Easter celebration is not for pleasure - Catholic Priest

Bechem (B/A), March 31, GNA - Reverend Father Peter Nimo, Parish Priest of the Bechem St Joseph's Catholic Church, has called on Ghanaians not to take the Easter festivities just for pleasure.

Rather, he said, they should observe the occasion with positive meaning.

Rev Fr Nimo, who was speaking with the Ghana News Agency at Bechem on the significance of Easter, explained that it was an occasion on the Christian calendar that reminded the people of their salvation.

He said people ignorantly see Easter as just one of the holidays on the calendar for merry-making in the form of excessive drinking, dancing and indulgence in other immoral activities.

Rev Fr Nimo said at a point in time, God the creator decided to visit mankind with His love by sending His son Jesus Christ to save them from sins which were leading them to destruction and death, in order to bring redemption and liberation to all believers.

Easter, according to the Catholic Priest is a festival to celebrate mankind's salvation through Jesus Christ, but not a period for frivolous activities.

He said prior to the occasion, the Catholic Church worldwide set aside 40 days of waiting upon the Lord, called 'The Lenting Season' during which prayer, fasting and charity were observed to obtain forgiveness and pardon from sin, strengthening of the body and assistance to the poor and needy in society.

'Easter had come to stay forever, and it is a reminder of how God helped to save mankind from sin onto internal life in Christ Jesus,' he said.

Rev Fr Nimo said just as God loved the world and sacrificed His son to save the people to Himself Ghanaians should see themselves as one people from one father (God) and work together in unity of purpose to build a prosperous and peaceful nation.

'Christ's death united us to God through forgiveness; we should therefore forgive one another and live peaceably as a liberated people.   Let us celebrate the Easter with joy, but with much caution in order not to miss the real essence of the occasion,' he concluded.

GNA