Second Global Rosary Congress convenes in Wa to foster peace and religious tolerance

Thousands of Catholics, alongside diverse religious groups and traditional leaders, have convened at the Wa Malik Jaabre Sports Stadium for the second edition of the Global Rosary Congress.

The three-day spiritual gathering, aimed at promoting evangelisation and peace, has drawn high-profile clerics and state officials advocating for religious harmony and spiritual renewal.

Delivering the keynote address, Bishop of Damango Diocese Peter Paul Yelezuome urged the Christian community to see the Rosary as a powerful tool for evangelisation, not a passive tradition.

He challenged the faithful to bear witness to Christ’s teachings in their daily lives to counteract societal vulnerabilities such as poverty, illiteracy, and tribal tensions that threaten the region’s peace.

The rosary must be utilised as a weapon of prayer rather than a simple accessory, he stated, urging believers to actively pair their prayers with concrete acts of Christian charity.

Founder and Leader of the Global Rosary Network Reverend Father David Obeng Paintsil recounted the origins of the Congress, which evolved from digital prayer sessions held during the 2022 pandemic closures.

Highlighting the transformative power of the devotion, he shared a personal testimony of surviving a near-fatal car accident in 2016, attributing his miraculous escape from a burning vehicle to the intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“The doors were opened on their own. No human intervention. The seat belt was released,” he recounted, noting that the incident solidified his dedication to spreading the Rosary.

Upper West Regional Minister Charles Lwanga Puozuing expressed the region’s enthusiasm in hosting the monumental event.

He emphasised the devotion’s capacity to foster peace and mutual respect across different religious denominations. Pledging his support for the spiritual exercise, the regional minister promised to purchase 50 rosaries for distribution among attendees lacking the prayer beads.

The traditional leadership also threw its weight behind the Congress. Representing the Overlord of the Waala Traditional Council Wa Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, Divisional Chief Naa Wayodi Saaka delivered a message underscoring the deep-rooted religious tolerance in the municipality.

“Whether Muslim, Christian, or traditionalist, we are all one people under one skin,” he stated, noting that religious diversity in Wa families has always been a source of strength rather than division. The Wa Naa’s representative welcomed the spiritual gathering, affirming the palace’s belief that where prayer goes up, blessings come down.