As the members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference meet in Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains for their 2022 Annual Plenary Assembly, the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski, has encouraged the Ghanaian Prelates and the people of God to to look into the depth of themselves to experience the great love of God.
“As the Church in Ghana continues to move on this synodal journey, I encourage each one of you to take the invitation of Pope Francis to look into the depth of yourselves, as individuals, as communities, as parishes, as dioceses and as a whole Catholic Church in Ghana, and see and experience the great love of God for you, manifested through the many blessings He has given to you as people of Ghana,” the Nuncio said at the opening of the Plenary on November 7, 2022 at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral Parish at Donkorkrom.
The November 4 to 12 Plenary is being host by the Donkorkrom Vicariate shepherded by the Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD.
Reflecting on the Church’s history, the Nuncio said “first of all, God’s manifestation of His great love to you as a Church, is a gift, most valuable than material blessings, most precious than gold, the Gift of Faith and the Gift of God’s Presence, the first to be given in West Africa.”
“In Shama, which is today, a part of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, was put up a large wooden cross on the beach, the first Cross ever to stand on West African soil in 1471,” he said, noting, “It is also highly believed that the first Holy Mass was celebrated on the shore by Missionary priests accompanying the expedition.”
He stated “You can count and count many more God’s blessings, which had come in many forms, in the joys and pains, in trials and difficulties, in successes and failures, and in all these situations, we see in the eyes of faith, the accompaniment of God, His unconditional love, that brought the Church in Ghana to what it is now.”
He said “The Church in Ghana which seed of faith was sown in Shama, has grown and spread throughout the country and becomes an evangelizing community to herself and to the wider community, outside of her. Having experienced the great love of God, the Church in Ghana ‘knows that the Lord has taken the initiative, He has loved you first, and therefore, you can move forward, boldly take the initiative, go out to others…”.
According to the Nuncio, “Synodal Process is not at all new to the Church journey especially in Africa. In the Apostolic Exhortations of St. Pope John Paul II, Christifideles Laici and Ecclesia in Africa, the Pope talked about the elements of synodal journey and synodal process. He said: “Throughout the various phases of the preparation for the Special Assembly, many members of the Church in Africa – clergy, religious and laity – entered with exemplary dedication into the Synodal process, “walking together”, placing their individual talents at the service of the Church, and fervently praying together for the Synod’s success.”
He further said: “Pastors ought to accompany this lay missionary activity with discerning guidance and encouragement so the lay associations might grow in Church communion and mission. All, pastors and laity, have the duty to promote and nourish stronger bonds, participation and collaboration among the various lay groups with patience, farsightedness and readiness to sacrifice. In such a way, this essential communion leads to mission, and mission itself to communion”.
To contribute to the reflection in the synodal sharing and deliberation, the Papal representative shared with the prelates some points from the Pontifical Teachings concerning the theme of the plenary which is Synodal Journey in the light of new evangelization.
The Missionary Transformation of the Church or Church Missionary Conversion, he pointed out, calls for a Church which ‘goes forth’ and whose doors are open, compared to a Mother with open heart, which reflects the saving love of Christ, the light of the world.
The Church is called to be the House of the Father, with doors always open so that everyone can share the life of the Church, everyone can be part of the community. This, the Nuncio added, was especially true to the doors of the Sacraments.
