Catechists in Ghana’s Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate recently held a two-day Advent Recollection at the Alfons Merten’s Centre, Donkorkrom attended by 45 Catechists from seven Parishes and the Lake Missions.
In attendance were the Most. Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, the Apostolic Vicar of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, Very Rev. Fr. Leopold Amevi Etchiodo Ettuh, who doubles as the Chancellor of the Vicariate and the Vicariate Catechist’s Director; Sr. Cecilia Clare Kudexa, SMMC, the former Directress of the Catechists, and Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo of the Variate Communications Office.
The Recollection had activities such as talks, Penitential Service, Confessions and Holy Mass.
In his presentation on the theme “Advent, A Time of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy”, Fr. Ettuh called on the catechists to focus more on the spiritual preparations for Christmas instead of the physical.
He underscored the fact that Advent draws believers into a time of longing, expectation, and remembering that Jesus is the light in darkness.
He threw more light on the theology of the Advent Wreath, saying, it is a Christian symbol that represents the season of Advent and the birth of Christ.
The first four candles, he noted, represented the four Sundays of Advent, which stand for Hope, Peace, Joy and Love while the fifth candle which is white in colour is lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day and symbolizes the arrival of Christmas.
Fr. Ettuh stated that the circular shape of the Wreath symbolises God’s infinite love and the eternity of the soul as the evergreen leaves symbolise the hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ.
The purple colour, he added, represented a time of prayer, penance, sacrifice, and spiritual reflection and the rose colour represented compassion, romance, friendship, self-love and above all joy.
He encouraged the catechists to prepare themselves very well to have a befitting celebration of Christmas.
By Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo (DEPSOCOM AVD-DONKORKROM)
