NSAWAM (GHA): Dei Verbum Course

The 5th Dei Verbum course in Biblical Pastoral Ministry began on September 11, 2008, at the Divine word Catholic Conference center, Nsawam. For the 40 days long course, there are 24 participants from 10 dioceses in Ghana. This course is organized by the SVD Ghana province in collaboration with the Catholic Biblical Federation (CBF), Biblical Center for Africa and Madagascar, and the office of the Pastoral Care of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference. With the theme “Do you understand what you are reading”, this course aims to help the participants become effective ministers of the Word of God. Inaugurating the 5th Dei Verbum course, Fr. Gabriel KUMORDJI, Apostolic Prefect of Donkorkrom Prefecture, stressed that this program gives each participant a golden opportunity to start a conversation from the biblical perspective and it is a way to spiritual growth and to become effective ministers of the Word of God in the parishes and in the missions.

(Jolly Mudakkampurath)

AFRAM PLAINS (GHA): Liturgical Workshop

The Apostolic Prefecture of Donkorkrom held a three day liturgical training at the Alfons Merten Center in Donkorkrom, Kwahu-North. The workshop brought together 41 participants (ushers, choirs, readers, mass servers, Christian mothers, and church counselors) from many parishes. Fr. Vincent Kwame OWUSU was the facilitator for the workshop. The workshop was aimed at helping the various groups to make liturgy more

meaningful and inculturated.

ACCRA (GHA): The 23rd IODA World Conference

The 23rd Conference of the International Organization Development Association (IODA) was held for a fortnight in the Kofi Annan International Peace Training Center in Accra. The IODA as an International Organization has membership in various countries. This sort of conference of IODA is held each year to discuss on issues affecting the global world. In view of this, an international network of organizational development professionals, consultants, practitioners and social scientists are invited to this conference to help in setting up the pace for a new organizational change and development in the world.

Our confrere Br. Rudy Kwame CHAMENYI was one of the participants, who represented Ghana, at the conference. He was chosen for the conference with two others from the Chartered Institute of Administration and Management Consultants group in Ghana. The theme for the conference was: “growing together in partnership”. It was organized by IODA group coupled with the Organization Improvement Consultants

International group and that of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The 24th Conference will be held in India next year.

LUANDA (ANG): Priestly Ordination in Angola

The SVD family in Angola had a joyful day on August 3, 2008 when three deacons (António José Ginga, Daniel Zoza and Miguel Sondjamba) were ordained priests during a Eucharistic celebration in Christ the King parish, Luanda. There were several confreres, religious and faithful present to witness the three hour long liturgical ceremony and to thank God for the new ministers of the Church.

The occasion of the ordination of these three SVD missionaries happened just when Msgr. António JACA was celebrating his first year as a bishop of Caxito. Speaking to the community and to the new priests during the mass, Bishop Jaca welcomed many more young people to respond to God’s call to be missionaries and reminded the new priests to be men of prayer and to be vigilant not to fall into temptations.

LOMÉ (TOG): By the Rivers of Togoland

The recent rains and the rising waters all over the country Togo played havoc and in an unbelievable and unprecedented manner brought down more than 15 bridges and culverts on the main and important upcountry roads, thus bringing the entire Togolese population to live through some terrible shock. For those knowing the whereabouts of this country, the lifeline of Togo is the central Lomé - Cincassé (only) main road linking the south to the north. Damaged infrastructure on this road alone obliged the traffic to flow on a terrible national go-slow from Lomé via Kpalimé en route to Atakpamé before being able to rejoin the main central road. The price of one bowl of maize, our staple food here, rocketed overnight to the equivalent of four US dollars, whereas it was a little less than one before!

(Joseph Kallanchira)