This year’s Sir James Marshall feast day came off on Sunday the 4th of May, 2014 at the St
Ephraim Catholic church, Danfa. It was a very colourful event since it was organized with
the various Councils and Courts in the Region attending in their numbers. The Councils and
Courts in attendance were as follows Council 63(Madina), Council 94(Adenta), Council 10
(Christ the King), Council 100(Osu), Court 58(Madina), Court 5(Christ the King), Court 96
(Osu) and Court 90(Adenta) respectively. In all a total number of 430 brothers and sisters
were present for the program with the breakdown as follows; Brothers (Adult Council) 185,
Sisters (Adult Court) 112, Junior Knights (61) and Junior Sisters (73).
This year’s celebration was characterized with a medical outreach program. Some of the
services that were provided were checking of blood pressure, sugar level, diabetes and some
other health conditions. The feast day celebration was preceded by a colourful parade by the
Junior Knights and Ladies. The parade was inspected by the the main celebrant, the Dean of
the Madina Deanery Very Rev, Fr Anthony Oppong and the regional Grand Knight and regional
Noble Lady Worthy Bro. Michael Kwarteng and Most Respected Lady Janet Barrigah respectively.
The readings for the day were as follows; first reading 1st Acts 2:14, 22-33, second reading
1st Peter 1:17-21 and Gospel Luke24:13-35. Very Rev, Fr Anthony Oppong before the homily
welcomed the Marshallan fraternity to St Ephraim one of his outstations and spoke of the
immense contribution the Noble Order has provided for the growth of mother church. In his
homily he spoke about that Sunday being the second Sunday after Easter still commemorating
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ signifying the victory we possess as Christians
and children of God. He admonished us that no matter how big our problems or challenges
might be we have a savior who would always come through for us. He also said that Christ did
not remain in the grave but conquered death and resurrected and as Christians we shouldn’t
remain in our graves such as our disappointments, financial difficulties, joblessness etc
but exercise our faith in Christ for our breakthroughs. He challenged us to let our life
situations reflect the goodness of our God.
The Regional Grand Knight and his counterpart the Regional Noble Lady were given the
platform after post communion to address the congregation about the Noble Order and to
solicit for members. The Regional Grand Knight gave a brief history, aims and objectives of
the Noble Order which served as an education on the role Sir James Marshall played in the
revival of the Catholic Church in the then Gold Coast. This address was immediately followed
with the presentation of some money which is usual of the Noble Order to assist the church
in undertaking its developmental projects. The presentation was done by the Regional Noble
Lady. The donation was received by the Vice Chairperson of the Parish Pastoral Council Mrs
Abobila who thanked the Marshallan fraternity for the kind gesture. Very Rev, Fr Oppong also
seized the opportunity to thank the Marshallans for their various good works by citing some
key examples.
The program ended with the final parade from the Junior Marshallans right after the Mass.
There were some announcements and further instructions from the Regional Grand Knight and
his Regional Noble Lady after the Mass after which brothers and sisters were given the
opportunity to socialize, make new friends and to have fun.
By: Michael Awatey
REPORTER, COUNCIL 63.