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The Partnership between the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province (TEP) and the Muenster Diocese has the theme: Mission, Justice, Peace and Development. The idea originated in Muenster, when some lay people and the Bishops there had an idea to reach out to us as friends in the faith. The reasons among others were that: our savanna vegetation was attractive and we are mainly involved in farming which is similar to earlier occupation of many Germans.
Again, they found TEPPCON already structured, with its existing commissions which they could use to operationalise the theme “Mission, Justice, Peace and Development”.
They also wanted to share with us the experiences of a developing church and an older church. It was also their desire to let us learn from each other and share our traditional, social, cultural and religious values, taking into consideration the theme: “Mission, Justice, Peace and Development.
This friendship started in 1982, and three Bishops –Archbishop Porekuu Dery of Tamale Archdiocese, now Peter Cardinal Dery and Bishop Gregory Kpiebaya of Wa Diocese, now Archbishop of Tamale Archdiocese and Bishop Akanlu of blessed memory, of Navrongo/Bolgatanga Diocese were the Bishops at the time.
The German Bishops wrote to the then TEP Bishops through Archbishop Peter Porekuu Dery, when the idea was conceived.
The Bishops of TEP met, discussed and wrote back accepting the friendship. Later, a delegation from the Province was invited to visit our German friends and later a reciprocal visit from our German friends to the Province. Within these visits, the two parties discussed many, things including twinning of parishes.
Each twin Parish in Muenster has carried out a number of development projects in their twin Parish in the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province. Muenster Diocese has also assisted each of the five Dioceses with projects and support. The assistance also include support for education at different levels as well as exchange programmes between the Department of Catholic Theology in the University of Muenster and St. Victor Major Seminary in Tamale.
As we celebrate 25years of friendship, thirty (30) parishes of TEP are twinned with 30 parishes in the Diocese of Muenster. The structures of the Partnership include: a Provincial Partnership Committee, Diocesan Partnership Committee and Parish Partnership Committees.
There is a constitution and guidelines governing the operations of the partnership. Each Diocese has a Diocesan Partnership Coordinator. There is a Provincial Partnership Office headed by a Provincial Partnership Coordinator. Similar structures exist in Muenster.
In 2001, a Civic Education Programme was established in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Misereor, TEPPCON and the Diocese of Muenster. This programme has made a great impact on the people. Two training Manuals have also been produced to enhance the training of District Assembly Members and other political and public agents in Democracy, Good Governance, Anticorruption and Civic Responsibilities.
At present, TEPPCON and the Diocese of Muenster are working on a project which would enable women who produce shea butter, to get access to market. Due to the personal commitment of Most Rev. Friedrich Ostermann, the Auxiliary Bishop of Muenster in 2007, a foundation was established in Muenster which has the aim to promote economic and social developments in Northern Ghana.
The celebration of the 25years of partnership, one of the fruits of the Hundred years of Grace in TEP, a 21 member delegation headed by Bishop Ostermann came to celebrate with us.
At a courtesy call on the grand father of the Partnership, Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery, he expressed his conviction of the partnership being a special gift the Lord intended for specific development of the Church and people of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province, politically referred to as the three Northern regions.
He reminded the delegation of the collaborative role of priests, religious and lay people to prepare the youth to take up the church and find ways of deepening their faith and rekindle the light of Christ in them.
He also reminded the church in Ghana and also in Germany not to neglect Jesus’ instruction that he has other sheep who are people of other religions, for that matter who we need to share our love, peace and friendship with, in the context of interreligious dialogue.
Bishop Ostermann was happy that the partnership has built in us such a great friendship at various levels. He was appreciative of the fact that our liturgy has been made lively in the context of inculturation and many more are drawn to Christ as they celebrate with us.
He stressed on the importance of always finding new ways of sustaining and maintaining this friendship.
Mr. Raymond Streitenberger, a founding member of the partnership and the Chairman of the Muenster Diocesan Partnership Committee, said sharing our faith and experiences, knowing about each other and accepting each other, standing by one another and not neglecting the material support. Christ has called us to carry each other’s burden” and bridge building between people of different nations; bringing about peace should also be maintained as our aims in this partnership and friendship.
Indeed, the gospel of Christ with the message of the goodness and the philanthropy of God which inspired the good people of Muenster 25 years ago to start a friendship with the people of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province is a continuous motivating urge and orientation for the future. To God be the Glory.
By Ms. Agnes A. Gandaa(TEPPCON-Partnership Co-ordinator)
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