Peter Porekuu Dery facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peter Porekuu Dery |
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| Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Elena fuori Porta Prenestina | |
Dery (left) with Pope John XXIII
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 24 March 2006 |
| Enthroned | 28 March 2006 |
| Reign ended | 6 March 2008 |
| Predecessor | Edouard Gagnon |
| Successor | João Braz de Aviz |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 11 February 1951 |
| Consecration | 8 May 1960 by Pope John XXIII |
| Created Cardinal | 24 March 2006 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Porekuu Der |
| Born | 10 May 1918 Wa, Gold Coast (now Ghana) |
| Died | 6 March 2008 (aged 89) Tamale, Ghana |
| Nationality | Ghanaian |
| Previous post |
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| Motto | Apostolus Jesu Christi ("Apostle of Jesus Christ") |
| Coat of arms |  |
| Styles of Peter Dery |
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| Reference style | His Eminence |
| Spoken style | Your Eminence |
| Informal style | Cardinal |
| See | Tamale |
Peter Porekuu Dery (May 10, 1918 – March 6, 2008) was an important leader in the Catholic Church from Ghana. He served as the Archbishop of Tamale from 1974 to 1994. In 2006, he was given the high rank of cardinal. Before that, he was the Bishop of Wa from 1960 to 1974.
After his death, a process began in 2013 to recognize him as a saint. He is now called a Servant of God.
Contents
Life Story of Peter Dery
Early Life and Education
Peter Porekuu Dery was born in 1918 in a village called Zimuopare in Ghana. He was the fourth of ten children. His original name was Porekuu Der. In his culture, if a boy was born soon after an older brother died, he was given the name "Der." This showed that he was believed to be the older brother reborn.
He became a Catholic and was baptized on December 24, 1932. He then changed his last name to "Dery" and chose the first name "Peter." He was sent to Jirapa to become a catechist, which is someone who teaches others about the Catholic faith. His goal was to return to his village and share his new faith.
Peter Dery studied to become a priest from 1934 to 1939. He later studied philosophy and theology. He was ordained as a priest on February 11, 1951. He also earned a diploma in social studies in Canada and a doctorate in theology in Belgium. He returned to Ghana in 1959 and worked as a vicar-general for the Tamale archdiocese until 1960.
Becoming a Bishop
On March 16, 1960, Pope John XXIII chose Peter Dery to be the first bishop of the new Diocese of Wa. He became a bishop in Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City on May 8, 1960. Pope John XXIII himself led the ceremony.
As bishop, Peter Dery asked for permission to translate the Mass into the local Dagaare language. He wanted it to be sung with local melodies and musical instruments. When he received permission, he created the first Dagaare Mass. This was a big step in making the Church in Ghana more connected to local culture.
He also attended the Second Vatican Council, an important meeting of Catholic leaders. He focused on getting ordinary church members involved and on encouraging people to become priests or nuns. People in Wa remembered him for driving his car, filled with food, to Accra. He would meet with families and give food to those who needed it.
In 1972, he became the leader of the Tamale diocese. In 1974, he was officially appointed its bishop. He was the first bishop of Tamale who was not part of a special religious group. When Tamale became a metropolitan archdiocese in 1977, he was named its archbishop.
From 1982 to 1988, he was the president of the Ghanaian Episcopal Conference. This meant he led the meetings of all the bishops in Ghana. He believed in "enculturation," which means adapting Catholicism to local traditions. He said that the Church should let young churches grow by using their own cultural identity in worship. He retired as archbishop in 1993.
Becoming a Cardinal
On March 26, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI made Peter Dery a cardinal. This is a very high honor in the Catholic Church. He was given the title of Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Elena fuori Porta Prenestina.
At the ceremony, Peter Dery was in a wheelchair. He was lifted onto a platform so Pope Benedict could give him his cardinal's ring.
Death and Funeral
Peter Dery passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 6, 2008, at his home in Tamale. He had been unwell for several months after hurting his hip in a fall. His funeral was held on April 1, 2008. Important leaders like the President of Ghana, John Kufuor, attended the service.
Awards and Recognition
Peter Dery received several important awards during his life:
- Grand Medal (civil division) – given on January 13, 1974.
- Honorary Doctor of Law – from his old college in Canada.
- Order of the Star of Ghana – given in 2007, one of Ghana's highest honors.
Path to Sainthood
In June 2013, a process began to consider Peter Dery for sainthood. On July 13, 2013, the Church officially declared "nihil obstat" (no objections). This meant he could be called a Servant of God.
The local Church in Tamale started gathering information about his life on May 9, 2015. They collected documents and interviewed 45 people who knew him. This information will help the Church decide if he should be recognized as a saint.
