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Most Rev. Attakruh ordained Catholic Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese

The new Catholic  Bishop  of  the  Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Most Rev. John Baptist Attakruh, has encouraged the Catholic faithful and  public servants  to be the  yeast, salt and light of the world.

He said they should be faithful disciples ready to offer love and hope to the troubled world, stressing that, “Jesus Christ is alive  in the Church and  in the world, we need love in every part of  our life.”

Most Rev. Attakruh gave the admonition when he delivered his maiden address at his episcopal ordination and installation last Friday, in Takoradi.

It had the theme ‘strengthen the brethren.’

He said: “We have been admonished to leave our comfortable confines and go out to the periphery to encounter the poor, the marginalised and the neglected and place them at the very hearts of the ministry.”

He recalled that, three months ago, when by the Grace of God, he was appointed as the fifth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, he battled with the idea that, he was now the chief shepherd of the diocese and was gripped with fear and trepidation.

The new Bishop said, he was encouraged by the various messages of joy he received and was gratified.

Most Rev Attakruh  noted that,  during the Assumption  of Blessed Virgin  Mary, on  Sunday,  August 15, and the  Feast   of  Our Lady  of Sorrows, on September  15, Catholic faithful  prayed for peace and unity  so that,  he  will be  filled with the Holy Spirit to shepherd the  pastoral ministry and flock.

“Indeed, God has heard the prayers of the diocese, and, he is doing it. Can’t you see it working? Unity and peace is the work for all of us, the religious and the Catholic faithful.

As the Apostolic Administrator, I always called for collaboration and co-responsibility.

“Let’s go together and build the family of God, the family we cherish and strive daily to belong. I have been sustained by your prayerful support,” he said.

Bishop Attakruh expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for the expression  of  deep  love and the  confidence reposed  in  him and assured that he would  be “an able  shepherd of  the vibrant  diocese    of  Sekondi- Takoradi.”

He thanked the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Henrynk. M. Jagodzinski,  for God’s gift of episcopacy  he conferred   on  him through the  laying of  hands,  and, making him  his  first son  in Ghana, praying  “may your episcopacy  be fulfilled.”

He  also  thanked the  Co-Consecrators,the  President  of the Catholic Bishop Conference,  Archbishop Philip Naameh,  and  his predecessor,  Most Rev. John  Bonaventure Kwofie, for the challenge and love they gave, and shaped him,to become a Bishop.

“Archbishop Kwofie, my prayer is that, God grants you complete and total healing of body,mind and spirit, so that you can carry on your episcopal ministry,” Most Rev. Attakruh prayed.

To Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Gabriel Charles Palmer- Buckle who delivered the Homily, he said, “You have done a yeoman job.

Your words of encouragement will forever remain in my heart. I look forward to working with you—in the Cape Coast Ecclesiastical province.”

CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, TAKORADI

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