The Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi on Friday, October 29, 2021 celebrated the 550th Anniversary of the Planting of the Cross on the shores of Shama by the Portuguese.
The celebration climaxed a week long programme of activities which was hosted by the Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Shama at the forecourt of Fort San Sébastien.
In his homily, Most Rev John Baptist Attakruh, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi recounts the history of Christian Faith in Ghana.
He maintained that historians are conclusive on Portuguese landing in Shama in 1471. According to Lamin Sanneh, Professor of “Missions” and world Christianity at Yale Divinity School and Professor of history at Yale University as well, “in 1471, two captains working for a Lisbon merchant, Fernao Gomes, landed at Shama at the coast, where they gained a foothold for Portugal’s seaborne expansion.
The ship came with Catholic Priests on board who planted cross on the shores of Shama.
Bishop Attakruh said even if the early missionary did not do much in Shama during their 9 year-trade relationship with the people of Shama, the presence of the Catholic Priests on board the ship meant they might have celebrated Masses in Shama.
The planting of the Cross was very significant. Bishop Attakruh explained the meaning of the Cross as a sign of God’s love ( cf John 3:16). For the Portuguese to plant the cross on the shores of our land was a sign of love they had for us. They tried to share God’s love with us.
He admonished us to implant the cross in our hearts, houses, homes, and even in our relationship. He emphasized again that a church without love is lukewarm because where there’s love, there’s God.
He said we should not only wear the cross or hang it in our homes, cars, stores and shops but may it remind us of God so as to exude such love in our lives.
We should not serve God grudgingly like the Israelites on the desert but with heart full of love. The cross indeed is a symbol of God’s love for humanity.
In attendance were priests from Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Religious Brothers and Sisters and some indigenous priests and religious from Shama. Rev. Prof Michael Amakyi Csc. ( IEPA, University of Cape Coast), Vry. Rev. Fr. Albert Amakyi ( Spiritual Director St Paul’s Catholic Seminary), Vry. Rev. Fr. Nii Noi Dawuona, ( Parish Priest of St Matthew’s Catholic Church Tarkwa), Rev. Fr. Stephens ( Chaplain Archbishop Porter’s Girls SHS). Also in attendance were Very. Rev. Fr. Joseph Okine Quartey ( Acting Rector of St Paul’s Catholic Seminary, Accra), Rev. Msgr. Jim Austin, Rev. Msgr. James Margaret Mesu and Very Rev. Fr. Samuel Ebuley Afful ( Parochial Administrator of Our Lady of Assumption Parish, Shama).
