CATHOLIC Installation of ARCHDIOCESE OF ACCRA

MOST REV. JOHN BONAVENTURE KWOFIE, CSSp,

As Archbishop Of The Catholic Archdiocese Of Accra Date: Friday, 1st March, 2019 Venue: Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka - Accra Time: 9:00 am

Arise Catholic Faithful, Rejoice and Renew! His Holiness Pope Francis

1 Most Rev. Jean Marie Speich Apostolic Nuncio

2 Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle Archbishop of Cape Coast and Apostolic Administrator of Accra

3 FUNCTIONARIES

Principal Celebrant: Most Rev. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle, Archbishop of Cape Coast and Apostolic Administrator of Accra

Enthronement By: Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson, Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

Most Rev. Jean Marie Speich, Apostolic Nuncio, Ghana

Presenter of Archbishop-Elect: Most Rev. Gabriel A. Mante, Bishop of Jasikan

Homilist: Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Archbishop of Tamale and President of the GCBC

Throne Priests: Fr. Daniel Osei Yeboah, CSSp Fr. Edmund Donkor-Baine

Commentator: Fr. Emmanuel Gosu

Mcs: Fr. Clement Wilson Fr. Anthony Agnes Adu-Mensah

4 ORDER OF MASS

Procession - CH 420 (Priestly People)

Entrance - Ecce Sacerdos

Incensation - Awurade s me hw nea way a

Introduction to the Celebration - Most Rev. Charles G. Palmer-Buckle

Presentation of Archbishop-Elect - Most Rev. Gabriel A. Mante

Presenter: Most Reverend Father, Holy Mother Church asks you to install Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, our brother, for service as Archbishop of Accra.

Principal Celebrant: Have you a mandate from the Holy See?

Presenter: We Have

Principal Celebrant: Let it be shown and read.

(Papal Bull is shown to the Bishops, College of Consultors, the Clergy, Religious and the Lay Faithful).

Reading & Translation of Papal Bull.

Song of Acceptance - Y da Nyame Ase o

Enthronement - Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson & Most Rev. Jean Marie Speich

Signing of Testimonial - College of Consultors

Congratulations from Bishops' Conference & Other Bishops

Paying of Allegiance

- College of Consultors - Accra Priests (both Diocesan & Religious) - Male & Female Religious working in Accra Archdiocese - Laity: 3 Reps from each Deanery (male, female, youth), Papal Knights & Dames, Archdiocesan Youth Council (male & female). 5 Congratulations from Dignitaries (Civil Authority, Traditional Leaders, Religious Leaders)

New Archbishop Greets People of God led by Cathedral Administrator

Gloria - Mass of Sacred Heart

Collect - Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp

LITURGY OF THE WORD

First Reading - Jer. 1:4-10

Responsorial Psalm

Second Reading - 1 Pet. 5:1-4

Gospel - Matt. 16:13-19

Homily - Most Rev. Philip Naameh

Creed - CH 48 (Mighty Father I Believe)

Bidding Prayers - Hear Our Prayer

- The Universal Church (Ga) - The State (Akan) - The Local Church/Archdiocese (Dagaare) - Poor, Sick, Needy (Ewe) - Youth & Vocations (French) - The New Archbishop (English)

Offering - Medley of Songs

Offertory Procession - S Biribi Papa Bi

Preparation of the Gifts - CH 63, 59

Sanctus - Mass of Sacred Heart

Doxology - Great Amen

Our Father - Recite 6 LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST

Sign of Peace - Joy Like a River

Agnus Dei - Mass of Sacred Heart

Communion - CH 95, 96, 102, 103

Post Communion Song - Apowa Youth Choir

Post Communion Prayer

Congratulatory Messages

- Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference (GCBC) - The Government (Presidency) - Accra Archdiocesan Priests' Association (AAPA) - Male & Female Religious (Archdiocese) - Archdiocesan Laity Council

A Word from Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp

Announcements

Recession - CH 260 (Rejoice the Lord is King)

7 BIOGRAPHY OF MOST REV. JOHN BONAVENTURE KWOFIE, CSSp

Born to the late Mr. John Kogyan Kwofie and Madam Agnes Ama Tokwah Kwofie on 26th April 1958. Archbishop John B. Kwofie, CSSp is the first of ten siblings. He hails from Apowa in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.

Most Rev. John B. Kwofie, CSSp started schooling at Apowa Roman Catholic Primary in 1963. He received baptism from Rev. Fr. Joseph Kwofie and enrolled as a Knight of the Altar. Inspired by the dedication exhibited by Rev. Fr. Kwofie in the discharge of his pastoral duties, he gradually developed interest in the priesthood and entered St. Theresa's Junior Seminary, Amisano, for his secondary education and to pursue his vocation.

At Amisano, he felt the call to the religious-missionary priesthood. He therefore sought to enter the Congregation of the Holy Spirit also known as the Spiritans. After his Sixth Form studies, the Spiritan Fathers sent him to Seminaire Jean XXIII, Ebolowa in Cameroun for his postulancy formation and to prepare himself for the bilingual formation program a year later at the Spiritan Novitiate in The Gambia.

He made his first Religious Profession on 15th August 1981 and continued to Nigeria for studies in Philosophy at the Spiritan Institute of Philosophy at Isienu-Nsukka. He did his pastoral year at the Holy Rosary Parish, Suame in Kumasi and then proceeded to St. Paul's College Seminary in Gbarnga, Liberia for Theology. He was ordained to the Catholic Priesthood on 23rd July 1988 by Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong at Holy Spirit Parish, Bantama in Kumasi. He was sent immediately after his priestly ordination to do a short course on Pastoral Leadership at the Lumko Institute of South Africa.

As a response to his desire to serve the world-church as a missionary priest, his Superiors sent him to The Gambia on his first missionary assignment. After three years in the mission area of Basse and Bansang, a mission he loved so much and gave himself totally to, he was sent to Rome in 1991 for studies at the Pontifical Biblical Institute where he attained Licentiate in Sacred Scriptures in 1995. As a student of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, he also had the opportunity to do part of his studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Elected Superior of the Spiritan West African Foundation, he returned to Ghana and served the Spiritan Fathers and Brothers working in The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin and parts of Nigeria for six years. He combined his service as Spiritan Superior with lectureship in biblical studies at the Spiritan Theologate in Enugu, Nigeria. When the Spiritan West African Foundation was raised to the status of a Province, he was elected its first Provincial Superior and served for another three years.

