The Catholic Diocese of Ho celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception with its annual pilgrimage to the Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto in Kpando Agbenoxoe.
The event, which brought together clergy, religious, and lay faithful, served as a moment of prayer and thanksgiving for peaceful elections and divine blessings bestowed on Ghana.
During the pilgrimage, Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, S.V.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Ho and Vice President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, urged the faithful to offer thanks to God for the peace the nation experienced in the recently concluded general elections. “Let us all emulate the act of thanksgiving to God for granting us peace during the elections,” he said, while also calling for prayers for Catholic members of parliament that they may uphold their faith in public service.
Bishop Fianu also strongly condemned the assault of three Franciscan Capuchin priests at St. Michael Parish, Kpassa, in the Jasikan Diocese on 11 December 2024. The incident, which has been widely condemned by the Catholic community and law enforcement, occurred when the priests, accompanied by officials from the Nkwanta South Municipal Assembly, were inspecting land for a Formation House project. They were confronted by a group of youths who accused them of stealing equipment, resulting in a physical altercation that saw one of the priests assaulted.
Reflecting on the broader societal issues, Bishop Fianu lamented how sin continues to distort humanity’s moral compass, contributing to the acceptance of corruption, theft, and immorality. “Sin has been repackaged as freedom and human liberty,” he stated.
The Bishop further reminded the Christian community of their divine calling to holiness, emphasising the importance of trusting in God’s greater power over sin. “The Immaculate Conception of Mary assures us of the abundance of God’s grace. If we trust in Him, we have no need to fear sin,” he concluded.
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