Chicago, IL
December 26, 2014

The St. Ambrose Catholic Church in the Kenmore neighborhood of South Chicago was the scene of a colorful installation ceremony for Fr. John Owusu-Achiaw, CSSp (front left) on Sunday, December 7, 2014. The ceremony started at 10.30 A.M. with a traditional Catholic Mass officiated by the Most Reverend Bishop Perry, Episcopal Bishop of Vicariate VI in the Archdiocese of Chicago, and Fr. Jeff Duaime, CSSp., Provincial for The Congregation of the Holy Spirit of the United States.

The ceremony started with a procession of the members of the Parish Pastoral Council, Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, mass-servers, a retinue of priests, Bishop Perry and the Superior of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, a priestly order. At the head of the procession was a girl dressed in traditional Ghanaian clothes carrying an “apotoyowa” which contained the coals used for burning incense. The procession was accompanied by music provided by the combined choirs of the Ghanaian Catholic Community and the St. Ambrose African-American community singing “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow”.

Following the readings and the gospel, the rite of installation was initiated with a declaration by the Bishop commending Fr. John as the new pastor of St. Ambrose. The congregation expressed their approval with a resounding applause. The new pastor then led the congregation to recite the Nicene Creed after which he swore the oath of fidelity to the church and the Pontiff. After receiving the oath, the Bishop gave his homily.