During these years of leadership of his Religious Congregation, he also served the

8 Conference of Major Superiors (Men) as Vice-President for a term of three years and then as President for two terms. When the Continental Conference of Religious Major Superiors of Africa was at its inception stage, he was appointed its first Coordinator with a mandate to organize the Conferences of Religious Major Superiors into an Association of Conferences of Major Superiors of Africa and Madagascar. He carried out this mandate until the African Religious Continental Conference (COSMAM) was inaugurated. He handed over to an elected executive board after two years.

During his nine years of service as Superior of his Religious Congregation, he engaged in pastoral work especially on Sundays in the following parishes – Holy Spirit Parish, Bantama; Corpus Christi Parish, New Tafo and St. John's Church, Bohyen Ampabame all in the Archdiocese of Kumasi and at St. Maurice Parish, La; St. Catherine, Burma Camp and St. Michael at Michel Camp in the Archdiocese of Accra.

He also loved facilitating Chapters of Religious Congregations. Thinking of helping the growth of Religious Congregations in Africa, he did a course in Monitoring and Evaluation at GIMPA with the hope of applying some of the principles of this discipline to the life of Religious Congregations. Soon after this short program, he was elected the first Assistant to the Superior General of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and so relocated to the Headquarters of the Spiritan Congregation in Rome where he lived and served the Spiritan family worldwide from 2004 to 2012.

As a General Councillor of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit, he had special responsibility, among others, for the Spiritan circumscriptions in West, East and North Africa accompanying them in matters concerning presence, mission, administration and relationship with local Dioceses and in-charge of Inter-Religious Dialogue and Ecumenical Relations. He also served on the Board of the Centre of Spiritan Studies at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, USA.

When he completed his term on the General Council of the Spiritans in Rome in 2012, he took a sabbatical year at Fribourg University in Switzerland. He then became a lecturer at the Theology Department of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, in July 2013 and was appointed Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi on 3rd July, 2014. He returned to Ghana and was ordained as the fourth Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, on 13th September, 2014.

On 2nd January, 2019, he was appointed the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

9 COAT OF ARMS OF ARCHBISHOP JOHN B. KWOFIE, CSSp

10 The Meaning of the Coat of Arms

On the upper left part is the dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Patron of the Archdiocese of Accra and also of the Spiritan family of which the Archbishop is a member. The dove is seen here descending on the world. The red rays symbolize the creative force of the Holy Spirit that fills our world, embracing all the faithful and binding us together to form one spiritual family. The power of the Holy Spirit is at work in the world re-creating us into the image of God.

We see on the lower left part termites which are the symbol of Accra (called Ga in the local language). The Ga people represent themselves by termites and the termite hills (Gbotsui ma dani Ghana ba!) which abound in Accra, there used to be some around Achimota. Three termites stand for community and communion, and termites are well known for their orderliness and respect for hierarchy as well as for individual responsibility for the social well-being of all.

The upper right part are the heart and the cross symbolizing the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a sign of love and self-giving that surpasses all understanding and calls us to learn from Him. The heart stands for peace, love and compassion. Through the cross, Jesus demonstrated boundless love that brought salvation to humanity. Committed to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the symbol in the Coat of Arms reminds us to love and show compassion in return. Love is a mission that brings peace and builds communion.

On the lower right is a bunch of sticks bound together with a rope symbolizing strength in unity. This symbol is special to the Ahanta people of the Western Region to which the Archbishop belongs. The Ahanta People have an adage that says, “owudo ko bayikyi”, literally meaning “one does not bind a piece of wood with a rope” or “it takes two or more sticks to be bound together with a rope”. The symbol recognizes individual uniqueness whilst reminding us of the strength we derive from community, unity, togetherness, connectedness, oneness, communion, bonding, etc. The rope binding the sticks together is important because its strength determines the extent to which it can hold the sticks together.

Underneath the symbols of the termites of the Ga and the sticks bound together of the Ahanta people is the sea. The Archdiocese of Accra lies along the sea, so also is the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi where the Archbishop comes from. For the people of Accra, the sea represents divine providence known as Nai. It is the sea that the Ga People claim they came and whenever in danger they take refuge. Besides, they earn their living by the sea and in the sea. The sea also represents the fishing activities for sustenance of the people of Ahanta in the Western Region. As Christians, we are bound together by the waters of baptism. This is the communion that each one is called to protect and at the same time to promote.

The episcopal motto of the Archbishop, “Surgamus et Aedificemus”, the Latin for “Let Us Rise and Build Together” is inspired by the story of Nehemiah. The challenges facing our Church today is everybody's business. Building our Church is the responsibility of all of us – priests, religious and lay people. There is no room for on-lookers. All Christ's faithful in the Archdiocese of Accra are, therefore, exhorted to join hands to continue the work of evangelization started by our predecessors 125 years ago. 11 WELCOME TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF ACCRA, MOST REV. JOHN BONAVENTURE KWOFIE, CSSp

My dear Lord and brother Archbishop-elect, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp on behalf of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, I welcome you to this awesome ceremony of your installation as the Third Archbishop of Accra. I welcome you in the name of the Clergy, of the Religious and Consecrated men and women, and of the lay faithful, who are the greatest assets of this local Church, which by the sheer grace of God, I was privileged to shepherd for thirteen years until May 11, 2018, when I was asked by His Holiness, Pope Francis to transfer to Cape Coast as Archbishop. By decree of the same date, I was appointed “Administratorem Apostolicum...usquedum eius Successor nominabitur et canonicam Sedis possessionem capiet, cum omnibus in Archdiocesi Accraensi facultatibus ad administrationem ordinariam spectantes. Contrariis non obstantibus”.

Today is the day that we have all been waiting for, so that you take canonical possession of the Archdiocese of Accra in one of the most solemn liturgical celebrations of the Church. For the past seven months or so, an episode from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah kept coming to me in my meditations. “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, “Here am I! Send me!” (Is. 6:8). I thank you for answering same “Here am I, Lord! Send me!” This is the crux of our lives once we said yes to the Lord our God at our priestly ordination. He knows best where we are most needed in his vineyard and service. May His Will be done!

Be assured that the Lord who is sending you here to be shepherd of this Archdiocese has himself prepared you for this task, and has also equally prepared this vineyard for you. Having been shepherd here for a little over a decade, I can assure you that you have some of the best Diocesan Priests and Religious Clergy in the Church, if not the very best; and I can make same assertion of those in Religious and Consecrated Life at work here. Furthermore, I do vouch for the lay faithful on the whole, in the parishes and outstations, in their various societies and pious associations, and I am proud of the vibrant and creative young women and men of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, bristling with sterling qualities and imbued with the spirit of willingness to serve their local and universal Church. These are just some of the assets our predecessors sowed, watered and nurtured; and I inherited and ministered to.

