St. Anne’s Cathedral Parish in Damongo has successfully climaxed its 70th anniversary celebration with a strong call from the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Damongo for renewed dedication and commitment to the Church, particularly among the youth.
The week-long celebration, which featured a series of religious, social, and commemorative activities, was climaxed on Sunday, 14th December 2025, at the St. Anne’s Cathedral Church in Damongo. The anniversary also attracted foreign partners of the Church from Germany, highlighting the parish’s long-standing international partnerships.
As part of the celebration, several parishioners were honoured for their outstanding dedication, commitment, and faithful service to the Church over the years.
In his welcome address, the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. David Jimah Bakeri, described St. Anne’s Cathedral as a “mustard seed” that was planted in 1955 at the premises of the Damongo Hospital and has since grown into a strong faith community with 17 parishes under its influence.
He noted that the Church has contributed immensely to education, health, social cohesion, and human development, benefiting Christians, Muslims, and people of other faiths across the area. He expressed gratitude to God, missionaries, benefactors, and parishioners whose sacrifices have sustained the Church for seven decades.
Delivering his homily, the Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Damongo, called on the faithful to rejoice and give thanks to God for His faithfulness over the past 70 years. He reminded Christians that true joy and happiness come only from closeness to Christ, especially during the Advent season.
Reflecting on the history of evangelization in Damongo, the Bishop recounted the challenges faced by early missionaries, including colonial restrictions, lack of infrastructure, limited resources, and illiteracy. Despite these challenges, he noted, the Church played a key role in promoting education, healthcare, clean water, and human development across the Diocese.
Speaking on the anniversary theme, “70 Years of Evangelization: Sustaining the Future,” Most Rev Peter Paul Angkyier stressed the need for collaboration among priests, religious, and lay faithful. He called for stronger youth involvement, formation, self-reliance initiatives, interfaith dialogue, and a renewed spirit of prayer and sacrifice.
He expressed concern about declining commitment among some parishioners and urged all members to rise above complacency and actively participate in building the Church. According to him, sustaining the future of evangelization requires creativity, unity, patience, and perseverance.
The Bishop expressed profound gratitude to early missionaries, catechists, religious sisters, priests, lay leaders, government institutions, partner Dioceses, foreign benefactors, and the Muslim community for their collaboration and support over the years.
The celebration ended with prayers of thanksgiving and a call for the faithful to move forward with renewed dedication, joy, and responsibility, as the parish looks ahead to its 75th anniversary.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
