Youth Cross on its rounds in Ghana

The Cross and the Icon of Our Lady which the late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II ordered to be taken round the world is still making its rounds in Ghana. The Cross was received by the Youth on May 20 at the Christ the King Parish in Accra and has since left for Tamale Province, later for Kumasi and Cape Coast Provinces.

In 1984, at the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Redemption, Pope John Paul II, handed over the World Youth Day Cross to the youth of the world, asking them to send it round the globe on a pilgrimage.

“My dear young people, at the conclusion of the Holy year, I entrust to you the sign of this Jubilee Year: The Cross of Christ! Carry it through the world as a symbol of Christ’s love for humanity, and announce to everyone that only in the death and resurrection of Christ we can find salvation and redemption.”

Ghana is the second country in Africa after Senegal to receive these sacramental objects.
On their rounds in Accra, the Cross and Icon were led in a procession from the National Catholic Secretariat by Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Anokye, Episcopal Chairman of the Youth and some executives of the Ghana National Catholic Youth Council (GHANCYC).

The youth, most of them in ‘T’ shirts, joined Most Rev. Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra to welcome the Cross.

Some Priests and Religious were also present, including Rev. Fr. Charles Pokoo, National Youth Chaplain; Rev. Fr. John Amoah, Accra Archdiocesan Youth Chaplain; and Rev. Msgr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning, Pastor of the Christ the King Parish.

Members of the Ladies of Marshall and the Federation of Catholic Ewe Unions were also present to join the youth, who came from various parishes within and outside Accra.
In a message, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, asked the youth to have faith in the Cross  because it is the symbol of Christ’s love for humankind.

He said the Church’s belief in the power of the Cross should be an encouragement to Catholics to change their ways of life.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, urged Ghanaian youth to lift up Jesus in their lives and use the Cross to crusade against indecency in society.

The Archbishop and Bishop Anokye with the priests in turn touched and venerated the Cross.

The Cross and Icon were later sent on a procession from the Christ the King Parish to the Holy Spirit Cathedral for the official handing over by the Senegalese delegation led by Rev. Fr. John Peter Delamou.

A holy Mass presided over by Bishop Anokye, preceded the handing over ceremony. He was assisted by Rev. Frs. Delasi Atsu Parku, Benjamin Ohene, George Mensah, Charles Ackon, Henry Ahorlu and Daniel Lourh, SMA.
In his homily, Bishop Anokye said Pope John Paul II, in his wisdom, entrusted the Cross to the Youth to bring them closer to Him and to transform their lives.

The Cross and Icon were later handed over to the GHANCYC executives, who in turn, presented them to the Accra Archdiocese.

On June 6, the Cross will return to Accra before leaving for Koforidua and later to Jasikan, Ho and Keta-Akatsi Dioceses, from June 7 to 11, before being handed over to the Togolese Youth on June 12.

The Accra West Deanery would on June 7, host the Cross with a series of activities, including Catechesis, Adoration and Veneration, Recommitment to Christ to be Climaxed with Holy Mass at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

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