THE Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has appealed to members of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, a Catholic friendly society, to take up leadership positions at their respective Laity Councils especially at the Diocesan and Parish levels.
The Bishops expressed concern about the weakening of leadership of the Laity Councils; especially at the Diocesan and Parish levels, hence the need for members of the Noble Order of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall to take up positions to help strengthen the Councils.
Of particular concern to the Bishops was what they said was the seeming backing out of leadership positions by members of the Knights and Ladies in the respective Laity Councils.
The Bishops made the appeal when the members of the Administrative Committee of the GCBC met the leadership of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall in Accra on February 20, 2018.
The meeting was to discuss a number of issues including the education, advocacy, leadership in the church among other related matters.
The Supreme Knight of the Knights of Marshall, Sir Kt Bro Ambrose Yennah and the Grand Lady of the Ladies of Marshall, Most Respected Lady Sis Grace Budu-Smith led the eight-member Marshallan delegation while the President of the GCBC and the Vice-President, Most Rev Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle led the Bishops’ side which included Most Rev. Peter Atuahene, representative of the Kumasi Province, Most Rev. Peter Paul Angkyier, representative of the Tamale Province, Most Rev. Gabriel Edo Kumodji, representative of the Accra Province, Very Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, Secretary General of the GCBC and Rev. Fr. Wisdom Larweh, assistant Secretary General of the GCBC.
Other members of the Marshallan delegation were Sir Kt. Bro. Andy Agyekum, a former Supreme Communications Officer, Sir Kt. Bro. Albert Salia, Supreme IT, RL Sis. Adelaide Benneh, Grand M&E, W/Bro. Samuel Zan Akologo, Assistant Supreme Secretary (ASS), W/Bro. Lucius C. T. Zaukuu, Supreme Secretary of Finance and RL. Sis. Elizabeth Anderson-Yebuah, Grand Advocate.
Commendation
The Bishops commended members of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall, for the role they play at all levels of the Church; especially in their respective Dioceses and Parishes.
It also acknowledged the advocacy role of the Marshallans and expressed the hope that all Catholic Lay Faithful would emulate the example of the Marshallans.
Welcoming the leadership of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall to a meeting in Accra on Tuesday, the President of the GCBC, Most Rev Philip Naameh, stated that it was the expectation of the Bishops’ Conference that the Laity would always take up the issues raised by the Bishops in their communiques, pastoral letters and public statements as follow up advocacy.
Concerns
The Bishops indicated that they would need the support of the Marshallans to address some emerging policy concerns with the Colleges of Education which risks the Church losing their 11 Colleges of Education to government control.
They said they planned meeting the Minister of Education on the issue and promised to update the leadership of the society after the meeting.
The Bishops said they had also sought the services of a Consultant to help rebrand and create an endowment Fund for the Catholic University College Ghana in Sunyani.
They urged the leadership of the society to help get a charter for the university through advocacy.
Advocacy
The Bishops suggested to the Knights and Ladies of Marshall to help create a vocal and competent group of Catholic Professionals to drive the Church’s agenda for Integral Human Development.
“Advocacy for the Church and the poor must be an important part of this agenda for promoting Integral Human Development,” they noted.
The Bishops, therefore, suggested to the KLM and the Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), the NGO wing of the society, to use their respective structures to facilitate advocacy at the local level with the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).
Marshallan
The Bishops suggested regular visits to the tomb of Sir James Marshall by Marsallans and endeavor to keep it in good order.
They recommended that the society to consider translating the remains of Sir James Marshall to Ghana to facilitate the later stages of the canonization process.
They explained that this may not be critical now but will be necessary as the process advances in subsequent stages.
The Bishops expressed concern about new forms of disturbances during the Catholic Mass; from mobile phones, photo taking, offensive dance styles among other issues.
The KLM are entreated to help sensitize the lay faithful about the sanctity and reverence of the Catholic Liturgy so that due decorum would be exercised.
Supreme Knight
Sir Kt Bro Yennah took the opportunity to update the Bishops’ Conference on progress so far made on the beatification cause of Sir James Marshall and thanked the Conference for the support they had provided the Noble Order in that regard.
He also officially invited the Bishops’ Conference to the Re-union conference of the KLM in July, 2018, where His Eminence Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson would deliver the keynote address.
He sought guidance on how the Catholic Knights and Ladies could continue to participate and give colour to liturgical celebrations without interrupting the liturgy.
Sir Kt Bro Yennah urged the Bishops to give more attention to the welfare of Catechists who continued to do so much for the Church’s evangelization.
Write up by Sir Kt Bro Albert Salia