Seventeen lay people from 12 parishes who successfully completed the required initial residential formation/training programme for Catechists in the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi have been admitted and commissioned into full ministry.
The Mass of admission and commission which was presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese, the Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh was held in the Chapel of the St. Mary’s minor seminary, Apowa.
In his message of admonition and encouragement, the Bishop emphasised the importance of the teaching ministry to the spread of the faith and of the Church on one hand, and the outstanding and indispensable role and contribution of catechists on the other hand, saying “in fact, the catechist is not a simple substitute for the priest”.
Underlining the unique role and contributions of catechists over the years in the mission of the Church, he further stressed that catechists should not consider their ministry as exclusive of others. “Ministry in the Church is collaborative, co-responsibility and shared”, the bishop stated.
Present at the Mass of Commissioning were the Very Rev. Fr. Gordon Buadi Miezah, the Rector of the Minor Seminary; Rev. Fr. Francis Couston Enyam, the Director at the Diocesan Pastoral and Catechetical Centre; Mr. Frank Awortwe Mensah, the President of the Diocesan Catechist Association, and some facilitators of the formation/training programme.
