‘Avail yourself for Church work’
Chinyere Oliobi, SHCJ
Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Bishop of Goaso has called on the youth to actively participate in Church activities to ensure holistic growth and development.
He urged them, youth to be focused, make use of opportunities available to them, develop their talents, live a dignified life, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of society. The Bishop made the call at this year’s World Youth Day celebration at the St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Kenyasi on the theme: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God”.
He advised young people to be studious, truthful, respectful, and work hard for a secured future, urging them to be prayerful and generous to the poor, sick and vulnerable in the society. He cautioned the youth about the ‘mad rush’ for travelling abroad in search of greener pastures, saying that those with such mentality easily fell victim to human traffickers, who make empty promises of better jobs abroad.
Bishop Atuahene urged them to create awareness of the evil of human trafficking and to protect themselves from being lured into slavery. The Bishop encouraged them to participate actively in all activities outlined for the celebration to ensure holistic growth and transformation, expressing the hope that at the end of the programme, their lives would become exemplary and a reflection of what they had learnt.
Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Asibuo-Kusi, the Diocesan Youth Chaplain, said the celebration was a prototype of the Ghana Version of the World Youth Day celebration, slated for August this year at Cape Coast and called for support from all to enable the youth in the Diocese participate in the programme. Activities that marked the celebration included Cultural displays, Diocesan Youth Music Festival, Indoor Games/Athletics (Marathon race, Volley ball, and Soccer), Catechesis, as well as Clean up exercise.
Mr. Malogah B. Samuel, Asutifi North District Health Promotion Officer, delivered a keynote address on “Sexually transmitted infections among the youth, causes, effects and prevention” entreating the youth to live good moral lives and eschew premarital sex.
Mr. Ernest Amankwah, the Goaso Diocesan Youth Council Chairman, indicated that the Council was embarking on a self reliance project and solicited for support from all.
The four–day celebration was attended by about 3,000 youth from all the Parishes and Outstations in the Diocese. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Jerry Opoku Sarfo and attended by Rev. Frs. Felix Twumasi, John Mary Appiadu, Parish Priest and Assistant of the Kenyasi Church, and Elisha Manu, Assistant Priest of the Goaso Cathedral.
Also in attendance were Mr. Joseph Daha, Member of Parliament, Christian Hevi Afeflu, a Magistrate, Mr. Dampah Edward Dampah-Yin, National Secretary, Ghana National Youth Council, Mr. Robert Bieni and Mr. Gabriel Nyarko, Immediate Past and Present Diocesan Laity Council Chairpersons respectively and a good number of Religious Women.
Most Rev. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Bishop of Goaso has called on the youth to actively participate in Church activities to ensure holistic growth and development.
He urged them, youth to be focused, make use of opportunities available to them, develop their talents, live a dignified life, and contribute meaningfully to the growth of society. The Bishop made the call at this year’s World Youth Day celebration at the St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Kenyasi on the theme: “Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God”.
He advised young people to be studious, truthful, respectful, and work hard for a secured future, urging them to be prayerful and generous to the poor, sick and vulnerable in the society. He cautioned the youth about the ‘mad rush’ for travelling abroad in search of greener pastures, saying that those with such mentality easily fell victim to human traffickers, who make empty promises of better jobs abroad.
Bishop Atuahene urged them to create awareness of the evil of human trafficking and to protect themselves from being lured into slavery. The Bishop encouraged them to participate actively in all activities outlined for the celebration to ensure holistic growth and transformation, expressing the hope that at the end of the programme, their lives would become exemplary and a reflection of what they had learnt.
Welcoming the dignitaries and participants, Rev. Fr. Benjamin Asibuo-Kusi, the Diocesan Youth Chaplain, said the celebration was a prototype of the Ghana Version of the World Youth Day celebration, slated for August this year at Cape Coast and called for support from all to enable the youth in the Diocese participate in the programme. Activities that marked the celebration included Cultural displays, Diocesan Youth Music Festival, Indoor Games/Athletics (Marathon race, Volley ball, and Soccer), Catechesis, as well as Clean up exercise.
Mr. Malogah B. Samuel, Asutifi North District Health Promotion Officer, delivered a keynote address on “Sexually transmitted infections among the youth, causes, effects and prevention” entreating the youth to live good moral lives and eschew premarital sex.
Mr. Ernest Amankwah, the Goaso Diocesan Youth Council Chairman, indicated that the Council was embarking on a self reliance project and solicited for support from all.
The four–day celebration was attended by about 3,000 youth from all the Parishes and Outstations in the Diocese. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Jerry Opoku Sarfo and attended by Rev. Frs. Felix Twumasi, John Mary Appiadu, Parish Priest and Assistant of the Kenyasi Church, and Elisha Manu, Assistant Priest of the Goaso Cathedral.
Also in attendance were Mr. Joseph Daha, Member of Parliament, Christian Hevi Afeflu, a Magistrate, Mr. Dampah Edward Dampah-Yin, National Secretary, Ghana National Youth Council, Mr. Robert Bieni and Mr. Gabriel Nyarko, Immediate Past and Present Diocesan Laity Council Chairpersons respectively and a good number of Religious Women.