A Catholic Priest in Takoradi on Sunday called on Ghanaians, especially Christians, to use their energies, time and money to care for the sick, needy and the aged rather than to glorify the dead.
The Reverend Father Anthony Kingsley Quarm, Parochial Vicar of the Star of the Sea Catholic Cathedral, said it was regrettable that most people neglected their sick, poor and aged to suffer and die in pain and rather spend time and money on their funeral celebration.
He condemned the practice describing it as unchristian and un-Godly.
He however advised those who had developed the habit of doing that to put a stop to it as there was blessing in taking proper care of people.
Rev. Father Quarm gave the advice when the Saint Vincent De Paul, a charitable society of the Star of the Sea Catholic Cathedral, presented quantities of used clothing, footwear, toiletries and food items to about 200 people including the sick, aged and the needy.
The Parochial Vicar, in charge of caring for the sick, noted that there was blessing in supporting wholeheartedly those in need than waiting for them to die in pain before displaying wealth through big funeral donations.
Rev. Father Quarm admonished all to re-examine themselves and ask for forgiveness in areas where they fell short as well as reconcile with those they were at loggerheads with to be able to start the New Year with a clean heart.
The Rev. Father Philip Erzuah, Assistant Administrator of the Cathedral, prayed for the beneficiaries and called on all caregivers to consider the plight of the sick, poor and aged and always exercise patience in attending to them.
Mr Ekow Mensah Woode, President of the Saint Vincent the Paul Society, said the gesture was to enable the beneficiaries to enjoy the birth of Christ satisfactorily.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the society for the gesture saying it had enabled them to also enjoy Christ's birth.