Youth must shun social vices, build strong relationship with Christ – Mrs Sallah-Tamakloe
Mrs. Yvonne Awoyo Sallah-Tamakloe, The head of the 60th anniversary events committee of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Kaneshie, has urged the youth to build a strong personal relationship with Christ and avoid all forms of social vices. She emphasised that the youth hold the key to the nation’s future development, and establishing a firm connection with Christ would help guide them toward success in their endeavours.
Speaking in an interview after a Thanksgiving service held on Sunday to climax the church’s 60th-anniversary celebrations, Mrs. Sallah-Tamakloe expressed concern over the growing number of young people engaging in unhealthy practices, describing such behaviour as harmful to their personal and spiritual growth. She encouraged the youth to engage in activities that promote learning, personal development, and community building, adding, “You can achieve your potential as a youth when you are focused and draw closer to Christ.”
The 60th anniversary was commemorated with several activities, including community outreach initiatives and donations, culminating in a grand Thanksgiving service on Sunday.
The Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Reverend Anthony Narh Asare, called on St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Kaneshie, to continue supporting institutions across various sectors to contribute to national development. Delivering the homily during the service, he encouraged the church to assist in renovating schools and hospitals and to provide logistics to enhance their operations. He explained that such support would not only attract God’s blessings but also foster the church’s spiritual and structural growth.
Held under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope: 60 Years of Discipleship,” the celebration marked six decades of impactful ministry by the church in the Kaneshie community and beyond. Most Reverend Asare further urged the congregation to extend support to emerging Catholic communities to promote stability and growth, noting that such gestures demonstrate maturity in faith and contribute to positive societal transformation.
“We are an old church. When you are young, you walk anyhow and call it style. But as you grow older, you need balance and stability. Our church must reflect a balanced faith,” he said. “You are 60 years old. This is the time to move from feeding yourself to feeding others. That is the mark of a mature church,” he added.
He also encouraged members to renew their faith in Christ by living according to Scripture and caring for one another. Reflecting on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Most Reverend Asare highlighted humility as a key Christian value and called on Ghanaians to embrace it more deeply. “We need men and women who will shape the faith practically. When we live that way, no poverty or unemployment can defeat us,” he stated.
The Parish Priest, Reverend Father Francis Destin Amenuvor, expressed gratitude for the church’s six-decade journey, noting that St. Theresa’s has made a lasting impact on the Kaneshie community through education and various social intervention programmes.
