Reflect more on the family
· Says Bishop Osei-Bonsu
From Damian Avevor, Takoradi
· Says Bishop Osei-Bonsu
From Damian Avevor, Takoradi
The President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, has urged Diocesan Priests as part of their pastoral ministry to reflect more on the Family to influence their decisions regarding the family.
He said the family could and did play a vital role in both the Church and Society but was today, undergoing “a real crisis characterized by urban economic pressures, financial burdens, marital infidelity, sexual promiscuity, the secular philosophy of relativism – all of which is putting the stability of society at risk.”
He said this in a Goodwill message at the opening of the 25th National and 13th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Association (NUGDPA) at the Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High School at Takoradi.
The five-day Congress attended by about 600 Diocesan Priests from all the Arch/Diocese and a Vicariate in Ghana including six Bishops was on the theme: Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of the New Evangelization: The role of the Diocesan Priest.
At the opening ceremony were Most Revs. Matthias Nketsiah, Archbishop of Cape Coast; Thomas Mensah, Emeritus Archbishop of Kumasi; Francis Joseph Essien of Wiawso; Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, of Donkorkrom and Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, of Sekondi –Takoradi.
It was chaired by Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area with Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, Leader of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) as the Special Guest of Honour and Sir Prof. Anthony Annan Prah of the University of Cape Coast as the Guest Speaker.
Also present were Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Francis Appiah-Kubi, President of NUGDPA, Sir Dr. S.K. Kwaw, who represented the Forum of Papal Knights and Dames; Mrs. Mary Armah-Brako, Headmistress of Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School; Dr. Joseph Arko, Chairman of the National Catholic Laity Council; Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Member of Parliament for Takoradi and Capt. Anthony Cudjoe( Rtd), Municipal Chief Executive of Takoradi and some Traditional Rulers.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu was hopeful that the reflection of the chosen theme would help address the needs of Catholic faithful such as the indissolubility of marriage, the prohibition on the use of artificial contraceptives, the issue of cohabitation, divorce and re-marriage and the Sacraments.
“It is the hope of the Bishops’ Conference that at the end of this Congress, you will come out with concrete and practical recommendations on how the Church and the Ghanaian society as a whole can resolve the problems surrounding family and marriage so that the family can play its role as intended by God – the source of all life.”
He said the Bishops’ Conference knew the importance of NUGDPA and the invaluable role it plays in the life of the Church, noting that “ The Biennial Congress of NUGDPA provides a forum for Diocesan Priests not only to meet, fraternize and socialize, but to share views on their pastoral work and to strategize about their pastoral ministry.
Goodwill messages were received from the National Catholic Laity Council, the Traditional Rulers, the Muslim Council, Christian Council of Ghana, Forum of Papal Knights and Dames and the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Ekow Gyan.
Dr. Ndoum urged the Priests to always make the effort to know their flock and make themselves approachable to them so that they could advise, direct, guide and counsel them.
He entreated the Church hierarchy to take advantage of good things the lay faithful put at the disposal of the Church, stressing on the need to encourage the compulsory education as enshrined in Ghana’s Constitution.
He challenged Priests to join the crusade to make education compulsory in Ghana and take up the mantle of ensuring the faithful embrace it which played an integral role in the family apostolate, noting that it was by education that the youth could live a potential life.
In his message, the Regional Minister said as a Church, there was the need to continue with the New Evangelization and to partner the State to reduce the incidence of crime in the country.
“I believe that we can do this by starting from the family level. Parents and Guardians at the family level are to lead the way by teaching our children the way they should go so that as they grow up, they will not depart from it.”
He said if “we are able to guide, direct and counsel our children according to the Word of God and Christian principles, there will be drastic reduction in crime and society will be a better place to live in.”
In a welcome address, Bishop Kwofie commended the NUDGPA for choosing Sekondi-Takoradi, popularly called the “oil city” for the Congress.
He said the Diocese continue to supply the country with mineral resources such as gold, bauxite and manganese with vast rubber plantations and timber; coconut plantation which used to be a big source of income in the Region has unfortunately fallen and impoverished many people.
“You have chosen a Diocese that has played a significant role in Christian Evangelization in our dear country. Towns such as Shama, Asim and Adjoa have historical significance that cannot be overlooked. Early missionaries made these places their base in order to engage in missionary activities of the hinterland in the promotion of the Gospel in our country.”
He said the Diocese currently has 300,000 Catholics and about 155 Priests, out of which 35 were working outside the Diocese both in and out of the country and about 50 Religious Brothers and Sisters.
He said in December last year, eight new Priests and four Deacons were ordained while the Diocese has a little over 50 Parishes and Rectories, Schools, Health and other institutions.
“We also have very important schools that have made huge contribution to the education of the Ghanaian. Schools such as St. John’s Senior High in Sekondi, St. Mary’s Senior High in Apowa, Holy Child College of Education and Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High both in Takoradi and Bogoso Senior High School readily come to mind,” he added.
Another educational institute rising to the heights is the Holy Cross Skill Centre, St. Ann Vocational Institute and Catholic Special Vocational School for the mentally challenged youth.
According Bishop Kwofie, Religious Congregations of Men serving in the Diocese were the Franciscans, Holy Cross Brothers and the Spiritans. The Franciscans and Spiritans are involved in mainly Parish ministry, the Holy Cross Brothers were mainly in education.
