Beatification (from Latin beatus, “blessed” and facere, “to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person’s entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name.
It is the third of four steps in the canonization process.
‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me, the crown of righteousness…’ 2 Tim 4:7-8
The later glories of Archbishop Peter Porekuu Dery for a life well lived, could be shortly traced back to the great honor done him as he was made a Cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory on March 24th , 2006 at a time he had retired and was about 88 years in age.
Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery was born on 10th May, 1918 in Zimuopari, a village in Nandom in the Upper West Region of Ghana.
He was one of the first among other persons to be baptized in the whole of Upper West Region of Ghana in 1932.
Before beginning his priestly formation in St. Theresa’s Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, he had spent most of his school days in Navrongo.
Interestingly, Peter Porekuu Dery was the very first Catholic Priest to be ordained from the whole of Upper West Region in February 1951.
He was elevated and consecrated as the first bishop of Wa on 8th May, 1960 by Pope John XXIII.
He was transferred and installed bishop of Tamale in November 1974 and promoted the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale in May 1977.
Cardinal Dery had several local and international appointments including; elected twice as the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference, member of the Council of State in 1972, as an Advisory Panel member for the Rehabilitation of the Volta Basin for Agriculture (Ghana) by the World Bank and a member of the Pontifical council for the Laity for seven years by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II.
Peter Cardinal Dery also received several awards, one of which is a State honor as member of the Order of the Star of Ghana in 2006, for his immense contribution to the development of the Republic of Ghana.
Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery passed on peacefully in Tamale on 6th March, 2008.
He distinguished himself by his qualities, discipline, forthrightness, integrity and love for humanity and this won him the love and respect of Christians and non-Christians alike.
It is in the light of this that many well-wishers and followers of the late Cardinal, converged at the St. Kizito Catholic Church in Nima from within and outside of Accra, for the second launch of his ‘Beatification Process and Sainthood Cause’.
The occasion had been put together through a collaborative effort of the Archdioceses of Accra and Tamale. His grace, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, the Archbishop of Accra, was the main speaker.
In his introduction, he first acknowledged the presence of his colleague, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tamale, his grace, Most Rev. Philip Naameh who he commended saying that, the burden of the whole process of beatification laid on his shoulders-something that has never happened in the history of this country.
Present at the program included people from all walks of life; those in academia, holders of private and public offices, business men and women, representatives of various groupings and societies, some prominent people in society and the clergy.
His grace, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle asked for pardon to break protocol admitting it would be a tall list of personalities to acknowledge but cannot overlook the presence of Msgr. Alex Bobby Benson, a one-time Parish priest of St. Kizito, who he described as the ‘Archbishop extraordinary of St. Kizito Archdiocese’. He however did also acknowledge the administrator of St. Kizito Parish, Rev. Fr. Michael Owusu-Ofori.
The main speech centered on five areas;
1. Prayer For The Elevation To The Honor Of The Altar
Bishop Buckle emphasized that this is the main focus and perhaps the most important aspect of the gathering, praying as the lay faithful to God to elevate and to acknowledge Cardinal Dery as a saint of the church.
This he said, is what the whole of beatification and canonization is about. It is not to say a person is not in heaven, but a testimony in our prayers that we knew him as a great good example to us and are therefore humbly asking that God will give him honor.
2. Prayer For All Senior Citizens
As the day marked the Republic day, (1st of July 2016) his grace said that, it was important that as part of the purpose for the gathering, prayers are offered for all senior citizens, that God will inspire all persons to give them the recognition, love and respect that they deserve and to also ask for the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary to pray for Peter Cardinal Dery who was a senior citizen himself, that he will be honored by God.
3. Who Is A Saint?
He said a saint is often misconstrued to be one who performs miracles and wonders, but a true saint is ‘one who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way’ with an extraordinary zeal and love.
This he said, was what stood out in the life of Cardinal Dery. He did ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
In his simplicity, he drove a simple car as a bishop that he was.
He brought peace between families, was compassionate and generous, to children he became a child, to the youth he was a youth, to men he was a man, to women he was a woman and to all of us he was a father.
4. A Call To Holiness
We are all called as followers of Christ to be ‘Holy’.
‘Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect’ Mtt 5:48
Holiness he said, is not just for the religious or the clergy but for all.
It is possible for all to be holy, whether you are a child, woman, man, youth, an adult, a professional or non-professional etc.
He said Pope John Paul elevated many lay people including the married to sainthood to show that it is not only the religious that are so holy by deeds and acts to merit sainthood.
5. A Call To Follow In The Footsteps Of Cardinal Dery
Bishop Buckle said that, Cardinal Dery did not have ‘a very eloquent theology and theological sermons and philosophy’, but he offered himself to all persons. He had time for all, giving love, care, counsel and support to the needy. He was a peace maker and unifier between families and among bishops. He was actually, the lover of young people.
He did ordinary things in an extraordinary manner.
This is the example that Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery left for us to follow, shoes for us to wear.
It is possible for all of us to be saints and he has shown us the way.
Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle concluded by saying that, Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery ‘… made himself all things to all people, in other to win some for Christ’ 1st Cor. 9:22
Compiled by; Abaarozie Isaac Maxwell
St. Kizito Publicity Committee
