Bishop Abadamloora laid to rest

Bolgatanga, Jan.17, GNA - The mortal remains of Most Reverend Lucas Abadamloora, Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese of the Catholic Church, was on Saturday interred at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bolgatanga, according to the traditions of the Church. Most Reverend Abadamloora died on December 23, 2009, after succumbing to brief bouts of ill health and just three days after returning from a farewell mass in honour of Cardinal Turkson in Cape Coast.

Thousands of mourners gathered at the uncompleted Basilica in Bolgatanga where the burial mass was held amidst sorry and grief as believers, family and friends bid the father of the diocese farewell. Bishop Abadamloora was nominated on March 30, 1994, as Bishop Elect to succeed the Right Reverend Rudolph Akanlu who had resigned as Bishop on health grounds. Bishop Abadamloora was consequently consecrated and enthroned Bishop of the diocese on the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, on Wednesday June 29, 1994, to become the third Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese since its elevation.

The Bishop was born on the 22nd December 1938 and coincidentally, celebrated his 71st birthday and died the following day. Bishop Abadamloora started school at the Saint Paul's Primary Boarding School in Navrongo in 1948 and continued at the Saint Mary's Middle School, Navrongo for two years and later to the Charles Borromeo's Minor Seminary where he obtained his Ordinary Level certificate.

He enrolled at the Government Secondary School at Tamale now Tamale Senior High after which he pursued numerous academic laurels. The Bishop had a tall list of educational achievements and prior to his death last December, he was the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference; a position he was re-elected to man in 2007.

Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Arch-Bishop of Tamale, who led the mass, recounted the lofty plans and actions of the late Bishop and said:" he would be remembered for his wonderful counselling and quest for peace for humanity and unity within the Catholic Church. Most Reverend Mathew Gyemfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, who read a tribute on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference, recalled the enormous contributions of his deceased colleague to the fraternity and the Catholic Church as a whole and said Bishop Abadamloora worked hard and tirelessly to uplift the image of the Catholic Church in Ghana, adding:" he directed the affairs of four plenary Assemblies of the Conference."

The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo, who read a tribute by Vice President John Dramani Mahama, on behalf of government, said Bishop Abadamloora's consecration came at a ripe time when the Diocese had developed cracks along ethnic lines which threatened its unity "however, by his tact and care for the growth of the church, Bishop Abadamloora restored peace and unity in the diocese." The Vice President further acknowledged the key role the late Bishop played in mediation efforts at restoring peace to war torn Bawku and said the part he played in helping government to find some answers to the Bawku conflict would never be forgotten.

Mr. Mahama urged Christians, especially those in the Catholic faith to take solace in the death of the Bishop to reaffirm their beliefs, faith and practices and to be more spiritually minded so that they could help reduce corruption which in recent times was eating deeply into the fabric of society.

A representative of the Catholic Conference of Nigeria in a tribute, indicated that the late Bishop did not only serve the people of Ghana but showed keen interest in the growth of the church throughout the world and in particular Nigeria and said his exemplary life style would be replicated throughout the Catholic faith.