I can hear his joyful voice cry out these words, “Let the Church say “Amen!”” so clearly as I write these words it seems strange. My brother in Christ, Fr. Paul Ageyman Mensah has returned to our heavenly Father. May he be at peace.

“Let the Church say “Amen!”” I first got to know Fr. Paul when he came to the Diocese of San Jose. I was still studying at St. Patrick Seminary and there would be this short, joyous and loud priest at different functions and meetings. You could see, even before you knew him, the joy of God living in his heart so loudly it could not be contained.

When I was assigned to be pastor at St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in 2009, Fr. Paul was one of the two parochial vicars at the parish. I had been a priest for a little more than 4 years and he had so such more experiences. It was humbling being a the “boss” of someone who had many more talents and so many more insights into how to be both a priest but also how to care for the people of God. It was a great blessing to be able to ask the harder questions and learn a little more about what it meant to be both priest and a man of faith.

“Let the Church say “Amen!”” Then there was his mission…Awaso Hope Project…bringing education to a small village, his village in Ghana Africa. It was a passion that consumed so much of his time and effort as he raised money and support for this mission in his life. His dream was how education would change the world starting in a little village in Africa. He was obsessed by this call, God’s call to reach out to those who are often left behind in poverty. He offered his life in joyful determination to offer the gift of education that had been given to him to all people.
In my one year with him in Morgan Hill he constantly questioned me about what would be best, as he picked my brain from my experience as a teacher. I shared with him all I had and I know many teachers and principals were grilled in the same manner as he saw his dream coming to fruition, even as setbacks and doubts sometimes filled the time.

“Let the Church say “Amen!”” Then he left and went back to his first love, his people, he went home to Awaso. The many parishioners throughout the Diocese of San Jose and in Canada, where he had first served when coming to North America, prayed for, donated and volunteered at helping him and the school begin and then thrive with all the bumps, bruises and missteps any new project and mission has at its foundation. Groups of parishioners would go over and learn more and share their experiences.

I was privileged to visit and see the beauty and wonder of the country, the people and most of all their faith. To celebrate the Sacraments with the community, to help plant the fields that would feed the children and workers and to talk to the parents and children was awe-inspiring and something I will never forget. I could talk about the school and work for hours but I would direct you to awasohope.org which has a in-depth look at what is happening and how it is moving forward.

One of the things I best remember is his yearly visit back to San Jose and his fund raising activity. One of the first things he would always do was visit the Hawaiian BBQ for a chicken dinner. I am not sure why, but it was always a blessing to share a meal with him. The second was his fundraising efforts. I asked him once, how he was so successful? His answer was simple, “Tell a story of hope and do it joyfully.” This is what he did. It wasn’t an act but his deep trust in our Lord Jesus and the hope and joy the Gospel message brings to the world.

“Let the Church say “Amen!”” This is how Fr. Paul proclaimed the Gospel and lived his life as a priest and a man of faith: with joy and hope. His laughter was contagious, his smile unending and his graciousness a blessing to all people. He chose to serve in this humble way, in a small village in Ghana, his village the place he was given to by our Heavenly Father. The last time I saw Fr. Paul was in 2019 because of the COVID travel restrictions. He lived to see his first class head off to high school, something we take for granted, but in this small village in Ghana, a victory beyond all telling. Fr. Paul Ageyman Mensah may have died but his hope in Jesus, his joy in Jesus lives on in the children, the parents, and each community in which he served.
Thank you brother and may the embrace of our God enfold you and keep you safe.
God bless and “Let the Church say “Amen!””
Fr. Mark

ps…if you wish to share a story about Fr. Paul I invite you to do so in the comments below.