|
By Damian Avevor
About 10,000 faithful of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese and beyond have embarked on an annual pilgrimage to the Sacred Heart Grotto at Tornu, Dzodze, to thank God for the end of the Liturgical Year and the beginning of a new one. The pilgrimage was also to officially welcome Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD, Bishop of Ho, from Tegbi, near Keta, who is the second Priest of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese to be named a Bishop. The first is Most Rev. Dennis Agbenyadzi, SMA, Bishop of Beberati in Central African Republic from Agbedrafor, near Akatsi. |
A section of the pilgrims at the Grotto
|
The Mass presided over by Bishop Fianu was concelebrated by Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, Bishop of Keta-Akatsi and about 40 Priests from the Diocese.
In his homily, Bishop Fianu urged the faithful to accept Christ and turn to Him for answers in all their endeavours and avoid fetish practices in seeking solutions to their problems.
He encouraged them to send their problems to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a place of God’s love and peace and the Blessed Sacrament, calling on them to intensify their devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
He urged the faithful to appreciate and take pride in God’s gift to them as Catholics, asking them to always pray to the Sacred Heart to strengthen their faith.
Bishop Fianu thanked Bishop Adanuty for being behind him since the announcement of his Episcopate in July and his fatherly love to him since his time of study in Rome when he (Adanuty) was working at the Vatican
He commended the pilgrims for attending his Episcopal Ordination in their numbers on October 3, asking the faithful to pray for him to continue the good works of his predecessor, Most Rev. Francis Lodonu.
In a welcome, Bishop Adanuty asked the faithful to be proud to have one of their own as Bishop of Ho, thanking the pilgrims for always actively participating in the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Shrine.
Mr. Stephen Kofi Adzamli, the Diocesan Laity Director presented an Episcopal Seat specially made in the Ashanti Region to Bishop Fianu, who thanked the Diocese for the honour done him.
As part of the pilgrimage, funds were raised to build a retiring home for the Bishop of the Diocese. The programme was characterised with rainfall, which was described as a blessing to the pilgrims and the Diocese.
In his homily, Bishop Fianu urged the faithful to accept Christ and turn to Him for answers in all their endeavours and avoid fetish practices in seeking solutions to their problems.
He encouraged them to send their problems to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a place of God’s love and peace and the Blessed Sacrament, calling on them to intensify their devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
He urged the faithful to appreciate and take pride in God’s gift to them as Catholics, asking them to always pray to the Sacred Heart to strengthen their faith.
Bishop Fianu thanked Bishop Adanuty for being behind him since the announcement of his Episcopate in July and his fatherly love to him since his time of study in Rome when he (Adanuty) was working at the Vatican
He commended the pilgrims for attending his Episcopal Ordination in their numbers on October 3, asking the faithful to pray for him to continue the good works of his predecessor, Most Rev. Francis Lodonu.
In a welcome, Bishop Adanuty asked the faithful to be proud to have one of their own as Bishop of Ho, thanking the pilgrims for always actively participating in the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Shrine.
Mr. Stephen Kofi Adzamli, the Diocesan Laity Director presented an Episcopal Seat specially made in the Ashanti Region to Bishop Fianu, who thanked the Diocese for the honour done him.
As part of the pilgrimage, funds were raised to build a retiring home for the Bishop of the Diocese. The programme was characterised with rainfall, which was described as a blessing to the pilgrims and the Diocese.
Mr. Adzamli making the presentation to Bishop Fianu. At the background is Bishop Adanuty
