 |
| Dignitaries at the high table in the congress at Navrongo |
The clergy has been called upon, to pay attention to the challenges facing the Laity today in living out their God-Given vocation of family life; the delicate role of the pastor in providing the necessary pastoral care.
 |
| Group photogragp of some dignitaries at the congress, UDS Campus Navrongo |
The call was made
during the opening ceremony of the 27th National and 15th
Biennial National Union of Ghanaian Diocesan Priest’s Association NUGDPA
Congress, currently under in Navrongo at University for Development Studies UDS
Campus.
The theme for the congress is “Challenges of in the Catholic Marriages;
the role of the Priest” The Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, the host was founded
by the Society of the Missionaries of Africa, the White Fathers in 1906, having
entered the then Gold Coast from the Upper Volta now Burkina Faso.
The mission
became an Apostolic Prefecture in 1926 and was later raised to the status of an
Apostolic Vicaeiate in 1934.
The Navrongo Diocese was established in 1956,
until 1977 when it was renamed, the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga following
the transfer of the Episcopal See from Navrongo to Bolgatanga, the capital of
the Upper East Regional.
 |
| Rt. Rev. Alfred Adjenta Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese addressing the Biennial Congress at UDS |
In his address, Bishop of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga
Diocese Rt. Rev. Alfred Adjenta indicated that, the church feels the joys and
hope, grief and anguish of the masses within and beyond the region.
The
Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese he said cannot alienate itself from the situation
of the very people the church is called to server.
Bishop Adjenta stated that,
the social dimension of the Gospel emphasized by Pope Francis shows the deep
correlation between evangelization and human advancement.
 |
| Very Rev, Fr. Augustine Abasi Chaplincy of UDS on his keynote address at the Congress |
In a keynote address
delivered by Very Reverent Father Augustine Abasi, the Chaplin of UDS on the
theme, “The Challenges of the Catholic Marriages; the role of the Priest,
stressed that, the catholic marriage in its uniqueness has a peculiar
challenges emanating from its own understanding and living out its own uniqueness.
Father Abasi stated that there are internal and external challenges specific to
age, background, cultural experiences, and religious context and maturity of
those players involved and the environment contribute significantly to the
challenges.
 |
| Very Rev. Fr. Francis Appiah Kubi President of UNGDPA |
The President of NUGDPA Rev. Father Francis Appiah Kubi in his
address said it has been observed that, adult Christian, traditionally married
do not have access to the sacraments; they can neither take communion nor fully
participates in the life ecclesial community because they are considered
‘public sinners’.
As a result, those young people he indicated that, become
accustomed to life without Sacrament and consequently, the church becomes alien
to them.
 |
| Upper East Regional Minister Ms Paulina Abayage in her address at the Congress |
The Upper East Regional Ms Paulina Abayage a guest to the occasion
indicated that, if society is to remain the haven of peace and harmony that
Ghana desires, there is the need to strengthen institutions and structures that
has the capacity to mould families Oasis of love, unity and fraternity.
She
therefore urged the Cleagy to remain committed to working for the sanctity of
marriages as the foundation of life and humility.
 |
| A Cross secrion of some Priests at the Congress at UDS IN Navrongo |
The opening ceremony of the
27th National and 15th Biennial National Union of Ghanaian Diocesan Priest’s
Association NUGDPA Congress brought together about 500 priests and thier Bishops, chiefs, Ministers of State,
MMDCEs, the Muslim community among other functionaries.
