Ghanaian Catholic communities across Italy gathered on Easter Sunday for their annual joint celebration, a longstanding tradition that brings together faithful from multiple cities for worship, fellowship, and unity.
This year’s event was hosted in Reggio Emilia by the local Ghanaian Catholic Community, led by Rev. Fr. Prince Ampong, supported by the three host communities and the General Easter Planning Committee.
The celebration saw an attendance of about 1,000 Ghanaian Catholics, accompanied by their chaplains, church leaders, and traditional authorities from across Italy.
The Easter celebration began with an hour of Eucharistic Adoration led by Rev. Fr. Gabriel Owusu Sekyere, Chaplain of Castel Franco and Treviso, followed by Mass, presided over by Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso, Chaplain of the Ghanaian Catholic Community in Pordenone.
In his homily, Fr. Kyei Danso focused on the theme “Letting the Power of Easter bring transformation“, emphasizing the resurrection of Christ as the fulfillment of the promise to rebuild the temple in three days.
He highlighted the significance of the empty tomb and the folded linen as signs of victory over sin and death.
Quoting St. Paul (1 Corinthians 15:14), he stated that without the resurrection, Christian faith would be in vain.
He noted, “If Christ had not risen, our preaching would have been in vain and our faith useless.”
He also urged the congregation to allow the joy of Easter to bring about genuine personal transformation, calling on them to live as “peacemakers, unifiers, and virtuous Catholics.”
He added, “St John Paul II says, ‘We are Easter People, and Alleluia is our song. ‘ If we have died in our sins and have been raised with the resurrected Christ, let’s allow the Easter joy to overcome our fears and worries.”
The Ghanaian Catholic Communities in attendance included Pordenone, Udine, Conegliano, Castel Franco, Treviso, Modena, Reggio Emilia, and Casa Maggiore.
During the Easter vigil, fifteen adults from Reggio Emilia and Pordenone who received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist also attended the celebration to give thanks.
Members of the General Easter Planning Committee, including Rev. Fr. Charles Maanu (President), Rev. Fr. Gabriel Owusu Sekyere (Vice and Liturgy), Rev. Fr. Melchizedek (Youth and Sports), Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso (Zonal Choir), and host chaplain Rev. Fr. Prince Ampong were acknowledged for their efforts in making the Easter celebration a success.
By: Veronica Sena Amenya//Newswatchgh.com
