A forgiving Father
Father Peter Wiafe Akenteng, pastor of Our Mother of Mercy Parish (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
HE IS: Father Peter Wiafe Akenteng, pastor of Our Mother of Mercy Parish in Fort Worth and sacramental minister for the Ghanaian Catholic Community, which meets weekly at St. Joseph Parish in Arlington.
He is a diocesan priest of the Archdiocese of Kumasi, Ghana.
DEEP ROOTS: Fr. Akenteng is the oldest of 15 children, 13 of whom are living, raised by poor farmers. Four of the 13 have religious vocations.
ANSWERED CALL: Fr. Akenteng wanted to be a priest from age 5. He was ordained July 27, 1985.
MANY HATS: In his 40 years of priesthood, he has taught in seminary, especially Latin and sociology; served as financial administrator for his diocese; instructed catechists; and ministered in parishes large and small.
He studied sociology in Rome and education in the United Kingdom.
TONGUE TIED: Fr. Akenteng believes in “no discrimination, no participation in gossip. Those who gossip to you about others will gossip about you to others. As much as possible, I want to avoid that.”
RECONCILED: At Our Mother of Mercy, he offers confession six days a week (starting at 6 a.m.!) and by appointment.
“It is not me doing it, however. I must be very close to the Lord to be able to help those who come. If I don’t have the Lord, I cannot give Him to other people. If I don’t have His mercy, I cannot give His mercy to other people. If I don’t have His love, I cannot give His love to other people. No one gives what he doesn’t have.”
MORE MERCY: Since arriving at Our Mother of Mercy Parish last year, Fr. Akenteng has added Masses, confession time, ministries, and activities, especially for seniors.
“We want everybody to be active. Everybody is needed in this parish. We need people to help. I’m very happy that everybody is interested and everybody’s very active. The enthusiasm is very great here and I’m happy.”
FIRST AND LAST THINGS: “Every day before I get up from my bed, I go to the Lord. The Lord should be the first thing, or the first person, before you wake up. And then before you go to bed, the Lord should be the last person you talk to before you go to bed. Not the phone.”
CULTURE CLASH: “In my culture, anybody you see is a brother, is a sister,” he said, explaining when he came to the U.S., he was surprised people pass without speaking.
“If you see a new member in your church — it’s not a thief, it’s a member of you.”
GHANA’S WAY: Fr. Akenteng said Ghanaian people may be poor, but they are very happy. “Everything we do begins with God. The Ghanaian Catholic would make the Sign of the Cross anytime he begins anything.”
TAKEAWAY: “Forgive easily. I want [my parishioners] to forgive. Easily. Forgiveness brings peace. Forgiveness brings unity, brings belonging, brings togetherness. I want us to celebrate together as one body of the Lord.
“When you’re angry, you disturb your heart for nothing. So let it go. You forgive the offender. Yes, he does not deserve your forgiveness, but you deserve your peace.”
CATHOLIC MEANS UNIVERSAL: Having lived in four countries, Fr. Akenteng witnessed, “You have one God. You have one Church, you have one faith, you have one Lord. You’re all the same. That is what I love about Catholicism. Wherever you go in the Catholic Church, you may not understand the language, but you can speak the same language — the language of faith. That is wonderful. You’re not divided.”