The Parish Priest of the St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Ho, Rev. Monsignor Cletus Egbi, has challenged Catholics to aspire to inspire before they expire.
He stressed that the many people who were now referred to as Saints did not have to do great miraculous deeds, but did the simple things in a dedicated way and lived holy lives.
Holiness, Monsg. Egbi emphasised, was not far from every Christian as doing the simple things in a dedicated way could earn one entry into the Kingdom of God.
Thanksgiving mass
The Reverend Monsignor said this when he delivered the homily at a Thanksgiving Mass held for MRL Sis. Alice Stella Ayebi, the recently installed 22nd Grand Lady of the Noble Lady of Knights and Ladies of Marshall at the St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Dome-Ho on Sunday, November 1, 2015.
The Mass was attended by three Substantive Immediate Past Grand Ladies, namely MRL Sis. Margaret Gaisie-Essilfie, MRL Sis. Victoria Yellu, MRL Sis. Janet Edith Mmieh and the reigning Supreme Knight, Sir Kt. Bro. Ernest Amoako-Arhen and two substantive Immediate Past Supreme Knights, namely Sir Kt. Bro. Anthony Cobla Kemevor and Sir Kt. Bro. Derx Baffour. Also in attendance were over 200 brothers and sisters from Council and Courts in the South Volta and North Volta Regional Council and Courts, and some members of the Standing Committee of the Grand Court.
Concelebrating the Mass were Sir Kt. Bro. Rev. Monsg. Hillary Senoo, a retired priest of the Ho Diocese and a Past Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Marshall; W/Bro. Francis Buor, a teacher at St. Hubert’s Seminary/Senior High School in Santasi-Kumasi; W/Bro. Anthony Godslove Agbeku-Yevu, Assistant Administrator of Sacred Heart Cathedral, Ho and Regional Chaplain of North Volta Regional Council; Rev. Fr. Agbodza, Secretary to the Bishop of the Ho Diocese; Rev. Fr. Yevu, a retired priest and Rev. Fr. Agbo Yaw, a retired priest based in Ho.
Feast of All Saints
The Rev. Monsg. Cletus Egbi, in his homily which focused on the Feast of the All Saints pointed out that the day marked a celebration of the life of all Catholics.
The Reverend Monsignor condemned those theologians who referred to Revelation 7:4 which mentioned 144,000 persons who had God’s seal on their forehead as the only persons marked to be saved.
He said those theologians fail to refer to Revelation 7:9 in which the Apostle John said “After this I looked, and there was enormous crowd—no one could count all the people”.
Rev. Monsg. Egbi emphasized that entering the Heavenly Jerusalem was opened to all who faithfully followed the Lord Jesus Christ and bear with all the tribulations of life. Indeed every human being is created in the image of God and thus has the same possibility of inheriting the Kingdom.
Award to Grand Lady
During the Mass a plaque with the Apostolic blessing of his Holiness Francis and invoking abundant divine graces was awarded to MRL Sis. Alice Stella Ayebi. The St. Cecilia Parish also presented a citation to MRL Sis. Ayebi. The citation noted that she had been a staunch member of the Church since its inception in 1975. She had contributed immensely in diverse ways to make parish programmes successful. She led women of the parish in playing vital roles during important parish/church programmes. She often voluntary released canopies and chairs from her rental shop for use during church programmes without a fee.
For her services, the church described her as hardworking, a person endowed with organizational skills, one who exhibit a spirit of confidence and perseverance when confronted with a task to perform and a woman who never despaired nor gave up till successful with whatever good plans she set to achieve.
Reception After Mass
After Mass, guests and brothers and sisters of the Noble order were hosted by the Grand Lady to a reception at the GNAT Hall in Ho The function there was chaired by Sir Kt. Bro. Anthony Cobla Kemevor.
Report by Bro. Kojo T. Vieta, PGA/RADV