By
Anthony Apubeo, GNA
Bolgatanga, Sept. 17, GNA – The Sacred Heart
Cathedral Parish of the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga, over the
weekend inaugurated 83 Altar Boys with a call on them to be holy and dedicated
to the service of God.
The inauguration, popularly known as
Initiation, is a sacred, spiritual and cardinal activity of the Liturgical
Ministry of the Church where newly trained Altars Boys or Servers are
consecrated and given the official right to sit at the Sanctuary and assist the
priests during Holy Mass and Benedictions.
The Altar boys, who had gone through
vigorous training and preparation for three years, were invested with Cassocks
and Surplices as symbols of purity, holiness and kingship of Jesus Christ.
They have, therefore, been officially
admitted into the Saint Dominic Savio Mass Servers Association of the Church
and formally installed to help the priests at the Altar during the celebration
of Holy Mass and other Liturgical ceremonies.
Reverend Father Vitus Adiita, who
inaugurated the Servers, in a sermon advised them to lead exemplary lives that
depicts the righteousness, holiness and royalty of Jesus Christ, so as to help
draw people closer to God.
Father Adiita, who is also the Secretary to
Most Reverend Alfred Agyenta, the Bishop of the Diocese, said the
responsibility as an Altar boy at the Sanctuary was to assist the priest and
help the congregation to worship especially during church service.
“The Sanctuary is not a place for show, it
is a place for worship and how you look, walk, dress and do things should not
be a distraction to the people, instead it should help people to worship God,”
he said.
Father Adiita urged them to carry out their
responsibilities with humility and dedication and work together in unison in
order to help others.
Whilst asking the Altar Servers to be
prayerful, he underscored the need for all parents as well as parishioners to
assist and advise the young people in all aspects of their lives and dealings
in order to enable them to fulfill their call as Altar Servers.
The St Dominic Savio Mass Association, under
the guidance of Mr James Nsoh, the Director of the Association, has over the
years trained many Altar Servers who eventually became priests, reverend
brothers and other members of the clergy.
Father Adiita commended the Director for
contributing immensely to the priesthood in the diocese adding that more than
90 per cent of the priests in the diocese came from the Mass Servers
Association.
GNA
