The Bishop of Ghana’s Keta-Akatsi Catholic Diocese in the Volta Region, the Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, has praised the Amegashitsi family of Denu in the Volta for building the “Our Lady of the Volta Shrine” in honour of their late parents.
The Shrine was a donation in memory of the 4th and 1st anniversaries of the demise of Mrs. Janet Dedei Amegashitsi and Mr. Benedict Kwesi Amegashitsi respectively, both Senior Officers of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, a Catholic Friendly Society.
Worth about GHc200, 000, the Shrine was constructed by the six children of Janet and Benedict in their honour and in fulfillment of a promise made by their mother before her untimely demise four years ago.
Dedicating the Shrine at the St. Anthony of Padua Parish at Denu Three-Town on World Mission Sunday, October 23, 2022 to the glory of God, Bishop Kumordji commended the Amegashitsi family for coming back home to put up a Grotto dedicated on World Mission Sunday.
Saying that the donation was part of the missionary mandate, he assured the family of God’s mercy and love for their kind gesture to the Church.
The Divine Word Missionary Bishop also thanked the people of God for travelling from far and near to support the Amegashitsi family. He encouraged them to use the Shrine judiciously as well as to intensify their prayer lives to Mother Mary.
He implored that all who would pray at the grotto would receive the maternal intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The children of the deceased led Dr. Joseph Amegashitsi, Mr. Callistus Amegashitsi, were present at the handing over and dedication of the Shrine. The rest were Mad. Agnes Adzo Amegashitsi, Very Rev. Fr. Dominic Amegashitsi, Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Accra, Mad. Benedicta Amegashitsi and Mad. Elora Amegashitsi.
Handing over the Shrine to the Denu Parish, Dr. Amegashitsi on behalf of the siblings said the donation of the Grotto was to honour the wish of their parents.
Present at the ceremony were scores of Catholics and non-Catholics from Denu, Accra and other many places including the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, Knights of St. John International and Marian devotional groups in the Church, Chiefs and Queen mothers.
Grottoes have a long history, but saw a significant rise in use as shrines during the 19th century. The word “grotto” has become used almost exclusively to refer to Catholic shrines built into a rock formation. Often these rock formations are man-made, but they can also be found in natural caves throughout the world.
According to Aleteia, a Catholic website, Grottoes originated in both Greek and Roman culture and were associated with various gods. These grottoes would normally be the location of a natural spring and were believed to have a unique connection to the divine.
With the Christianization of the Roman Empire, most pagan temples that were built in grottoes were converted into Christian churches. This continued the association of the divine with unique caves and rock formations.
Biblically speaking, the prophet Elijah discovered the presence of God while in a cave.
“After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:12-13).
Then in 1858, St. Bernadette saw a vision of the Virgin Mary in a cave. A spring of water appeared and countless miracles have occurred through immersion in it. Pilgrims eventually built a large church near the grotto and it quickly attracted thousands of people from around the world. The reputation of the Lourdes Grotto spread like wildfire and imitation grottoes were quickly built.
In the United States grotto shrines can be seen at such places as Notre Dame, Indiana, West Bend, Iowa, and Emmitsburg, Maryland. The unique spiritual environment found at Lourdes is replicated in these different places in hopes of kindling the flames of faith in a similar way.
For some reason God has imprinted within us a desire for the divine that is awakened in cave-like structures. There appears to be no adequate explanation as to why this is the case, but one thing is certain, grottoes have always spoken to our souls and continue to lead us to give glory to God.
By Newswatchgh.com
