From Peter Gbambila
The Franciscan Friars have celebrated 40th Anniversary of their existence in Ghana at the St. Francis of Assisi Church at Awoshie in Accra with a call on Ghanaians to be devoted to Christ as St. Francis was .
The Provincial Custus of St. Anthony of Padua Custody in Ghana, Friar Anthony Bezo, said the seed which was sown forty years ago in Ghana, watered and nurtured by four Americans and two Italians had grown to yield fifty nine Ghanaian Priests and Brothers.
Friar Bezo said it was worth celebrating the achievements of that seed which was planted in 1977 and received enough attention and still hoping to get more disciples to work in the Lord’s Vineyard.
The Provincial Custus reminded Ghanaians that what was needed to develop the nation was sacrifice, dedication and commitment.
In a Sermon, Friar George Abram, a pioneer of the Congregation in Ghana, said Christians must show love through their actions because people understood and saw love through our actions and not through our words only.
He said in the Franciscan Friars Conventual, the Superior was always the servant of the group and never lorded it over his fellow Friars and that showed the love we have for each other as one great family.
The Franciscans’ presence in Ghana started in 1970 when the Bishops of Ghana visited the Pope in Rome and contacted the General of the Franciscans to send some Friars to assist the devotees of St Anthony.
Following the Bishops’ request, some American and Italian Friars were sent to Ghana to explore the possibility of sending some members to work in Ghana.
The Pioneers of the Friars settled in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast and the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi with the Americans focusing on the training of Ghanaian Men for Franciscan life while the Italians went into Pastoral and Social work but later on expanded in many directions.
The Ghanaian Franciscans Friars and their Brothers from other parts of the world stationed in Accra at St Bonaventure Friary Sowutuom, Cape Coast at Our Lady of Angels Friary (Adisadel), Saltpond at St Francis of Assisi Friary, Sunyani at St Anthony of Padua Friary; and Takoradi at St. Francis Friary.
