By Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tema
The Corpus Christi Parish of the Catholic Church in Sakumono Estates founded in 1991 has celebrated its Silver Jubilee anniversary in Accra on the theme: “25 years as a United Family, Knowing, living and sharing the goodness of God.”
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle who was the main celebrant congratulated the entire membership of the Church, especially their support to the Archdiocese in various ways including time, talents and generosity.
He particularly commended the Parish for helping to construct a permanent a chapel the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Old Ningo to ensure that Catholics living in that part of the country have a place to celebrate Mass.
The establishment of the Corpus Christi Church dates back to 1989 when the first residents arrived to occupy newly constructed housing units at Sakumono-Estates
Among the residents were a sizeable number of Catholics. They continued to attend Holy Mass in their previous communities of residence but agreed that there was the need for the establishment of a Catholic church in the new residential community.
The pioneers eventually sent a delegation to meet with the then Catholic Bishop of Accra, Bishop Dominic Kwodwo Andoh to discuss the possibility of starting a new Church community at the Sakumono Estates.
The Bishop gave his consent and the first Catholic community was established at the Sakumono Estates and placed under the pastoral jurisdiction of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at Tema Community Two.
On the 10th of February 1991, the late Rev, Father Patrick Twi, celebrated the first Holy Mass with the new church community in a small open yard attached to the SNNIT Estate Manager’s office.
From there the new church community continued to grow and soon found the open yard of the SSNT Estates Manger’s office inadequate for Sunday worship.
A couple in the group, the late Mr. Emmanuel Comla-Otabil and Mrs. Comla-Otabil, allowed the church community the use of their house for the celebration of Holy Mass on Sundays. The community continued to grow and soon the residence of the Otabils was also unable to accommodate the fast growing numbers of worshippers.
It then moved into the Bethel Nursery School at the Sakumono Estates, for Sunday worship. Eventually, the group now with hundreds of members, resolved to build a church house.
Being the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy in the Catholic Church, Most Rev Palmer-Buckle called on Christians in general and Catholics in particular to open wide the doors of their hearts to forgive others in other to obtain the mercy of God.
He said like Zacchaeus in the bible, Christians must recognise their sins and ask for forgiveness.
The Parish Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Joseph Henry Mensah paid homage to the founding members of the church who laid the foundation, saying their toils had not been in vain but fruitful.
He expressed the hope that in the coming years, the church will continue to stamp its foot in the community and beyond through evangelism and preaching the world of God as well as providing social services including education.
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