Catholic Archdiocese of Accra Holds Carnival and Cultural Display at El Wak

The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra at the weekend held a Carnival and Cultural Display at the El Wak Sports Stadium in Accra to celebrate its cultural diversity and unity in Christ Jesus.

The Carnival and Cultural Display, which forms part of activities marking its 125th Anniversary, saw spectacular performances from the various ethnic groups in the 10 regions of the country and from the St. Francis Nigerian Community in Ghana.

Most Reverend Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, the Accra Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Church, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the carnival and cultural display was to demonstrate that the members were one people in spite of cultural diversity and called on the members to emphasise unity in diversity.

He said: ‘’very often people turn to want to play upon ethnic differences, ethnic differences should enrich us and not to divide us, they should bring us to put everything together and be culturally cosmopolitan.

‘’Accra is cosmopolitan; you cannot be in Accra in the Catholic Church without being cosmopolitan open to all other tribes and cultures.

‘’When you go to Kumasi, the whole liturgy is in Twi, When you go to Cape Coast, the whole liturgy is in Fante, When you go to Ho, the whole liturgy is in Ewe but in Accra there are all tribes and cultures which makes Accra unique’’, he said.

Most Reverend Palmer-Buckle called on catholic faithful to renew their commitment to the evangelisation and the spirit of fellowship and communion.

The event also witnessed acrobatic and masquerade performances amidst brass band music to the admiration of the church members.

The church members engaged in football and volley ball competition, tug of peace whiles children also participated in horseback riding, bouncing castles, face painting and song ministration.

The year-long celebration which started from Saturday December 2, 2017 to Sunday November 25 2018 is under the theme: ‘’125 Years of Catholic Mission in Accra: Renewing Our Commitment to Evangelism’’.

The slogan for the anniversary is: ‘’Arise Catholic Faithful, Rejoice and Renew’’.

Archbishop Palmer-Buckle highlighted some activities lined-up for the celebration, which include; his Episcopal Silver Jubilee on January 6, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Candle light procession.

Other activities are: children’s week, health awareness, blood donation and public lectures.

He said the year-long celebration would be climaxed with a Holy Mass at the Black Star Square on Sunday November 25, 2018.

The Catholic Church in Accra began with the first Holy Mass on January 31, 1893, by Reverend Fathers Otto Hilberer and Eugene Raes, two priests of the Society of African Missions who were sent from the Elmina Mission that had started in 1880.

Source: GNA