Four Parishes celebrate Corpus Christi together in Bolgatanga

Corpus Christi is a feast celebrated by the Catholic Church every year for the solemnity of the holy Eucharist.

It is characterized by the exposition of the Holy Eucharist through the principal street. Four parishes namely; the St. Martin de Porres Church, Zuarungu, Our Lady Queen of Africa Parish, Bolga-Tendama, St Joseph Parish, Soe and Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish took part in this year’s celebration.

The occasion was characterized with a procession through the principal street of Bolgatanga amidst drumming, singing and dancing.

According to the Assistant Parish Priest, Father Samuel Atinga, Corpus Christi is a feast in which the church publicly expresses her faith in the real presence of Christ in the celebration, the joy in the institution of the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

Father Atinga added that, this year’s celebration was unique because it coincides with the 4th National Eucharistic Congress scheduled to be held in Jasikan in August.

He however underscored the need for the said Parishes to come together for the celebration. It was preceded by a candle light processing through the streets of Bolgatanga.

In his sermon, the Bishop of the Navrongo – Bolgatanga Diocese, Most Rev Bishop Alfred Agyenta reiterated Pope John Paul II’s call that the church was gradually losing enthusiasm, that her people were no longer showing much interest and were leaving the church.

He added that the Holy Father calls for renewal and refining our methods in practicing our catholic faith. Bishop Agyenta emphasized that the situation required a new evangelization as captured in this year’s theme by the Catholic Bishops Conference for the National Eucharistic Congress.

The institution of Corpus Christi as a feast in the Christian calendar resulted from approximately forty years of work on the part of Juliana of Liege, a 13thcentury Norbertine canoness.

Born in 1191 in Liege, Belgium, a city where there were groups of women dedicated to the Eucharistic worship.

In 1208, Juliana reported her first vision of Christ in which she was instructed to plead for the institution of the feast of Corpus Christi.

In 1246, Bishop Robert ordered a celebration of Corpus Christi to be held in the dioceses each year. As we all pray for the re-awakening of the new evangelization, Ghana today wishes all Catholic faithful a very successful 4th National Eucharistic Congress.