The Franciscans run one of the best Printing Presses in the country. Women Congregations in the Diocese include the Holy Child Sisters, Sisters of the Infant Jesus, Sisters of the Handmaid of the Divine Redeemer, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, Hospital Sisters of St. John, Sisters of St. Ann and the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
He said the family could and did play a vital role in both the Church and Society but was today, undergoing “a real crisis characterized by urban economic pressures, financial burdens, marital infidelity, sexual promiscuity, the secular philosophy of relativism – all of which is putting the stability of society at risk.”
He said this in a Goodwill message at the opening of the 25th National and 13th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Association (NUGDPA) at the Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High School at Takoradi.
The five-day Congress attended by about 600 Diocesan Priests from all the Arch/Diocese and a Vicariate in Ghana including six Bishops was on the theme: Pastoral Challenges to the Family in the Context of the New Evangelization: The role of the Diocesan Priest.
At the opening ceremony were Most Revs. Matthias Nketsiah, Archbishop of Cape Coast; Thomas Mensah, Emeritus Archbishop of Kumasi; Francis Joseph Essien of Wiawso; Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, of Donkorkrom and Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, of Sekondi –Takoradi.
It was chaired by Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area with Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom, Leader of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) as the Special Guest of Honour and Sir Prof. Anthony Annan Prah of the University of Cape Coast as the Guest Speaker.
Also present were Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Francis Appiah-Kubi, President of NUGDPA, Sir Dr. S.K. Kwaw, who represented the Forum of Papal Knights and Dames; Mrs. Mary Armah-Brako, Headmistress of Archbishop Porter Girls Senior High School; Dr. Joseph Arko, Chairman of the National Catholic Laity Council; Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Member of Parliament for Takoradi and Capt. Anthony Cudjoe( Rtd), Municipal Chief Executive of Takoradi and some Traditional Rulers.
Bishop Osei-Bonsu was hopeful that the reflection of the chosen theme would help address the needs of Catholic faithful such as the indissolubility of marriage, the prohibition on the use of artificial contraceptives, the issue of cohabitation, divorce and re-marriage and the Sacraments.
“It is the hope of the Bishops’ Conference that at the end of this Congress, you will come out with concrete and practical recommendations on how the Church and the Ghanaian society as a whole can resolve the problems surrounding family and marriage so that the family can play its role as intended by God – the source of all life.”
He said the Bishops’ Conference knew the importance of NUGDPA and the invaluable role it plays in the life of the Church, noting that “ The Biennial Congress of NUGDPA provides a forum for Diocesan Priests not only to meet, fraternize and socialize, but to share views on their pastoral work and to strategize about their pastoral ministry.
Goodwill messages were received from the National Catholic Laity Council, the Traditional Rulers, the Muslim Council, Christian Council of Ghana, Forum of Papal Knights and Dames and the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Ekow Gyan.
Dr. Ndoum urged the Priests to always make the effort to know their flock and make themselves approachable to them so that they could advise, direct, guide and counsel them.
He entreated the Church hierarchy to take advantage of good things the lay faithful put at the disposal of the Church, stressing on the need to encourage the compulsory education as enshrined in Ghana’s Constitution.
He challenged Priests to join the crusade to make education compulsory in Ghana and take up the mantle of ensuring the faithful embrace it which played an integral role in the family apostolate, noting that it was by education that the youth could live a potential life.
In his message, the Regional Minister said as a Church, there was the need to continue with the New Evangelization and to partner the State to reduce the incidence of crime in the country.
“I believe that we can do this by starting from the family level. Parents and Guardians at the family level are to lead the way by teaching our children the way they should go so that as they grow up, they will not depart from it.”
He said if “we are able to guide, direct and counsel our children according to the Word of God and Christian principles, there will be drastic reduction in crime and society will be a better place to live in.”
In a welcome address, Bishop Kwofie commended the NUDGPA for choosing Sekondi-Takoradi, popularly called the “oil city” for the Congress.
He said the Diocese continue to supply the country with mineral resources such as gold, bauxite and manganese with vast rubber plantations and timber; coconut plantation which used to be a big source of income in the Region has unfortunately fallen and impoverished many people.
“You have chosen a Diocese that has played a significant role in Christian Evangelization in our dear country. Towns such as Shama, Asim and Adjoa have historical significance that cannot be overlooked. Early missionaries made these places their base in order to engage in missionary activities of the hinterland in the promotion of the Gospel in our country.”
He said the Diocese currently has 300,000 Catholics and about 155 Priests, out of which 35 were working outside the Diocese both in and out of the country and about 50 Religious Brothers and Sisters.
He said in December last year, eight new Priests and four Deacons were ordained while the Diocese has a little over 50 Parishes and Rectories, Schools, Health and other institutions.
“We also have very important schools that have made huge contribution to the education of the Ghanaian. Schools such as St. John’s Senior High in Sekondi, St. Mary’s Senior High in Apowa, Holy Child College of Education and Archbishop Porter Girls’ Senior High both in Takoradi and Bogoso Senior High School readily come to mind,” he added.
Another educational institute rising to the heights is the Holy Cross Skill Centre, St. Ann Vocational Institute and Catholic Special Vocational School for the mentally challenged youth.
According Bishop Kwofie, Religious Congregations of Men serving in the Diocese were the Franciscans, Holy Cross Brothers and the Spiritans. The Franciscans and Spiritans are involved in mainly Parish ministry, the Holy Cross Brothers were mainly in education.
The Franciscans run one of the best Printing Presses in the country. Women Congregations in the Diocese include the Holy Child Sisters, Sisters of the Infant Jesus, Sisters of the Handmaid of the Divine Redeemer, Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart, Hospital Sisters of St. John, Sisters of St. Ann and the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception.
A cross section of Priests
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Some Senior Priests at the Congress
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Dignitaries at the opening ceremony
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