14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Diocese of Goasi – Ghana, Africa
At left is the Coat-of-Arms for the Most Reverend Peter Kwaku Atuahene, bishop of the diocese of Goasi, Ghana. These medieval marks of heraldry can be very interesting curiosities for us Americans. (Yes, even modern American Bishops have a coat-of-arms, as does our Archdiocese). When I saw this on their webpage, I was intrigued; and with the explanation even more so! The upper left is the Lamb of God. The upper right is the Dove of the Holy Spirit, and the lower right are scales of justice. Typical enough symbols for the Church & a bishop. But the lower left (shown in the box) grabbed my attention. The image doesn’t quite do it justice. It is: Two Crocodiles with one stomach! That’s not something you would see in the USA! And what does such a ‘mythical beast’ represent? Why is it on the good bishop’s coat-of-arms? Two Crocodiles with one stomach will fight for food, but the food goes to one stomach; so there is the need for unity. How true! And what a very different way of thinking of things. A way, we would never experience without exposure to the wider Church throughout the World. It is the same Gospel everywhere, but the Gospel is explained in very local ways!
Holy Family is hosting Rev. Fr Benjamin Asibuo Kusi this weekend to make our second summer Mission Appeal through the ArchIndy Mission Office for his home Diocese of Goasi, Ghana, Africa. He will share with you many of the beautiful ways the Gospel is being spread and the Kingdom of God is being built among the people there. There appears to be much life there! They have 81 priests serving in their diocese and another 21 serving in the Church throughout the world, especially here in the USA. In addition, there are more than 80 religious sisters, brothers, and priests ministering there. Those are impressive numbers by any measure, but when you realize that the diocese is only 28 years old! The Catholic Diocese of Goaso is the sixteenth diocese in Ghana. It was created by Pope St John Paul II in October 1997. Education is an important and vital ministry of the Diocese. The Diocese has 75 Kindergartens, 76 Basic Schools (1st – 6th grade), 59 Junior High Schools, one Girls’ Senior High School (OLA) at Kenyasi, St. Joseph’s College of Education at Bechem, and St. John of God College of Health, Duayaw Nkwanta. The Catholic Diocese of Goasi also takes an active role in the health of the people by operationg many health institutions including St. Elizabeth Hospital, St. John of God Hospital, St. John’s Health Centre, St. Edward’s Hospital, Holy Spirit Clinic, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Clinic, St. Peter’s Clinic, and St. Raphael Clinic. The parishes & diocese are enriched by the pious support of numerous lay organizations for prayer, service, & evangelization. And of course, all this is secondary to the primary mission of spreading the Gospel, celebrating the Sacraments, and worshiping God in the Liturgy of the Mass.
There will be as second collection this weekend. The Church is vibrant and growing in Ghana Africa. While there are real threats and challenges, Christ is alive and the Church is expanding. What the folks of Ghana may lack in material resources, they more than make up for in spiritual riches. Please be generous with them to support the missionary work of the Gospel among the People of God in Ghana with your financial contribution.
We are all part of the same saving Church with the one Savior Christ. It isn’t just wrong, but foolish for the Church to fight against itself – like a two headed crocodile, when all grace benefits the same ‘stomach’ for the same end – Salvation & Eternal Life! As part of the Church in the USA, let us, who have much, help feed the one ‘stomach’ of the Church, especially where there is less materially, like in the Diocese of Goasi, Ghana.
Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.
Holy Family, Building the Kingdom around the World, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries
