Ajumako Bisease Catholics end centenary celebration

Activities climaxing the one-year Centenary celebration of the St Michael Catholic Church at Ajumako Bisease have taken place over a two-day period.

Welcoming celebrants on the first day, Saturday, September 26, 2015, the Bisease Parish Priest, Rev Father Benjamin K.N.A Baiden, said the 100-year anniversary was to thank God for His mercies and grace over the years and also to recognise the roles played by the founding fathers of the church, its missionaries and members until today.

“We celebrate the fruit of the passion, glowing spirit and sharp insights of the benevolent souls that have worked in this parish within the last century,” the parish priest said.

Nine deacons were ordained priests by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev Mathias Kobina Nketsiah, who had earlier in 1981 assumed the position of Resident Priest of the St Michael Catholic Church.

Ordained priests

The priests were Rev Anthanasius Afful, Rev Anthony Nana Kwame Gyamfi Boadi, Rev Paul Peprah, Rev Felix Quarcoe and Rev Jude Abeiku Mensah.

The rest were Rev Anthony Arko-Baidoo, Rev Collins Boahoma Quaidoo, Rev Francis Amissah Nyarkoh and Rev Martin Essilifie-Obeng.

Most Rev Nketsiah charged the new priests to avoid using their position to exploit church members for material gains and rather concentrate on the work of God while he admonished the members that “we should not offer the priests that which is substandard in the name of sacrifice from the priests; priests deserve honour.”

A holy mass, a fundraising and presentation of awards were held on Sunday, September 27.

Presenting the homily (sermon) at the mass, Most Rev Nketsiah spoke against discrimination of all forms, pointing out that “it brings about division and disunity.”

He expressed wonder as to why some people would discriminate against others on the lines of ethnicity, education, political affiliation, age, occupation and other such things.

“Let us allow people to contribute their quota to development based on their abilities, not on any other considerations not relevant to the task to be performed,” the Archbishop said.

Speaking in Fanti interspersed with English expressions, Most Rev Nketsiah made reference to a church election in which the members voted for a native of the town where the church was located against a non-native who had acquired higher education and skills relevant to the particular office, stressing that “discrimination occurs even in the church but this must be avoided”.

The Guest Speaker for the day, Dr Stephen Nana Ato Arthur, himself a Catholic and Member of Parliament for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Constituency said every Christian should lead a life that would make the Christian Religion attractive to others.

Anniversary theme

Making reference to the anniversary theme ‘Let your light shine’, he asked all Ghanaians to avoid corruption and implored heads of senior high schools in particular to avoid corruption in the admission of BECE candidates to their schools.

Dr Ato Arthur asked stakeholders to help improve education standards in the country.

The fundraising aimed at raising GH¢100,000 to purchase a pickup for the parish yielded GH¢57,000 and the Parish Priest, Rev Baiden, said the parish would consider other ways to raise the difference as early as possible to avoid any rise in the price of the vehicle due to inflation.

Twelve Catholics were given Parish awards comprising citations, bouquets, and undisclosed things in wrappings.

Five of the awards were posthumous for Krakye Amoah, the man who led the founding of the Bisease church 100 years ago; James Kweku Barnes,John Botchwey,Matthew Acquah and Mrs Martha Ogoe.

The seven living award winners were Messrs Gabriel Etua, John K. Akesseh, Joseph A. Quansah, J.K. Kuntoh, Ms Cecelia Tomekyen, Ms Mary Ackom and Ms Mary Afedzi.

Five others received Centenary awards, also comprising citations, bouquets, and undisclosed things in wrappings but accompanied by Papal Blessing from His Holiness Pope Francis.

They were Mr Augustine Fosu, Mr Anthony Amuquandoh, Mrs Grace Sam, Ms Mary Arthur and Mrs Anna Annan, the mother of the chairman for the climax, Mr John Kofi Mensah, a banker and immediate past Managing Director Of the First Capital Plus Bank.

There were goodwill messages from chiefs, political and other leaders in the community.

In his closing remarks, Mr Mensah asked society to always consider three things that enhanced its progress -- the fear of God, education and what to do to ensure the welfare of others.