The New Parish church in Ivory Coast

The Christian community of Grand Zattry Parish, San Pedro Diocese in Ivory Coast will never forget the fourth day of the sixth month of the year twenty twenty-two.

This day marked the great feast of the Consecration of their new parish church building. It was also the day that some Christians precisely 140 candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation. This wonderful ceremony was graced by His Lordship Jean Jacques Koffi Oi Koffi, the bishop of the diocese of San Pedro.

His four-point homily lasted thirty-five minutes.

Primo, his Lordship thanked God for the great opportunity and courage He gave the Christian community of Grand Zattry and its benefactors, people of goodwill to build the new church despite the economic and social challenges the world is facing today.  In the mood of thanksgiving, he also extended much gratitude to the Consolata missionaries priests, in particular Rev Fr. James Gichane, the Parish Priest, who foresaw the completion of this project.

Secundo, he reminded the Christians that the Consecration of the church is very important but equally important is the consecration of the self or person, the consecration of the body which is also the temple of the Holy Spirit. It is the consecration of the family, the consecration of the work each one does in the society.

Tertio, in line with the day’s readings, the bishop underlined the effect of the spirit of God in us. It is the spirit that inspires us to do our best, to go ahead, to always dream forward.

Quarto was the moment of interrogation of the candidates. The four willing candidates came forward and responded to some of the questions about the Holy Spirit and the sacrament of Confirmation.   

After the edifying homily and the litany of the saints, his Lordship, the bishop, in front of an empty Altar said the prayer of consecration and then smeared the holy oil (chrism oil) covering the entire top and the sides of the Altar with the holy oil.

Then, he later went and anointed the four corners of the 24Mby40M, 1500 sitting capacity church. This solemn part of the celebration ended with the blessing of the Tabernacle.

With the consecrated church, the 140 candidates (plus few others from the neighbouring parish) to the Sacrament of Confirmation received the gift of the Holy Spirit.

This occasion was equally graced by the presence of Rev Fr. Alexander Ashivaka Likoni, imc, Delegate Superior of the Delegation of the Consolata Missionaries in Ivory Coast, some priests and the local civil authorities of Grand Zattry town like the Mayor, the Police Commander and many other guests.

This was a good spirit to begin the month of June. In this month, we as the Consolata missionaries celebrate our Foundress, Our Lady Consolata.