Ghanaian Archdiocese Partners with Religious Superiors in Planned “environmental prayer walk” against Illegal Mining
The Catholic Archdiocese of Accra in Ghana is inviting the people of God to take part in a walk against illegal mining in the country, commonly known as Galamsey, to be realized on Friday, October 11 in partnership with the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious – Ghana (CMSR-GH).
In a letter addressed to members of the Clergy, women and men Religious, and the Laity, the Local Ordinary of Accra, Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie, emphasizes the importance of participating in the spiritual initiative dubbed “Environmental prayer walk against Galamsey (illegal mining): Caring for our common home – Laudato Si’”.
“This initiative reflects our civil, communal, and religious commitment to our country and its ecosystem which is being destroyed,” Archbishop Kwofie says in his letter dated Thursday, October 3, the eve of the Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi, the Patron Saint of ecology and composer of the words of the canticle, “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”.
During the planned October 11 Walk to be realized in the streets of Ghana’s capital city, Accra, the Ghanaian Catholic Archbishop says, “we shall engage in a Peaceful Prayer Walk, praying the Rosary which is our weapon against any adversaries.”
“We shall congregate at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka, to pray, go through the principal streets, and end with Holy Mass at Christ the King Grotto, Cantonment. We shall present a petition to the Presidency at the Jubilee House,” he says about the spiritual exercise that will conclude at Christ the King Cantonments Parish of Accra Archdiocese.
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The Ghanaian member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans/Holy Ghost Fathers/CSSp.) directs “all Priests to read this letter and announce this Prayer Walk in all Churches in the Archdiocese on Sunday, October 06, 2024.”
“Each Parish Priest or Priest-in-Charge is expected to bus his parishioners and support this event with bottles of water,” he further directs, and adds, “All Priests, Religious and Lay Faithful are expected to be present to show their commitment to our Country and its environment.”
Archbishop Kwofie goes on to call upon members of the Knights and Ladies Auxiliary of St. John International (KSJI) and those of Knights and Ladies of Marshall “to be present in their uniform and assist in coordination and maintenance of order.”
“May our Blessed Lady, who we beech in earnest prayer in this walk, intercede for our beloved country Ghana,” the Local Ordinary of Accra, who started his Episcopal Ministry in September 2014 as Bishop of Ghana’s Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi implores.
Ghana’s Catholic Bishops have vocal against illegal mining. In their latest collective statement dated September 11, members of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) expressed their deep concern over the pollution of key water bodies and the loss of agricultural land due to illegal mining activities.
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