Three catholic priests celebrate jubilee

Sunyani, July 19, GNA - The Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the Acting President of the Ghana Catholic Bishop Conference, at the weekend urged the youth to consider responding to the Lord's invitation into priesthood.

He said there was "indescribable joy in loving and serving the Lord as a priest".

The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said this when he addressed hundreds of Catholics at the Christ the King Cathedral in Sunyani to mark the silver jubilee anniversary of the ordination of three priests in Brong-Ahafo Region.

They were the Most Rev Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Monsignor Seth Kwasi Osei Agyemang, currently on sabbatical leave in the US and Very Rev Fr Philip Kwasi Sae, Chaplain and Administrator of St. Mary's Hospital at Drobo, capital of Jaman South District.

The Most Rev Palmer-Buckle, the Accra Metropolitan Archbishop, said though there was an increase in church attendance acts of immorality continued to swallow the youth.

He appealed to the youth to allow the teachings of the Bible to reflect in their social lives and to heed to the call to worship the Lord.

Monsignor Richard Kyeremeh, Cathedral Administrator, advised the three priests not to see the anniversary as merely an occasion for celebration, rejoicing and merrymaking but also an opportunity for a sober reflection.

"May this 25th anniversary be for you an opportunity to look back with gratitude, appreciation and thanksgiving to God for all that He has done for you and continues to do with and through you; while at the same time you anticipate the future with ardent hope, abiding faith, fervent trust and confidence in God", he added.

Monsignor Kyeremeh expressed regret about resentment, vindictiveness and hatred that had engulfed the church in recent times and urged the catholic priests to renew to the position of uttermost humility before God.

Bishop Gyamfi said it was the responsibility of the youth, parents, priests and Bishops to work together to encourage many to respond to the call into priesthood.

He appealed to parents to encourage their children to become priests, saying "while not compelling them, pray that one of your sons or daughters will become a priest or Reverend Sister".