GOASO CATHOLIC DIOCESE CELEBRATES 10TH ANNIVERSARY (PAGE 14)

By Akwasi Ampratwum-Mensah, Goaso.

MEMBERS of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference (GCBC), priests, the religious and lay faithfuls of the Catholic Church from various parts of the country, congregated at the Goaso RC Park, last Friday, to celebrate mass to climax activities that marked the 10th anniversary of the creation of the Goaso Diocese.
Celebration
The celebration, which was also attended by traditional authorities coincided with the episcopacy of Most Reverend Peter Kwaku Atuahene, the first Bishop of the Diocese.
Most Rev Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the Catholic Bishop of Sunyani who presented the homily, thanked the priests, and the faithful for their extraordinary collaboration and co-operation for the past 10 years on behalf of Most Rev Atuahene and also expressed thanks to the traditional authorities for the support they gave to the Bishop of Goaso.
Shepherd
On behalf of the GCBC, Most Rev Gyamfi congratulated Bishop Atuahene, whom he described as the “Shepherd” of the Goaso Diocese and expressed his appreciation to him, his priests, the religious and laity as they celebrated the 10th anniversary as a Diocese.
He noted that, the task of being a bishop is an onerous one and therefore scary, more so if one was asked to be first bishop of a diocese, adding that, “Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah and many prophets found reasonable exercise why they did not qualify and therefore should not be appointed prophets.”
According to Most Rev Gyamfi, Bishop Atuahene might have considered his own inadequacies with respect to the work of a bishop as did those great prophets and at the same time, Bishop Gyamfi said he was aware that when the Lord gave one a job he also gave him the necessary Grace to accomplish it.
Seeds
“Today, we are all witnesses to the effects of the germinating mustard seed that is the Goaso Diocese. I believe, the Holy Father, Pope John Paul and his successor, Pope Benedict XVI and all who helped create the Diocese of Goaso, are extremely satisfied with what they feel and hear.
Bishop Gyamfi then declared, “My Lord Bishop Peter Kwaku Atuahene, you are a Great Shepherd, who captained this diocese through turbulent waters to the relative calm, peace and development that we celebrate today.”
“With your calm, humble, focused and firm leadership you have led Goaso Diocese to achieve within 10 years, the great and wonderful spiritual and material growth we witness today,” he added.
Developments
He further declared, “Parishes are springing up as many people flock to the Church, health facilities are at the door steps of many rural communities, school are multiplying, portable water is made readily available to the thirsty in deprived communities in rural areas, a magnificent pastoral centre for the formation programs of the clergy, religious and laity, a bishops residence, construction of many chapels, and a cathedral, which is an architectural masterpiece is constructed to the greater Glory of God, a modern secretariat and many more, you have done and are doing all to promote the spiritual, and material growth of the people of God and to the glory of God.”
In his welcome address, the Vicar General of the diocese, Rev Monsignor Matthew Addai, pointed out that, the diocese had had its ups and downs, its joys and sorrows, its struggles and achievements, saying that, at every stage along the journey, the lord had been their strength and companion.