May He who is calling you to service in this Archdiocese be your strength and support! May the Holy Spirit, Principal Agent of Evangelization and Special Patron of this Archdiocese, fill you with the needed graces for your mission here! May Mary the Immaculate Heart, also Patron of this Archdiocese continue to intercede for you together with all our other Patron Saints, namely the Martyrs of Uganda, St. Peter Claver and St. Martin de Porres!. Arise, Catholic Faithful! Rejoice and Renew! Most Rev. Charles G. PALMER-BUCKLE, Apostolic Administrator of Accra & Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Friday, March 01, 2019. 12 13 14 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE TO H. G. MOST REV. JOHN BONAVENTURE KWOFIE, CSSp

15 16 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE ACCRA ARCHDIOCESAN PRIESTS' ASSOCIATION (AAPA)

Arise Catholic Faithful!!

By the Grace of God, we have the opportunity to witness the installation and taking of canonical possession of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, by the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, on this Friday 1st March, 2019, at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, Accra. We thank God for this historic moment.

Just to take us down memory lane, we the priests and laity of Accra were surprisingly greeted with the news of the transfer of our former Archbishop of Accra, the Most Rev. Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, to the Cape Coast Archdiocese on 11th May, 2018. Following this, we committed ourselves to prayer that the Holy Spirit will inspire all those concerned to appoint a worthy successor. In fulfillment of God's promise to Israel that 'I will give you shepherds' (Jer. 3:15a), a promise which the church has inherited, we received with joy the announcement of the appointment of Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, as the new Archbishop of Accra on Wednesday 2nd January, 2019. We welcome this new development and we are happy to have you as our Archbishop.

We the members of the Accra Presbyterium are very much united and we have fraternal spirit which binds us together. We pledge our obedience, our collaboration and cooperation with our New Chief Shepherd, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, for the continuous growth of the Mission of Christ our Eternal High Priest and Good Shepherd, in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra and beyond.

With prayerfully best wishes, accept our unflinching collaboration for a smooth take off and a sustained zeal, in your pastoral mission in Accra. We wish you good health and a happy stay in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

Long live the Catholic Church, long live our Archdiocese.

Signed: Very Rev. Fr. John Neumann Tettehfio (President, Accra Archdiocesan Priests' Association)

17 18 19 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE MEN AND WOMEN RELIGIOUS ASSOCIATION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF ACCRA

Our anxiety turned into joy when the message of the Holy Father, Pope Francis was read on the 2nd of January, 2019 at a press release telling us that you have been elected the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Accra. Ever since that day, we have been celebrating the news with joy and excitement.

We have known you in different capacities: as Provincial Superior, President of the Conference Major Superiors of Ghana, Coordinator of the Continental Conference of Major Superiors of Africa, Assistant General of your congregation, The Spiritans, a Teacher and Formator among others.

Additionally, we know you as a man of God with good human relations, numerous talents and gifts, and rich experiences in the vineyard of the Lord. Your humble nature and gentle appearance most definitely point to the fact that you are the right choice for the “big boot” you are about to wear.

We, the religious men and women of the Archdiocese of Accra, hope that you will use your numerous talents and rich experiences, and the zeal and enthusiasm of a shepherd's love to faithfully serve and unite God's people in the Accra Archdiocese and beyond. In this way, you will be bringing to fruition the pastoral and evangelization agenda enshrined in the Universal Church's New Evangelization Mission, which your predecessor endeavoured to promote.

Finally, we the Religious men and women pledge to support you, to share in your vision and mission with total commitment, and to actively participate in all activities of the Archdiocese. Above all, we promise to remember you in our daily prayers.

Congratulations Your Grace, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp

20 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES (SVD)

I deem it a great privilege to extend our heartfelt congratulations on behalf of the Divine Word Missionaries in the Ghana-Liberia Province to you, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, on your appointment as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra. We received the news of your appointment with great joy.

As a congregation that has worked and continue to work in vast and diverse areas of missionary activities contributing to the unique story of this archdiocese, we look forward to your installation as the third Archbishop of Accra and pledge our readiness to collaborate harmoniously with you in proclaiming the Good News of our salvation and attending to the pastoral needs of the faithful in the Archdiocese.

I would like to assure you that the Divine Word Missionaries would continue to contribute to the growth of the Church in Ghana and would readily share in your pastoral and spiritual vision for the people of God in the Accra Archdiocese. We are convinced that you would bring along your vast experience and pastoral dynamism to the Archdiocese from the many years of leadership as a religious and as Bishop of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese. This is certainly going to add up and advance the process of evangelization not only in the Accra Archdiocese but in the Universal Church.

Finally, I wish to congratulate you for accepting and availing yourself for this great task in the Church here in Ghana. We know that you would continuously allow yourself to be guided by the Holy Spirit and generously give out your time and insight for the good of the Archdiocese so that together as co-workers, impelled by the love of Christ, we would be firmly rooted in the Word of God and more and more committed to his mission here in the Accra Archdiocese and beyond. May God bless your efforts in the coming years and once again accept our Congratulations!

Fraternally in the Divine Word,

Rev. Fr. George Clement Angmor, SVD Provincial Superior, Ghana-Liberia Province

21 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE DIOCESAN PRIESTS' ASSOCIATION OF SEKONDI – TAKORADI DIOCESE

As the archdiocese of Accra receives its new shepherd, we, members of the Diocesan Priests' Association, of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi would like to express a word of congratulations and solidarity to you, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp as you accept the responsibility for the pastoral care of this beloved and important local church, The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Accra in the Greater Accra Region.

We have known you to be pastorally centred bishop who serves his people with great love and enthusiasm and we have no doubt that this will be extended to the good people of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

As bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi, you used all your talents to help the local church to grow in priestly vocations and the expansion of the pastoral care of the flock entrusted to you.

Your gift of self-given and concern for your flock, as well as, your quiet but constant care for your priests are marks of an engaging pastor dedicated to the growth and constant care for his church.

His Holiness Pope Francis has chosen wisely and well in appointing you, His Grace Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp to serve as Archbishop of Accra.

22 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE

23 24 CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE THE LAY FAITHFUL OF ACCRA ARCHDIOCESE

The entire Lay Faithful of the Archdiocese of Accra wish to warmly welcome His Grace, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, as our new Archbishop.

As “sheep” in the Archdiocese , we do not want to be without a shepherd. It is with joy and pride that the Laity embraced the news of your appointment as our chief shepherd.

We the Lay men and women in the Archdiocese readily pledge our sincere and unwavering support to your leadership. We similarly pledge to discharge our duties with diligence and dedication in the areas of marriage and family apostolate.

In the spirit of fraternity, we will seek greater collaboration with you in order to advance the development and transformation of our Archdiocese.

