Gounghin: The Saint Peter Parish of Gounghin celebrated its sixtieth anniversary yesterday, hosting a grand Thanksgiving Mass led by Archbishop Prosper Konti©bo of Ouagadougou. The event drew administrative, traditional, and religious authorities, along with representatives from various religious denominations.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the Catholic faithful of Saint Peter's Church in Gounghin gathered in joy and unity, donning uniforms to commemorate the parish's milestone anniversary. The celebrations included a series of activities such as prayer sessions, praise, worship, and recreational events, culminating in the Thanksgiving Mass, which drew thousands of attendees from different faiths.

Monsignor Prosper Konti©bo, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Ouagadougou, emphasized the significance of the occasion as an opportunity to express gratitude to the Lord and to encourage ongoing commitment. "Thanksgiving to the Lord for what this parish has been during its 60 years of existence. We give thanks to God for the faith received and for the commitment of the faithful Christians who have made this parish what we see today," he stated. He urged the Catholic faithful to remain actively involved in the church's development.

Father Martin Sawadogo, the Parish Priest, highlighted the celebration as a testament to the 60 years of divine blessings received. "We thank God and all those through whom God has worked for the realization of this beautiful work, the building of this parish," he noted. He also shared that since its establishment in 1966, the parish has witnessed 35,889 children and 40,776 adults baptized, alongside 8,611 marriages.

The Catholic community expressed their gratitude for the graces bestowed upon them since the parish's inception. Parishioner Alexandre Dabon© emphasized the importance of continued divine support, stating, "We came to thank God and above all to implore him for more of his support."

A fellow parishioner encouraged collective efforts for the future, saying, "I ask all the parishioners of Gounghin to join hands to continue building our parish church. May future generations also benefit from God's blessings." The celebration also featured an early observance of the parish's patronal feast day, traditionally held on June 29th each year.