The Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana has pressed on the need for the Catholic Church in Ghana to be more visible in all parts of the country.
Interacting with members of the Conference of Major Superiors, Ghana during their Bi-annual Meeting at Koforidua on October 12, 2022, the Nuncio said the Church needs to intensify its visibility for example by ensuring that Parishes all over the country could have the loudspeakers with the sound of bells that could be rung during Angelus.
He noted that there were many visible mosques all over the country positioned at vantage points and at dawn, they announce their presence, something he suggested Catholic Churches could also emulate through the registration of the sound of the bells at Angelus time.
Answering questions from the Major Superiors on the reported dwindling Catholic Population in Ghana, the Nuncio said “Catholic Churches are hidden, when travelling unlike you see many mosques and advertisements and information about other Christian Churches but not many information about Catholics presence.”
He expressed worry that there were no indication of Catholic Churches along the streets but other Churches were very visible with huge sign posts, noting that it was time, the Church in Ghana registers its presence and prominence with all the good things being done for the people.
Archbishop Jagodzinski said Ghana is a very Religious country where prayers are said at national functions. However, he noted that in spite of the religiosity of Ghanaians, the prosperity gospel preaching was taking over the nation, a concern he said should be looked at.
He said the Catholic Church in Ghana was in the minority despite its numerous social interventions in the areas of education, health, social service and peace building, cautioning Catholics not to imitate the Protestants way of worship.
According to the Nuncio “You do not become more Catholic when you imitate the Protestants. The Catholic Church has a tradition that needs to be followed. God is one, but it does not mean it doesn’t matter which denomination one belongs. That is also true that Jesus is alive and active everywhere.”
“Jesus Christ is really present in the Eucharistic bread and wine and if you do not believe then you are not Catholic,” he added.
The biannual Meeting was attended by Major Superiors of the various Religious Congregations in Ghana working in all the 19 Dioceses and a Vicariate.
As part of the four-day Meeting, the Major Superiors had a talk on the impact of illegal mining and elections of new Executive Council.
Story and photos by Damian Avevor and Robert Mawuenyegah, Koforidua
