St. Michael Co-Cathedral, Keta marked the 80th Anniversary in memory of the the Late Bishop Augustine Herman, SMA.
In his welcome Address, Rev. Fr. Michael Elorm Gbordzor, the Co-Cathedral administrator of Keta is grateful for the gift of the day and such a gathering of the Clergy and Religious, the faithful, Chiefs and Queens, the students, and all from far and near. The 80th Memorial of the Late Bishop Augustine Herman is worth celebrating, recounting the life and work of Bishop Herman.
Fr. Gbordzor, in his homily reiterated the fact that today’s celebration is a package of the Pascal Mystery, reminiscing the birth, the pastoral work, and death of the late Most Rev. Augustine Herman whose 80th Memorial looks like just yesterday.
Just as the people of the past remembered what God has done for them, we also remember today, what the life of Bishop Herman means to us and continues to do for us even after his death.
Since the arrival of the Catholic faith by the two missionaries to this part of the Volta Vicariate, they persisted in working so hard to get the seed of the Gospel bearing fruits.
Keta, was an outstation of a Parish in Lomé, but gradually became a mission centre and eventually a Diocese.
The Catholic Church in Keta indeed has a very significant history in relation to Bishop Herman. It is the very reason we should and always be grateful.
One interesting fact is that, the chiefs of Keta were hosting the missionaries in their palaces. They were welcoming and collaborative, thereby allowing the spread of the gospel.
Bishop Herman was a beacon of hope and love. He was tolerant in his missionary work. His legacy of hope should be embraced by agents of evangelization today; be hopeful of a deeper growth of the faith, don’t give up.
To build a healthy community in our age, we need the collaboration of our traditional leaders.
The collaborative work of the SMA Priests and OLA Sisters continue to reflect the spread of the gospel in our faith communities and parishes till date. Bishop Herman was a missionary among missionaries, a Bishop among Bishops. Celebrating him calls for deep reflection.
There is a spiritual underpinning to the celebration of such a great man like Bishop Augustine Herman. He was indeed a Soldier like Christ as his motto susgests.
Fr. Michael encouraged all to pray and work towards his beatification.
The main celebrant, Rev. Fr. Paul Ennin, SMA believes that, like Most Rev. Augustine Herman, all should endeavor to fight a good fight. He was worn out after long years of work. He worked hard to the end of his life.
celebrating the 80th anniversary of passing into eternity of Bishop Herman, we are encouraged to emulate his zeal for the spread of the Gospel and that good and responsible leaders be born from our institutions.
May GGod Rest His Soul and may He be considered a saint soon. Amen.