The Our Lady of Assumption (OLA) Parish at New Achimota, Accra marked this year’s Father’s Day celebration in a grand style with a series of activities culminating in the climax on father’s day on June 18, 2023.
Activities undertaken by the fathers and men as part of the celebration include leading the Rosary and Divine Mercy Prayers at the Zonal Grotto Service and post launching talk on St. Joseph, a role model for all fathers by Mr. Joseph Quist of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Kaneshie on June 3, 2023.
On the Solemnity of Holy Trinity, June 4, the celebration was launched at all the three Masses and on Saturday, June 10, the fathers organised a Breakfast Prayer Meeting to pray and discuss the role of Catholic Men in building the OLA Parish and the Constitution of a Men Council in the Parish facilitated by ACP Victor Tandoh (Rtd) and Mr. Samuel Kofi Gameli Dossah, both parishioners.
Fathers visited and participated in the Children Mass on June 11, the Solemnity of the Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), after which they interacted with the animators and children after the Mass.
They also participated in evening Masses on Wednesdays and led Bible sharings after the Mass and also participated in the Friday evening Masses.
On Father’s Day, June 18, fathers who were once Mass Servers had the opportunity to once again serve the Lord on His Altar while some also took the readings, commentaries, ushering and bidding prayers at the three Masses held in the Parish.
Citations were presented to five fathers for their diverse meritorious support to the OLA Parish, a gesture to be continued on every Father’s Day. The awardees were ACP Victor Tandoh, a retired Senior Police Officer; Prof. Kwasi Torpey, Dean of the University of Ghana School of Public Health; Mr. Owusu Agyemang, a Senior Banker; Mr. Samuel Kofi Gameli Dossah, an Entrepreneur and Dr. Jerry Owusu-Ansah, a General Surgeon and Management Staff of COCOBOD.
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Quarshie, the Vocations Director of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra who presided over the 1st and 2nd Masses admonished fathers in the event of challenges to consult experienced fathers for advice.
He, however, cautioned that it was not every issue they had to seek advice on bearing in mind it might end affecting or breaking down their families
He advised Fathers to desist from calling their wives and children “useless” because Jesus Christ didn’t called them so, praying for divine intervention for families seeking the fruits of the womb.
Fr. Quarshie asked men with the help of their wives to always pray and invoke the name of God and be steadfast in their faith, saying that “Families that pray together stay together.”
He entreated fathers not to discriminate among the children but show equal and unconditional love to them.
At the Children’s Mass, Rev. Fr. Job Plinga, MCCJ, an Associate Priest of OLA also acknowledged the efforts of men and encouraged them to be united in the Lord.
The children of the Parish numbering over 300 were feted by the fathers as their commitment and love to them while a donation of branded T’ shirts were donated to the Cherubim Youth Choir and the St. Cecilia Children Choir to also mark the day.
