The word Pilgrim originates from the Latin word ‘peregrinus’ which is interpreted as ‘foreign’. It can also be explained as a person traveling or a wayfarer to a holy place to seek miracles, spiritual benefits, fulfil a religious obligation or to carry out a penance.
Pilgrimage is therefore a journey to a holy place for spiritual renewal and personal encounter with the Divine which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to daily life.
Do people really go on pilgrimage for the above reasons? This rhetorical question needs personal reflection and answers; but the activities that go on during the pilgrimage sometimes inform the conclusions to be drawn as to whether an individual or a group is there for any of the spiritual quests stated above or for social purposes.
The Catholic Church has numerous pilgrimage cites all over the world. Some in native countries and Dioceses, others in diaspora. Among them are Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, Agbenoxoe in Ho Diocese of Ghana and Sacred Heart Shrine in Keta- Akatsi Diocese of Ghana.
Each year, people from all walks gather at Dzodze Tornu Sacred Heart Shrine; except the year 2023, where some developmental projects were being carried out there. The Diocesan annual pilgrimage often comes off 1st Sunday of Advent and it was rightly so for the year 2024.
Thousands of the faithful from all corners of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, people from other denominations and people from Togo and other countries gathered at the Sacred Heart Shrine this year on Sunday, 1st December 2024. Spiritual activities such as Stations of the Cross, Holy Rosary Prayers Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and individual prayers went on as usual before the main programme.
As individuals, confraternities and groups went through the spiritual activities, others moved round to see the cite and take pictures.
Some other people met friends and families and engaged in chats. Others still just looked on to see what was going on. Some were there purely for business and others came just to steal.
Despite the fact that there is a bit of social aspect of the pilgrimage, where one may of course interact with friends after the programme, these acts by these categories of people tend to defeat the purpose of the pilgrimage.
The question one may ask is that, do these people also receive the blessings purported for the pilgrimage? Humanly thinking, one can say they do not.
Let’s look at it with the Biblical Context which Matthew 5:45 states: “That you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Jesus Himself stated on the Cross, that “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Looking at these two quotations, can we say these categories of people also receive blessings?
This year 2024 being an election year in Ghana, Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD urged the Pilgrims at Dzodze Tornu Sacred Heart Shrine to prioritize Spiritual activities above politics.
He lamented that Christians now take political activities more seriously than the Church’s activities; even though it is God who chooses leaders.
Though God’s ways are not that of man, there should be more education on visiting the spiritual sites of the church so that they may not be looked at as mere tourist cites but real spiritual refuge centres where people find solace.
By Sr. Agnes Mercy Nyatsoe, SMMC (Sr. Communicator)
