Family Rosary International
WEST AFRICA (GHANA AND SIERRA LEONE)
A two-day festival officially closes the Year of the Rosary
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Country Demographics/Culture
The religious statistics of Ghana are as follows: 62% Christian (15% Roman Catholic), 15% Muslim, 22% indigenous or nonbelievers. The religious statistics for Sierra Leone are as follows: 60% Muslim, 30% indigenous and 10% Christian.
History of Ministry in Country
Those from Ghana have experienced hardships for centuries, and today nearly 32 percent of the population lives below poverty level. “Regardless,” says Brother Michael Awakyi, CSC, who directs the work of Holy Cross Family Ministries, “Their joy for life is evident in all they do.”
The maternal mortality ratio is the worst of any country in the world. Despite the many challenges Ghanaians and Sierra Leoneans face, Christianity, while relatively young, shows continuous increases.
Ministry Today
The Family Rosary International office in Cape Coast, Ghana, West Africa, was launched with an exciting celebration in 2004: a two-day festival to officially close the Year of the Rosary. Thousands of people gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady, Star of the Sea for the festival. It began with a candlelight procession through the area with brass bands, and ended at the Cathedral in Takoradi, with groups praying the Rosary as they walked.
When they arrived from the candlelight walk, all began to recite and sing the Rosary, along with benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The following morning, a large crowd gathered at the Cathedral. The procession went through the streets, leading to a large football park. The Bishop and all the priests of the diocese attended the Eucharistic Celebration in honor of our Blessed Mother, with drumming and dancing throughout. Later that evening, hundreds of villagers from Ketan and Butumagyebu joined in praying the Rosary with candlelight, song, drums, and dance.
The office in Sierra Leone opened in 2004. Fr. Michael Selenga Bassie is the Spiritual Advisor and Charles Fredrick Osondu is the Director.
“We have succeeded in creating awareness in the community,” said Brother Michael. “Our next step is to organize programs for families.” Throughout all his years conducting Rosary rallies around the world, there weren’t many countries that Father Patrick Peyton did not travel to, but Ghana is one of them. But it is evident that Father Peyton’s impact from years past continues even in countries he never visited.