THE Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church at Mamprobi was at the weekend purified and sanctified to enable the members give godly devotion to God after the premises was shit-bombed by unknown persons on May 2, 2010.

The purification rites, which included a month-long series of retreats, talks, fasting and prayers, was on the theme ‘For our sake, He opened His arms on the Cross.’

Leading the purification exercise last Saturday to renew and rededicate the church as a place of sanctity and worship after the episode was the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle. He was joined by other Bishops to sprinkle water and incense in and around the walls of the premises, while the members poured out their hearts to God Almighty to accept their sacrifice after they had also been sprinkled.

Speaking, Most Rev Palmer-Buckle urged Ghanaians, particularly the Christian community, to help break the wall of evil that surrounds the nation. He said it is only when the walls of evil in the lives of persons and the country are broken that “the Ark of God can enter and give us peace.”

He said it is important that the walls of hatred, revenge, misunderstanding, evil and sin in the lives of people are broken to enable the country to prosper. He noted that everyone needs re-dedication, renewal and re-commitment to remind them that Jesus died to redeem believers from sin, evil and revenge.

Officiating a thanksgiving mass on Sunday, August 12, to climax the purification rites at the Church, Most Rev Palmer-Buckle said God is merciful and kind and always willing to use even the most heartless, wicked and sinful for his works, once they repented.

He therefore urged Ghanaians not to allow the devil to take control of their lives, stressing “do not allow evil, idolatry, adultery, revenge to fill our lives”.

He said anyone who attempted to bring division into the church, either by virtue of ethnicity or social class, was of the devil. The Archbishop reminded the worshipers that the profession of faith shows that all Catholics are one and united and must therefore work towards becoming one irrespective of tribe or social class.

He explained that ‘Catholic’ in Greek means unity in diversity, thus there is room for every tribe, culture, language or political persuasion.

He said his dream is to make the Accra Archdiocese one big family of God and entreated the Catholic faithful to come along with him in realizing that dream. It would be recalled that members of the Martyrs of Uganda Catholic Church at Mamprobi, on May 2, 2010, received the shock of their lives when they turned up for worship only to find the entrance to the church premises desecrated with human excreta and offensive posters by unknown persons.

The act was said to have been carried out at 3am in protest against some policies and demands of Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle, who was expected at the church for a confirmation service.

The first church service, which was to begin at 6:30 am, was delayed, as the members had to wait for the mess and the strong stench which filled the air to be cleared. The service eventually took place without any incident.