Some time in March last year, Most Rev. Joseph Oliver Bowers, SVD, former Bishop of Accra Diocese, expressed the wish to clock 100 and God has listened to his prayers as he celebrates it in two weeks time, Sunday March 28.In an interview with The Catholic Standard at his residence at Agormanya in the Manya Krobo District of the Koforidua Diocese, last year, he said his constant prayers and devotion had kept him strong, saying that the same faith will lead him to celebrate his 100th birthday.Indeed, the dreams of the good old Bishop has manifested as he prepares to celebrate his centenary birthday.
In an interview with The Catholic Standard recently, he expressed joy and thanks to God for giving him another year to his age, saying that even though “the good Books (Psalm 90:10) state that the days of our years are three score years and ten (70years); and if by reason of strength they be four score years (80) ,”he has lived to the ripe age.
Looking healthy and sharp in memory, he said his ripe age “is an amazing gift from God.” “I am indeed grateful to God for given me good health,” he added.
He said “it was unusual for people to attain 100 and when you read obituaries in the newspapers, you will find out that only few people reach 90 or 100 years.”
Bishop Bowers, a West Indian Divine Word Missionary (SVD), who gave this interview on his bed, encouraged those who want to live longer to be prepared to do God’s will and live a humble life.
“We must be prayerful and have faith and trust in God. Praying of the Rosary should be part of every Catholic’s daily activity,” he said, urging Catholics to know God, love, serve and be happy with Him.
Bishop Bowers was ordained Priest on January 22, 1939 in Rome at the age of 29, consecrated Bishop of Accra on April 22, 1953 by His Eminence Cardinal Francis Spellman in the United States of America (USA) at the age of 43 and later enthroned in Accra on September 23, 1953.
Born in 1910, Bishop Bowers has chalked 71 years as a Priest and 57 year as a Bishop.He retired in 1981 in the Caribbean as Bishop of St. John’s- Basseterre in Antigua and Barbuda after he had been transferred there in 1971.
In 1943, he was entrusted with the care of Krobo Area and had to trek from Accra to establish Churches and Schools at Osonson, Nsutapong, Kwaopeniase, Akruso, Akotue, Korwhere and others.
Through his prayerful encouragement, the Krobo area experienced growth and expansion, yielding in the establishment of the St. Anne’s Vocational School, St. Martin de Porres Hospital, the Mount Mary Training College and the founding of the Handmaids of Divine Redeemer (HDR) Congregation.
Bishop Bowers appealed to Catholics to support his cherished dream-the construction of a Retreat Centre -which aims at enriching “our spiritual lives and also to commune with God in prayer”as a landmark of his centenary anniversary.
“It is my wish name it after St. Lucy of Fatima if the authorities permit it because we were born the same day (28th March 1907)) and she is three years older than me.”
He commended the Divine Word Missionaries for the great zeal, saying that entrusting of the Donkorkrom Vicariate them “is a testimony that we are doing great in our missionary work.”
This is a manifestation that my congregation is working effectively in that part of Ghana, he added.
In his old age, Bishop Bowers is currently being catered for by Rev. Srs. Patricia-Ann Angmor and Fidelis Gagli, both HDR Sisters and Madam Theresa Aku Tenyo.
Bishop Bowers is the son of Sheriff Montague Bowers and Mary Bowers. His father is best remembered as head teacher of the Massacre Government Primary School, and organist at the St. Ann’s Parish Church.
After completing his Secondary education at the Dominica Grammar School, young Joseph Bowers went to the United States to study for the Priesthood, joining the Society of the Divine Word (SVD), a Catholic Missionary Congregation.
After his ordination in 1939, he was posted to Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast. He served as a missionary until his appointment as the first black Bishop of Accra in 1953.
By Damian Avevor