Eulogy for Monsignor on behalf of Kufuor

Ho, Oct. 6, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday observed that individual weaknesses and shortcomings should not prevent people from offering help and support to others.

He therefore, challenged everybody to strive to touch hearts of other people in the service of mankind and God.

President Kufuor said this in an eulogy delivered on his behalf at the funeral mass for the late Monsignor Rudolph J. Apietu-Oyintey, a former Headmaster of Saint Paul's Secondary School (SPACO), Denu, in the Volta Region.

President Kufuor, who was represented by Mr Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister described Monsignor Apietu-Oyintey as a distinguished Educationist, Administrator and a Patriot.

Mr Owusu-Yeboa said President Kufuor had had a long association with the late Catholic Priest since they first met in 1971, when the President, then a Deputy Minister in the Busia regime visited (SPACO).

Most Rev. Martin Darko, Bishop of Sekondi/Takoradi in a sermon said people must live in readiness of death, which was inevitable, by striving to live righteous lives.

He said every life must portray dedication, sacrifice and tolerance for others, reminding people in authority who thought, "everybody was at their feet" of the inevitable end.

Bishop Darko said the practice among people to seek a passport to heaven by attending Church while seeking protection for life from dubious sources, was a fallacy.

Monsignor Apietu-Oyintey, who hails from Santrokofi-Benua, in the Hohoe District was born on February 1, 1928.

He was ordained a Catholic Priest on December 8, 1956 and between 1965 and 1984 served as Headmaster of SPACO.

Among other positions Monsignor Apietu-Oyintey held were Professor and Academic Dean of the St Paul's Major Seminary in Gbarnga, Liberia, Rector and Headmaster of the St Mary's Seminary and Secondary School at Lolobi-Kumasi and Rector of St Paul's Major Seminary at Sowutuom in Accra.

He also served on many Education Boards and Committees including the Coussey Committee, which enquired into the chieftaincy dispute between the Ashantis and Brongs.

Tributes were read by the family, the Catholic Church and old students of SPACO who surrounded his casket singing "When the Saints go Marching on".

Mr. Ralph Avornyo, Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), who read the tribute of the Old Students said Monsignor Apietu-Oyintey though a disciplinarian was sympathetic. Monsignor Apietu-Oyintey's body was later interred at the Diocesan Cemetery for Priests at Sokode-Gbogame, near Ho.

Among the large groups of mourners including Educationists, Priests of various Christian denominations, was the Naval Cadet Corp of SPACO which led the procession to the funeral Mass and later to the cemetery.