2017 REGIONAL CONFERENCES OF THE NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF MARSHALL
A MESSAGE BY THE SUPREME KNIGHT, SIR KT BRO. ERNEST AMOAKO-ARHEN
Dear Brothers and Sisters, I bring you greetings in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as you gather today for the 2017 Regional Conference.
I believe it is appropriate on this auspicious occasion to express my deepest appreciation and that of the Supreme Council to you all for your support and participation in the 90th Anniversary Celebration which was climaxed with a series of activities in Sekondi-Takoradi in November 2016.
Brothers and Sisters, you need not be reminded that the end of the 90th Anniversary Celebration last year has set the process for the commencement of our Centenary Anniversary planning process.
As we look forward to our Centenary Anniversary in 2026, it is important for us to do an internal and deep assessment of our operations and activities as a group with the sole objective of consolidating the dreams and aspirations of our illustrious 13 Founding Fathers.
THEME OF REGIONAL CONFERENCE
We have chosen as the theme for this year’s Marshallan Regional Conferences: A CALL TO UNITY, CHARITY, FRATERNITY AND SERVICE: THE ROLE OF THE MARSHALLAN
This theme is a call to action and an invitation to Marshallans to rededicate ourselves to the tenets of the Noble Order espoused on Unity, Charity, Fraternity and Service.
A CALL TO UNITY
As Marshallans we are enjoined to espouse Unity within and outside our Order. In other words, we have to constantly strive to work towards uniting all Marshallans, people within the Church and within our communities, as expressed in John17:21 – “That all May Be One”.
As Marshallans and as Catholics we have a duty to lift aloft the banner of the Noble Order at all times eliminating all forms of divisive tendencies within our ranks, within the Church and in our communities.
CHARITY
Our call to charity is a call not only in terms of giving handouts to people in distress. It is indeed a call to live right with others as a service to God: “Lord when did we see you naked and did not clothe you?” And he answered “as long as you did not do it to the least of these my brothers you did not do it for me”. Matthew 25: 44-45.
Charity includes showing kindness to others and being sensitive to the plight of others. Our charity should include offering prayers of intercession for others and wishing them well in all their endeavours. Let us remember that Jesus Christ entreats us to love our enemies and even pray for them. Matthew 5:44.
FRATERNITY
Dear Brothers And Sisters, our positive response to the call to Unity and Charity will, no doubt, promote fraternal relations in our cherished Noble Order and in our communities.
We tend to be apathetic to the misfortunes of others and sometimes refuse to stretch a finger to help. It is good to do charity in institutions for the vulnerable in society but it is equally important to look within and support our own Brothers and Sisters in distress.
SERVICE
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, the time is rife now as we begin the count to the celebration of the Centenary Anniversary of the Noble Order, to devote time to finding better ways of making ourselves relevant through enriching our response to the call to the Service. This new method should include a proactive response to people in need and to seek to live at peace with one another. We should all give without expecting to receive.
We should be our brother’s or sister’s keeper and seek at all times and within our limited strength, to look out for our brothers and sisters in need. We should, like Christ whom we serve, give up our comfort for the comfort of others and work to bring smiles on the faces of distressed and unfortunate members.
Brothers and Sisters, the Church needs us now more than ever before. As soldiers of the Church, Marshallans should be at the forefront of all Church projects and to support the clergy and the religious in their evangelization work.
COUNCIL ONE BANQUET RENOVATION
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, let me remind you that work is far advanced on the Banquet Hall Facility of our premier council, COUNCIL ONE, SEKONDI. Your financial and physical support would be required towards the early completion of this project. I therefore appeal to you to consider making known the levels of your contributions to the Supreme Council as soon as possible.
CONCLUSION
Dear Brothers and Sisters, on this note I would appeal to you all to heed the recent call by our President H.E Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo Addo to be citizens and not subjects. We have to engage actively in political and social discourses aimed at ensuring that we have a peaceful, equitable and just society. We should make our voices heard on all issues that would enhance the growth and development of our dear country.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I wish you a very successful deliberation. May God bless us all.
LONG LIVE THE NOBLE ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS AND LADIES OF MARSHALL!!
LONG LIVE THE HOLY MOTHER THE CATHOLIC CHURCH!!!
26TH May, 2017