The Bishop of Yendi Diocese, Most Rev. Vincent Boi-Nai Sowah SVD, has reminded Ghanaians that the change in government they voted for on December 7, 2016, will remain an illusion without a corresponding change in their attitudes.
Bishop Boi-Nai stated these remarks in his homily on January 3, 2017, when he presided over a Eucharistic Celebration to mark his 72nd birthday which was held at the Centre for Pastoral Formation at Sunson, near Yendi. The occasion was also used as a platform by the Bishop to socialize with priests, religious and seminarians of the Diocese.
He said “So far as there is bribery and corruption, selfishness, greed, laziness, indiscipline, “I don’t care attitude”, the quest for change will remain an illusion” adding, “Lets pray for our Country Ghana that we all may eschew negative attitudes and contribute our quota towards nation building”.
In a similar vein, he entreated all gathered to do a self-examination concerning their own attitudes concerning the Church, that is the growth of the Diocese.
Giving a brief appraisal of the pastoral activities in the Diocese and plans in the coming years, he disclosed that in 2019, the Diocese will hold its first synod to mark its 20th anniversary and entreated priests to actively participate in all activities that will be put in place to make the event successful.
He thanked God for giving the Diocese an appreciable number of priests, religious and 10 seminarians and entreated priests to give praises to God for all activities undertaken by the Diocese and to her benefactors whose unbounded generosity make things possible.
Bishop Bio-Nai expressed satisfaction with the strides made in the area of pastoral care since the Diocese was created in 1999, saying the Diocese can now boast of the presence of 14 Congregations, the highest number in the Tamale Ecclesiastical province.
He reminded priests that they were ordained to serve the people of God and as much as possible, they must endeavour to make themselves available for the people, advising them also to be united and eschew quarrels among themselves.
On the way forward, Bishop Boi-Nai called for the revival of the once vibrant Religious Men and Women Association to foster unity and deepen fraternal relationships among the religious of the Diocese. He called for a similar action regarding the 4 deaneries in the Diocese which he noted, had become dormant.
In conclusion, Bishop Boi-Nai urged priests to submit timely reports to donor agencies, lamenting that such delays have the tendency to affect the smooth implementation of projects in the Diocese, cautioning them that such attitudes will not be countenanced in 2017.
Bishop Boi-Nai proceeded to cut the birthday cake and hosted participants to a banquet who subsequently engaged in outdoor games to run off the day’s celebration.
Earlier, Rev. Fr. John Mensah Semnanke, a priest at the Centre, had on behalf of the Vicar General and Director of the Centre, Very Rev. Fr. Tomy Thomas SVD, welcomed the Bishop and participants to the Centre.
Among the participants were the Diocesan Canonist and Judicial Vicar of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Tribunal, Very Rev. Fr. Gregory Dery and Rev. Fr. Dr. Erasmus Norviewu-Mortty, Principal of the St. Vincent College of Education at Yendi.