By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Tamale, Feb. 16, GNA – The Catholic Vocation Directors and Directresses Association of Ghana (CAVDAG) has held its 46th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Tamale with a focus on strengthening vocation promotion and formation within the Catholic Church.
It was also to promote collaboration, share best practices and affirm their commitment to the Church’s vocation ministry.
The meeting brought together Vocation Directors and Directresses from across the country under the theme: “Divine Call and Ecclesial Mediation: Discerning Authentic Vocations in the Contemporary Church.”
In a welcome address read by the Very Reverend Father Hilary Pogbeyir, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Tamale, on behalf of Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, he underscored the crucial role Vocation Directors and Directresses played in identifying and nurturing young men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life.
Most Rev. Naameh reminded members of CAVDAG of their position as the first point of contact in the formation journey and urged them to recommend only well-disposed candidates.
He encouraged them to carefully assess the intentions of aspirants to ensure they possessed the right motives.
He said, “Take time to critically assess the young men and women who express the desire to be priests or religious so that you can get those who have the right motives,” emphasizing the need to prioritise the Church’s mission above personal considerations of candidates.
Describing the task of vocation directors as complex, he advised them to rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit when recommending suitable candidates.
Very Reverend Father Francis Fynn, President of CAVDAG, said vocation animators were called to guide and accompany young people in their spiritual discernment.
He noted that ecclesial mediation required walking with young people, supporting them throughout their vocation journey, and helping them address spiritual or personal challenges that might arise.
In a keynote address, Very Reverend Father Mathias Mornah, Lecturer and Formator at Saint Victor’s Major Seminary, Tamale, said vocation ministry should prioritize helping individuals discover their true calling rather than focusing merely on recruitment.
He stressed that vocation directors had a responsibility to assist individuals in discerning God’s unique plan for their lives, enabling them to realise their full potential, especially in today’s complex social environment.
Most Reverend John Opoku-Agyemang, Episcopal Chairman of Vocations, Seminaries and Chaplaincies and Bishop of the Konongo-Mampong Diocese, together with representatives of other groups, delivered goodwill messages during the opening ceremony.
GNA
Edited by Eric K. Amoh / Lydia Kukua Asamoah