On the 25th of March each year, the Catholic church celebrates the solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord.
This great feast takes it’s name from the good news announced by angel Gabriel to the Blessed Virgin Mary concerning the incarnation of the son of God.
Grotto is a secret place where people go to seek for God’s blessings and also a place where christian faithfuls go to with the believe that they have spoken to God.
Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier’s 12th anniversary as Bishop for Damongo concided with the 10th Anniversary of the grotto at Sonyo in the Bole District of the Damongo Diocese was launched by Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier who showed gratitude to God for calling him to the service of leadership despite his limitations and inadequacies.
“I want to thank him for mercy and faithfulness in these past twelve years: for he has done for me and through my ministry to the glory of his name”.
“Let us thank God for his faithfulness and for calling us, unique individuals to form a communion of love, a family to spread his message of salvation. God knows the unique contribution we can make to fullfil his plan of salvation”.
The Bishop noted that the feast gives three important messages to christians; God is with us let us rejoice and be grateful, do not be afraid and with God as our strength we can do all things.
He admonished faithfuls to always begin everything with God and end with God, citing Mary who began with God and ended with God. “The attitude of Mary in her dialogue with the angel teaches us to start everything with God, trusting that in this way everything else will be given to us”.
“Our lady teaches us and invites us to go to the source of true success, the Lord himself, who is the ultimate remedy against our fears, insecurities and emptiness in life”.
He further encouraged christians not to be afraid of challenges, for God reassures everyone not to be afraid.
“Whatever uncertainties, struggles, challenges and worries, you are in your commitment as christians, priests, religious and as a family, community and a Diocese.
God reassures us not to be afraid. You should note your frailties, suffering and struggles inside yourself”.
“In these days of hard living conditions and economic crisis in our country, and ethnic tension in our communities and conflicts in some parts of our dear nation, there is certainly a lot of suffering and this is making us fearful and anxious. We experience our helplessness and inadequacy, we need to hear God speaking; “do not be afraid”.
Therefore asking everyone to profit from all the opportunities offered in this holy season of grace and strive to be closed to God.
The Bishop also thanked christian faithfuls in the Diocese for the support and help given to him to facilitate his ministry.
He also acknowledged his mistakes and ask for forgiveness, “I am aware that i made mistakes and did not fulfill the expectations of some. For all that I did which didn’t promote the growth of the gospel I ask for forgiveness”.
The Vicar General of the Diocese, Very Rev. Fr. Martin Muosayir on behalf of Bishop Peter Paul duely launched the 10th anniversary of Our Lady of the Annunciation Grotto and said the launch is to help the Diocese construct a befitting seating place at the Grotto as it is the place where people who can not go to Israel, Rome and many other holy places outside the country can visit to have encounter with God, make their promises, give testimonies, have their healings and more hence the need to create a comfortable seating place and shade for faithful.
He said that the climax of the launch is October 2023 when they will revisit the grotto to climax everything.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Edwin Gogu/0555588660