Your Grace, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, we have heard of the brilliant and innovative leadership skills exhibited under your episcopacy as Bishop of Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese. We pray that God will grant you the grace to continue the good work of your predecessors and lead us to greater heights.

We welcome you to the cosmopolitan city of Accra, where you will enjoy the diversity of our rich Ghanaian culture well represented in the Church.

Your Grace, we the Lay Faithful heartily welcome you to the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra. We are your sheep and you are our shepherd. May God bless and enrich your ministry here in the Archdiocese of Accra.

Soyez le bienvenu! Welcome! Woe Zor! Akwaaba! Oba Ke Omanye! San de Zuwa!

25 26 HISTORY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE

HOW CATHOLICISM BEGAN IN ACCRA: The Catholic Church came rather late to the Gold Coast when others had long began making in-roads to accomplish their double barreled mission to plant the Christian faith and to engage in slave trade in this part of the African continent. The Portuguese, with their eyes on gold, established themselves on the western coastline; the Protestant nations, coming later, built their forts on the eastern as the slave trade was then the main item of trade. When the Portuguese Castle at Elmina fell to the Dutch in 1637, all Catholic missionary work came to an end.

The first Catholic priest(s) to set foot in Accra may well have been in the 1570s when the Portuguese established a short-lived trading post in Accra. They held it for only 7 years when it was destroyed by the inhabitants.

About a hundred years later, in 1679 (when the Danish Governor of Christiansborg Castle was murdered by adventurers) the Castle was sold to the Portuguese. They held it for only 3 years. The Bishop of St. Thomas Island sent them a Chaplain, an African Priest. His name is not known, but he was believed to have been the first African Priest to hold an ecclesial appointment in the Accra Catholic Mission.

For almost 200 years, if Accra saw any Priest, he was no more than a traveller going ashore briefly, while his ship was unloading cargo in the harbour. There is a record of a Bishop, Jean Besueux, who, on his way to the Congo stopped in Accra to scout the possibility of opening a Mission in Accra. Father Lieberman, the founder of a Religious Congregation, had asked him to investigate but nothing came out of it.

Thirty years later, in 1878, the Superior of the Holy Ghost Fathers sent Rev. Fr. Grommendinger on an official visit to the Gold Coast, to select the most suitable sites for establishing Missions there. On his visit to Accra he was well received by both the British Governor and the Ga Chiefs. Both begged him to open a Mission in Accra. Fr. Lieberman's plans were then made known by his Superiors, on paper, to establish the Church in Accra, Kumasi and Elmina.

But nothing came out of it as they were always short of men due to the death of many of their missionaries in other tropical African Missions. Hence, they gave up.

The Propaganda Fidei (now Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples) then handed over the Gold Coast to the Society of the African Missions (SMA) who had asked for it. So, in 1880 Fathers Moreau and Murat landed at Elmina to bring the Catholic Faith to the land.

27 BEGINNINGS OF THE CATHOLIC MISSION UNDER SOCIETY OF AFRICAN MISSIONS (SMA) IN THE GOLD COAST

May 18, 1880: Two SMAs Missionaries; Frs. Auguste Moreau and Eugene Murat stepped on the shores of Elmina, sent by Propaganda Fidei, Rome, to bring the Catholic Church anew to the Gold Coast. After only three months Fr. Murat died of Yellow Fever.

1882: Fr. Moreau, SMA, visited Accra from Elmina to find out the possibility of starting a mission there. He was well received. Again the Governor and the Ga Chiefs asked him to establish the Church in Accra with the reason that Accra had just been made the Capital (since 1876 when the seat of government was transferred Fr. Eugene Raess, SMA Fr. Otto Hilberer, SMA from Cape Coast) and was full of prospects. They also pointed out to Fr. Moreau that numerous immigrants had come to the city among whom many were baptized Catholics for whom a place of worship should be provided. But Fr. Moreau had few co-workers, and the deadly disease had already begun to take several to an early grave. So, Accra had to wait.

1884: He made another visit without much success

THE CHURCH IN ACCRA UNDER THE SMA

December 1891: Rev. Fr. Otto Hilberer came to Accra with the intention of founding the Church. He stayed for a week, ministering to the Catholics and searching for a site. He was not successful as the missionaries had little funds and property value in Accra was highly priced.

July 2, 1892: Six months later his prayers were answered as a Countess in France sent him a sizeable sum. On 2nd July he returned for another visit and was able to rent a suitable site.

January 31, 1893: Frs. Otto Hilberer and Eugene Raess, both SMAs, started the Catholic Mission in Accra and offered the first Holy Mass in the house of the late Chief John Quartey on Accra High Street. The Priest lost no time and opened a school. They visited parents urging them to send their boys, and as they charged no fees, and even supplied books on gratis, pupils came in ever increasing numbers.

May 25, 1893: First Baptism celebrated for Louis James Buckle.

28 August 24, 1894: First Marriage celebrated between Herbert Cheetham and Rose Mary Quaye.

March 1895: The Accra Church was progressing so well that by March 1895, Fr. J.B Houtman was sent to assist in the work. The Catechism had been translated into Ga, hymns composed or translated, and many of the school children were baptized and adults were coming for instruction and the services.

But then, suddenly, disaster struck, not in Accra but in the older stations in Fanteland. Yellow fever brought many Priests and Rev. Sisters to an early grave. In Cape Coast for example, all three Fathers (including the Prefect Apostolic) died. Fr. Houtman was recalled from Accra after only two months stay, to take charge of Saltpond, where both Priests had died. He too was a victim of the dreadful disease and died there within two years.

May – July 1895: Fr. Hilberer had to go on leave due to failing health and it took him two years to recuperate in Europe leaving only Fr. Raess in Accra. Later, Frs. Hilberer and Raess were asked to leave Accra for Elmina as a result of the death of five SMA missionary Priests. The small Catholic community in Accra was left in the care of a Church committee led by Messrs. Brown (then headmaster), Andoh, Yankah and others.

May 1897: Rev. Fr. Hilberer visited Accra again and for the last time. He ministered to the Faithful, bade a sad farewell and left taking along the books and furniture to Elmina. There he too fell victim to the dreadful disease only two months later. The cause of the Yellow Fever was unknown and no remedy existed so an attack was almost always fatal.

1895-1925: Accra was now an out-station, rarely visited by a Priest. The nearest residential station was Saltpond on the west, Keta on the east and Kumasi inland to the north. There were no roads, automobiles unknown; horses could not live in the tsetsefly infected land. There is record of a Priest coming to Accra by fishing boat along the coast from Cape Coast; he visited the stations along the coast, going as far as Keta. The trip took three months.

