His Eminence Ivan Cardinal Dias, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, climaxed his 11-day visit to Ghana with holy Mass on May 1, 2007 at Kpando, in the Ho Diocese.
The Mass held at the Our Lady of Lourdes Marian Shrine at Agbonoxoe, was concelebrated by Most Rev. George Kocherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana; Most Rev. Francis A.K. Lodonu, Bishop of Ho; Most Rev. Anthony Adanuty, Bishop of Keta-Akatsi, Most Rev. Gabriel A.A. Mante, Bishop of Jasikan and Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of Accra.
Concelebrating also were about 40 priests, including Rev. Msgr. Hilary Senoo, Parish Priest of St. Cecilia Church, Ho Dome and Rev. Msgr. Anthony Kornu, Vicar General of the Ho Diocese.
In his homily, Cardinal Dias called on the faithful to lead good Christian lives and asked them to be close to Mother Mary.
He was happy to climax his visit to Ghana at a Marian Shrine in the month of May dedicated to Mary.
He asked Christians to join the universal Church on May 13, this year to celebrate the 90 years of The apparition of Mary at Fatima.
The Cardinal encouraged the faithful to always say ‘yes’ to God, no matter the conditions they found themselves just as Mary said to the angel “Let it be done to me according to your Word.”
Before the homily, Cardinal Dias drew a loud applause from the congregation when he briefly addressed the faithful in Ewe: “Mi Kafu Yesu Kristo,” (meaning let us praise Jesus Christ).
In attendance at the Mass were the Religious, hundreds of faithful from the Ho, Keta-Akatsi and Jasikan Dioceses in their various Diocesan anniversary cloths; Traditional leaders, including Togbui Opeku VI of Kpando Agbenoxoe and Mamaga Nkoako Agbilisi IV, Queenmother of Kpando.
Bishop Lodonu expressed his profound gratitude to the Cardinal for celebrating the Mass at Kpando after 20 years, saying “it is another landmark in the Diocese, especially Kpando.”
He recalled that Cardinal Dias blessed most of the Mission compounds when he was the Pro-Nuncio to Ghana (1982-87).
Welcoming him, Msgr. Kornu, commended the Cardinal for coming back to Kpando, where he was known as “the Charismatic Pro-Nuncio.”
He appealed to the Cardinal to consider making Ho an Archdiocese since the Church was growing steadily, while more parishes were being established.
Various gifts were presented to the Cardinal.
From Damian Avevor, Agbonoxoe
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