Catholic Archdiocese of Accra launches 125th Anniversary

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra on Thursday launched its 125th Jubilee Anniversary with a call on Catholic faithful to foster and deepen spiritual growth in Jesus Christ, with the correct knowledge and intellectual appreciation of the Catholic Faith.

During the launch at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra, the Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the Metropolitan Archbishop, urged members to renew their commitment to the evangelisation and the spirit of fellowship and communion.

The year-long celebration would start from Saturday, December 2, 2017 to Sunday, November 25, 2018, under the theme: “125 Years of Catholic Mission in Accra: Renewing Our Commitment to Evangelism”.

The Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle acknowledged the grace and blessings of the Almighty on the Archdiocese, which had grown from a mission station into a Metropolitan status, with the birth of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua and the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom.

He said: “We cannot enumerate the number of the churches and chapels, educational facilities from first cycle through secondary, vocational and technical to tertiary, hospitals, clinics and other healthcare delivery services as well as many social services institutions”.

Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle urged all the Catholic faithful to fully participate in the celebration with fervent prayers and supplication to God.

He expressed optimism that the year-long celebration would be climaxed with a Holy Mass at the Black Stars Square on Sunday, November 25, 2018.

Father Francis Adoboli, the Vicar General and Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, highlighted some activities lined-up for the celebration, which include carnival with brass band and cultural display at the El-Wak Sports Stadium and commemoration of the First Holy Mass in Accra.

Other activities are; Episcopal Silver Jubilee of Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, candle-light procession, children’s week, heath awareness, blood donation and public lectures.

The slogan for the anniversary is: “Arise Catholic Faithful, Rejoice and Renew”.

Members of the Planning Committee and Sub-committees who would coordinate the activities were outdoored, while 10 members of the Archdiocese who submitted logos for the celebration were presented with gifts.

The Catholic Church in Accra began with the first Holy Mass on January 31, 1893, by Rev. Fathers Otto Hilberer and Eugene Raes, two priests of the Society of African Missions who were sent from the Elmina Mission that had started in 1880.