St. Mary of the Annunciation

Reverend Father Godfred Appiah-Marfo

His basic education was at Nyadeyeya Roman Catholic Primary School and Nwineso No. 3 Local Authority Middle School finishing in 1983. He responded to the calling of God into the ministry of the priesthood and joined the Minor Seminary in 1984. He completed his Ordinary and Advanced Level courses in 1992. He then studied Philosophy at St. Paul’s Catholic Seminary at Sowutuom, Accra; continued his Theological studies in St. Peter’s Regional Seminary, Pedu, Cape Coast, Ghana where he graduated in 2000 with a Degree in Theology and Sociology. He was ordained to the Priesthood on July 8, 2000.

Subsequently he was assigned as a curate at the Cathedral Church of St. Thomas, Obuasi for two years and then transferred to St. Peter’s Church at Jacobu as Acting Parish Priest. ​In 2003, Reverend Godfred Appiah Marfo was sent to the Pontifical University of Urbaniana in Rome to study Canon Law and obtained Licentiate Degree in Canon Law in 2006. He returned to Ghana in October 2006 and worked in his Diocese of Obuasi from 2006 to 2023. Within that period, he held the positions of diocesan Chancellor and Judicial Vicar, Advocate of the Kumasi Provincial Tribunal, Promoter of Justice, Vicar for Marriages, member of Bishop’s Consultors, diocesan Senator and Parish priest of St. Joseph Parish, Esaase for five years, Holy Trinity Parish, Anyinam for five years, St. Anthony Parish, Esereso for five years and Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, Abompe for four years.

Most recently, God called Father Godfred to the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia and he is now currently a Judge and Promoter of Justice for the Diocesan Tribunal of Richmond as well as the Pastor of our St. Mary of the Annunciation Parish.  Reverend Fr. Godfred Appiah-Marfo has great interest in sports and music and a deep heart for charity and support for the poor and the suffering, especially the orphans and widows. 

Lighting a Path to a Brighter Future 

"Inspired by the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of our Savior Jesus Christ, I desired to do something in her honor. Instead of raising another big statue of Mother Mary, I decided to honor her by serving the orphaned children living in and near my community in Ghana." - Father Godfred 

God Answers

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
Visit the website here: Mary, Mother of God Orphanage