The Ga people, among whom the Church had been planted with great hope in 1893, became neglected and the early converts drifted away, joining the already well established Anglican and other Protestant Churches, or relapsing into traditional religion. It is known that a considerable number of ex-slaves, all Catholics, returned to Accra from Brazil. Since there was no active Catholic Church, they joined the Anglican Church.

1911 - 1923: Bishop Ignatius Hummel started coming to Accra as a member of the Education Board for their meetings. He took great interest in the infant church. In spite of Bishop Hummel's efforts, no permanent site was found and service continued to be held in various houses, first in Konduah's, later, in the larger one owned by Mrs. Sackey, all in Jamestown, and still laterin the Sea View Hotel, near the lighthouse. One event lived long in the memory of older members: one Sunday, after service, part of the congregation fell down when the verandah collapsed. No one was seriously injured but the memory lingered on.

29 November 2, 1924: Renewed life came when Rev. Fr. Joseph Stauffer, SMA, then Vicar General (Bishop Hummel had died that year) came to Accra for the Board meeting. Seeing the size and importance of Accra he was determined to make it a residential station. After long negotiations, assisted by Mr. Bonito, an Italian business man based in Accra, he bought a large empty cocoa shed at Derby Avenue to be used for a place of worship for the sum of 700 British pounds (about $3,400 at that time).

May 23, 1925: The refurbished cocoa shed was dedicated by Bishop Ernest Hauger (the Fourth Vicar Apostolic of Cape Coast: 1925 - 1932). A few months later an extension to the property was acquired from Mr. Van der Puije for 1,000 Pounds Sterling, on which the old infant school was built.

January 1926: Fathers Stauffer and van der Hulst were appointed pastor and assistant pastor respectively.

1929: Bishop (later Cardinal) Hinsly came to West Africa as an Apostolic Delegate.

January 1931: The first school was opened on the Sacred Heart Church grounds, with an enrolment of 15 boys and 6 girls. By August that same year, it was recognized by the Government Education Director and placed on the Assisted List.

1931: By the end of 1931, 16 new stations were opened that saw Koforidua (now Koforidua Diocese) providing residence for Fr. John Lemmens, who came on transfer from the Keta Vicariate. Koforidua thus became the second residential station of the Accra Mission.

ACCRA MISSION UNDER THE DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES (SVD)

1938: At the request of Propaganda Fidei in Rome, the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) sent missionaries to take over the Accra Mission from the SMA in the Gold Coast.

October, 13, 1938: Two Divine Word Missionaries, Frs. August Gehring and Alphonse Elsbernd, landed in Takoradi, and the next day arrived at Sacred Heart Church. Others were to follow, after a language course in Great Britain. Their arrival marked the beginning of the take-over of the Accra Missions, from the SMA. The reason for the SVD taking over was because the SMAs did not have the men nor the funds to effectively evangelize the area. Cardinal Hinsly, on his visit, in 1929, saw this and recommended that other missionaries come to help. Frs Alphonse Elsbernd and August Gehring over the next few years ensured the growth of the Accra Mission, with the former excelling in the field of education. He founded the Catholic Mission Educational Unit and became its first General Manager.

June 1939: A severe earthquake shook all of Accra doing extensive damage. Both gables of the Sacred Heart Church collapsed and all side arches in the building cracked. The school was also damaged. Repairs cost $3500. In the meantime, services were held in the open air, under a palm branch shelter.

30 January 1939: Fr Joseph Oliver Bowers, SVD, from the Commonwealth of Dominica, was the second Priest of African descent to be sent to the Accra Mission. The first priest of African descent was Fr. John Dauphine who came in 1939 together with Fr. Noser.

1940: Fr. Adolph Noser (later Bishop) met the very first infant baptized, James Buckle in 1893, as a patient in the Korle Bu Hospital. James now received First Holy Communion on a sick bed.

January 1, 1941: The Society of African Missions (SMA) ceded the eastern portion of the Vicariate of Cape Coast to the pastoral care and administration of the SVD. Fr. Adolph Noser became the MOST REV. ADOLPH A. NOSER, SVD Superior. 1939 - 1953 December 13, 1942: The first Accra Diocesan Priest, in the person of Fr. Bernard Sao Mensah was ordained in Cape Coast.

January 1943: Fr. Bernard Sao Mensah, the first Ghanaian Priest ordained for the Diocese, celebrated his first Holy Mass in Sacred Heart Church. He was assisted by three black SVD Priests J. Bowers, G. Wilson and J. Dauphine.

December 12, 1943: Fr. Samuel Van der Puije, the second Accra Diocesan Priest who was also the first Ga Priest, was ordained in Cape Coast. He had began his studies for the Anglican Church in England, but joined the Catholic Church. He received a rousing welcome from the Ga people, at his first Mass in Sacred Heart Church.

ACCRA AS AN APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE

February 11, 1944: A Decree from Rome raised the Accra Mission to the status of Apostolic Prefecture entrusting it to the Divine Word Missionaries. The Decree specified that the SVDs were to be in charge of “that part of the territory that comprised the whole portion of the Eastern Province of the Gold Coast Colony at the right side of the Volta.” Monsignor Adolph A. Noser, SVD, was appointed the Apostolic Prefect.

October 30, 1944: Fr Gerard Fini, a Togolese Diocesan Priest, arrived in Accra and worked in the Mission side by side, the SVD.

31 February 11, 1945: Bishop Porter, SMA, of Cape Coast invested Rev. Monsignor Adolph Noser SVD as Prefect Apostolic of the newly erected Prefecture of Accra.

November 1946: A cablegram came from the SVD headquarters in Rome announcing the elevation of the Accra Apostolic Prefecture to Apostolic Vicariate, naming Msgr. Adolph Noser as the first Bishop.

August 22, 1947: Bishop-elect Adolph Noser was consecrated in the U.S.A. by Cardinal Stripes of Chicago. September 29, 1948: Bishop Porter of Cape Coast installed Bishop Adolph Noser as Vicar Apostolic of Accra in the Sacred Heart Church, Derby Avenue. ACCRA VICARIATE UNDER MOST REV. ADOLPH A. NOSER, SVD April 18, 1950: Pope Pius XII raised the Apostolic Vicariate of Accra to the status of a Diocese and the Accra Diocese became suffragan diocese of the new Archdiocese of Cape Coast.

1951: Bishop Adolph Noser started building the Holy Spirit Cathedral at Adabraka , Accra.

January 8, 1953: Rev. Fr. Oliver Bowers was appointed Bishop of Accra.

January 13, 1953: Bishop Adolph Noser was transferred from Accra to Papua New Guinea as Archbishop of Alexishafen and was succeeded by Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers, as the second Bishop of Accra. April 22, 1953: Bishop-elect Bowers was ordained by Cardinal Spellman at the Church of Our Lady of the Gulf in Bay, St. Louis, U.S.A.

