Sunyani — The Catholic Bishop of Sunyani, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi says the church has grown physically with many Parishes and members, but that is not enough as there is the need for Catholic faithful to deepen spirituality, commitment and embark on a renewed and vigorous evangelization for the total growth of the church.

Bishop Gyamfi noted that to ensure total growth, Catholic followers need personal conversion and growth in the spirit to be able to contribute meaningfully to the growth of the church. This personal growth he said includes, reading and knowing more about one's faith, and teachings of the church, deepening personal and family prayers and receiving the sacraments regularly, especially the sacrament of marriage.

Again, Most Rev. Gyamfi said personal growth in the Lord will enable a person to be more committed to the church and to the Lord, adding "Our commitment to the Lord compels us to proclaim the word of God, hence the importance of evangelization.

"We know from the Apostles and the history of the founders in Sunyani that the church must grow and it is in its nature to grow", Most Rev. Gyamfi stressed and charged Catholics to build on the foundations they came to find but be careful about the quality of what they put on the foundation.

The Bishop was delivering a keynote address to climax the 85th Anniversary Celebration of the Christ the King Cathedral of the Sunyani Catholic Diocese. The anniversary celebration, under the theme "85 years of Catholicism in Sunyani-"Go and Bear enduring fruits", was used to honor some living pioneers of the church for their immense contribution since 1924, which has led the church into its present state.

He acknowledged the detailed history of the beginnings of the church in Sunyani and its development through the efforts of lay people who founded the church and priests and religious who served as catalyst for its growth.

He said the Cathedral Parish has produced four Monsignors in the persons of Msgr. Gyimah, John Oppong-Baah, John Addae Boateng, and Paul Yeboah, but yet to produce its first Reverend Sister.

Monsignor Richard Kyeremeh, Cathedral Administrator revealed that from an earlier uncertain beginning in 1921, the first effort to introduce Catholicism in Sunyani, never succeeded until 1924, 85 year period which is quite significant in the life of the church.

According to him, it is apparent to commend and praise the founding fathers for the introduction of the catholic faith in Sunyani, which most of them have unfortunately passed on to eternity.