On Saturday, 4th October, 2025, the St. Peter’s Parish in Lingbinsi witnessed a momentous celebration as the Catholic faithful gathered in joy and thanksgiving to honor Rev. Fr. Gilbert Wusah Tika, the first-ever Tampulma priest, at a special Mass presided over by Rev Fr. Gilbert Wusah Tika and concelebrated by Most Rev Peter Paul Yelezuome Angkyier, Bishop of the Damongo Diocese, together with a score of priests within the Diocese and the province.
The Thanksgiving Mass marked not only a personal milestone for Fr. Tika, but also a historic moment for the local Church. Fr. Tika, who hails from Lingbinsi and began his journey at St. Peter’s Primary and SDA JHS was recently ordained in Rome by Pope Leo XIV on June 27, 2025, during the Jubilee of Priests, a rare and prestigious honor in the global Catholic community.
In his homily, Bishop Peter Paul Angkyier described the ordination of Fr. Tika as “a fruit of the Church’s missionary journey” in the area, which began over sixty years ago. He praised Fr. Tika’s humility, perseverance, and faith, noting that his vocation is a testament to God’s grace and the transformative power of mission.
“The priest is a man of gratitude, unity, and reconciliation,” the Bishop said. “He must be a joyful witness of Christ, a man of prayer, and a beacon of hope to the world.”
Addressing the challenges of priestly ministry, Bishop Angkyier encouraged Fr. Tika and fellow priests to remain faithful, prayerful, and collaborative in their mission, emphasizing that true priesthood thrives not on personal achievement but on surrender to God’s will.
He also issued a call to the faithful to support their priests both spiritually and materially, reminding them that every Jubilee is not just a celebration but a time for recommitment to the mission of Christ.
As chants of praise and celebration echoed through Lingbinsi, the community rejoiced not just in Fr. Tika’s success, but in the continued growth of the local Church and the seeds sown decades ago by missionaries that are now bearing rich fruit.
With hearts full of joy and gratitude, the faithful of St. Peter’s Parish and beyond look forward to a new chapter in their spiritual journey, one led, in part, by one of their very own.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
