The formation of leaders, an important aspect of the Comboni charism

This was also the fundamental purpose of our presence at St. Francis of Assisi Station in Dadome (Ghana) from December 24, 2023 to January 7, 2024. Gifty Aziedu, Benjamin Amekor and Christian Wotormenyo arrived in Dadome on Sunday evening, December 24th. They were later joined by Justin Nougnui and Valentin Sewovi. According to the instruction of the Father Chaplain and Parish Priest, we should extend our service to two other stations in the vicinity St. Michael of Adudornu and the station of Husikorpe.

Indeed, Adudornu lacks managers who can coordinate the station’s activities. “Since the time of Covid-19, we no longer gather for church activities,” some members of the station told us. Our duty for the few days in Dadome was to make house visits to the three stations and to guide some members to continue the catechist service to bring the stations back to life. In Dadome, house visitations bore fruit as the chapel was filled on the night of December 31 and on January 7, the feast of the Epiphany. The faithful followed at Dadome by the name of Charity was always eager to serve the Lord. With our help, on January 7th, she presided over the celebration of the Word in Husikorpe, located a few kilometers from Dadome. Before doing so this Sunday, she has already started in the evenings at Dadome during the celebrations of the word to be well able to expose herself. She should do so in Husikorpe because Husikorpe, with the abandonment of the service of the former catechist, has temporarily come under the coordination of Dadome. Charity should help John the catechist of Dadome to coordinate the activities of Dadome and Husikorpe. Both will have to alternate their service at both stations. Adudornu, a little farther away from Dadome, is expected to find catechists living there or not far away.

Thank God, Father Leopold had given us two names of faithful who wanted to help in the administration of the station: Stephen and Amewuga. The service of the Word on the morning of Sunday the 31st was attended by several children and adults. This showed hunger for God and gathering at the chapel. Since 2020, they have not met, they told us due to a lack of catechists. Thus, from this new meeting on the eve of the New Year, the desire of God and of the community was once again satisfied. We went to Adudornu by motorbike. In view of the distance separating Adudornu from Dadome where we resided, the formation of the two catechists took place in Adudornu and Dadome. Right after the service of the Word on the morning of the 31st, we began to guide them to preside over the celebrations. On January 3rd, they were invited to Dadome for training and on Thursday, it was again at Adudornu. On January 7, Stephen was able to preside over the celebration of the Word. Their responsibility is not only to preside over the celebrations in the absence of the priest but also to revitalize the station through their sacrifice and zeal following the directives of the parish.

One challenge we were not able to meet before leaving was to find the necessary documents for their service, but we mentioned this in the report we made to the parish priest. Also, we will do our best to provide them with certain documents. Another challenge that Charity will also have to face is the lack of means to go to Husikorpe when it is her turn. John has a motorcycle but Charity doesn’t. We had exchanged some ideas about this reality with the Husikorpe station. We hope that our suggestion can have the necessary support for the continuity of Charity’s service.

The strength to have this experience comes from our love for Christ in the footsteps of St. Daniel Comboni. Our internal organization, community life, group prayer, and the exchange of ideas among us encouraged and motivated us to make this “common cause” with the three stations. But, in order to always assume continuity, it will be good that from time to time, we pass by the three stations to see the evolution, which will require resources.

May our Founder, St. Daniel Comboni always inspire us to be moved all the time by this cry and strength to “Save Africa through Africa” and may the Lord give us the clear vision of what we must do, the strength and the means to accomplish it.

Justin Nougnui, CLM coordinator