From Damian Avevor, Tornu
Rev. Fr. Peter Johnson Senoo, the Spiritual Director of the Sacred Heart Shrine, the first in Ghana, at Dzodze-Tornu in the Keta-Akatsi Diocese, has appealed to Catholics in Ghana to support the Shrine in completing the Eucharistic Adoration Chapel where people could experience God in the Tabernacle.
He said the Adoration Chapel, started by the Diocese had reached the final stage of completion and required support with a Tabernacle, tiling and electrical works.
He said since the establishment of the Shrine in 1982, many people and Societies in the Church from far and near had been thronging there to have quiet times with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, noting that the completion of a place for Perpetual Adoration would be a landmark to mark the 35years of the enthronement of the Shrine next year.
In an interview with The Catholic Standard at Tornu on April 3, Divine Mercy Sunday, Fr. Senoo, who is also Priest-in-Charge of the Sacred Heart Church, said the community had grown over the years and hence the need also to transform and expand the art works of the Shrine to a place of spirituality.
He mentioned that there were plans to mould the Stations of the Cross like that of Kpando Agbenoxoe Grotto, build a Marian Sanctuary with the big Statue of Mary, acquire additional chairs and benches.
He said it was also being envisaged to build small hamlets to accommodate pilgrims who want to stay at the Shrine for days or weeks as well as a place of convenience.
Fr. Senoo, therefore, called for support from the National Sacred Heart Sacred Enthronement Centre, Catholic business men and women as well as philanthropists to contribute towards these worthy causes.
He appealed to the Ketu-North District Assembly to consider grading the road that leads to the Shrine to make it accessible to pilgrims who contribute to the growth of the Dzodze and Tornu.
He said that by visiting the shrine, many people had experienced miracles and commended the people for their devotions there.
People from Togo, and all over Ghana come to the Shrine for Retreats and Recollections, he added, saying that Tornu town had been blessed tracing the history of the enthronement, 34 years ago.
He commended the Keta-Akatsi Diocese and the many benefactors who had over the years supported the growth of the Shrine by providing an Altar, tiling of the Sanctuary, benches, Public Address System, Robes, uniforms and drums for the Choir, an office for the Priests, a Sacristy and visiting room for Priest
Fr. Senoo said a series of activities undertaken at the Shrine included special prayer and meditation Session, pilgrimages, Retreats Recollections, Adoration and Healing on every first Fridays.
He entreated Catholics to undertake pilgrimages to the Shrine to experience the love of God through the Heart of Jesus.
He said it was through the humility of Christ that God uplifted Him to become the Saviour of the people and He was ever ready to listen to our problems, challenges, frustrations and troubles.
He said the devotion to the Sacred Heart was not limited to the members of the confraternity but to every baptized Catholic.
Priests who had served as Spiritual Directors of the Shrine include Rev. Frs. Matthias Ganyo, a Senior Priest of the Keta-Akatsi Diocese and a native of Tornu, Rev. Fr. Winfred Sraha, a Military Chaplain in Accra but from the Diocese; Rev. Fr. Mark Etse of the St. Joseph Church at Alakple, Fr. Harry Justin Barawusu and Fr. Senoo.
The Shrine was consecrated on June 19, 1982 by Most Rev. Francis A.K. Lodonu, then Bishop of Keta-Ho and now Bishop Emeritus of Ho Diocese and assisted by Most Rev. Dominic Andoh of blessed memory, then Bishop of Accra Diocese.
In 2010 during the 75th anniversary of celebration of the planting of Catholicism at the Tornu town, Mr. Vincent Azamati, Catechist and Mr. Thomas Kamasah, both blessed memory, one of those who witnessed the enthronement of the Statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, said the 21-feet Crucifix at the entrance was installed by about 200 people lasting for seven hours.
The Crucifix was designed by Mr. A. Anani, a Sculptor at Kpando.
The situation of the Shrine at Tornu was a divine chosen one, as the three medals of the Sacred Heart were buried at three places – Tove, Kpefe and Tornu to allow God Himself to choose.
After months, the medals at Tove and Kpefe could not be found but rather the three medals were found together at Tornu. The Third Station of the Cross at the Shrine was the place where the medal was buried.
The history of the establishment of the Shrine would be incomplete without acknowledging Mr. Raphael Ahiabenu, a devout Sacred Heart Devotee, from Dzodze and a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament church at Abelenkpe through whose dedication and commitment the Shrine was established.
