SEPT-OCT 2021 ISSUE 9
DIOCESAN
NEWSLETTER
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF SEKONDI TAKORADI
In this issue
We have a new bishop
Mr. Salia appointed acting
Manager of Catholic Schools
Bishop Attakruh visits Wasa
Jappa and Bogoso
New Vicar General appointed
Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese blessed with New Bishop
Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh was on September 24,
2021 ordained as the fifth Bishop of the Catholic
Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi.
The colorful celebration was attended by scores of
Christ's faithful, Priests and Religious, Politicians,
Traditional Leaders and Religious leaders from other
Christian denominations.
The Principal Consecrator was the Apostolic Nuncio to
Ghana Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski, and the Co-
consecrating Bishops were Most Rev. Philip Naameh
the Archbishop of Tamale and the President of Ghana
Catholic Bishops Conference and Most Rev. John
Bonaventure Kwofie CSSp the Archbishop of Accra.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle based his sermon on the
first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah who objected
initially to the call of God because of inadequacies. He
admonished the newly ordained bishop not to be
afraid of his inadequacies.
He reminded the newly ordained bishop that God knew
him before he was born and had ordained this day long
ago. Like Paul who encouraged Timothy his son whom
he himself ordained as a bishop in Asia Minor, to fan
into flames the gifts of the Holy Spirit so too the new
bishop must carry out his duties.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle drew the attention of the
congregation to the motto of the bishop "strengthen
your brethren" as very apt in these times where the
devil wants to lead astray the shepherds of the Church.
He called on the people of God to pray for the new
bishop so that his faith will not fail and that when he is
strong, he will strengthen the brethren.
Present at the ceremony were eighteen Bishops from
the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference with about 280
priests and several Religious Brothers and Sisters.
BISHOP ATTAKRUH DEDICATES NEW CHURCH BUILDING AT
WASA JAPPA
Most Rev John Baptist Attakruh celebrated the Rite of Dedication for a new church building during Mass at St.
Theresa’s Parish in Wasa Jappa on Saturday, October 2.
Delivering the homily, Bishop Attakruh reminded the congregation that what they have gathered to celebrate ”
the dedication of the church building is more than a blessing” . He explained that dedication represents making a
firm disposition of one's mind to entrust something to God for a specific purpose. “This building has been the toil
of many individuals, some of whom have gone before us. This is the work of our hands. I thank all who have
contributed towards this edifice” .
We are here to dedicate this building to the Lord as a special place where we gather to listen to the Gospel and to
receive the sacraments, and to make intercessions for ourselves and the world. Today, the altar will be sanctified
which will become the symbol of Jesus in our midst.
Present at the celebration were Hon.Nicholas
Amankwah, Member of Parliament for Wasa
Amenfi East Constituency, Dr.Tony Aubynn, Board
Chairman Amenfiman Rural Bank, Nana Bukuro of
Wasa Saa who Chaired the occasion ,Tɛtrɛtɛ
Okuamoah Sakyim ,the Paramount chief of Wasa
Amenfi Traditional Council was represented by
Nana Anim Kwaw (Wasa Ankaasie hene), Tufohene
of Wasa Amenfi Traditional Council and Nana
Affulteng II Mpatasie Hemang Hene, the
Dwantoahene of Wasa Amenfi Traditional
Council.The caretaker of Wasa Japa Traditiona
Area,Nana Kwame Frimpong,Nana Akua Afraso, the
queen mother of Japa who is also wassa Amenfi
Traditional Council Adonten Hene’s queen mother
and other chiefs and elders .
In related event, Most Reverend John Baptist
Attakruh also conferred the Sacrament of
Confirmation on 118 candidates during his
Pastoral visit to the St. Theresa’s Parish at
Wasa Jappa.
He encouraged the candidates to “fan into
flames the gifts of the Holy Spirit” in their
lives by imitating Christ. “
t
BISHOP ATTAKRUH VISITS ST. MICHAEL’S PARISH
Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh paid a three-day pastoral visit to the St. Michael’s
Parish at Bogoso.
During the visit, which was part of the parish's patron saint, St. Michael's feast day, 25
couples had their marriage solemnized, 90 candidates were confirmed, and a ground
breaking ceremony for the construction of a new church building in Tawiakrom, a
Bogoso suburb, was held.
Bishop Attakruh addressed the 25 wedded couples, reminding them that "marriage is
for the glory of God. In whatever you accomplish, God's glory must always come first.
