Kpehe inaugurates committee for diamond jubilee

A-13 member committee to see to the planning of the 75th-anniversary celebration of the St. Paul Catholic Church at Kpehe in Accra was inaugurated recently with the call on members to bring their experiences to bear.

It has Mr. Emmanuel Dzregah as the Chairman, Mr. Pascal Wab-Lumor; Vice Chairman and Mrs. Evelyn Ampofo, Secretary.

Other members are; Messrs. Gabriel Hessah; Chairman, Liturgical/Spiritual, Francis Asamoah Tuffour; Publicity and Protocol, Richardson Ahadzivie; Event/Social. Ben Sikpa; Security, Okai Ashiagbor and Joseph Tetteh; Finance and Fundraising, Augustine Appiah; Projects/Momentos, Ebenezer Mensah and Edmund Neequaye; representing the Youth with Mrs. Cecilia Elison, in charge of Medical.

The year-long celebration on the theme, ‘Call to Holiness’, I Peter 1: 15-16, spans from January 27 this year, to January 26, 2020, to climax.

In an address, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Accra, Very Rev. Francis Adoboli, commended the leadership of the church for their steadfastness which has held the church to date.

He recalled years when the Parish name was constantly in the media for good reasons of the numerous programmes and activities it either held or undertaken noting that with the calibre of members, he was confident that they would deliver.

The Vicar General urged the committee to consider incorporating homecoming as part of activities so that parishioners who have relocated, religious who were produced from the parish as well as those who had their basic education from the Parish school would use the occasion for a reunion and also share their experiences for the development of the parish and the school.

Very. Rev. Fr. Adoboli said diamond jubilee celebration of every institution is not a joke and worth celebrating. He urged members to actively take part in every activity to make the celebration a success.

On the sidelines, the Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. (Dr) Peter Rockey Hesse urged Ghanaians to eschew the overdependence on the government for all their needs.

He explained that too much reliance on the government and acts such as bribery, corruption and engaging in unsanitary activities contributed to slow development of the country, adding that “if we sit idle and depend solely on the government for everything we cannot develop as a nation. Let us also think about what we can do for the country and volunteer to deal with vices that hinder growth of the country”, he said.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Emmanuel Dzregah, assured the congregation of the Committee’s willingness to deliver to the later. He recalled 25 years ago when he was in the Youth Council and served during the 50th-anniversary celebration saying; little did he know a time will come for him to Chair similar committee and asked for prayer support for the members in the discharge of their work.

The occasion was used to unveil the anniversary logo and commission new railings along the staircase leading western-gate of the church. The railings, which were installed to aid the aged and physically challenged easy access to the church auditorium. It was donated by Partners of Christ, a group in the Church.

The day which coincided with the 74th-anniversary celebration of the church, was used to launch the 25th-anniversary celebration of the Feet Ministry, an evangelization group in the church on the theme ‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love endures forever’ (Ps. 136:1).

Launching it, the Secretary of the Feet Ministry, Mr. Vincent Mensah, expressed gratitude to Mr. Mashininii Missodey, the founder and Director of the Feet School for establishing the Ministry and also commended all those who in diverse way, contributed to its sustenance.

The Ministry, he said, offers training in evangelism, to Catholics of all nationality across the country and propagate the word of God to the hinterlands especially where there are no religious settings particularly the Catholic Church. It will climax its activities on December 14 this year.

Brief history of the establishment of the church

It all began on one Sunday afternoon in December 1944 when some ewes residing in Lagos Town currently, Accra New Town, decided to meet in the house of Mr. Peter Aziaba. The main objective of that meeting was for the group to plan how best they could be of help to one another especially in moments of bereavement. A few minutes after the meeting had started the gathering was elated to see Rev. Fr. Gerhard Fini who explained that he was on an exploratory and pastoral visit to Catholics living in the vicinity.

He asked Mr. Michael Nutsuglo who was also at the meeting to furnish him with the number of Catholics in that area and to find a place for Holy Mass to be celebrated on Sundays.

This assignment delighted Mr. Nutsuglo who thereafter embarked on visits to such areas as Pigfarm, Alajo, and New Town. Consequently, a number of Catholics were visited and a room was acquired near the old site of West Africa Secondary School at Accra New Town, for worship. Monthly rent of four shillings was paid for the room.

The Holy Mass, attended by 25 people, was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Fini, for the new community in January, 1945. Among those present at the Holy Mass were: Mr. and Mrs. Nutsuglo, Mr. and Mrs. Marcellinus Nyarku, Mr. Sanvee, Mr. John Kofi Miheaye, Mr. Lambert Abotsi, Mr. Arnold Nyarko, Mr. Faustinus Missodey and Mr. Leo.

The church has grown to 2,734 registered members with lot of infrastructural development, the establishment of a Credit Union and an Awards scheme to assist needy but brilliant students among others.