Preparations
are far advanced for a national re-consecration of Ghana to the Sacred
Heart of Jesus by the Catholic Church in that country.The Holy Father, Pope Francis has appointed Giuseppe Cardinal Bertello, President of the Governatorate of Vatican City State as his special envoy to celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Ghana and the Holy See as well as the 60th Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Ghana.
According to Ghana’s weekly ‘Catholic Standard’ newspaper, the re-consecration of Ghana to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be part of the spiritual contribution of the Church to the milestone celebrations.
The celebrations and re-consecration are scheduled to take place in the capital Accra on Saturday, 4 March 2017.
The re-consecration will comprise an ecumenical and inter-faith Prayer Service.
In attendance will be the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Jean-Marie Speich; the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Philip Naameh and other Bishops.
Leaders of other religious bodies and Government authorities will also participate in the ceremony.
Ghana was first consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus during Mass on 3 March 1957 at the Holy Spirit Cathedral of Accra. This was as a prelude to Ghana’s independence that was celebrated on 6 March 1957.
After the re-consecration ceremony on Saturday 3 March 2017, a Thanksgiving Holy Mass will be celebrated to mark the 40th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Ghana and the Holy See as well as the 60th Anniversary of Independence.
This will be at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Accra.