The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference is urging the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Associations (NUGCDPA) to use their congress to come out with practical suggestions that will aid the Bishops in responding better to the welfare issues of the diocesan priest in Ghana.
The call was made by the President of the Bishops Conference, Most Rev. Matthew K. Gyamfi doubles as the Bishop of the Sunyani Diocese while delivering a solidarity message on behalf of the Bishops Conference at the opening ceremony of the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Associations (NUGCDPA) in Koforidua.
The Bishops Conference noted that the discussion of the welfare of the priests at the congress is a step in the right direction and timely.
“For the priest to be able to carry out his duties faithfully and selflessly, such a priest must not be left to his fate to take care of his problems but must be given the necessary support. Hence, the need to discuss the welfare of the priest during an important event like the Congress is very timely” said Most Rev. Gyamfi in his address.
Most Rev. Gyamfi tasked the priests to use their congress to bring forth hands-on propositions that would help in dealing with welfare issues of priests and related matters amidst the “present predicaments of an ailing and fragile economy of Ghana and the increasing demands that this material world imposes on all of us.”
“It is therefore our prayer and hope as your bishops that this Congress will come out with practical suggestions that will aid the bishops in responding better to the welfare issues of the diocesan priest in Ghana as we journey together as a Synodal Church, bringing on board all the members of the Church” he added.
He acknowledged that the welfare of priests is the responsibility of their respective Bishops, “the Bishop has the primary responsibility for the welfare of the priests of the diocese, in close collaboration with the Vicar General, and assisted in a special way by those appointed locally as Deans.” Further adding that “although some issues will need to be referred to other people in the diocese duly delegated to act in the Bishop’s name (e.g., finance, religious, schools, vocations, safeguarding, youth)”
He encouraged the priests of the diocese to attempt to have quality time with their Bishop, “who is always ready to meet and communicate with them”
He also advised the priests to support each other through “friendship and fraternity among priests are perhaps the most important and fruitful way to support one another through “the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of priestly life and ministry (cf. Gaudium et Spes)”.
Watch the full address below

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