It is always joyful to look back into the past. It comes with much gratitude when you see how wonderful the journey has been. It is this joy that fills the heart of Rev. Fr. Dr. Williams Johannes Yao Dedo and he seeks to offer a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord who has journeyed with him these years in his vineyard. Twenty Five (25) years a Priest is a great milestone worth celebrating.
KADPA
The Bishop’s, Priests and Religious, the faithful of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, co-workers, and some staff of Catholic University of Ghana (CUG), Fiapre-Sunyani, and friends from diaspora have come to join Fr. Dedo in this special thanksgiving Mass in Vodza.
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Kpodo, acting on behalf of Msgr. Moses Attah Debre at the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Vodza acknowledged the presence of all and encouraged them to join thanking God for Fr. Dedo who seemed it fit to mark this important day.
Clergy and Religious
Rev. Fr. Dr. Williams Johannes Yao Dedo
The readings of the day have been carefully chosen: Dt. 7:6-11; Ps. 39; 1Cor.12:3-7.12-13; Lk. 1:39-56. Rev. Fr. Francis Setriakor Geraldo, the homilist touched on the theme: “he who is mighty has done great things for me; holy is his name”. He is optimistic in praying for many more years for Fr. Dedo in carrying out his priestly ministry. He employs the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary upon Fr. Dedo. The homilist invites all to be positive minded people in dealing with one another taking a cue from the relationship between Mary and Elizabeth.
The expectations of the people of a Catholic Priest is very high. You are a Priest and a servant leader, preaching what you believe and drawing the people to God in all humility, Fr. Geraldo added. Don’t forget, ‘God the Son became human to live among humans in order to make humans sons and daughters of God the Father’. That is what the work of the Priest hovers around. Forgiveness is paramount in your ministry. Fr. Dedo has worked hard these 25 years as a Priest touching many lives.
Fr. Geraldo also indicated that having preached the First Thanksgiving Mass of Fr. Dedo, and to be privileged to preach on his 25th Anniversary is not a mere coincidence. It is the bond of friendship between them. Good neighborliness is the hallmark of every Christian.
Wishing Fr. Dedo the best in his ministry, the various Goodwill messages attest to the lives he has touched and the impact he makes on all who encounter him.
Fr. Dedo in his message, thanks God for the call to the priesthood and all, Bishops, Laity, who have journeyed with him these years. Fr. Dedo has unique reasons for thanking God who has blessed a lot of people through him.
We are grateful to all for joining Fr. Dedo in this solemn celebration. Indeed, the Lord has been faithful these years of Priestly Ministry.
