georges Cathedral, Koforidua, and Rev. Fr. Augustine Asante, Assistant Cathedral Administrator.
Attendance
The Burial Mass was attended by over 600 brothers and sisters from councils and courts in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions. Among the leadership of Noble Order present were: Sir Kt. Bro. Anthony C. Kemavor, Past Substantive Supreme Knight, Sir Kt. Bro. Francis Yaovi Ahiabu, Sir Kt. Bro. E.N. Sowah, Sir Kt. Bro. G.M. Osei, Sir Kt. Bro. C.K. Narh, Sir Kt. Bro. Charles K. Appiasi, MRL Sis. Kate Sowah, W/Bro. Patrick Anumel, RL Sis. Gloria M. Bramson all substantive Regional Grand Knights and Regional Noble Ladies. Also present were W/Bro. Kwame Boamah-Dwira, Regional Grand Knight for Eastern Region and Regional Noble Lady, RL Sis. Cecilia A. Akwetey.
Biography
Sir Kt. Bro. Andrew Ransford Kwasi Osei was born on August 8, 1927 at Koforidua. He had his basic education at Koforidua Catholic School from 1935 to 1946. After three years of teaching as a pupil teacher he was sponsored to attend the St. Mary Training College at Odumase from 1949 to 1951. He did his Post ‘B’ course at the same school from 1954 to 1956.
He taught at a number of schools in Koforidua, Akim Swedru, Asokore, New Tafo until he retired in 2007.
Sir Kt. Bro. A. R. T. Osei was initiated into the Noble Order at Council No 12 (Koforidua) on February 13, 1963. He became Grand Knight in 1971 and thereafter rose through the ranks to become a Past Grand Advisor. In 1989 he was elected the Deputy Regional Grand Knight for the Eastern Region, which then comprised of parts of Central region (Winneba), Greater Accra Region and the Eastern Region. He was in 1992 installed the first Eastern Regional Grand Knight. In 1999 was elevated to rank of Honorary Past Supreme Knight.
Sir Kt. A.R.T. Osei joined the Noble Order above on December 26, 2014. He is survived by six children, 15 grand children and three great-grand children.
Concelebrating the mass with the bishop were Very Rev. Mosg. Francis Adoboli, Vicar General of Accra Archdiocese; Rev. Fr. Felix Davordzi, Administrator of St. Georges Cathedral, Koforidua, and Rev . Fr. Augustine Asante, Assistant Cathedral Administrator