Catholics have abandoned holy hour for alpha hour – Bishop Narh Asare

Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, Most Rev. Anthony Narh Asare has said many Catholics are leaving the traditions of the Church for practices that are imitations of what the Catholic Church has been practicing for years.

Bishop Asare pointed out that many radio pastors now mirror the Catholic Church’s practices to the extent of even adopting the same readings used in Catholic liturgy on Sundays. “Listen to some of the radio pastors. Every Sunday, they use the readings we use. When they started their churches, they were using themes. If you are using themes, after three or four Sundays, you are finished. So now they are copying and going for our readings,” he said.

Speaking at a gathering of JHS and SHS graduates in the Archdiocese at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, Legon, on October 21, the Bishop went on to draw attention to the introduction of “Alpha hour,” which mirrors the Catholic tradition of the Holy Hour.

He highlighted that designated times for praying the Angelus among others are now being introduced by others as if they were novel concepts.

“They are copying us. We have Holy hour, now they have created Alpha hour and Catholics are behaving as if they have not heard it before. We tell you, 6am, 12noon, 6pm they are hours to pray the Angelus. Now they are introducing it as if it’s something new. They are copying us so don’t allow the copy to replace the original,” Bishop Asare said.

Source: Catholic Trends

TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Is. 25:6-10

Psalm 23

Phil. 4:12-14, 19-20

Matt. 22:1-14

Theme: GOD'S INVITATION

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

God's invitation to us is an invitation to a Royal Wedding Banquet. A royal wedding banquet is the celebratory days after the marriage ceremony of a member of the royal family. It is a period of relaxation and joyous celebration where everything, from food to entertainment even to clothes, is provided for by the host, who is usually the king. The invited only have to turn out and celebrate.

For a typical Jew, It is a privilege to be invited to such an event. It is a cause to be provided for, well-fed, and entertained. The invited are only expected to honour the invitation and turn out well-dressed in the appropriate regalia for a celebration and a treat of a lifetime.

This is exactly what God's invitation entails for all of us. God's invitation is an invitation to a royal treatment. He invites us to a life of relaxation, joy, and satisfaction. A life in which He provides all we need, and we just have to respond in the affirmative and turn out for. 

Beloved, God desires for us a simple, uncomplicated life in His presence. It is to this that He invites us. Will you honour the invitation?

PRAYER

Lord, may I come to appreciate the joy and provision that lies in Your invitation to me and, by Your grace, respond appropriately. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, October 15, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

TWENTY-SEVEN SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Is. 5:1-7

Psalm 80

Phil. 4:6-9

Matt. 21:33-43

Theme: INVESTMENT RETURNS

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Our First Reading and the Gospel for today made mention of vineyards. In the First Reading, what started as a love song ended in an allegory in which God expressed His disappointment in His beloved and cherished vineyard that enjoyed all the necessary attention but failed to produce good fruit. 

The image of a vineyard is a predominant biblical image because of the characteristics of the grapevine (the vine). 

A grapevine is a delicate and complicated plant. Its cultivation requires a great deal of care and attention from the farmer. A grapevine can either bear good fruit or wild grapes depending on the style of cultivation. A vine that grows in the wilderness without proper cultivation bears wild grapes. Anything short of good soil, protection, constant attention, and pruning will turn an otherwise good vine into a wild grapevine. However, with  all the necessary protection, care, and cultivation, a vineyard has no choice but to bear good fruit. 

Beloved in Christ, a Christian is a grapevine in a cultivated vineyard that has and continues to enjoy first-class care from God, the Master Farmer. With all the care and protection that has been given to us, we can not but bear good fruit. Some fruits, especially wild sour grapes, are just not acceptable from us. A grapevine in a vineyard can bear good fruits in varied sizes and quantities, but to bear a wild and bitter grape is simply unacceptable. 

The distinction is clear. We have received far too much care and attention to find ourselves bearing wild, stinking, and somehow poisonous fruits in this life. Reflect on all the good things that you have received from God and determine whether you are proud of the kind of fruit you presently are bearing.

PRAYER

Lord, you have invested so much care and attention in me, and you deserve a good fruit in return. But my ungrateful nature has produced wild grapes instead. Forgive me and in your mercy continue to take care of this vine, and protect what your right hand has planted. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, October 8, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

TWENTY-SIX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Ezekiel 18:25-28

Psalm 25

Phil. 2:1-11

Matt. 21:28-32

Theme: AN EMPTY YES

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Our society today is full of pain and disappointment. Man's ability to spew empty affirmations and promises continues to hurt him and those around him.

A lot of the pain and anxiety of our society today is caused by our ability to look at ourselves and our fellow brothers and sisters in the eye and say 'yes' to them, when we in fact, know very well that our 'yes' meant nothing at all.

Families: men, women, and children are suffering today because married couples stood before the altar of God and said empty 'yeses' to each other. The church of God is suffering today and struggling to maintain its authenticity sadly because it is full of Christians whose yes to God is totally empty.

The Chief Priests and the elders of the people were unanimous in their disapproval of the behavior of the second son in today's Gospel reading because he acted dishonorably. He said yes to his father but did not act accordingly. His action was empty and without substance. 

Beloved, an empty 'yes' is far worse than a lie or an outright no. It is a betrayal and a dishonorable thing. 

Christians are supposed to be honorable people whose 'yes' to God and fellow men means just what it is - YES.

PRAYER

Merciful Father, for the many times that my yes to you has been utterly empty and without a substance, I am honestly sorry and ashamed. I ask for your grace and courage to always say Yes to You. Amen. 

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, October 1, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.