TEPPCON HOLDS ITS 19TH BIENNIAL PLENARY ASSEMBLY IN THE DIOCESE OF YENDI

TEPPCON HOLDS ITS 19TH BIENNIAL PLENARY ASSEMBLY IN THE DIOCESE OF YENDI

From 22^nd to 25^thNovember, 2021.

The Diocese of Yendi hosted the 19^th Plenary Assembly at the St Martin’s Pastoral Centre, Sunson in from the 22^nd to the 26^th of November, 2021.

The theme for the conference was, FRATELLI TUTTI, LAUDATO SI AND COVID 19, and CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR EFFECTIVE EVANGELIZATION IN THE TAMALE ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE.

In attendance were the His Grace the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, His Lordship the Bishop of Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, Most Rev. Alfred Agyenta, His Lordship the Bishop of Yendi Diocese, Most Rev. Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, His Lordship the Bishop of Damongo Diocese, Most Rev Peter Paul Angkyier, His Lordship the Bishop of Wa Diocese, Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr. Others were the Executives of TEPPCON and delegates from the 5 Dioceses of TEPPCON. In all 60 delegates from the five Dioceses of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province attended the 2021 conference.

Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Archbishop of Tamale, the President of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province Pastoral Conference (TEPPCON) and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference(GCBC),at the official opening ceremony where over hundred and fifty participated including the the Representaive of the Over Lord of Dabgom, the DEC of Zamzugu political and civil leaders , Security services, heads of institutions, the Ahamdia Imam of Yendi, the Knights and Ladies of Marshall and Knights and Ladies of St John International and other Church Associations were represented. Archbishop Philip explained that, TEPPCON was initiated and established in 1977, by the Servant of God, Cardinal Peter Poriku Dery, the then Archbishop of Tamale in consultation with the then two other Bishops, Most Rev. Akanlo of Navrongo/Bolgatanga and Most Rev. Gregory Kpiebaya of Wa diocese, to function as an umbrella with ten commissions that take care of the major pastoral, socio-economic and other areas of the lives of the people in the then three northern regions. He also said TEPPCON was established with the aim among others to:

There is little the church cannot achieve in the field of development if it decides to put its best foot forward. This

Foster a coordinated approach to pastoral care in the province.
Promote a more unified and effective way of spreading the Gospel of Christ.
Suggest practical direction regarding pastoral and evangelical activities in the country.
And to address other crucial issues affecting the people in the province.

To achieve these aims he further indicated, TEPPCON set up 10 commissions beside the Executive committee to help address and coordinate the major areas of pastoral, socio economic, political and development concerns of the Province. The ten commissions were identified as:

Primary Evangelization Commission
Commission for the formation of catechists (Formation of Pastoral agents)
Laity formation commission
Sacraments commission (for sacraments and liturgy)
Youth formation commission.
Justice and peace commission
Commission for the promotion of dignity of women
Education commission
DEPSOCOM commission (communication)
Inter religious dialogue commission

***Most Rev. Philip Naameh,*** ***Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale***

The President of TEPPCON in his welcome address, also recalled the themes of the previous conferences- 2017: CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT-A COMMON RESPONSIBILITY. He said the issue of land degradation is a critical one and encouraged us as a church, individual, communities and state to initiate strategies to help protect mother earth in response to Pope Francis call.

Vision:

Recalling the theme for 2019 conference – PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TODAY-THE NEED FOR RENEWED MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP AND CATECHETICAL FORMATION, he called on individuals and for the collective reflection on the way forward and the need to help educate others for a collective efforts to help address the issues that were discussed. He said the local church has pursued a developmental agenda from its foundations in Northern Ghana until now, particularly in the areas of Agriculture, education to health and protection of the environment is in cooperated in the Church’s evangelization Mission.

Archbishop Philip Naameh, also urged the government to find a lasting solution to the problem of the growing youth unemployment which is driving them into practicing some vices. Most Rev. Philip Naameh, on the theme of the conference; FRATELLI TUTTI, LAUDATO SI AND COVID 19, CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS FOR EFFECTIVE EVANGELIZATION IN THE TAMALE ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCE, urged husbands, wives and families to reflect on the values of love, holiness and mutual respect for one another and help others especially the poor, to experience improvement in their lives. He launched TEPPCON @50 during the conference to enable formal preparations towards the celebration in 2026.

The DCE for Zabsugu , Hon Abubakar Ahmed Idiriss in a speech read for the Northern Regional Minister, expressed sincere gratitude to the Bishops and the organisers of the conference for the invitation and explained the regional Minister had to travel for a national programme in Wa and had asked him to present his speech. The Hon. DCE said the church and state are good partners in development in many aspects including; education, health, Agriculture, and inter-religious dialogue. He also appreciated the Catholic Church’s programmes on conflict resolution and peace building as well as the civic education activities to promote good Governance. The speech particularly acknowledged the contribution of the Bishop of Yendi, Most Rev. Vincent Boi-Nai in peace building in the Yendi Municipality.

***Hon Abubakar Ahmed Idiriss, DCE for Zabsugu***

The speech indicated that it was impressive that the Bishops and the organizers of the conference had invited the National Coordinator for network for peace building (WANEB) to speak on the topic; Enhancing local capacities in preventing violent extremist to complement state capacity against extremist expansion in the Tamale province. The Hon DCE acknowledged the great ideas and values raised by Most Rev Alfred Agyenta in his key note address and indicated every Government needs such prompting to help improve its efforts for the good of the people.

GOOD WILL MESSAGES

Good will messages were given by the Sunson chief, Imma of Yendi, Knights and ladies of Marshall among others.. A representative of the Yaa Naa gave a good will message to grace the occasion.

The TEP Bishops later paid a courtesy call on the Yaa Naa.

Other topics presented and discussed at the conference included: