The Rev. Fr. Bernard Kwabena Amfo, an Associate Priest of the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Maame Krobo in Ghana’s Donkorkrom Vicariate, has admonished the Missionary Childhood Pilgrims at the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, to open their hearts to Jesus.

He made this known on June 28, 2025, during the Eucharistic celebration to climax the one-day Pilgrimage to the St. Francis Xavier Cathedral, Donkorkrom, by the Missionary Childhood from the St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Maame Krobo.

In his homily, he encouraged the pilgrims to free their hearts of all forms of hurts and forgive those who have offended them in one way or another as an example of following the Blessed Virgin Mary.

They are to come to the feet of Jesus always for his mercy, since the Lord never gives up looking for us all the time.

In receiving the pilgrims to the Cathedral on behalf of the Cathedral Administrator, Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo, an Associate Priest at the Cathedral, led the pilgrims to familiarise themselves with the Cathedral vicinity.

He gave the history of the Cathedral Parish, the history of the building of the Cathedral, which was begun by the former Apostolic Vicar and now the Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD.

He indicated that various individuals and groups have contributed a lot to the current state of the Cathedral, which is still yet to be completed.

He called on all and sundry to bring their contributions on board to help put up a befitting edifice for the Vicariate.
He also led the pilgrims to walk through the Holy Door as part of their participation in the Jubilee 2025.

In his exhortation about the Jubilee, Fr. Matthew entreated the pilgrims to allow the power of forgiveness, reconciliation, and revival to characterise their Jubilee celebration.

These, he said, were the pillars of the Jubilee Celebration. The pilgrims are to mature in their union with God and their neighbour, and to revive the love and spirit of God in their lives.

The Holy Door, he said, is a symbol of the heart of God, hence God inviting his people to himself.

He hoped that the pilgrims would experience the power of transformation in their lives through this pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage began with Rosary Prayers at the statue of the Rev. Fr. Alfons Merten, SVD, who was very instrumental in the establishment of the Catholic Church in Donkorkrom and highly revered by the local people.

In all, there were 140 pilgrims from four stations of the Maame Krobo Parish.

Also present were some sisters of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) from Mother Josepha’s Convent, Kwasi Fante.

The pilgrims were led by Rev. Frs. John Armah Koufie and Bernard Kwabena Amfo all from the Maame Krobo Parish.

By Rev. Fr. Matthew Akakpo (AVD-DEPSOCOM)