ACCRA DIOCESE UNDER MOST REV. JOSEPH OLIVER BOWERS, SVD

September 27, 1953: Bishop Joseph Oliver, SVD, an African-Caribbean from the Commonwealth of Dominica, who was working in the Koforidua and Agomanya area, took canonical possession of the Accra Diocese in the partially completed Holy Spirit Cathedral. He became the first black bishop of the Gold Coast.

January 5, 1957: The Holy Spirit Cathedral was opened for public worship. MOST REV. JOSEPH OLIVER BOWERS, SVD 1953 - 1971 32 March 6, 1957: A thanksgiving Mass was held in the Holy Spirit Cathedral to mark the Independence Day of Ghana.

1957: Bishop Bowers founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer as the first local religious group for the diocese.

August 1962: Cardinal Giovanni Montini (later Pope Paul VI) of Milan, Italy, visited Ghana. He celebrated Holy Mass in the Holy Spirit Cathedral and blessed the Akosombo Hydro Electric Dam.

June 16-23, 1968: Accra Mission celebrated its Diamond Jubilee.

January 16, 1971: Bishop Bowers was transferred from Accra and appointed the first Bishop of St John’s Basseterre in the West Indies.

ACCRA DIOCESE UNDER MOST REV. DOMINIC K. ANDOH

1971: Msgr. Dominic Kodwo Andoh was appointed the third Bishop for the Diocese of Accra, following the transfer of Bishop Bowers.

October 3, 1971: Bishop Dominic K. Andoh was consecrated in the Holy Spirit Cathedral, as the first Ghanaian Bishop of Accra, by Archbishop John Kodwo Amissah of Cape Coast, assisted by Bishops Peter Dery of Wa and Joseph A. Essuah of Sekondi-Takoradi.

June 2, 1974: Solemn dedication of the Holy Spirit Cathedral by Bishop Andoh, assisted by Bishops Joseph O. Bowers, SVD, then Emeritus of Accra and Francis A. K. Lodonu of Keta-Ho MOST REV. DOMINIC KODWO Diocese. ANDOH 1971 - 2005 May 8, 1980: Pope John Paul II arrived in Accra to begin a three-day Papal Visit to Ghana. He celebrated Mass the same evening at the Independence Square. His visit climaxed the Centenary celebrations of the Catholic Church in Ghana. His Holiness blessed the National Catholic Secretariat of Ghana to be known as Centenary House in Accra.

August 29, 1992: Bishop Andoh launched the year-long Centenary Celebration of the Catholic Church in Accra at the Holy Spirit Cathedral under the theme: 'Shine in the world' (Phil: 2: 15-16).

33 November 21, 1992: The Catholic Diocese of Koforidua was carved out of Accra by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II. Accra was elevated to a Metropolitan See and Bishop Andoh made the Metropolitan Archbishop. Very Rev. Fr. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle of Accra Diocese, then Chaplain of Achimota School, was nominated Bishop-elect for the newly created Koforidua Diocese.

January 6, 1993: Very Rev Fr. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle was ordained first Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua by His Holiness Pope John Paul II at the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. June 29, 1993: Archbishop Andoh received the Sacred Pallium of Office as Metropolitan Archbishop in Rome from the hands of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.

July 25, 1993: Archbishop Dominic Andoh was enthroned the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra by Most Rev. Abraham Katumana, the then Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Togo, and Benin.

August 22, 1993: Cardinal Jozef Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, presided over the Thanksgiving Mass of the Centenary Celebrations of Accra Mission at the Indepdence Square.

May 28, 1995: For the first time in the history of the Church in Ghana, five new dioceses were simultaneously created. These were Keta-Akatsi, Jasikan, Obuasi, Konongo- Mampong and Damongo. The Episcopal ordination of the respective Bishops, namely, Anthony K. Adanuty, Gabriel Mante, Thomas Mensah, Joseph Osei-Bonsu and Philip Naameh took place at the Independence Square, Accra.

June 4, 1995: The Archbishop inaugurated the first group of Altar Girls during Holy Mass on Pentecost Sunday at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

June 23, 1995: The Lineamenta which outlined the various topics for the First Synod of the Archdiocese was launched at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

December 1996 -January 1997: The First Synod of the Catholic Archdiocese was convoked by Archbishop Dominic Andoh and was held at St. Paul's Catholic Seminary at Sowutuom from 16th to 21st December 1996 and 1st to 4th January 1997 under the theme “Renewal of Evangelization in the Archdiocese of Accra”. The synod concluded with the publication of an outcome under the theme “Challenges and Hopes for the New Millennium”.

January 15, 1999: In accordance with the decree of the Episcopal Conference of Ghana ordering the re-organization of the structure of Tribunals in Ghana, the Decree of establishment of the Interdiocesan Tribunal of Accra Ecclesiastical Province was given by the moderator, Most Rev. Dominic K. Andoh, the Archbisop of Accra.

34 April 28, 1999: An Education Endowment Fund for the Archiocese later re-named Archbishop Andoh Education Endowment Fund, was launched at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

1999 - 2001: The Jubilee Celebrations launched in 1999 was concluded with an ordination and the closing of the Holy Door on the 6th January 2001.

December 7, 2002: The Archdiocese of Accra recorded its highest ordination of 10 priests.

March 30, 2005: Archbishop Andoh retired at the age of 75. Pope John Paul II appointed Bishop Palmer-Buckle as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, transferring him from Koforidua Diocese.

April 14, 2005: Following Archbishop Dominic K. Andoh's attainment of the canonical retirement age of 75, and the subsequent acceptance by the Vatican, the College of Consultors of the Archdiocese of Accra elected Msgr. Jonathan Ankrah as the Archdiocese Administrator until the installation of the new Archbishop Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle.

ACCRA UNDER MOST REV. CHARLES GABRIEL PALMER-BUCKLE

May 28, 2005: Archbishop Palmer-Buckle took canonical possession of the Metropolitan See of Accra.

June 29, 2005: Archbishop Palmer-Buckle received the Sacred Pallium from His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Rome, Italy.

August 13, 2005: Archbishop Emeritus Dominic K Andoh, DD, JCD, bade farewell to the Archdiocese of Accra as its shepherd. At the same Mass, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle outdoored the Sacred Pallium of office, thus concluding the rite of taking canonical possession of the Metropolitan See of Accra.

2008: The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference ceded the management of the Catholic Institute of Business and Technology, Tantra Hills – Accra to the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra.

August 23, 2008: The Second Synod of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra was convoked at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka Accra.

