The Diocese of Sunyani has conferred Papal honours on ten individuals for their contributions, dedication and selfless efforts made towards the growth of the Catholic Church specifically Sunyani Diocese.
This important event which took place at the Christ the King Cathedral, in Sunyani on July 6, 2024 was attended by hundreds of people from all walks of life.
The awardees and their various categories were: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (awarded in recognition of service to the Church and the Papacy) – Rev. Fr. Stanislaw Jan Gergont, SVD; Rev. Fr. Martino Corazzin, OFM CONV; Sr. Victoria Takyi-Kyarko, HHCJ; Sr. Agatha Ifenkwe, HHCJ; and Sr. Florence Badu, HHCJ.
Those awarded Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester (Conferred on laymen who are active in the Apostolate especially in their professional duties) were, Mr. Herbert Kojo Abeka and Mr. Emmanuel Taa-Amoako.
Knight of the Order of St. Gregory was conferred on His Lordship Justice Eric Ankomah Ansah and Prof. Daniels Obeng-Ofori. This award is conferred on persons with distinct personality and reputations and for their conspicuous services to the Church and society.
Knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory the Great (DAME) was conferred on Mrs. Georgina Bennett.
In addition to the Papal award, 137 individuals including chiefs and other denominations were presented with Episcopal awards for their services to the Church. Twenty-two Churches were also raised to full Parish status.
The main celebrant of the celebration was the Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, who in his homily, expressed gratitude to God and exhorted the faithful to celebrate for the Lord has done great things for the Diocese.
According to the Bishop, the Diocese has vibrant lay faithful and 28 % are Catholics in the Bono Region. “So, the Diocese has every cause to celebrate for we are celebrating the great deeds the Lord has done for the Diocese,” he stated.
Bishop Gyamfi said that “we celebrate the faithful chosen from within and outside the Catholic faith for their love and zeal for the Church, explaining that “It happened that the lot fell on few but all of us lay faithful deserve this honour.”
Turning to the awardees, he admonished them “consider the fact that those who started the church should be remembered because they did not receive any award. This means that you’re standing on their shoulders and on the faith of many”.
He reminded the awardees that their honours is a call for responsibility for them to worker harder for others to also receive honours in the future.
Though the honours are just medals, they stand for more, being responsible and safeguarding the Catholic faith.
He urged the awardees to pause and reflect on this responsibility they are taking upon themselves knowing that the life they live now is no longer their own but for the church and faithful. Know your faith, defend the faith, live it in season and out of season.
He urged the lay faithful to decide on a specific thing to do to defend the faith. How do we develop the faith of today? That’s the task the Lord is giving all of us today.
“Let your light shine so that together, we all arise and build God’s church.
He congratulated all the faithful present for their hard work,” the Bishop asserted.
Story and Photos by Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah, HHCJ/Sr. Esther Kutie, SVI (Sister Communicators)
