Penchant to copy Pentecostal, Charismatic styles of worship not solution to our dwindling numbers – Bishop Gyamfi

President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Matthew Gyamfi, has emphasized the importance of authentic liturgical celebrations for effective evangelization.

Referencing Pope Francis’s recent remarks to liturgists, Bishop Gyamfi stressed the need for priests to plan, prepare, and conduct “lively” liturgies that bring the faithful closer to God and each other. He highlighted that such celebrations should not only adhere to liturgical norms but also resonate with the hopes, joys, aspirations, and needs of the people.

Bishop Gyamfi expressed concern about a growing trend to imitate Pentecostal and Charismatic styles of worship, emphasizing that this approach is not the solution to the challenges of dwindling numbers within the Church in Ghana.

Instead, he underscored the power and effectiveness of a well-prepared and celebrated liturgy as a means of evangelization.

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The Bishop called upon his fellow Bishops to encourage priests to deliver homilies that are relevant to the faith and morals of the congregation, thereby fostering a deeper connection with the Catholic faith.

Bishop Gyamfi was speaking at the opening of this year’s Plenary Assembly of Bishops in Ghana in Sunyani.