February 15-20, 2009: The Second Synod was celebrated successfully at Sowutuom 35 under the theme,'“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them … teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matt. 28:19-20). “Renewing the Church and Fulfilling our Vocation and Mission in the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra in preparation for its 125th Anniversary.”

March 28, 2010: Bishop Emeritus Oliver Bowers celebrated 100 year birthday. The public celebration took place on Easter Monday, April 5th at the Mother House of HDR at Agomanya with a thanksgiving Mass in the presence of President Nicholas Orville Liverpool of Dominica.

2011: The Catholic Institute of Business and Technology campus was relocated to the Social Advance Institute, Adabraka.

July 2, 2012: The 120th Anniversary of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra was launched at the Holy Spirit Cathedral with the theme: “The Accra Catholic Mission: Honouring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Building the Future”. The slogan was “Arise Catholic faithful! Rejoice and Renew”.

November 6, 2012: Bishop Emeritus Joseph Oliver Bowers passed to eternity, at Agomanya at the ripe age of 102.

November 9, 2012: Bishop Emeritus Joseph Oliver Bowers was buried in the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra.

2012: The Dominican Sisters of Battor Catholic Hospital left Ghana for good after 50 years of pastoral and hospital apostolate.

January 31, 2013: Commemorative Eucharistic Mass celebrated for the 120th Anniversary opposite former C.F.A.O / Multi Stores, location of Chief John Quartey's house. The Principal celebrant was Most Rev. Leon B. Kalenga, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana; Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra was the Homilist.

May 17, 2013: Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Andoh died at the Korle –Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, two weeks after his 84th birthday.

June 6, 2013: Archbishop Emeritus Dominic Andoh was buried in the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Accra.

August 17, 2013: The ordination of 23 priests for SMA, SVD, Spiritans, and Comboni religious Congregations working within the Archdiocese of Accra and a sole candidate for Accra Archdiocese.

November 24, 2013: Thanksgiving Mass to climax 120th Anniversary celebration at Independence Square. This witnessed the double declaration by the Archbishop to mark

36 the end of the Year of Faith and the official preparation for the 125th Anniversary of the Accra Catholic Mission. The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama graced the occasion.

November 27, 2013: As part of the 120th Anniversary Climax, donations were made to the following; the SVD retirement home at McCarthy Hill, “City of God” at Old Fadama, Centre of Hope at Mataheko and Country Side Children's Home at Bawjiase.

December 1, 2013: The Accra Archdiocesan Youth Council organized a drama on the Nativity of the Archdiocese of Accra in all six Deaneries on different dates. The drama was based on the 120th Anniversary them; “Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present and Building the Future”.

May 7, 2014: Joint Ecumenical Service by Christian Council of Ghana and the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference. It was hosted by St. James Parish, Osu.

July 6, 2014: National Thanksgiving Service at the Holy Spirit Cathedral

August 3, 2014: Archbishop Palmer-Buckle Vacation School Opened at Don Bosco Training Institute, Ashiaman.

October 9, 2014: Inauguration of House of St. Francis at Ashaiman, a recovery place for alcoholic and drug addiction. November 4-15, 2014: The Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference was hosted by Accra Archdiocese at the SMA Regional House at Oshiuman, Accra. The opening ceremony was held at St. Slyvanus Catholic Church, Pokuase and the closing ceremony at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

August 7, 2015: Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference hosted Pro-Life Press Conference at Holy Spirit Cathedral.

August 15, 2015: Launch of Living with Christ Monthly Missal.

December 8, 2015: Archbishop Palmer-Buckle launched Year of Mercy.

December 13, 2015: Official Opening of Year of Mercy Door at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.

January 2, 2016: Opening of Jubilee Shrines (Grotto): (a) St Joseph the worker Catholic Church, Tema Comm 8 (b) Christ the King Catholic Church, Cantonments (c) Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church, New Achimota

February 25, 2017: Launching of the “Holy Spirit Cathedral Restoration Project”.

37 March 2- 7 2017: His Eminence Cardinal Giuseppe Bertello arrived in Ghana to join in the 60th Independence Day Celebration. He met the Nuncio, the President, the Vice President and SECAM Standing Committee Members.

The high point of this historic visit was when on behalf of the Catholic Church, he re- consecrated Ghana to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. This was at an Ecumenical and Inter- Faith Prayer Service during the First Lenten Vespers at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka. It was graced by the President H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

May 13, 2017: The Centenary celebration of the apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. This was marked at Our Lady of Fatima Grotto, Christ the King Parish, Cantonments.

September 21, 2017: Launching of 125th Anniversary celebration at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka

December 2, 2017: First Advent Vespers and official opening of 125th Anniversary celebration held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka

January 31, 2018: Jubilee Mass to commemorate the first Holy Mass 125 years ago.

May 11, 2018: Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle was transferred from Accra to Cape Coast.

August 18, 2018: Dedication and commissioning of Labyrinth, a prayer walk way at the Archbishop Andoh Catechetical Centre, Kordiabe. November 7, 2018: Inauguration of Mission Security Limited and the Board of Directors at the Holy Spirit Cathedral

November 21, 2018: Archdiocesan Special Anniversary Awards ceremony for parishioners who have meritoriously served the Church in different capacities.

November 23, 2018: Candle Light Vigils / Processions and Holy Mass in all parishes.

November 25, 2018: Thanksgiving Mass to climax the 125th Anniversary Celebrations at the Black Star Square. The President, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was in attendance.

January 02, 2019: A press conference held at the National Catholic Secretariate by the Secretary General announced the Archbishop-elect, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp.

March 01, 2019: The installation and the taking of Canonical Possession of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra by Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka - Accra.

38 PLANNING COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN Fr. Francis Adoboli

VICE CHAIRMAN Fr. Edmund Donkor-Baine

PROTOCOL & PUBLICITY Fr. Peter Rocky Hesse Fr. Samuel Filton-Mensah Fr. Emmanuel Obeng Codjoe

HEALTH Fr. Samuel Filton-Mensah Dr. Henry Awuviri Mrs. Philomena Tamakloe

SECURITY Fr. Thomas Betuyre Mr. Felix Bayiviella

SOCIAL Fr. Joseph Arthur Fr. Emmanuel Gosu

LOGISTICS Fr. John Benyah Mensah Fr. Andrew Quaye-Foli, SVD Mr. Peter Wireko

LITURGY Fr. Clement Wilson Fr. Anthony Agnes Adu-Mensah Fr. David Arko Amissah Fr. Precious Nutsugah Fr. Michael Apaloo Br. Pius Agyemang, SVD Mrs. Juliana Pwamang Mrs. Lydia Antonio

39 HYMNS

CH 420: CH 48: PRIESTLY PEOPLE, KINGLY MIGHTY FATHER, I BELIEVE PEOPLE 1. Mighty Father, I believe, Antiphon: Lord and maker of all things. Priestly people, Kingly people, Oh yes, Lord, I believe. Holy people, God's chosen people, Sing praise to the Lord. 2. I believe in Jesus Christ. Everlasting Son of God. 1. We sing to you, O Christ Oh yes, Lord, I believe. beloved Son of the Father, We give you praise, O wisdom 3. Equal in the Father’s power. everlasting, and Word of God. And through him all things were made. Oh yes, Lord, I believe. 2. We sing to you, O Son, born of Mary the Virgin, 4. He it is who saved us all. We give you praise, Our Brother And from heaven came down to earth. born to heal us, our saving Lord. Oh yes, Lord, I believe.

