Accra climaxes 120th Anniversary
Thousands of Catholics on Sunday, November 24, trooped to the Black Star Square in Accra for Mass to climax the 120th Anniversary of Catholic Mission in Accra.
The main celebrant at the Mass concelebrated by about 200 Priests of the Archdiocese of Accra as well as some visiting Priests, was Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra.
The Mass coincided with the Feast of Christ the King and the climax of the Year of Faith declared last year by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI.
The congregation at the five-hour open air Mass, was spared the oppressive weather of the last few weeks in Accra.
The year-long celebration was on the theme:120 Years of Catholic Mission: Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Building the Future with the Slogan: Arise Catholic Faithful, Rejoice and Renew.
Dignitaries at the Mass included President John Dramani Mahama.
Also present was Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and his wife, Theresa.
At the end of the Mass, the congregation prayed for greater zeal and fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the evangelisation mission of the Church.
They also prayed for all the early Missionaries, the Priests, Religious and lay faithful, through whose labour and sacrifices the Catholic Mission of Accra had grown into an Archdiocese, the Diocese of Koforidua and the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom.
Concelebrating Prelates at the Mass were Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Anokye, Archbishop of Kumasi; Most Rev. Joseph Francis Essien, Bishop of Wiawso and Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, Bishop of Donkorkrom.
There was a message from Archbishop Palmer-Buckle and goodwill messages from the Apostolic Nunciature, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), the Diocese of Koforidua and the Donkorkrom Vicariate.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said “with great joy and pride we have indeed celebrated the blessing of the present and honoured the past while building the future of the Church and our Archdiocese.”
“As we bring the 120th Anniversary to its climax, we are proud and happy to be called to bring God’s kingdom of love, joy, happiness, honesty, justice and sacrifice to all corners of our Archdiocese.”
Under the spiritual leadership of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, “we are climaxing the Year of Faith which was promulgated by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI last year.”
With the climax of the Anniversary, the Archbishop said the Archdiocese should prepare for the 125th Anniversary of Catholic Mission in Accra in 2018.
In a homily, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle called on Catholics to renew their faith in Jesus Christ and follow Him in a life and leadership of selflessness, self-sacrifice and selfless love.
He said for them to show themselves as true subjects of Christ, they must be ready “to serve in whatever capacity or position we find ourselves,” calling for selflessness among the Catholic faithful in replication of Jesus Christ, who had so much power to save others but refused to save himself.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said although it was difficult for Christians to find themselves in the shoes of Christ, a little commitment from the faithful could be significant in the development of the country.
The Charge d’Affaires at the Apostolic Nunciature, Very Rev. Fr. Cosma Ambrosini, described the theme of the anniversary as apt and called on the faithful to help build a civilization of love.
“This was the dream, the hope and the faith to which our fathers looked up to, being brothers and sisters, taking care of one another because this is what God the father wants.”
“My wish for you in this 120th Anniversary of Catholic Mission in Accra is that you must be prepared to make living memory of faith, hope and love that animated our fathers in the spread of the Gospel.”
“You must always be loyal children of the Catholic Church, the mother of faith! Let this be your joy!”
Fr. Ambrosini also read congratulatory messages from the Holy Father, Pope Francis and the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
In a speech, President Mahama called for closer partnership between the Church and the State to speed up socio-economic development, saying that such partnerships would also uplift the spiritual needs of Ghanaians.
He said 120 years in the life of an organisation was no mean achievement and congratulated the Church for its leadership.
He said he was at the thanksgiving Mass to show government’s appreciation to the Church’s contribution to Ghana’s development, commending the Catholic Church for its immense contribution in the establishment of health facilities, educational institutions and human rights advocacy.
He said: “Am told in the Archdiocese alone, the Catholic Church has 54 Kindergarten schools, 56 Primary Schools, 50 Junior High Schools, nine Senior High and Technical Schools and one University College, which is very meaningful to our growth and development.”
He expressed gratitude to the Church in Accra for establishing up the Battor Catholic Hospital, St. Andrews Catholic Clinic at Kordiabe and St. John of God Clinic at Amrahia.
The President commended the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference for its strong advocacy for human rights and being the voice of the voiceless, urging the Church to continue to pray for peace in the country.
At the end of the Mass, the Bishops led by Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, blessed President Mahama and wished him well in his leadership.
Programmes held as part of the anniversary included Spiritual Exercises, Retreats, Pilgrimages to Grottos, talks and Teachings on the Catholic Faith and Doctrine.
Other activities were clean-up exercises, blood donations, health walks and talks, donations to Hospitals and orphanages and visits to the sick and destitute.
The Anniversary celebration was also attended by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Papal Knights and Dames; Traditional Rulers and a representative of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mission.
In attendance were Sir Paul Victor Obeng, Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission; Ambassador Victor Gbeho, Special Advisor to the Presidency; Madam Dzifa Gomashie, Deputy Minister, Tourism and Creative Arts; Commodore Steve Obimpeh, Special Aide to the President; Mr. Prosper Bani, Chief of Staff and Dr. Abu Sakara, 2012 Presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
Also present was the La Mantse, Nii Kpobi Tetteh Tsuru III.
By Editor and Staff