St Patrick Catholic Church marks 40th milestone
The Saint Patrick Catholic Church situated within the religious enclave of Atomic Energy, Kwabenya, would tomorrow celebrate its 40th anniversary, with a dedication of the church’s new chapel and the consecration of its altar.
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Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, is billed to celebrate the occasion.
Based on the theme: “Building a New Saint Patrick after 40,” the event is also expected to see the consecration of the newly constructed mission house where the parish priest will live.
Time of testing
The President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr Albert Akurugu, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the significance of the celebration was based on the fact that biblically, the number 40 was quite significant.
He said it represented the length of time necessary to accomplish some major part of God’s plans in his dealings with mankind.
Mr Albert Akurugu, the President of the Parish Pastoral Council
It also represented, he said, a time of testing by God and a time of judgement.
Significant anniversary
Making biblical allusions, he said: “The rains in Noah’s days lasted for 40 days and nights, Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights and after his resurrection, he remained on earth for 40 days.”
He said as a church, it had also gone through the time of testing and looking back they had decided to count their blessings.
Rev. Fr. Bernard Kyei - Parish Priest
Role of forefathers
Mr Akurugu recounted the genesis of the church when four of the church’s forefathers had to go and see the leadership of the Catholic Church at Legon who agreed and celebrated the first mass of the St Patrick Parish on December 5, 1976.
For a long while, he said, the church was worshipping in classrooms and expressed gratitude to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) that gave a piece of land for the church’s projects.
“Having completed, we are dedicating it to the Lord to come in and bless His people,” he added.
Mr Akurugu congratulated all parishioners on helping to build the place of worship in honour of God.
The church building