The Vicar General of Ho Diocese Very Rev. Fr Walter Agbetoh cut sod for the commencement of St. Augustine Chaplaincy at Ho Technical University, on the 25^th of July 2024.

Before the rites of blessing, the Registrar, Dr. Christopher Amehoe welcomed all and sundry for coming and recalled how they had previously met to dedicate the land for the project. He believed that the Catholic Church would deliver to the glory of God.

Professor Ben Q. Honyenugah the Vice-Chancellor of the University and also a staunch member of the Catholic Church said he counted himself proud and blessed as a pioneer of the St. Augustine Chaplaincy when he was a young lecturer in the school. He said it has been their dream since to get a permanent place of worship and is happy it is happening during his time as a university Vice-Chancellor. He thanked the church for their desire to pitch camp in the university.  He said throughout the inception of the institution, the chaplains have always been catholic priests.  He added further that he is grateful to God for the church's willingness always to see God's need in the school's progress and mentioned some of the successes the University had chalked and attributed all these to God and the church's support through the everyday masses. He believes that more blessings are on the way as the Catholic Church is the only faith-based organization that has been given land on the university to build a permanent place of worship. He pledged his commitment to the project and hopes to see its completion soon.

The Vicar General thanked the management of the institution for the opportunity given to the church to take a physical presence in the university and promised that within the shortest possible time, they would see a development.

Further, the chaplain Rev Fr Sylvester Agbezuge said it has been a dream fulfilled and he is overjoyed. He expressed his gratitude to the management of the school and promised to do his very best to see to it that the project is realized. He thanked some individuals for the financial support most especially, non-Catholics and Muslims towards the project.

Also In attendance were pro-vice chancellor Professor Christopher Mensah, the project management officer of the University Mr Nicholas Awagah, the Ho Diocesan project manager Mr Francis Adzraku, some priests of the diocese, and the St Augustine Choir.  

29 June/Saturday/ Peter and Paul, Apostles

Acts 12,1-11/Psa 34,2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9/2Tim 4,6-8.17-18/Matt 16,13-19

 

First Reading      Acts 12:1-11

'Now I know the Lord really did save me from Herod'

King Herod started persecuting certain members of the Church. He beheaded James the brother of John, and when he saw that this pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter as well. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread, and he put Peter in prison, assigning four squads of four soldiers each to guard him in turns. Herod meant to try Peter in public after the end of Passover week. All the time Peter was under guard the Church prayed to God for him unremittingly.

On the night before Herod was to try him, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with double chains, while guards kept watch at the main entrance to the prison. Then suddenly the angel of the Lord stood there, and the cell was filled with light. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him. ‘Get up!’ he said ‘Hurry!’ – and the chains fell from his hands. The angel then said, ‘Put on your belt and sandals.’ After he had done this, the angel next said, ‘Wrap your cloak round you and follow me.’ Peter followed him, but had no idea that what the angel did was all happening in reality; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed through two guard posts one after the other, and reached the iron gate leading to the city. This opened of its own accord; they went through it and had walked the whole length of one street when suddenly the angel left him. It was only then that Peter came to himself. ‘Now I know it is all true’ he said. ‘The Lord really did send his angel and has saved me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen to me.’

Responsorial Psalm  Psalm 33(34):2-9

 

From all my terrors the Lord set me free.

 

I will bless the Lord at all times,

    his praise always on my lips;

in the Lord my soul shall make its boast.

    The humble shall hear and be glad.

 

Glorify the Lord with me.

    Together let us praise his name.

I sought the Lord and he answered me;

    from all my terrors he set me free.

 

Look towards him and be radiant;

    let your faces not be abashed.

This poor man called, the Lord heard him

    and rescued him from all his distress.

 

The angel of the Lord is encamped

    around those who revere him, to rescue them.

Taste and see that the Lord is good.

    He is happy who seeks refuge in him.

Second Reading      2 Timothy 4:6-8,17-18

All there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me

My life is already being poured away as a libation, and the time has come for me to be gone. I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing.

The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel Acclamation      Matt 16:18

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.

And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it.

Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 16:13-19

You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church

 

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?’ Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ,’ he said ‘the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.’

 

Reflection

The Gospel Reading on the solemnity of Peter and Paul is taken from a section that can be considered the climax of the Gospel of Matthew. The full section in question is Matt 16,13 to 17,27. In this section, we find very important revelations of Jesus. He revealed himself as the Son of God, he showed his glory in the Transfiguration, revealed himself as the Elijah who is to come and like the prophet Jeremiah, he is to suffer at the hands of the leaders of Israel. This section also contains the predictions of his passion.

Very significant for the section read today is the revelation of Jesus in reaction to the response of Peter. Jesus told Peter that he is to be the rock on which he would build his Church. He also promised Peter the keys of the kingdom with which he is to give access by the forgiveness of the sins of the people.

The authority that Jesus conferred on Peter is demonstrated by the reference to the rock. Peter is like the cornerstone that holds a construction together. When the cornerstone is well laid, the building rests on a solid foundation. In this way, there is no danger that the building would not resist the forces of nature.

In the history of Israel, she often looked for security from the neighbouring nations instead of relying on God, her sure foundation. In appointing Peter the rock on which he is to build his Church, Jesus shows that it is not the strength or the power of the person that matters. Peter was not the most intelligent and most faithful of the Apostles but Jesus decided to entrust the Church to him. This is to make it evident that it is God himself who directs his Church through the people he places at the head.

The story of Paul may sound a bit different because he is known to be an intelligent person. We admire his knowledge and convictions of faith as we read through his letters in the New Testament. Despite these signs of strength, we notice that God had other reasons for the choice of Paul as his missionary to the Gentile churches. The Christian community of Jerusalem knew Paul as a persecutor of the faith. It is difficult to understand why God decided to choose a persecutor to become a messenger of the Good News. God knows how to make use of those he wants for his mission. Paul became a fervent disciple of Christ and was ready to give his life for the sake of the Gospel. These two disciples of Christ show us the mysterious ways in which God works.

We can only stand in awe in the face of what God does with people he calls to his service. With the Psalmist we can praise God for all his wonderful deeds. It is not up to us to judge those he calls to his service. He only asks us to be faithful collaborators with his chosen leaders so that together we can build the Church on the rock of Peter.