A Thanksgiving Mass, presided over by Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, Bishop of Wa Diocese and attended by hundreds of Brothers and Sisters from at least, eight Marshallan regions and the faithful of the Diocese, was held at the St. Andrews Cathedral in Wa on November 5, 2017 in honour of Sir Kt. Bro. Ambrose Yennah, following his installation as the 32nd Supreme Knight of the Knights of Marshall on September 2, 2017 at Sekondi.
Most Peter Paul Angkyier, Bishop of Damongo Diocese and 12 priests, including Very Rev. Fr. Cornelius Bayirinoba, Vicar General of Wa Diocese and Very Rev. Fr. Patrick Segkpeb, Cathedral Administrator, concelebrated the Mass which was attended by delegations from North West, North North West, North East, North, Ashanti South Denkyira, Tema, Accra East and Brong-Ahafo Central regions led by their Regional Grand Knights and Noble Ladies.
MRL Sis. Victoria Yellu, a substantive Past Grand Lady and Worthy Bro. Charles Cobb, Deputy Supreme Knight, were among scores of High Officers in attendance which also included Past Supreme Knights, Most Respected Ladies, Worthy Brothers, Respected Ladies, Past Noble and Grand Advisors, Past and sitting Grand Knights and Noble Ladies and their deputies. STORY & PICTURES BY: BRO. FRANCIS E. MONNIE SUPPORTED BY BROS. OPHELIUS YINYEH, FIDELIS ABU AND SIS. ROSE MAALIWOMBU
In a homily whose theme was on leadership, Bishop Bawobr, noted with pride that 91-years after its formation, an indigene of the Diocese has ascended the high office of Supreme Knight of the Knights of Marshall with his deputy also from the Diocese, next in line in 2019.
Preaching on the theme, he stressed that all Christians share a common identity in baptism, advising them not to take delight in titles but use them to serve for the good of society saying “when our titles get in the way of leadership of service, then there is something amiss”. He, therefore, urged Christians to be guided by the bad example of the Scribes and Pharisees who loved to sit in places of honour at banquets and in the synagogues and being called “Rabbi or Master”.
He likened a true leader to a disciple who follows Jesus’ example, saying like the Good Shepherd, he is ready to lay down his life for his sheep. He noted that all are equal before God but are called to serve our brothers and sisters in different capacities, adding that Pope Francis in his new directives for priestly formation, insists that future priests should always recall that their common baptismal vocations come before the distinctions in their ministries.
Bishop Baawobr subsequently blessed the Supreme Knight and his deputy and prayed for Mother Mary to intercede for the Supreme Knight to ensure his successful administration of the Noble Order.
In an address, the Supreme Knight pledged to make the Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES), the NGO wing of the Noble Order, the face of the Society and project it to attract more people to join its fold.
He similarly pledged to use MAREDES to fight the menace of modern day slavery such as child labour and trafficking where young and unsuspecting girls are lured to engage in menial jobs in the South but end up in prostitution as well as the commercialization of human beings which is gradually becoming a thriving business in the sub region and the Magreb region and called on Ghanaians to lend their support to make his vision a reality.
He urged Ghanaians to support the call of the Pope in his encyclical Laudoto Si, to care for the environment, our common home. In this regard, he entreated them to be mindful of the effect of their activities and its impact on the environment, advising them to desist from illegal mining popularly called galamsey, resulting in the pollution of water bodies and destruction of farm lands, indiscriminate felling of trees and disposal of plastic bags, etc.
The Supreme Knight disclosed that the environment will he high on the agenda of the 2018 Marshallan Re-union Conference to be held in Accra and urged Councils and Courts to in the very least, support the call to preserve the environment by wearing T-shirts in their outdoors activities bearing the inscription “say no to galamsey” as a means to sensitizing the citizenry.
On behalf of his family, the Supreme Knight donated four sets of chasubles to the Cathedral Parish which were received by Bishop Bawobr and the Cathedral Administrator.
STORY & PICTURES BY: BRO. FRANCIS E. MONNIE SUPPORTED BY BROS. OPHELIUS YINYEH, FIDELIS ABU AND SIS. ROSE MAALIWOMBU