Lighting a Path
to a Brighter Future 

In 2010, exactly ten years after my ordination and after returning from further studies in Rome for my degree in Canon Law, I felt I needed to find a way to help the less privileged people of my village. I wanted to help the orphans, widows, the poor, the sick, and those who did not have people to support them. Without available funds or funding source, I decided to save the little money I received through gift donations or part of my priestly support allocations. I used these funds to buy clothes or bags of rice to share with a few people in need. With many prayers and enthusiasm, I celebrated by throwing parties for local children on festive occasions like Christmas and Easter. These experiences generated my interest in visiting an orphanage. I used to appeal to my Church and the communities where I ministered as a pastor for items like food, clothes, footwear, and money to donate to the local orphanage where I spent my free time.

 

Through God's divine providence, an Italian man visited my parish one day and saw what I was doing for those in my community, and he encouraged me to begin a new orphanage. He pledged his support by giving me a cash donation of $5,000.00 and I used this money to build the foundation of a new orphanage building. The Blessed Mother continued to hear my prayers, and just before I departed from Ghana to Virginia, another benefactor reached out and gave the mission the support it needed by completely financing the completion of the main building structure. Thanks to Dr. Denise Santucci, the orphanage was becoming a beautiful reality.

 

Soon after settling into my new assignment in the United States, a group of wonderful people agreed to help me complete this project. A non-profit was formed with six local board members from all backgrounds of life; all with a deep faith in God and belief in the possibilities this orphanage will afford the children living in Ghana. With their help and the help of generous donors, this orphanage will open soon and provide a nurturing, faith-filled environment for so many disadvantaged children. I pray God continues to work through me and walk with me every day as I bring his vision to life for those in most need.​

 

Thank you & God Bless,

Rev. Fr. Godfred Appiah-Marfo