Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has stated that the church must serve as a citadel of hope and protection for God’s people.

He said the church also had the responsibility to provide spiritual protection as well as leading nonbelievers to salvation.

Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur made the statement at the dedication of the new cathedral of the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at Ashaley-Botwe in Accra.

The dedication of the new edifice also marks the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the founding of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at Ashaley-Botwe.

Besides, the Church which was previously a Rectorate has now been elevated to a full Parish status, while the Reverend Father Nimorious Domanzing, the Priest-in Charge of the church has also been promoted to a Parish Priest.

The St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church of Ashaley-Botwe was established in 1989 through the efforts of a few Catholic lay men and women at the instance of Fathers Frans Mulders and Jack Smeele.

The Catholic Community of about 20 faithfuls started meeting for the Holy Rosary and rehearsal of the Sunday Holy Mass and for learning Catholic hymns.

Despite the initial challenges that the church faced in terms of renting homes for its activities, the church has now grown in numbers and has its own beautiful building for dedication to God.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur also commended Most Reverend Gabriel-Palmer Buckle, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, for his homily and expressed the hope that the Cathedral would become the stronghold for spiritual development for the people of Ashaley-Botwe and its environs.

“Even though this building may be modest but I believe it may deliver many great things in the life of the people,” he stated.

He said even as the church supported the members both spiritually and physically they should equally find it necessary support to the poor and underprivileged people among them to able to do something with their lives.

Most Rev Palmer-Buckle, in a sermon, urged Christians to dedicate their bodies as a living sacrifice to God because their bodies were the temple of the Lord.

He said Christians must keep their bodies holy and pure and use it to glorify God.

He also charged Christians to show zeal for the house of God by keeping their environments clean and not dump rubbish in unauthorized places.