When we do this, we experience God's peace. Because marriage is a lovely thing, it must
attract others, particularly the young, to respond to God's call-in marriage. No one
should separate what God has joined together in marriage for the sake of oneness and
togetherness. Marriage is inherently indissolubility".
He also challenged the 90 confirmed candidates to be filled with the Holy Spirit by
accepting the mission of being peer evangelizers, allowing them to bring their friends to
faith.
Images from the pastoral visit by Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh
MR. SALIA APPOINTED ACTING
REGIONAL MANAGER OF
WESTERN AND WESTERN NORTH
CATHOLIC EDUCATION UNIT
FR. LEMAIRE IS NEW VICAR GENERAL
Mr. Emmanuel Kwamina Salia
has been appointed Acting
Regional Manager of Schools,
Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh, Bishop of the
Catholic Education Unit – Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese has appointed of
Western and Western North Very Rev. Fr. Francis Kofi Lemaire, the Rector of
Regions. the St. Paul's Seminary in Accra as the Vicar
General of the Diocese.
The announcement was made at the Star of the
The information was made
Sea Cathedral during the burial Mass of Rev.
known in a letter signed by Deacon Major Joseph Bernette.
Prof. Kwasi Opoku Amankwa, Born on October 13, 1961 in Tarkwa, Fr. Lemaire
Director-General of the Ghana was ordained into the Priesthood on July 17,
Education Service. 1988 by the late Most Rev. Charles Kweku Sam.
He holds a Master of Theology (Systematic
Theology, a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy &
Theology) and Diploma in Theology, University
Mr. Salia succeeds Mrs. of Ghana.
Rosemond Austin who served
as Regional Manager of
Catholic Education Unit for the
Western and Western North
Regions for 10 years.
Until his appointment, Mr.
Salia served as Assistant
Headmaster of St. Mary’s Boys’
Senior High School, Apowa.
PERMANENT DEACON BENNETTE LAID TO REST
BE UNITED AND BUILD THE
The Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi on Thursday, October 7,
CHURCH- BISHOP ATTAKRUH 2021 buried Rev. Deacon Dr. Maj. Joseph Bennett Rtd (the first and
only permanent deacon of the Diocese).
The Requiem Mass was held at the Star of the Sea Cathedral
witnessed scores of Priests and Religious from the diocese in
attendance. The Mass was presided over by Most Rev Joseph Francis
Kweku Essien, Catholic Bishop of Wiawso Diocese.
Delivering the homily, Very Rev. Fr. Peter Ekow Kaitoo, Cathedral
Administrator, thanked God for the life of Rev. Bennett and shared
fond memories of his encounter with him.
He said that Rev. Bennett did not only preach the gospel but live it.
He was generous that even on his sick bed, he would still be sending
money to some poor people in the parish. As a psychiatrist he
voluntarily offered to drive all the way from Takoradi to Eikwe to
take care of some mentally challenged patients at his own cost
Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh without taking a penny.
Rev. Bennett was ordained in the Church of St Francis Maidstone by
has called on the Christ’s
Bishop Howard Tripp on 22nd July 1988 as a Permanent Deacon and
faithful to remain united in incardinated in the Archdiocese of Southwark.
He was born on July 20, 1932. He started his elementary school at
their quest of building the Apowa Catholic School. He enrolled in Effia Nkwanta Nursing
Church. training in 1960 to be trained as a professional nurse. In August 1967
he traveled to England where he enrolled at Victoria Hospital in
Bishop Attakruh made the call Blackpool to continue his studies in nursing. In 1980 he was enlisted
when he paid a one-day in the Royal Army Medical Corps where he rose through the ranks to
become a Major. He was also a lecturer at the University of East
pastoral visit to the Catholic London for the faculty of Human Science.
communities of Beahu (where He died at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife Esther and two
daughters Josephine and Gertrude
he served as priest-in-charge
prior to his appointment as In attendance at the Mass were Most Rev John Baptist Attakruh,
Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie CSSp and Rev. Msgr. Martin
Apostolic Administrator of the Essilfie.
Diocese) and Yabiw under the
Apowa Parish. He said, to help
the Church grow, “We need the
bishop, priests and lay faithful
to work together in faith and
love”.
Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese climaxes 550th Anniversary of the Planting of the Cross at Shama
The Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi on Friday, October 29, 2021 celebrated the 550th Anniversary of the Planting of the Cross on the
shores of Shama by the Portuguese.
The celebration climaxed a week long programme of activities which was hosted by the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Shama at the
forecourt of Fort San Sébastien.
