By Ebrima G. Sankareh, Editor-In-Chief

Atlanta, GA-- In an impressive Friday congregation before Atlanta’s Imam Ibrahima Bai Secka, The Gambia’s Honorary citizen and Ambassador-at large, Father Joseph A. Gough, urged Gambians to maintain their religious tolerance, discipline and love for humanity. The Roman Catholic Priest, who was Imam Secka’s former High School teacher and Principal at Banjul’s prestigious Saint Augustine’s High School, was visiting Atlanta as part of that school’s grand student reunion.

Addressing a lager congregation of Friday worshippers, Father Gough noted how “most delighted” he was, “to come here in this house of God to worship with you in the Islamic way.” He then recalls how, “as a young Priest leaving a predominantly Catholic country, Ireland, after my ordination to The Gambia, the first thing I learnt on arrival was the religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence of Islam and Christianity in the country and indeed overtime, I became a key player in this unique process and was able to educate many great Gambians among them, your own Imam Secka and I could not be prouder”, he remarked. 

On the need for respect and greater tolerance among diverse peoples and religions, father Gough noted, “the Roman Catholic Church has always had the highest respect for Islam as a great Religion that stands for peace”. “Accordingly brethren”, he reminded the congregation, “I have always worked hard to ensure that Muslim students at St. Augustine's High School enjoyed studying their religion like their Christian peers and this was why upon my appointment as Principal, one of my first acts was to hire Islamic Studies teachers and added it to the curriculum for the “O” Levels”.
 
On Gambians and tolerance, Father Gough told Americans who might not have had the opportunity to visit the West African nation, “let me say to you that theirs is a shining example of religious and ethnic unity. As it is known, it is truly the smiling coast and every smile in The Gambia is genuine. Everyone is related and I stand to prove that by telling you that the first Gambian Catholic Priest was born of a Muslim father and it is likely he can be Bishop of Banjul some day. This is especially unique and as Gambians we could not be prouder for this.”

Encouraging people to visit the country Gough said, “you must visit to find out why Gambians are the great people, they are. Back in December 2008 President Yahya Jammeh conferred on me an Honorary citizenship and appointed me to spread the goodwill of the people of The Gambia for which I am very grateful. As I add him and The Gambia in my prayers here today, I want to assure you all that I will do all in my power for The Gambia and its people. We are a small but unique nation, rich in religious tolerance and coexistence and I am blessed to call myself a Gambian”.
 
In a rather emotional tone, the urbane Priest turned to his students and said “for over twenty years I have not seen most of my students and friends and I must say I am most glad to see some in this House of God and as I stand here, I can recall vividly the great memories. I set out to make St Augustine's the best in everything we did because for me, second best was not an option and that is why your Imam was the best tennis player in The Gambia except when he had to play against me after the study hour. But on a more serious note, my success in The Gambia is due mainly to the best students and people that were around me and to all of you, I remain grateful and you are the ones that made me a proud Gambian and insh allah, I will go home to my Creator, a proud Gambian”. 
 
On a final note, Father Gough called for the creation of inter-faith dialogue thus: “Finally Imam and this great congregation, I implore you and your Christian brothers to establish an Inter-Faith Committee not only to promote unity and understanding as proudly being done in Banjul presently by Imam Cherno Kah and Bishop Ellison, but also to bring our children born here together to lay the foundation for a greater tomorrow. In taking leave of you all, I pledge my support to this Mosque. May God bless you all and may God bless our beautiful country, The Gambia”.

Speaking earlier, a visibly emotional Imam Secka with tears welcomed his former teacher and Principal to the Atlanta Mosque and told Fr. Gough that he was making history and his presence there another indication of the fact that "we all worship one God." Imam Secka thanked Fr.Gough for preparing him for this task and told him that he would probably not have been Imam of the Atlanta mosque today without the Priest’s guidance. Imam Secka told the congregation that there would only be one Fr Gough. He said Fr. Joseph Gough had no boundaries and had helped everyone who came across him in need. “There are many that Father personally paid school fees for” Imam Secka noted and then prayed for the well being of Fr Gough describing him as “the greatest man he ever met and thanked him for the role he played in his life”.

Editor's Note: Due to a very busy schedule, we apologise for the delay in the remaining reports-highlights of that special Saints reunion. In the coming days, we will replicate the images and report as expected.