A senior Priest of Ghana’s Catholic Diocese of Koforidua, Msgr. Alex Bobby Benson has been eulogised for his unique pastoral care for the vulnerable, poor, needy and the sick in society.
In a homily at a Thanksgiving Mass at the Christ the King Parish, Cantonments, Accra on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, to celebrate Msgr. Bobby Benson, DCOP/Very Rev. Fr. George Arthur, Chaplain-General of the Ghana Police Service, Accra, praised him for touching many lives through his pastoral activities including the care for people living with HIV and AIDS.
According to DCOP Fr. Arthur who is the Parish Priest of St. George Catholic Church, National Police Training School, Tesano-Accra, “History reveals that Monsignor Benson was fully and actively involved in the Pastoral care for the Ghanaian returnees from Nigeria in 1983.”
He said beside the Ghanaian returnees story, Msgr. Benson beside winning souls for Christ, has four major landmarks that made him distinct and stand tall among his peers and colleagues Priests.
The Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated to mark three events in the life of Msgr. Bobby Benson- his 72nd birthday which fell on January 3, his ministry as Priest in the Lord’s Vineyard – a little over 42 years and the Conferral of Honorary Doctoral Award on him as an esteemed, dedicated and recognized Public Servant.
Lauding Msgr. Bobby Benson for his unique Pastoral Care for people living with HIV and AIDS, DCOP Fr. Arthur said “Whilst families and friends refuse to shake hands and live with victims, this man of God called Monsignor Benson, hugs, embraces and treats them with dignity as fellow children of God.”
He added: “Within this context, I can liken him to Mother Teresa who, picked the sick and the poor from the streets with the sole goal and aim to restore them back to their original human dignity.”
DCOP Fr. Arthur said with the support of donors and other philanthropists, Msgr. Bobby Benson fetes them on festive occasions like Christmas and Easter.
Describing Monsignor Benson as the architect of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Training programmes within the Catholic Church in Ghana, he indicated that “So many Priests, Religious and Lay faithful have gone through several units of the programme locally either from Akwatia or Koforidua. I am one of his products.”
The programme, he notified was still on going to equip Chaplains for effective Pastoral delivery, saying, “I am always proud to indicate and mention that, the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programme has been the underlying secret of my professional delivery as the Chaplain-General of the Ghana Police Service.”
The Chaplain General of the Ghana Police Service extolled Msgr. Bobby Benson for Constructing a Palliative Care Centre (traditionally or commonly called Hospice) at Koforidua which when completed will be the first of its kind in the country.
“What a great vision? What a pastoral foresight? In response to my question: How did you come by this great innovation of pastoral care of those in the last days and hours of their lives, Monsignor Benson said: Throughout my apostolate as a Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Supervisor and hospital Chaplain in Ghana, I have observed with great human concern how some families could not handle the End of life of their loved ones with the deserved human dignity and care. Hence, it dawned on me to help people die with dignity,” DCOP Fr. Arthur stated.
He hinted the Msgr. Bobby Benson began this memorable project with the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in the United States of America (U.S.A) serving as a major backbone financially.
“His periodic appeals for funds from the Archdiocese of Milwaukee plus the financial support from individuals, societies in the Church, benefactors and benefactresses within and outside the country, have led to the present phase of the building project,” he added.
The Parish Priest of St. George announced that “Not less than GH₵300,000.00 Cedis is needed to complete the Centre,” stating, “This is a lasting legacy for the Koforidua Catholic Diocese in particular and the Catholic Church in Ghana at large. Noble course such as this, automatically calls for support.”
Highlighting on Msgr. Bobby Benson’s Honorary Doctoral Award, DCOP Fr. Arthur said his unique pastoral care for people living with HIV and AIDS attracted the great attention of Professor Steve Mecca of the Providence College, Rhode Island, United States of America (U.S.A).”
“The Professor brought some students to Ghana and visited Matthew 25 House several times. He observed with admiration and applauded the sacrifices and commitment of this aged Catholic Priest and recommended him for award,” the Senior Police Officer noted.
The Honorary Doctoral Degree (Doctor of Public Service) was gracefully conferred on Monsignor Benson by the Providence College, Rhode Island, United States of America (U.S.A) on May 31, 2023.
An extract of the Citation read that day in honour of him said: “Monsignor Alex Bobby Benson, indeed your entire life has been a demonstration of an unflinching dedication to the Service of God and Humanity and this propitious and enviable RECOGNITION (among many others) lends credence to that fact. In fact, your motto in life is; OTHERS”.
The January 3, 2024 Thanksgiving Mass was presided over by the Most Rev. Joseph Afrifah-Agyekum, Bishop of Koforidua (Msgr. Bobby Benson’s Diocese) and concelebrated by the Most Rev, Peter Paul Ankgyier, Bishop of Damongo; the Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare, an Auxiliary Bishop of Accra, who represented the Metropolitan Archbishop, the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp.
Scores of Priests from the Koforidua Diocese and Accra Archdiocese also concelebrated as well as Religious Sisters, family and friends participating in the Mass.
Bishop Ankgyier blessed Msgr. Bobby Benson in his Doctoral Degree apparel, and wished him well in his priestly and pastoral ministry.
By Damian Avevor
