The Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, in Ghana’s Northern Region, the Most Rev. Philip Naameh, has advised Catholics to learn how to pray to God in the right way as they enter the New Year, 2024.
He also appealed to them not to put obstacles in God’s way when He is blessing others, calling on them to rather keep their hearts and spirits clear and in readiness in order to receive His blessings.
He said God’s inability to grant their requests in the year 2023 was an indication from Him to them to learn to pray properly, explaining that God would be unable to answer their prayers “if our requests is based on envy of other people”.
The Archbishop gave these admonitions in a homily as he led hundreds of ecstatic faithful of the Our Lady of Annunciation (OLA) Cathedral in Tamale to welcome the New Year 2024.
He spoke about the love and compassionate nature of God and His readiness to bless us and answer our prayers by granting our requests. He, however, emphasised that God will only grant our requests if it is made with the right intentions, would be beneficial to us and will not to be used to cause harm or to obstruct others.
“If we are putting all kinds of obstacles in front of our fellow human beings and then we ask God to bless us, He will delay with your blessings”, the Archbishop cautioned.
He further entreated the faithful to be merciful, kind and helpful to themselves and to one another.
“Let us be merciful to one another, let us be kind to one another, let us be helpful to one another, then our requests to God to help and be kind to us, to be compassionate to us and to be forgiven to us, will always be answered because God wants us to be holy as He Himself is holy”, he stated.
The Archbishop added, “If we are holy and we pray to Him in a holy way, He will always answer our prayers and will give us all the things we need as holy people in need of His help or compassion.”
Earlier, the Cathedral and its surroundings was a scene of jubilation and colourful fireworks as the clock ticked towards midnight. Amid dancing, songs of praises and worship, the jubilation reached a crescendo as the clock struck 12 o’clock midnight, marking the dawn of the New Year.
Along the Hospital Road in front of the Cathedral and in the heart of the metropolis, the night skyline was lit up with colourful fireworks to herald the New Year.
The Cathedral Administrator, Very Rev. Fr. Boniface Maasoayele and his Curates, Rev. Frs. Festus Tubdaar and Anthony Bebe Guo, concelebrated the Mass.
Story & Photos: Francis E. Monnie
