April 18, 2024

Father Philip says ‘people are amazing’ in his new parishes

By CALEB NELSON

Father Philip Bempong says the "people are amazing" in Greenfield, where St. John's Catholic Church is one of his two parishes, the other being St. Patrick in Massena. Bempong began presiding over Mass in those locations this weekend and was welcomed by those in Greenfield at a Give Thanks Harvest Dinner. (Photo by)

St. John’s Catholic Church and St. James Catholic Church in Massena welcomed a new priest to their parishes this weekend as Rev. Father Philip Bempong began presiding over ministries in those locations.

Bempong comes to southwest Iowa from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Accra in Ghana. This is the same archdiocese that Bempong’s predecessor, Father James Ahenkora, came from. Ahenkora was called to serve a parish in Council Bluffs in July, which left St. John’s and St. James without a pastor.

Bempong explained that his bishop in Ghana asked him to come to Iowa to serve in Greenfield earlier this fall and having been to America only during the summer in a few trips to New York City, he was excited to come here for the foreseeable future. He began traveling here Nov. 3.

“I went through Amstradam to Minneapolis, then Omaha. I have been to America but it was just for two to three months, but this is the first time for me for pastoral work here,” Bempong said “It’s warm in Ghana, so it’s colder here. This is my first time seeing snow. It’s nice. We used to sing a lot of songs at Christmas in Ghana about snow. Now, I’ve seen it and it’s great.”

Bempong said he feels the people of Greenfield, Massena and the surrounding areas have been very welcoming to him so far.

“The people are amazing. In fact, the warm welcoming of the people is keeping me warm, even though it’s cold,” Bempong said. “It’s been a tremendous opening of hearts to people you’ve never met. They’ve been bringing me lots of things: winter clothes, a winter jacket, winter shoes. All of this is, I’m overwhelmed and it’s amazing.”

Bempong said he has a strong desire for he and his parishioners to do whatever they do “together.”

“We’re going to have a peaceful, cool existence and live as brothers and sisters,” said Bempong, 40.

Bempong comes from a family of five — he has a brother still in Ghana and a sister who lives in the United Kingdom. His mother still works and his father is retired.

Bempong’s interests include playing tennis and basketball. He also sings and plays drums.

“I’m happy to be here and am joyful to be among the people of Greenfield,” Bempong said. “I’m hoping to have a good time with them. We’re going to enjoy our togetherness and our fellowship together.”