The Bishop, Priests and Religious, and the entire Catholic Faithful of the Catholic Diocese of Techiman, gathered at the Our Lady of Calvary Grotto to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary from the 15th to 18th August 2019. The Annual celebration was blessed with the presence of pilgrims from all over the diocese of Techiman and beyond, and pilgrims from La Côte D’Ivoire.

The theme for this year’s Assumption feast was MARY, COMFORTER OF THE AFFLICTED. The faithful who gathered throughout the period enjoyed very educating and inspiring talks centering on Christian vocation to pain and suffering associated with the Cross they bear. A special program was organized for children between the ages of 7 and 18. Activities throughout the period included Holy Mass, Penitential Service, and individual Confession, Eucharistic Procession and adoration, Marian Procession and Rosary prayers, and prayer warfare.

In his homily, Most Rev. Dominic Yeboah Nyarko, called on all present to have faith in God. he called all Catholics to know that pain, suffering, and afflictions are all part of our lives as long s we live in this world. Yet, Christians are to understand that God, through Jesus Christ, has conquered the evil one for us and won salvation for us.

He encouraged Catholics to model their faith to that of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to the Bishop, To say that Mary is the “Comforter of the afflicted” means two things; that, her own experience and endurance of affliction and sorrow associated with her ‘Fiat’ are a source of example and courage for us; and that, she comes to us personally and directly to comfort us when we pick our Rosaries and kneel before her in times of great troubles.

Rev. Fr. Martin Oduro Bilson, the Rector of St. Francis Minor Seminary and SHS, who acted on behalf of the Rector of the Grotto, thanked all and sundry for their immense participation and generous contribution towards the successful end of this year’s Assumption Program.