Priests and Religious in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra have been urged as spiritual leaders to always reflect on the Holy Eucharist, which is the source and summit of the Church.
Rev. Fr. Anthony Parankimalil, VC, a member of the Vincentian Congregation with 21 years of priestly experience, appealed to the clergy at the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka during the first session of the Eucharistic Spirituality Seminar on Thursday, June 5, titled “A Time with Priests & Religious.”
His message revolved around the power and significance of the Holy Eucharist as he emphasised that “The Holy Eucharist cannot be substituted with any other prayer; it is the greatest miracle Jesus ever performed.”
Fr. Parankimalil further elaborated that “All our prayers are not equal to one Holy Mass” and that the “Eucharist is a divine act” given to us to make us holy.
He also noted that “If there is no Eucharist, there’s no priest,” explaining the relationship between the Eucharist and the priesthood.
According to Fr. Parankimalil, “The Holy Eucharist is given to us to make us holy”, encouraging the Priests and Religious to reflect on their relationship with Jesus, citing John 15:5, “You can do nothing apart from me.”
He also touched on the nature of Jesus’ love, describing it as blind, reasonable, and unconditional, and assured that Jesus never gets tired of us and is always loving us, reminding them of the enduring love of God as a source of hope and reassurance.
Touching on the sacred nature of the priestly vocation, he emphasised that Priests were not consecrated for their self but live exclusively for Jesus.
According to Fr. Parankimalil, “Priesthood is a Sacrament,” and Priests are called to become like Jesus and to serve as an answer to the spiritual needs of the people.
He also delved into the importance of chastity, purity, and sanctity, with a particular emphasis on chastity, which he described as a sacrificial and supernatural virtue that makes us a dwelling place of God.
The event was moderated by Fr. Patrick Agbeko, Director of the Accra Archdiocesan Pastoral Centre, while Rev. Fr. Henry Ahorlu, President of the Accra Archdiocesan Priests’ Association, welcomed participants, expressing gratitude to the attendees for their presence.
The session included Holy Rosary prayers and songs to the Holy Spirit, underscoring the significance of prayer in the lives of the Priests and Religious.
In a message, Fr. Parankimalil expressed gratitude to God for Ghana and the Archbishop for extending an invitation to him.
He further expressed appreciation to the Priests and Religious for gathering to listen to his message, noting that he had heard many good things about Ghana, and was pleased to come and share his insights on Eucharistic Spirituality.
By: Mercy Alor//Newswatchgh.com
