Ghana’s Archbishop of Tamale, the Most Rev. Philip Naameh has reminded Priests they were not called to be popular but to be like Jesus, be faithful to the Father and His Word.
The Archbishop gave the reminder in his homily when he presided over a Mass at the Our Lady of Annunciation (OLA) Cathedral in Tamale on July 30, 2022, to mark the 25th anniversary of the priestly ordination of three Priests in the Archdiocese-Very Rev. Frs. Carolus Magnus Gambogi, Thaddeus Kuusah and Jerome Damnyag.
Likening the three Priests to the Trinitarian relation that binds the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together as one even though one is not the other, he said, “Each one of you is a Priest of the Archdiocese in a unique but singular way.”
“In your uniqueness, you have been able to touch the lives of many people including your brother Priests in these 25-years,” he said, adding, “It’s not the office one has borne or the type of work you’re doing, each one of you is precious in the sight of God. Because of our human sinfulness, we tend to fall in the temptation of saying this one is more popular, that one in more popular, this or that”.
“As Priests, we’re not called to be popular. You’re called like Jesus, to be faithful to the Father and His Word”, the Archbishop stated.
Touching on the institution of the Eucharist when Jesus gave His body and blood to His disciples to eat and drink (1Cor. 11:23-26), he said in the same way, a Priest is called through his ministry and his person through the proclamation of the Word of God to be the nourishment, the food and drink for his people.
“Nourish them with the Word of God, strengthen them with the Sacraments and remind them of the real home to which they’re called, he advised, noting, the Priesthood was not only to the Church, but to the world today.
He explained that the celibacy and aloneness disposes Priests to minister and administer God’s graces equally to the people of God wherever they are without discrimination, adding that Priests offer themselves as food and drink for people whilst also embarking on a path of self-sacrifice and identify with the poor, the suffering and the lonely.
Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, Bishop of Damongo Diocese and 62 Priests from the Dioceses in the Tamale Ecclesiastical province and beyond who included Rev. Msgr. Matthew Yitiereh, the Vicar General and Bishop-elect of Yendi Diocese, Very Rev. Frs. Cyprian Kuupol, SVD Provincial Superior for Ghana-Liberia Province, Frank Offin Sekyere, Vice President of the National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests’ Association (NUGDPA), Robert Tebri, Rector of Colleges of Students at Missionaries of Africa Generalate in Rome and Wilhelm Kolks from the Diocese of Munster in Germany, among others, concelebrated the Mass.
Many dignitaries including Chiefs, a Minister of State, a delegation from the of National Peace Council (NPC), Women and Men Religious, Catechists, representatives of various Church societies, the families of the Silver Jubilee Celebrants and hundreds of the lay faithful of the Archdiocese and beyond, attended the Mass.
The Silver Jubilee Celebrants after their formation at the St. Victor’s Major Seminary (SVS) in Tamale were ordained on 19th July, 1997, for the Archdiocese by Most Rev. Gregory Ebo Kpiebaya of blessed memory, then the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale.
Fr. Gambogi, who is currently the Administrator of the OLA Cathedral and Director of Pastoral Care of the Tamale Archdiocese, began his ministry at the Holy Cross Parish in Tamale as a Curate. Later, he served as Executive Secretary of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Conference, Chairman of the Priests’ Senate, Priests In-Charge of Catechists, Member of the College of Consultors, and Chairman of Priests Assembly of the Archdiocese. He also started St. Theresa Parish at Lamashegu and served as its first Parish Priest for eight years, among others.
Our Lady of Fatima Parish at Salaga at was the first appointment of Fr. Kuusah is currently the President of NUGDPA and Executive Secretary of the Northern Regional Peace Council. He has held a string of positions in the Archdiocese including President of the Tamale Archdiocesan Priests’ Association (TADPA), Chairman of the Tamale Archdiocesan Pastoral Council, Member of the College of Consultors and Priests Senate, Director of Department of Pastoral and Social Communications, among others.
Fr. Damnyag was assigned to OLA Cathedral after his Priestly ordination. He has been a Formator and Lecturer at SVS since 2004 and is currently the Rector of St. Augustine Millennium Seminary and President of TADPA, Member of the College of Consultors and Priests Senate and Vice Chancellor of the Tamale Archdiocese.
Among others, he was previously a Chaplain and Tutor at St. Charles Minor Seminary Senior High School, Pastoral Year Coordinator, Vocations Director and Defender of the Bond in the Tamale Ecclesiastical Tribunal, among others.
In a brief speech, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources who was among the dignitaries present, advocated for faith-based organisations to play a central role in the country’s education sector because of their strict adherence to rules and inculcation of discipline in students.
Describing the Catholic Church as “a great institution”, he said the ethos on which it is founded and operates, can guide the world in addressing the myriad of challenges we face today to ensure a peaceful, harmonious, prosperous and a happy world.
“Our roots, principles and values, are the time-tested values which can help the world take the right course and direction, he stated. He congratulated the three Priests especially, Fr. Damnyag, who was his former Tutor and Chaplain at St. Charles Minor Senior School in Tamale for his guidance and mentorship and also for building his faith as a Catholic during his days as a student.
Rev. Msgr. Yitiereh on behalf of Archbishop Naameh, presented cheques for undisclosed amounts to the three Priests. Many other individuals and groups also presented them with gifts.
Among the other dignitaries who attended the Mass were Naa John Domalae Dekumwin, Paramount Chief of Daffiama Traditional Area and President of Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Mr. Moses Bukari Mabengba, a former Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Alhassan Issahaku, Chief Director at the Northern Regional Coordinating Council who represented Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu, the Regional Minister and Mrs. Magdalene Kannae, a Board Member of the NPC.
By Francis E. Monnie
