His Excellency Julien Kabore, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, in West Africa, presided at the Mass to climax the Regional Conference of Major Superiors of West Africa (RECOMSWA) and the Africa Religious Union of Ghana (ARUG), held at the Christian village – Santasi, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region of Ghana from March 12 to 15, 2026.
The March 15, 2026 Sunday Mass celebrated at the St. Peter’s Cathedral Basilica, Kumasi was concelebrated by the Most Rev. John Kobina Louis, an Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Accra and Episcopal Chair for Clergy and Consecrate Life, Ghana, Most Rev. Peter Kwasi Sarpong, Emeritus Archbishop of Kumasi, Rev. Fr. Paul Saa-Dade Ennim, SMA, President of RECOMSWA and Rev. Fr. Vincent de Paul Boro, Deputy Secretary General of RECOMSWA, among others.
At the beginning of his homily, the Apostolic Nuncio touched on three ‘great’ Baptismal signs: water, light and life, featured in the Gospels of the previous, current and coming Sundays, respectively. These, he maintained, are signs through which Christians enter into the life of Christ to begin the faith journey.
Dwelling on the Gospel for the day – fourth Sunday of Lent, (John 9:1-4), on Jesus’ healing of the man born blind, Archbishop Kabore called on all present to meditate on three figures: Jesus, the man who was born blind and then all the witnesses to the cure, “including ourselves who are called to move from darkness into the light of Christ”.
Reflecting on the person of Jesus, the homilist underpinned that all must recognize and acclaim him as the Son of God and the Light of the world, who was able to restore in the blind man, not just his physical sight, but also rekindled his faith.
He opined that the blind man whose sight was restored, moved from physical sight to the light of faith and responded with simplicity and trust: “Lord, I believe”. “His healing becomes a journey; a journey from darkness to sight, and from sight to faith,” he underlined.
He however warned Consecrated persons, and Christ’s lay faithful to guard against the temptation of allowing prejudices, fear and envy to cloud their reasoning, and prevent them from recognizing and acknowledging the Mighty deeds of the Lord in the lives of their fellow ones, so that they do not end up remaining in ‘darkness’ themselves.
He observed that a miracle which would have been a thing of joy and celebration to the witnesses rather provoked controversy, among the Pharisees, the Disciples, Neighbours and even the parents of the cured man. The Pharisees who were obsessed about keeping the law to the latter, would not celebrate one being healed on the Sabbath. The Disciples on their part were more concerned about who caused his blindness, instead of recognizing the significance of the healing.
Speaking to the reaction of the neighbours in relation to the healing, the prelate pointed out that their struggle to believe what they saw was symbolic of the resistance that comes with change, most times. “To be transformed, to accept change sometimes, requires a deep amount of courage,” he underscored.
His Excellency Kabore further drew the attention of the faithful to the response of the parents of the cured man to the Pharisees who sought to know how the man whose healed, “Ask him, he is of age; a response driven by fear, amidst the pressure from the environment.
“Such attitudes are not far from our own experience,” the Nuncio pointed out, challenging the Religious Leaders, among other Consecrated Persons present, to free themselves of prejudices and subtle forms of envy, so that their communities would continue to be signs of God’s presence, maintaining that only the heart that looks up to God could allow communities to be “places of healing, of truth and of life, where leadership is lived as humble service”.
Affirming the boldness and renewed sense of self and spirit with which the cured man spoke about his healing, the Nuncio urged all, who have in one way or the other received a form of healing from the Lord, to learn from his example. They must bear witness in joy and hope, and present themselves before others with renewed freedom, and not fear questions or reproaches from them, bearing in mind that when Christ heals, “his healing reaches the deepest places of the heart, and renews the whole of life,” he noted.
Touching on the theme for the RECOMSWA and ARUG Conference, “Consecrated Life for Transformation,” in relation to the Gospel, the Apostolic Nuncio underpinned that for transformation to really occur, Consecrated Persons must examine themselves, and identify which character in the Gospel best fits their own personalities, and ask themselves some soul-searching questions: Where do I stand? Where do we need conversion, so that our communities may truly become safe spaces and signs of hope? Do we bear witness to Jesus, where discouragement prevails? Are we free from prejudices or follow voices of gossip? Do we rejoice and proclaim that Jesus loves us and saves us, or do we like the parents of the blind man allow fear of others’ opinions to cripple us? How do we look upon the poor and underprivileged in society? Do we see them as burdens or as a call to show them compassion and love?
Not undermining the great efforts of the Consecrated Persons in the Church, the Nuncio expressed deep appreciation to them for all the services they render to children, the poor and vulnerable in society with “generosity and perseverance, and sometimes with heroic courage”.
“May the Lord continue to bless you and sustain you in your Mission. May He make you ever more live in the sight of hope, joy, justice and charity,” he prayed.
He reminded the Consecrated Persons of the distinctive sign of their Life, according to Pope Francis: Prophetic witnessing, which continues to shine in the life of the Church and in the light of the world, through their services. He further called to mind the invitation of Pope Leo XIV to all Consecrated Persons during this year’s celebration of the Presentation of the Lord, to continue to show love to the poor and less privileged.
The Nuncio acknowledged the presence of the two delegates from Rome: Sr. Tiziani Merletti, SPF, Secretary to the Dicastery of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Vatican, Rome and Rev. Fr. Clement Nandou, Official of same Dicastery, among others.
Among activities featured during the climax Mass for the RECOMSWA and ARUG Conference was the missioning of the Delegates from various West African countries by Sr. Tiziani Merletti, SPF. The countries represented were: Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Mali, Niger Republic, Guinea-Bissau, Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Senegal and Burkina Faso.
The missioning was characterized by the simple handing of lighted candles to each of the representatives, charging them to go and implement the fruits of the Conference in their respective countries.
There was a vote of thanks at the end of the Mass by Rev. Fr. Denis Pam, M.Afr., Vice President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana.
Also present at the Mass were the Parishioners of the Cathedral Parish, among others.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana – CASCON-GH)
