Rev. Fr. Formedza John Felix Awaitey Jnr. of the Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom, has urged the faithful to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary in persevering in their prayer life.
“Our Mother Mary”, he said, never gave up in her journey of faith; hence, Christians and for that matter, Catholics, must not give up in their faith journey.
He made this known during the Thanksgiving Mass of the 2025 Assumption Celebration of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Bonkrom Grotto in the Vicariate.
The three-day programme was on the theme “Pilgrims of Hope; Behold your Mother of Hope”. And was participated in by all eight (8) parishes in the Vicariate.
In his homily, Fr. Awaitey Jnr, who represented the Bishop at the celebration, indicated that through the birth of Christ through Mary, we have also been allowed to become children of God. Hence, her role in salvation history cannot be underestimated. Just as she brought Christ to the world, we must also bring Christ to others.
He continued that Mary didn’t contaminate her virginity, a gift she received from God; therefore, we must also safeguard our God- given gifts and talents. As the New Eve, she didn’t disobey as the Old Eve did but accepted the will of God entirely in her life. We must also allow the will of God to be done in our lives.
Mary indicated that all generations would call her blessed (Lk 1:48). Therefore, all people are to honour her as the mother of our Saviour.
Muslims, according to Fr. Awaitey, give a lot of respect to the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is evident in their Holy Book, and not to talk about Christians.
He bemoaned the situation where some sections of Christians only considered her as an envelope, that is, the carrier of the Saviour. Meaning there is no need to give her any due respect as the Mother of our Saviour.
Fr. Awaitey also mentioned that to follow the laws of God warrants his blessings, which was very evident in the life of Mary. Mary loves and cares for all without any discrimination, hence “we should continue to trust in her maternal intercession without any reservations.”
He, therefore, entreated the pilgrims never to be afraid or disturbed in the face of challenges in life.
The celebration of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a call to holiness. We don’t have to allow life situations to drive us away from God. Sometimes we give up because of our little faith in him. He invited the pilgrims to always trust in God but not in men. Because it is better to trust in God than to trust in men.
He also encouraged them to serve God faithfully by changing their way of thinking and behaviour. He stressed the point that the church and the country need our faithfulness, not to be corrupt in our practices.
In conclusion, he invoked God’s blessings upon their lives, stressing that their pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine will never be in vain.
Other activities of the celebration included rosary processions through the Bonkrom town, talks, confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, and fundraising.
Also present were priests and religious, the chief and elders of Bonkrom, the District Chief Executive of the Kwahu Afram Plains South District, the Christian Mothers’ Association, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Association and other groups in the church.
By Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo (AVD-DEPSOCOM)
