From Gordon Wellu in Navrongo
His Eminence Ivan Cardinal Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, has on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI, raised three Priests from the Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga to the rank of Monsignor.
Cardinal Dias made this announcement at the centenary celebration Mass at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Minor Basilica at Navrongo to climax the evangelisation of the North.
It was attended by thousands of pilgrims from far and near. He said the elevation was a gift to the people of the North.
The new Monsignors are Rev. Msgrs. Thomas Anamooh, Vicar General of the Diocese; James D. Tachuah, Rector of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Minor Basilica and Camillo K. Sarko, a former Parish Priest of Bawku.
Ten other Priests and Religious received Papal awards Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice, while ten lay men and women were also honoured with Papal medals.
During the Mass, Mr. Boniface Gambila, Upper East Regional Minister who led a three-member government delegation, on behalf of President John Agyekum Kufuor, acknowledged the role of the Catholic Church in the areas of education, health, water and sanitation, economic ventures, gender issues, youth formation, conflict prevention and peace-building.
Other members of the delegation were Mr. Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister; Mr. C.K. Tedam, Member of the Council of State, and Mrs. Agnes Chigabatia, Member of Parliament for Builsa North.
Mr. Gambila said after 100 years of Grace, the only legacy Northerners can live behind is to declare zero tolerance for conflict that emanates from land and chieftaincy disputes.
He called on people of the North to endeavour to educate their children to the highest level as well as work hard to bring themselves out of poverty.
In a message read for him, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery challenged people of the area not to become too complacent with the gains chalked so far but to work more to ensure peace and development.
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