The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has organised a Mass at the Christ the King parish in Accra to bid farewell to His Excellency, the Most Rev. Henryk Mieczysław Jagodziński, who have been in Ghana as the Apostolic Nuncio for the past four years.
The well attended farewell Mass on July 2, 2024, was presided over by His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences at the Vatican and concelebrated by members of the GCBC including some Emeriti Prelates and scores of Priests.
Archbishop Jagodziński who was born on January 1, 1969 and ordained a Priest of Diocese of Kielce in 1995 has been transferred by the Holy father Pope Francis as the Nuncio to South Africa and Lesotho.
In attendance at the farewell Mass were the Executives of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana (CMSR-GH), National Union of Ghana Diocesan Priests Associations (NUCDPA), members of the Forum of Papal Knights and Dames, leadership of the National Catholic Laity Council (NCLC), Ghana National Catholic Youth Council, various Societies and groups in the Church including the National Council of Catholic Women, Christian Mothers Association and the National Sacred Heart Enthronement Centre.
In his homily, Cardinal Turkson averred that there is always a good reason to give thanks to God and the farewell Eucharistic celebration for the Nuncio is an indication of the faith of the Church and the people of God.
He noted that faith is the reaction of God’s people, saying, to have faith is to develop the act of Christ and attachment to the Lord.
He said it behooves on leaders to be trustworthy before the people entrusted to them and expressed joy that the Nuncio had been trustworthy in his work, praying that the Nuncio would continue to find the Church trustworthy in South Africa.
As part of the farewell, there were Goodwill Messages from the GCBC, office of the Chief Imam, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Catholic Members of Parliament, NUCDPA, CMSRG, NCLC, and Papal Knights and Dames.
In a farewell message, the President of the GCBC, the Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi said throughout his tenure, the outgoing Nuncio has “exemplified unwavering dedication, profound wisdom, and a steadfast commitment to fostering unity and understanding within our Church and beyond.”
“As we express our deepest gratitude for his service among us, we also extend our heartfelt prayers and best wishes as he embarks on a new chapter of his mission,” Bishop Gyamfi said.
On behalf of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, he thanked Archbishop Jagodziński for his exemplary service, unwavering faith, and profound impact on the lives of the people of God in Ghana.
“May God bless you abundantly with his choicest graces in all your future endeavours, and may His peace accompany you always,” he added.
The GCBC presented gifts to the Nuncio to remind him of his stay in Ghana and how the Church appreciates his work in Ghana.
Archbishop Jagodziński expressed gratitude to the Ghanaian Prelates and the people of God for accepting him during his duty tour of Ghana and stated that Ghana was his home because he was well received wherever he visited as the Nuncio.
He thanked Cardinal Turkson for presiding over his farewell Mass in spite of his busy schedules.
Pope Francis on May 3, 2020 appointed Archbishop Jagodziński, Titular Archbishop of Limosano as Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana.
He arrived in Ghana to begin is duties on Tuesday, September 8, 2020 after an earlier suggested date had to be rescheduled because of the Covid-19 travelling restrictions.
He took over from the Most Rev. Jean Marie Speich, who had at the time had been reassigned to Slovenia and Kosovo.
By Damian Avevor