In his homily, Most Rev John Baptist Attakruh, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi recounts the history of Christian Faith in
Ghana.
He maintained that historians are conclusive on Portuguese landing in Shama in 1471. According to Lamin Sanneh, Professor of "Missions"
and world Christianity at Yale Divinity School and Professor of history at Yale University as well, "in 1471, two captains working for a Lisbon
merchant, Fernado Gomes, landed at Shama at the coast, where they gained a foothold for Portugal's seaborne expansion.
The ship came with Catholic Priests on board who planted cross on the shores of Shama.
Bishop Attakruh said even if the early missionary did not do much in Shama during their 9 year-trade relationship with the people of Shama,
the presence of the Catholic Priests on board the ship meant they might have celebrated Masses in Shama.
The planting of the Cross was very significant. Bishop Attakruh explained the meaning of the Cross as a sign of God's love ( cf John 3:16). For
the Portuguese to plant the cross on the shores of our land was a sign of love they had for us. They tried to share God's love with us.
He admonished us to implant the cross in our hearts, houses, homes, and even in our relationship. He emphasized again that a church
without love is lukewarm because where there's love, there's God.
He said we should not only wear the cross or hang it in our homes, cars, stores and shops but may it remind us of God so as to exude such
love in our lives.
We should not serve God grudgingly like the Israelites on the desert but with heart full of love. The cross indeed is a symbol of God's love for
humanity.
In attendance were priests from Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Religious Brothers and Sisters and some indigenous priests and religious from
Shama. Rev. Prof Michael Amakyi Csc. ( IEPA, University of Cape Coast), Vry. Rev. Fr. Albert Amakyi ( Spiritual Director St Paul's Catholic
Seminary), Vry. Rev. Fr. Nii Noi Dawuona, ( Parish Priest of St Matthew's Catholic Church Tarkwa), Rev. Fr. Stephens ( Chaplain Archbishop
Porter's Girls SHS). Also in attendance were Very. Rev. Fr. Joseph Okine Quartey ( Acting Rector of St Paul's Catholic Seminary, Accra), Rev.
Msgr. Jim Austin, Rev. Msgr. James Margaret Mesu and Very Rev. Fr. Samuel Ebuley Afful ( Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of
Assumption Parish, Shama).
"BE TEACHERS OF TRUTH"- BISHOP ATTAKRUH TO NEWLY ORDAINED PRIESTS
The Most Reverend John Baptist Attakruh has called on priests to be “teachers of the Truth".
He made these remarks while delivering his homily during the 2021 Priestly Ordination for
the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi. Eight new priests were ordained at the colourful
ceremony which took place at the Star of the Sea Cathedral, Takoradi.
According to him, one of the primary roles of priests is being “teachers who teach who God is
to humanity.” Priests he said have a responsibility to “teach about human nature and about
our call to sanctity as sons and daughters of God.”
Bishop Attakruh added that “humility is the strength of the priestly ministry. It is true that the
priest has a rare and noble duty in the family of God. However, that does not mean that the
priest is superior to those to whom he has been sent.”
He encouraged the newly ordained priests to strive in their new ministry “to bring healing to
society by building bridges and not breaking them. Go to the people you are sent to. Get to
know their pains, joys, sufferings, hope and aspirations and share in them.”
The eight newly ordained priests are ;
Rev. Fr. Sylvester Anazoh Quarm
Rev. Fr. Enoch Enimil
Rev. Fr. Bernard Attobrah Ernim
Rev. Fr. Stephen Ansah-Mensah
Rev. Fr. Alex Kojo Amponsah
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Amotoe-Kwofie
Rev. Fr. Vincent Ackon
Rev. Fr. Enoch Abaidoo
COMING UP
5-13/11/2021 2021 Plenary Assembly of GCBC, Wa
7-11/11/2021 World Youth Day Celebration (Parish
Level)
17-19/11/2021 World Youth Day Celebration (Diocesan
Level)
21/11/2021 Sol. Christ the King – Star of the Sea
Cathedral, Takoradi
5/12/2021 10th Anniversary of St. Peter’s Parish,
Shama Junction (Climax)
6-9/12/2021 Annual Priests’ Retreat
10/12/2021 Diocesan Priests’ Assembly
11/12/2021 25th and 40th Anniversaries of Priesthood
8.30 am Mass (St. John the Evangelist Church, Apowa)
11.00 am Co-Workers Assembly
1.00 pm Lunch
11-12/12/2021 Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage - Egyam
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