By Justina Paaga
Takoradi Dec.30, GNA – Most Reverend John Baptist Attakruh, Bishop of the Sekondi-Takoradi Catholic Diocese, has marked the feast of Holy Family with the launch of ordinary Jubilee year 2025, at the Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Cathedral in Takoradi.
The Lauch which was simultaneously done at the St Paul Pro-cathedral in Sekondi is the global theme,” Pilgrims of Hope” and the diocesan Theme “Journeying with Mary as Pilgrams of Hope”.
Jubilee years are celebrated every 25 years by the Church.
The launch was heralded by a procession of Parishioners of the Cathedral to the main entrance of the cathedral, where a prayer was said by the bishop after which he opened the main door signifying “Heaven gate”, through which all the parishioners entered the church.
The jubilee year sought to rekindle hope and trust in the future, encouraging Catholics to deepen their faith through acts of charity, penance and pilgrimages.
It also calls on Catholics to reflect on their roles as pilgrims, journeying together towards a renewed commitment.
In the next 12 months all catholic faithful are expected to embark on pilgrimages to cathedrals, Pro-cathedrals, grottos and other designated prayer centres to pray with their families and friends.
In a sermon, Bishop Attakruh urged the parishioners to enter the new year with hope, peace and love and to be at the service of their neighbours.
He called on families to be committed and prayerful in the new year and endeavour to find time as a family to embark on a pilgrimage to either our Lady of Fatima grotto at Nawule or Our Lady of Loudes grotto at Eygam both in the diocese.
He said families should not look for a perfect family because they will not find it, they should rather work towards making a holy family, adding that there was no family on earth that did not have issues.
Bishop Attakruh told the parishioners not to use the yuletide for only merry making but to reflect on the love of God and humility of Jesus Christ who came so save mankind.
He used the occasion to launch the 80th anniversary of the Our Lady of Loudes Grotto at Eygam in the Ahanta West Municipality.
The Our of Loudes Grotto, founded in September 1945, is said to be the oldest grotto in West Africa.
GNA