No one understands better the great sacrifices missionaries go through until it is experienced and lived as a missionary! It takes an extra grace, total sacrifice and absolute self-denial to make such a radical choice and step in order to move from one’s homeland to not just an unknown land in his continent but an unknown land in a totally different continent to begin life anew like a baby: learn new culture, new pastoral reality, a new weather condition, new food and new drink, and new way of view point.
In all the initial struggle, which is most of the time, Fr Campbell, with a big heart and a universal stomach, mingled and adapted swiftly and became just like the poor he serves.
FR CAMPBELL: A TRUE RELIGIOUS PRIEST
As I said earlier, it is extra grace to live missionary life as a Religious for fifty years and over and with his initial poor family backgrounds learnt to pour his very life as an offering or libation as St Paul puts it so that, broken home may be restored and the poor, the leper, the street children in Accra may be given hope and a brighter future.
It is in reference to that, he has won for himself a deep love from Ghanaians of all sects, giving him the name Nii Lamptey, a Ga name, making him one of us and the nation honouring him with the Star of the Volta and officially offering him a Ghanaian nationality.
This is what we call a Priest: He understands very well he is a Priest not for himself but for others, so he lives with lepers, begs for funds to build hospitals and serves lunch to many street children at Christ the King, where he was the Parish Priest.
I do not doubt that the poor who enjoyed his Soup Kitchen would forever bless him and pray for him due to his Priestly heart that cares and seeks the good of his countless and helpless children.
Fr CAMPBELL: A TRUE MISSIONARY AND FRIEND OF THE POOR AND LEPERS
Like Abraham, Fr left his family, friends and loved ones in order to preach the Gospel and bear witness of the Father’s deepest love to the poor, the leper, the sick and the marginalized.
It was striking to hear him deciding to live with the lepers in the Weija Leprosarium after his retirement. What again does he want to do after serving so well on the Board and seeking funds countless times to give a home to the homeless lepers, empower the healed ones and give them something to eat and good health care?
That was when his unquenchable flame of love for the poor was even deeper, renewed and encouraged the more after seeing the fruit of his labour.
Normally, after Service, the few years before and after retirement are seen as a period to rest, relax and manage with the scanty resources for Medicare and personal upkeep, but that of Fr Campbell is the other way round.
He shows us the ideal way to celebrate life on birthdays and other important milestones.
That, as Christians, it should be the poor-centred, and we should pay particular attention to the poor, for they are the friends of Jesus, and they offer us hope that the rich cannot give! If not that, no human being at eighty would celebrate his birthday to raise funds to build a kitchen for lepers after doing so much for them using his national and international influence.
From his Christmas begging for the poor at Musical Concerts to raise funds and embark on a project, he teaches us, as Priests, how to use our human network and contacts with high-profile government Officials to build a church and a mosque for the lepers.
A fond memory of his comes to mind when, on the occasion of the birthday of the Chief Imam, Shekh Usman Nuhuu Shaributu visited him at Christ the King Parish, Accra, in order to worship with his son, Fr Campbell.
To me, that speaks volumes on the altar of Ecumenism.
Most of us continue to ask ourselves, but how did it happen, and what kind of relationship could lead to such a kind act of the great religious leader?
He is the best person to tell. I am tempted to think that Fr understands and appreciates the human value of human relationships as a fruit of a good Christian life.
He understands very well that human Relationships are doors to opportunities and so must be entered with care, as Archbishop Duncan Williams puts it.
For the people you meet when climbing the stairs, they are the same people you meet when descending the stairs, as my late Dad used to say.
WHAT NEXT AFTER FR CAMPBELL AT 80?
1. I am personally happy that he has some young Priests learning from him in his special mission to the lepers.
As a Church, let us encourage more young Priests, Religious men and women to be mentored by him so that when he returns to the Father’s Kingdom, there would be continuity by another SVD or Diocesan Priest.
With all humility, it pains my heart so much that, after the demise of Bro. Pius Agyemang, no one seems to take over.
Special giftings and missions of such kind must be embraced with mentorship and pastoral continuity, and even pastoral sustainability.
2. As some Seminaries in Europe do, where the Rector invites these our veteran Priests to share their many years of rich Priestly and Religious experiences with the Novices, let us engage Fr Campbell in that aspect too.
Not only young seminarians but also Priests under 10 and even beyond to enrich the Ongoing Formation of Priests and Religious.
3. Most often, we Africans prefer to honour people posthumously. As a Church, I am tempted to think he has been honoured and well acknowledged; if it is possible, let us do more for him now that he is alive and even at eighty, still serving.
4. One cannot talk about Fr Campbell without talking about his high Human Network with high-profile government Officials.
The Church and her Society should keep making very good use of that to set the ball rolling for a National Catholic Television in Ghana.
CONCLUSION:
The words Jesus gave him when he appeared to him on his sick bed at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, Accra sums up his life so well when the Lord said to him: “You have not finished your work, go back and help the poor” and the warm words of Pope Francis of blessed memory to him at Rome in a personal audience, “Courage, continue your work” offers a divine affirmation of the extraordinary missionary work of Fr Campbell. He is so passionate and helpful to young seminarians and Priests who received their Priesthood in his hands and beyond. Though as human as we are, he may have his limitations, he is indeed a real blessing to the Church in Accra and Ghana as a whole.
Nii Lamptey!, Ayekoooooooooo!
By: Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso
Chaplain, Ghanaian Catholic Community Church, Italy
