It was all joyful and blissful moment at the St Peter’s Regional Seminary in Pedu, Cape Coast, when 60 first year Theology Seminarians were formally received as candidates for Holy Orders, and invested with the cassock.
The ceremony which took place during the Eucharistic Celebration on the Solemnity of All Saints, was presided over by Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare, Auxiliary Bishop of Archdiocese of Accra, and concelebrated by several Priests including the Rector and Vice Rector of the Seminary.
Bishop Asare in a homily advised the Seminarians, especially the candidates, to cherish and safeguard the dignity of the cassock, encouraging them to ensure that they lived a life that is worthy of emulation just as the saints whose feast day was being celebrated.
He equally charged Christians to aspire to be saints, noting that saints are not “super humans”, but simple people like us who strive to remain clean and “neat” at all times, by patronizing the sacrament of penance whenever they sinned against God.
Bishop Asare, thus entreated Catholics to frequent the sacrament of penance and reconciliation in order to live a life pleasing to God at all times.
Likewise, the Rector of the Seminary, Very Rev. Fr. Robert Charles Snyper, in a welcome remark, underscored the importance of the candidacy and investiture ceremony, stating that this will give the “young men the opportunity to discern their vocation either to the priesthood or otherwise.”
In appreciation, Mr Sampson Yeboah, Prefect of the Class of the 60 Seminarians, drawn from 13 Arch/Dioceses in Ghana, who were invested, thanked the Bishop for accepting them on behalf of their Bishops as candidates and promised to take their formation seriously, even as they continue to discern their vocation.
He also expressed gratitude to the entire formation team and their family members who traveled to share in their joy.
Earlier on the 31st October, Bishop Asare instituted some seminarians as Lectors and Acolytes for the Church. The Seminarians included those in their second and third year at the Seminary. During the Mass, the Bishop reminded the newly instituted Lectors and Acolytes, that the value of the kingdom of God is a great one, entreating them to be courageous and ready to even die for it.
‘The kingdom of God’, he noted, ‘grows gradually just as the priestly journey, which is so important and meticulous, yet grows gradually’. He therefore charged the Seminarians to be patient with their formation, stating that, “if we must take time to inherit the Kingdom of God, then you must also take time with your formation as well.”
By Wisdom Martin Kongor
