Shared by Kwatemba Agripina, Novice
On Christmas Eve Tuesday, December 24th 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica, marking the official launch of the Jubilee year 2025, a historic event that takes place every 25 years in the Catholic Church. This year’s theme being: “Pilgrims of Hope,” The Pope invited all bishops to launch this year of Jubilee in their various dioceses.
Here in Ghana consecrated men and women, from all the Arch/Dioceses and Vicariate of Ghana, gathered in Sunyani, Bono Region, to celebrate the Jubilee year 2025 under the theme
“Pilgrims of Hope, a time to renew the face of the earth as consecrated persons.”
From 30th January to 2nd February 2025, with more than 500 consecrated men and women from 80 different congregations, it was a time of prayer, listening to the Spirit and to one another and discerning the will of God for us consecrated men and women in this Jubilee year. I had the opportunity to participate at this historic event together with Sr. Agatha and Sr. Anafrida.
The launching of the Jubilee year was opened by the Bishop of Sunyani and president of Ghana conference of bishops Most Rev Matthew K. Gyamfi, with the Most Rev John Alphonse Asiedu S.V.D. bishop of Donkokron and Apostolic responsible for consecrated life, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp., the Most Rev Emmanuel Kofi Fianu SVD bishop of Ho, and the Most Rev. Gabriel Kumordji, bishop of Keta-Akatsi.
Other invited guests were Representatives from the Environmental Agency, from the National Laity Council, from the Imam and the Sunyani Traditional Council. They shared with us their messages of good will. I was touched by the message from the representative of the Imam who said that we are called to interfaith unity, love, service that transcend religious boundaries, and must unite our collaborative efforts in fostering peace and understanding. A very powerful message from a Muslim!
From the opening remarks of the Bishop of Sunyani:
First and foremost, he thanked all the religious for their commitment and the services they render to the church, especially those in his diocese, and the hope the religious persons give in their various apostolates. He reminded us that this jubilee year is a time of renewal of our shared mission.
He continued by saying that we are called to inject hope into the life of others especially those who are poor in all spheres and bring about justice and equality, by being beacons of hope in our life; and especially in prayer, to commit ourselves to the gospel values. Our life has to be a living testament in transforming our world. He said,
“This Jubilee Year calls us to contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire.”
The bishop ended his remarks by inviting all those religious congregations who are not in his diocese to think of opening communities in Sunyani diocese to continue giving hope to the people.
The Most Rev John Alphonse Asiedu S.V.D. also had a message for us. He begun by calling upon each one of us during this Jubilee year to be faithful and coherent in our life. It is a time to recover lost hope, to renew hope in our hearts and in the world.
To do this he urged us to read the signs of hope and to collaborate in our mission with our lay brothers and sisters. To bring about this we are called to be pilgrims rediscovering the values of silence in order to discover the essence of this Jubilee Year.
The bishop challenged us by saying that we are called to discover hope beyond the evil that surrounds us every day, the need for peace, reconciliation, to be tangible signs of hope to the elderly, the sick, the marginalized, the migrants and the poor.
He also invited us to look at how we exercise power in our apostolates, and fight against corruption, abuses and mismanaging of funds. He added that there is lack of faith, trust, respect for God; and secularization is taking over our life and our communities.
“May God send us the Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth” he concluded.
We also had various speakers giving us their understanding of this Jubilee Year. Not forgetting, we had a lay woman sharing with us her perspective on the role of consecrated persons in the church and the society. She appreciated very much the work done by the religious; however, she challenged religious men and women to take care of the young people in formation by providing them with the basic needs.
Link to an article in the Ghanaian press
Link to a PDF with the Resolutions pledged by the consacreted persons in Ghana