3. We sing to you, O brightness 5. Of the Virgin Mary born. Of splendour and glory, By the spirit, Word made flesh We give you praise, O Morning Star, Oh yes, Lord, I believe. Announcing the coming day. 6. Suffered death, was crucified. 4. We sing to you, O light And he rose up from the dead. Bringing men out of darkness, Oh yes, Lord, I believe. We give to you praise, O guiding Light who shows the way to heaven. 7. He ascended into heaven. And his kingdom has no end. 5. We sing to you, O Lamb, Oh yes, Lord, I believe. Put to death for the sinner, We give you praise, O Victim, 8. In the Spirit I believe Immolated for all mankind. Lord and giver of all life. Oh yes, Lord, I believe. 6. We sing to you, The Shepherd. Who leads to the kingdom; 9. With the Father and the Son We give you praise, He’s adored and glorified. Who gather all your sheep Oh yes, Lord, I believe. In the one true fold. 10. I believe in Holy Church. 7. We sing to you, O Lord, And one baptism profess. Whom the Father exalted, Oh yes, Lord, I believe. We give you praise, In glory you are coming. To judge all men. 40 HYMNS

11. I shall see him there in heaven. And by their actions they Living in the world to come. will show their love, Oh yes, Lord, I believe. Guard them on their daily course, Be their strength and guiding force, CH 63: To ever serve the Trinity above. LORD ACCEPT THE GIFTS WE OFFER 3. Take my hands I give them to you Lord, Prepare them for the service 1. Lord accept the gifts we offer of your name, At this Eucharistic feast, Open them to human need, Bread and wine to be transformed, And by their love they'll sow your seed, Through the action of the priest, So all may know the love and Take us too, O Lord, transform us, hope you give, Be your grace in us increase. Take my hands, take my hands O Lord.

2. May our souls be pure and spotless, CH 95: As the host of wheat so fine, JESUS, JESUS, COME TO ME May all stain of sin be crushed out like the grape that forms the wine, 1. Jesus, Jesus, come to me. As we too become partakers How I long and sigh for Thee In this sacrifice divine. You, my true and only Friend, Come and stay unto the end. 3. Take our gifts, Almighty Father, Living God, eternal true 2. Thou, a thousand times I call, Which we give through Christ our Saviour, Jesus thou, my God and all. Pleading here for us anew Ever sighs my soul for thee, Grant salvation to all present, Jesus, Jesus, come to me. And our faith and love renew. 3. Come, then, Jesus, come to me. CH 59: Let me ever live in thee TAKE MY HANDS AND MAKE Come and never more depart; THEM AS YOUR OWN Come and live within my heart.

1. Take my hands and make CH 96: them as your own, JESUS, JESUS, COME TO ME And use them for your kingdom here on earth, 1. Humbly we adore you, Consecrate them to your care, Christ Redeemer King, Anoint them for your service, You are Lord of heaven, Where You may need your You to whom we sing. Gospel to be sown. Christ our God and brother, Hear our humble plea, 2. Take my hands they speak By this holy banquet, now for my heart, Keep us joined to you.

41 HYMNS

2. You have come, God mighty, CH 102: Bearing gifts of grace; THE GOD OF LOVE MY You're the Son of Adam, SHEPHERD Saviour of our race. Christ our God and brother, 1. The God of love my shepherd is, Hear our humble plea, And he that doth me feed: By this holy banquet, While he is mine, and I am his, Keep us joined to you. What can I want or need?

3. Jesus, Lord we thank you 2. He leads me to the tender grass, For this wondrous breead Where I both feed and rest; In our land where you dwell, Then to the streams that gently pass: By you we are fed. In both I have the best. Christ our God and brother, Hear our humble plea, 3. Or if I stray, he doth convert By this holy banquet, And bring my minde in frame: Keep us joined to you. And all this not for my desert, But for his holy name. 4. We who share this mystery In you are made one. 4. Yea, in death's shady black abode Every act we offer, Well may I walk, not fear: In your name is done. For you are with me, and your rod Christ our God and brother, To guide, thy staff to bear. Hear our humble plea, 5. Surely your sweet and wondrous love By this holy banquet, Shall measure all my days; Keep us joined to you. And, as it never shall remove, So neither shall my praise 5. You who died to save us Live on as our light. Though our eyes were blinded, CH 103: Yet our faith gives sight O BREAD OF HEAVEN, BENEATH Christ our God and brother, THIS VEIL Hear our humble plea, By this holy banquet, 1. O bread of heaven, beneath this veil Keep us joined to you. that has my very God concealed; my Jesus, dearest treasure, hail; 6. Make us one in loving, I love you and adoring kneel; One in mind and heart, each loving soul by you is fed from this holy unity, with your own self in form of bread. Let us not depart, Christ our God and brother, 2. O food of life, that you do give Hear our humble plea, the pledge of immortality; By this holy banquet, I live; no, ‘tis not I that live; Keep us joined to you. God gives me life, God lives in me:

42 HYMNS he feeds my soul, he guides my ways, CH 260: and every grief with joy repays. REJOICE! THE LORD IS KING!

3. O bond of love, which does unite 1. Rejoice! The Lord is King! the servant to his living Lord; Your Lord and King adore; could I dare live, and not requite, Mortals, give thanks and sing, such love then death were meet reward: And triumph evermore: I cannot live unless to prove some love for such unmeasur'd love. Refrain: Lift up your heart, Lift up your voice; 4. Belovèd Lord in heaven above, Rejoice, again I say, rejoice. there, Jesus, is awaiting me; to look on you with changeless love, 2. Jesus the Saviour reigns, yes, thus I hope, thus shall it be: The God of truth and love; for how can he deny me heaven When he had purged our stains, who here on earth himself has given? He took his seat above:

3. His Kingdom cannot fail; He rules o'er earth and heaven; The keys of death and hell Are to our Jesus given:

4. He sits at God's right hand, Till all his foes submit, And bow to his command, And fall beneath his feet.

43 44