Two Catholic Priests of the Wa Diocese of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province of the Catholic Church of Ghana were laid to rest today Monday January 10, 2022 at the Priests cemetery at St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital.
Very Rev. Fr. Albert Kuuire, who was 80, died on Saturday December 11, 2021, after a protracted illness, while Rev. Fr. Ambrose Kanguri, Assistant Priest of the St. John Parish at Funsi, passed to eternity on December 30, 2021, at the age of 49.
Hundreds of mourners from all walks of life, thronged the funeral ground at Xavier to pay their last respect to the two priests who distinguished themselves in the service of God in the Ministerial Priesthood of Christ.
Among the mourners were seven Bishops, led by the Archbishop of Tamale, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, who is also the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Ghana.
The other Bishops were the Most Rev. Paul Bemile, Bishop Emeritus of Wa, the Most Rev. Peter Paul Ankyier, Bishop of Damongo, the Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, the Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, MAfr. Bishop of Wa, the Most Rev. Gabriel Kumordji, SVD, Bishop of Keta-Akatsi and the Most Rev. Emmanuel Fianu, SVD, Bishop of Ho.
Hundreds of Catholic Priests, including the President of National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests Associations, Very Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Kuusah, Very Rev. John Louis, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Accra and Very Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anonde, Secretary General of the National Catholic Secretariat attended the funeral Mass.
Also among the mourners were politicians, traditional rulers, Catholic societies and the lay faithful across the Catholic Church of Ghana and Burkina Faso.
Fr. Albert Kuuire was born in Nandom Tokuu-Pisie in 1941. He was ordained Priest for the Catholic Diocese of Wa on April 16, 1967 by Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery, then Bishop of Wa.
Fr. Kuuire served in various capacities in the local Church before going abroad for further studies, obtaining a Doctoral Degree in Sacred Theology from. the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome
Upon his return Msgr. Kuuire was appointed Rector of the St. Victor’s Catholic Major Seminary in Tamale, where he served for 11 years, from 1980-1991.
He was later appointed by the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference as a Facilitator for the establishment of the Catholic University at Fiapre in Sunyani. His task was to carry out all the groundwork required for the establishment of the University. In 2003, when the Catholic University was eventually established, Very Rev. Fr. Albert Kuuire was appointed the first substantive Registrar of the University till 2007.
On August 19, 2004, Pope John Paul II granted Fr. Albert the title of Honorary Prelate of His Holiness (Reverend Monsignor).
Born on August 19, 1972 in Eremon in the Upper West Region, Fr. Ambrose Kanguri obtained his Senior Secondary School certificate from the St. Francis Xavier Minor Seminary in 1994.
He proceeded to the St. Victor’s Catholic Major Seminary in Tamale for his priestly formation. After a successful study, Fr. Ambrose was ordained Priest on December 16, 2006 by Most Rev. Paul Bemile, the then Bishop of Wa.
Fr. Ambrose was first appointed to the Naa Krista Parish at Duatang as Assistant Priest.
Several tributes captured the two priests as dedicated, faithful, loyal and holy who served the people of God sincerely with zeal and love.
In a homily, Bishop Baawobr asked the Catholic faithful to pray for the respose of the souls Msgr. Albert and Fr. Ambrose.
