Farewell Mass for Apostolic Nuncio

Thursday, February 14, 2008 Pg 49 (Daily Graphic)
By Rebecca Kwei
A Farewell Mass has been held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral for the Apostolic Nuncio, Most Rev. George Kocherry.
Most Rev. Kocherry has been assigned to Zimbabwe after working in Ghana for seven years.
In his homily, Most Rev. Lucas Abadamloora, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has called on Catholics to use the opportunity offered by the Lenten season to prepare themselves to receive salvation which comes from Jesus Christ.
He described the Nuncio as someone who came as a missionary and served faithfully and diligently.
He said Most Rev. Kocherry travelled the length and breadth of the country and visited all the 18 archdioceses and dioceses and the Apostolic Prefecture.
During his stay in Ghana, the church received many blessings.
For instance, Ghana had two cardinals in the persons of Peter Appiah Turkson and Peter Dery. Three churches were also elevated to the status of Minor Basilicas. Many priests were honoured with Monsignor by the Pope, and hardworking Catholics also honoured with the Knighthood.
Most Rev. Kocherry took a keen interest in education and helped in the establishment of the first Catholic University College of Ghana, Fiapre, near Sunyani, and also founded the Nuncio’s Scholarship Scheme for needy and intelligent students.
In 2006, Most Rev. Kocherry was honoured by the state when he received the Order of the Volta.
Most Rev. Abadamloora, on behalf of the church in Ghana, wished him well on his new assignment.
In his remarks, Most Rev. Kocherry said he was grateful to the Holy Father for the opportunity to serve the church in Ghana.
“I can proudly say the Catholic Church in Ghana is flourishing; it is growing steadily. Our participation and contribution in the fields of health, education, social and community life is commendable,” he said.
He also expressed appreciation to the bishops for their support and co-operation in all the initiatives he promoted.
Most Rev. Kocherry presented GH¢150,000 to the Nuncio’s Scholarship Fund to help needy and brilliant students.
On behalf of the Bishop’s Conference, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, presented the Nuncio with two gold rings engraved with the ‘Gye Nyame’ symbol.
Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle said the gift was symbolic, because Ghana was a land of gold and that gold also represented the best that one wanted to give, adding “we cherish him as gold”.