By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Sumbrungu (U/E), Oct 16, GNA-Mr Roland Adongo Nyaaba, a Retired Catholic Catechist of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga has marked 50 years as a Catholic Catechist amidst commendation of selfless service to God and His people.
At his Golden Jubilee Mass held at Saint Francis of Assisi Rectorate, Sumbrungu, The Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, the Bishop of the Diocese who presided over the celebration commended the retired Catechist for his continued service to the church in diverse ways even after his retirement in 2013.
The Most Reverend Agyenta described the life of the retired catechist as a life full of gratitude and service to God and his people and urged other young catechists to emulate his exemplary life of service.
“We want to thank God for your life, for preserving yourself as a worthy instrument that has touched so many lives, thousands of people you have catechised for baptism”, he said.
Catechist Nyaaba who was baptised and confirmed in May 1964, became a Catechist in 1973 at the Sumbrungu Catholic Church after his training and formation at the Saint Charles Lwanga Lay Apostles Institute in Walewale in the North East Region.
He was posted to Christ the King Outstation in Winkongo in January 1974 before he was transferred to Holy Trinity Outstation, Pwalugu in 1980.
While at the Holy Trinity Outstation, he was also in charge of Balungu, Arigu, Bisigo, Gua and Karimenga and through his leadership, the Saint Anthony of Padua, Arigu Outstation was opened in 1988.
In October 1985, the retired Catechist gained admission into the Wa Pastoral and Social Institute for further studies and was awarded a Diploma (Distinction) in Religious Education and Social Studies after completion in 1987.
He was then transferred to the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish where worked for five years and was later transferred to his hometown outstation, Saint Charles Lwanga (now Saint Francis of Assisi Rectorate) where he played a key role in the opening of Our Lady of Annunciation, Azorebisi in 1997 and the establishment of many communities, societies and organisations.
He was also instrumental in the establishment of Saint Charles Lwanga Basic School, the only Catholic School in the Sumbrungu community. He was later transferred back to the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish in 2005.
The Retired Catechist has held many positions including being President, Secretary and Financial Secretary of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Sacred Heart Confraternity, President, Vice President and Secretary of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocesan Catechists’ Association, Secretary and Vice President of the National Union of Ghana Catholic Catechists’ Diocesan Association.
Apart from that, he received many awards such as a Certificate of honour for his contribution to the transition of Sacred Heart Literature, a Certificate of honour for serving the church for 27 years, a Certificate of honour as a long-serving catechist in the Diocese and contributed a lot to translating religious texts from English to Gurune over the years in the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish.
He also received a Certificate of honour for consistent self-giving dedication and sacrifice to the cause of catechesis in Ghana among others.
He retired in 2013 after serving the church actively for 40 years.
GNA