Religious Groups in Donkorkrom Vicariate Lead Campaign Against Plastic Pollution

As part of the celebrations marking the Jubilee Year of the Consecrated Persons, the Religious of Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate in the Afram Plains of Eastern Ghana have come together at the Convent of the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS) in Kwesi Fante to launch a campaign against plastic pollution in the local community. The initiative, which focuses on raising awareness about environmental care, involved the religious congregations coming together to clean up the village by collecting plastics littered along the streets, homes, and market centers. They also took the opportunity to educate villagers, encouraging them to adopt cleaner habits and be more mindful of their environmental impact by refraining from dumping plastics on the ground.

The day’s activities culminated in a solemn Holy Mass at the SSpS Chapel, presided over by Rev. Fr. Vincent Amuzu Asafo, SVD, the Bishop Secretary and Assistant Cathedral Administrator of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Donkorkrom. In his homily, Fr. Amuzu drew inspiration from the Gospel passage about Zacchaeus’ encounter with Jesus (Luke 19:1-10). He urged the religious to learn from Zacchaeus’ example by striving to transform their lives after meeting Christ, saying, “When we meet Jesus, there will be something different that would definitely happen to us.”

Fr. Amuzu further challenged the religious by asking thought-provoking questions: “How much do we put into trying to make our communities vibrant again? How much do we invest in making our apostolates interesting again?” He pointed out that Zacchaeus did everything possible to meet Jesus, overcoming obstacles such as his short stature and the crowd, and after encountering Christ, he underwent a transformative change. The transformation Zacchaeus experienced, Fr. Amuzu emphasized, led him to seek restitution in his life and to make amends. The priest encouraged the religious to embrace such transformation, reminding them that it must transcend beyond themselves and have a positive impact on their communities.

As the religious participants reflected on their own transformation, Fr. Amuzu prayed that God would bless their efforts to spread the message of environmental care. “We went to sow the seed; the seed of taking care of the earth in the hearts of people. We ask the Lord to bless it so that it will bear fruit, and our Earth will be respected,” he said.

Rev. Fr. Bernard Adjei Appiah, SVD, President of the African Religious Union, Ghana (ARUG), and Cathedral Administrator of St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Donkorkrom, spoke about the significance of the gathering. He explained that the religious were gathered not only to celebrate the Jubilee Year but also to raise awareness about the growing issue of plastic waste, which is increasingly threatening human health and the environment. He expressed concern that plastic waste has become pervasive and noted that “God is not happy,” urging the religious to take action and care for the earth as God has commanded.

Fr. Adjei emphasized that caring for the environment is a fundamental responsibility of the religious, as a clean environment is essential for the propagation of the gospel and for the well-being of the people. He said, “If the environment is clean, you will be able to propagate the gospel; if the environment is clean and you are a teacher, your children will be healthy enough to come to school.” He stressed that living in harmony with the environment leads to healthier lives and interactions. “We have to befriend the environment so that we will live healthily,” he concluded.

This event on November 19, 2024, marked the third initiative organized by the Religious of Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate as part of the Jubilee Year celebrations. The first event was a Candle-Light Procession held on June 15, followed by a webinar on spiritual counseling related to the issue of illegal mining, also known as “Galamsey.” At the national level, the Jubilee Year celebrations were launched with a solemn Mass on May 1, 2024, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Accra, led by Bishop Anthony Narh Asare, Auxiliary Bishop of Accra, under the theme “Be Friend to the Earth, a Creation that God has given to us.”

Fr. Adjei also shared details of the symbols presented during the national launch, including a representation of water to highlight the pollution of water bodies, a rock symbolizing minerals that are being destroyed, and a tree to remind everyone of the importance of planting trees and preventing deforestation. An animal symbol was also presented to emphasize that the earth is not solely for humans but is shared with all of God’s creatures.

Looking ahead, Fr. Adjei announced that the final Jubilee Year celebration would take place in Sunyani Diocese from January 31 to February 2, 2025, under the theme “Pilgrims of Hope, Renew the Face of the Earth,” which aligns with the worldwide theme “Pilgrims of Hope, with Peace.” He also called on both Christians and Muslims, who together make up a majority of Ghana’s population, to take responsibility for caring for the earth as a shared gift from God. By doing so, he argued, they could contribute to a peaceful world.

Fr. Adjei concluded his remarks by encouraging the religious to make environmental care a priority, especially in relation to plastic waste. He urged them to take practical steps, such as planting trees and promoting cleanliness wherever they are, particularly in the Afram Plains region.

The campaign was well-received, with religious participants from five different congregations within the vicariate, including the Missionary Sisters, Servants of the Holy Spirit (SSpS), Divine Word Missionaries (SVDs), Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC), Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR), and the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR), all actively participating. The event also saw the involvement of Rev. Fr. John Armah Koufie from St. Joseph Parish, Maame Krobo, and several children from the village who joined in the cleanup efforts.

The planning and coordination of the mini celebration were led by Sr. Cecilia Kudexa, SMMC, with Sr. Stella Nwosu, MSHR, who was unavoidably absent. The event served as a powerful reminder of the importance of environmental stewardship and the role religious communities can play in promoting sustainable practices.