Most Rev. Darko laid to rest

Most Reverend John Martin Darko

Takoradi, Feb.20, GNA - Most Reverend John Martin Darko, Bishop Emeritus of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, was on Wednesday laid to rest at the 'Star of the Sea' Cathedral in Takoradi in the Western Region.

The burial and funeral rites attracted mourners, including the clergy, traditional authorities, ministers of state, Members of Parliament and followers of other religious bodies, who thronged the Cathedral to pay their last respect to the departed Bishop.

His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turskon, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in a burial mass noted that the Lord had called the late Bishop to his banquet.

His Eminence Turkson said that though humanity lost privilege due to sin, 'We have been restored through the shedding of blood of Jesus Christ' and that Christians now could have better relationship with God.

He said that the late Bishop Darko has his sins forgiven and could be part of the lord's banquet, which offered Christians the opportunity to communion with God.

The Catholic Bishops' Conference in a tribute to the late Bishop Darko said: 'As a person, you were endowed with a sense of humour. You were warm, pleasant and amiable'.

'As a pastor, you worked hard for the spiritual and temporal welfare of your flock.'

Most Rev. Mathias Kobena Nketsiah, Archbishop of Cape Coast, said there was hope in the resurrection and that 'the late Bishop's death in Jesus is, therefore, meaningful'.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Accra Diocese, in a homily, said God allows his Children to go through diverse sufferings in order to refine them for his glory.

He said: 'In the crucible of life, God castigate us, some could also be from our own sins and others from our enemies and even lovers'.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle recounting a conversation between him and the late Bishop Darko on his hospital bed, he said, despite the pain and suffering he was in, he never gave up and believed that 'His redeemer liveth'.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said the late Bishop Darko bore his cross till the last drop of life fell from him, and entreated Christians to be mindful of their lives here on earth.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said that the Lord only allows his legitimate sons and daughters to go through sufferings.

Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, Bishop of Keta-Akatsi, performed the rite of committal whiles Most Rev. Leon Kalenga, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, performed the final commendation and farewell.

The Most Reverend Emeritus Darko, passed on last Saturday, January 12.

He was born on May, 30, 1945 and died at the Our Lady of Grace Catholic Hospital at Breman Asikuma in the Central Region.

Most Rev. Emeritus Darko, who hails from Aboadze, Sekondi, in the Western Region,  studied to become at priest at the St Teresa's and St Peter's Seminaries at Elmina and Cape Coast, respectively.

He furthered his pastoral course at the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, where he obtained a doctorate degree in philosophy, and was ordained a priest into the Catholic Church in July 25, 1976, where he served in various capacities.

Most Rev. Emeritus Darko became the Vice Rector and Dean of Studies at the St Paul's Catholic Seminary at Sowutuom in Accra, Episcopal Chairman for the Department of Strategic Investment at the national Catholic Secretariat and Vicar General of the Sekondi/Takoradi Diocese, Diocesan administrator.

He was elected Bishop in July 11, 1998 and consecrated and enthroned as such in October 10, 1998, a position he held until retiring in December 14, 2011 due to ill-health.

GNA