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The Bishop of the Damongo Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier has on Sunday, 23rd January, 2022, commissioned eight (8) Eucharistic Ministers at Damongo in the Savannah region during a mass celebration.
The Eucharistic Ministers, or more properly Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEM) denotes a lay person who assists the priest in administering the sacraments of holy communion and the consecrated bread and wine and may also take the sacraments to those who are ill, or otherwise unable to attend Mass.
The Bishop in his homily explained that, the commissioning of the eight as extraordinary Ministers of the eucharist is in line with the Diocesan Strategic plan to promote lay ministeries in the communities in other to encourage greater participation in building up the church and the body of christ.
Most Rev Peter Paul Angkyier noted that, though it is the office of the priest and the deacon to Minister the holy communion to the faithful who ask to receive it, Acolytes who have been properly instituted also have the office to give communion as extraordinary ministers when the priest and deacon are absent or unable due to other pastoral engagements.
He further explained that, it is his duty as Bishop of the Diocese to give other extraordinary ministers the faculty to give communion whenever it seems necessary fort the pastoral benefit and to ensure that the faithful of Christ receive communion, especially those who used to be in church and for some reasons are unable to come due to sickness or aged.
Most Rev. Peter paul Angkyier added that, the church as a communon encourages the participation of others in the work of God in other to ensure that the mission is enriched and successful and therefore, there is the need to make space for the different members to be actively involved by fact of their baptism as God first appointed Apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, Administrators and later speakers in various kinds of tongues whom were all prophets.
The Bishop said, …” we have identified these members of the community in response to the pastoral needs of this parish community and inspired by the word of God and that, these lay ministers have carefully been selected and prepared for their task which comes with great responsibilities”.
He bemoaned members of the Church to see the celebration of the Sunday’s word of God as the root of their mission which impels them to reach out to others by letting them hear and know of what the have experienced of God and what God is extending to all people. He continued that, God’s word is a special gift to them as children of God which the must treasure and be enthusiastic to share with others.
Mr. Bore Jonas, on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the Bishop and to the Church for their support and confidence reposed in them and there by assigning them to their new roles in the church and promised that they are going to work to the best of their abilities in their service to God, the sick and the aged as eucharistic ministers.
They eucharistic Ministers commissioned to assist in God’s work include; Jonas Bore,
Gabriel Adam Shaibu, Anne Bakari,
Awosi francis, Zemong Alfred and Paul Adda.
The Administrator for the St. Anne’s Cathedral Church, Rev. Fr. Felix Kuulare was in attendance to witness the commissioning of the Eucharistic ministers ( Lay eucharistic Ministers).
Kumatey Gorden
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