CHRIST THE KING BIDS FAREWELL TO FR. CAMPBELL
An official ceremony has been held to bid Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, SVD, farewell as he steps down from occupying Ecclesiastical office as an active Parish Priest.
It was all joy on Pentecost Sunday, May 23, 2021, as parishioners, friends and love ones, near and far joined Christ the King Catholic Church to not only mark the climax of 70 years of existence as a Church but also to celebrate their outgoing and retired Parish Priest.
For the past 50 years, Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell SVD, the Irish-Ghanaian missionary priest has been active in his call into the Holy Priesthood in Ghana. His engagements with the poor, marginalized, and displaced in society has been admired by many in Ghanaian society.
The 75-year-old Fr. Andrew Nii Lante Campbell worked and transformed many lives at St Peter’s Catholic Church, Osu, Sacred Heart Catholic Church Derby-Avenue-Accra, Good Shepherd Parish, Tema Community Two, and the Christ the King Parish at Cantonments, where he served for 12 years.
The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, His Excellency, Henryk Mieczyslaw Jagodzinski, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Accra, Very Rev. Fr. John Louis, Provincial Superior of the Ghana–Liberia Province of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), Very Rev. Fr. Cyprian Kuupol and a number of priests concelebrated the mass.
The Homilist, who is the Director of Pastoral Missions of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Very. Rev. Father John Patrick Tindana spoke on the essence of the Holy Spirit to mankind. He expressed appreciation to Father Campbell giving hope and love to people as a result of the presence of the Holy Spirit in his life. Fr. Tindana also described the celebrant as a living legend in his own right who upon reaching the shores of Ghana achieved a lot with perseverance, dedication and zeal.
The Homilist reminded all that according to the line of Melchizedek, Fr. Campbell is not retiring as a priest but from occupying his ecclesiastical office as stated in the Canon law, 53 pg.3 of the Catholic church. He also stated that” the absence of love in the Church, is the absence of the Holy Spirit for there can be no love without the Holy Spirit. hence, the church must be filled with the love shared by Christians because it was the only way to ensure the presence of the Holy Spirit in the church.
The official farewell mass held at the forecourt of the premises saw the presence of the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Mrs Samira Bawumia. Also present at this mass were the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin, the wife of a late former Vice-President of Ghana, Mrs Matilda Amissah Arthur, a former Anglican Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev Justice Ofei Akrofi, a member of the Council of State, Mr Sam Okudjeto, some Members of Ghana’s Parliament and Ministers of State.
In recognition of the tireless efforts of the late Kojo Botsio a staunch Catholic and a member of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) for securing the land for which the Christ the King Church was built, a citation was read in his honour and presented to his family.
Speaking to all present, Fr. Campbell was full of gratitude to all for their generous support over the years. He asked for pardon for stepping on the toes of individuals and groups while in office.
The Vice President of Ghana, Dr Bawumia on his part said the Jubilee House is blessed to have Christ the King as their Chaplaincy, overseeing their religious needs at the seat of government. He was hopeful that Fr. Campbell will continue to contribute to the society in diverse ways even though he will be in retirement from active priestly duties.
The Vice President on behalf of the people of Ghana extended sincere gratitude to the Catholic Church of Ghana for sharing Father Campbell with the state. He then asks God, in His infinite Goodness, to favour him and grant him success in all his future endeavours as he continues his work in the Lord’s Vineyard.
On behalf of President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Vice-President donated GH¢100,000 along with a Kente cloth to Father Campbell and GH¢50,000 to the Parish as it marked its 70th Anniversary
Juliette Manomey//DEPSOCOM Accra
