Catholic Youth honor Cardinal Dery with pilgrimage to his Tomb

Members of the Ghana National Catholic Youth Council (GHANCYC) have paid a solemn visit to the tomb of the late Peter Cardinal Poreku Dery at the Our Lady of Annunciation (OLA) Cathedral in Tamale.

The pilgrimage formed part of activities marking the ongoing 49th Annual General Council Meeting (AGCM) of GHANCYC, hosted in the Archdiocese of Tamale. Youth leaders and delegates prayed at the tomb of the revered prelate, reflecting on his life, mission, and enduring contribution to the Catholic Church in Ghana and beyond.

Cardinal Dery born on May 8, 1918, into an indigenous Dagaaba family in North-West Ghana, Cardinal Dery’s early life was steeped in traditional African spirituality, as he initially trained to become a traditional priest. His spiritual journey transformed in 1932 when he joined the first group of Dagaaba to be baptized, following the work of Irish missionary Fr. Remigius McCoy and his team.

Ordained in 1951 as the first indigenous priest from the Upper West Region, he became the first Bishop of Wa in 1960 and later served as Archbishop of Tamale. In 2006, Pope Benedict XVI elevated him to the College of Cardinals, making him the second Ghanaian Cardinal after Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson.

Cardinal Dery, who passed away on March 6, 2008, is widely remembered for championing inculturation harmonizing Catholic worship with Ghanaian cultural traditions. He firmly believed the Gospel should take root in African soil, enabling the faith to be authentically Catholic and authentically African.

Beyond his spiritual leadership, he promoted education, social development, and youth empowerment. He initiated numerous community projects and was renowned for identifying underground water sources to provide wells in deprived communities.

For many Catholic youth, Cardinal Dery remains a guiding inspiration. He strongly believed that the youth were not just the future of the Church but its active present. His vision paved the way for the recognition and growth of structured Catholic youth organizations, culminating in the establishment of GHANCYC.

Youth leaders described their visit as a moment of spiritual renewal and recommitment to carry forward his legacy of faith, humility, and service.

The 49th AGCM, celebrated under the theme “Jubilee Year: A Time to Proclaim Christ, Hope for the Church and Ghana”, has drawn hundreds of delegates from across the country to reflect, strategize, and renew their dedication to the mission of the Church.