The Queen of Peace Parish in Buipe in the Diocese of Damongo in the savannah Region has climaxed its 25 years as a community of faith with a Mass under the theme: “25 years of Divine Providence”.
In a sermon at the Mass climaxing the Silver Jubilee on Januray 2, 2022, the Bishop of Damongo Diocese, the Most Rev Peter Paul Angkyier, explained that every jubilee was a time of prayerful reflection, to stop thinking about the past and look forward with hope for the blessings and great deeds of God among his people.
He said the parish’s jubilee was an opportunity for the people to express their gratitude to God and to everyone who contributed to the parish’s growth and development, including the early missionaries, the Claretian Missionaries Province of Nigeria, Priests, Religious, chiefs and community members.
The Bishop encouraged Catholics in Buipe to reflect on the graces bestowed by God to Queen of Peace during the previous 25 years.
Most Rev. Peter Paul said as a parish, there is a need for collaboration among the priests, laity, youth, community, and parishioners, as well as the development of strong pastoral relationships that will promote peace and unity in the parish, as well as resource mobilization to support the work of God.
He reiterated that the parish will not be able to expand or thrive without the above issues been addressed, stating, the church’s establishment has provided dignity to the Buipe people through education and human advancement.
“We are all children of God whose word has helped us to transcend cultural and ethnic borders to be able to engage with other people as members of the same family of God, regardless of whether they adhere to your faith or not”, he said.
Bishop Peter Paul added that young people could contribute to their personal development and the progress of society through education and human promotion, as well as discover the wealth of their God-given talent and resources by taking advantage of them.
He expressed his displeasure of the illiteracy level in the dioceses, saying, “Illiteracy, poverty, social and economic poverty, under development are like a shroud of darkness over the people”.
Most Rev Peter Paul encouraged parishioners to take up the challenge, noting that they have learned from their mistakes in the past by understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and possibilities.
“You’ve discovered your strengths, struggles, weaknesses, potential, and opportunities as a result of this activity. Evangelization has two missions: proclaiming God’s word in order to lead people to trust in Jesus Christ, and also through the church’s labor and proclamation of the good news. It is worth emphasizing that historically the Queen of Peace parish Buipe, is the foundation of the Claretion Missionary in Ghana, it is here that the claretion missionary started and spread to the rest of the country Ghana,” the Bishop noted.
He further stated that Claretion missionaries cannot write their history in Ghana without beginning with Buipe, which he considered to be a blessing to the Buipe people.
Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier urged Catholics of the Queen of Peace to rejoice in the gift of faith, saying that in obedience to the Father’s will and out of love for humanity, Jesus the wiser and light of the world comes as the first missionary to increase humanity’s faith, and that the church’s mission is to make Jesus fully present to all people and nations.
The Bishop expressed gratitude to the Catholic people of Buipe, describing them as a “little community with faith, devoted to the church, and committed to the church,” and praising their tremendous efforts in growing the number of Catholics in the villages.
He also thanked individuals who initiated the gospel in the area, as well as others for taking daring steps in the gospel’s proclamation, and advised the young people in the area not to be frightened to recognize that God is essential to them and can use them to alter the lives of others.
Most Rev. Peter Paul thanked African missionaries, the Claretion missionary from Negeria, pastoral agents working in the parish. He also extended his gratitude to His Royal Majesty Buipewura Jinapor II, family heads, community leaders, traditional rulers, the district assembly, government institutions, and stakeholders for their long-term collaboration.
In a welcome address, Rev. Fr. Hilary Anadu, CMF, the parish priest for Queen of Peace parish, explained that the parish had a difficult start in terms of responding to God’s word.
Recounting the tireless efforts made by missionaries, Diocesan priests, catechists, prayer leaders, early Christians, and the role played by the people of Buipe and His Royal Majesty Buipewura Jinapor II, in the life of Queen of Peace parish.
Rev. Fr. Hilary extended his gratitude to the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, for his assistance in the growth and development of the church, as well as to Fr. Lazarus Annyereh, the first parish priest, for sowing a seed that is growing well and bearing good fruit.
The Queen of Peace Parish was carved out from St Anne’s Cathedral Parish, Damongo in 1995, and was established on March 22, 1996 with Rev. Fr. Lazarus Annyereh as the first parish priest. Queen of Peace at first was situated near the Buipe Bridge across the Black Volta with large market, fishing activities and an inland port.
A new presbytery was built between 1996-1997. A new church was built in place of the small church.The parish was officially handed over to the Claretian Missionaries Province of the Negeria, now East Nigeria Province on 1st February, 1998 with two missionary/religious priest posted; Frs. Augustine Amadi CMF and Martin Okoro CMF.
At the present, Queen of peace has 4 outstations; St. Stephen at Bornyamu, St Paul at Lito, St Rita at Kokokpe, and St Peter and Paul at Mpaha.
The parish also has three Christian communities, namely. St Angatha Christian community, Bridge, St Lucy Christian community, Yipala and St Michael Christian community, Buruwase.
There are four Roman Catholic (R/C) Schools; namely: Buipe R/C Bridge comprising KG, Primary and JHS, Queen of peace Academy comprising Nursing, KG, Primary and JHS, Lito R/C comprising KG, and Primary and Bornyamu R/C comprising KG and Primary.
Eleven persons were confirmed, 16 persons including the Bishop, Hon. John Jinapor and the Buipewura His Royal Majesty Jinapor II received citation awards
6 persons got crucifix, one (1) person got a spiritual book and a chaplet.
