New Stonehill Priest Announcement

It is with great joy and anticipation that we announce that Fr. Gabriel Oduro Mensah has been assigned by the Archdiocese of Dubuque as a Sacramental Priest at Stonehill Communities and MercyOne. This official appointment of duties begins on July 8th. At Stonehill Communities he will be offering Masses, Anointing of the Sick, and Reconciliation; supporting our Pastoral Services team; and participating in other faith-based activities at the Health Center, Assisi Village, and Windsor Park.

Fr. Gabriel is originally from the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Ghana in West Africa. He was ordained as a priest on September 29, 2001 and is 57 years old. While in Ghana he served in various ministries including as an Associate Pastor, Rector, and Pastor. His priestly ministry in Ghana included working in both remote villages and larger cities.

He has lived in the United States since June 2022. His previous assignment was as associate pastor for the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier, Dyersville; St. Joseph Parish, Earlville; St. Boniface Parish, New Vienna; SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Petersburg; and St. Paul Parish, Worthington. He is known for visiting the homebound and area parishioners have loved to have him come visit them.

Fr. Gabriel comes from a blended family and is one of 19 children. He has five sisters and 13 brothers with two of his brothers living in Minnesota and Missouri. He enjoys watching soccer, cooking African food and listening to gospel music. Fr. Gabriel also loves to drive and take “road trips”. There were times in his ministry in Ghana when he would wake up very early, drive eight hours to a village, preside at Mass and visit with the people, and then drive another eight hours home–all in one day!

Fr. Gabriel is very eager to serve the people of Stonehill Communities. He said “I am looking forward to meeting the residents, patients, employees, and families of Stonehill Communities. I very much enjoy having one-on-one conversations with people and offering them the opportunity to feel God’s grace through the sacraments.”