Bishop Boi-Nai worried about increasing evil in society
BY: FRANCIS E. MONNIE
THE Bishop of the Yendi Diocese, Most Rev. Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai (SVD), has decried the increasing trend of social evil in society, attributing it to non-adherence to God’s Commandments.
“People were no longer afraid perpetrating evil, including killing to acquire personal wealth, stealing, lying or causing harm to others”.
Most Rev Boi-Nai said this in a homily at the Our Lady of Lourdes Cathedral in Yendi during the commemoration of Sir James Marshall Day.
Marshallans from Councils 27 and 102 and Courts 12 and 102 of the Knights and Ladies of Marshall and the Junior Councils and Courts, 14J Queen of Heaven and 80J Gate of Heaven in Tamale joined parishioners at the Cathedral in a bid to expand the Society to the Diocese, the only one in the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province without a Marshallan presence.
The Bishop, who was the Principal Celebrant, centred his homily on four sub themes namely: the need for prayers, walking in the light of the Holy Spirit, keeping the Commandments of God and practising the virtue of mercy
Most Rev Boi-Nai also expressed disgust at the practice of occultism, lamenting that even some people who purport to profess the Christian faith, still wore talismans around their waists in the false belief that it gave them power and protection.
He challenged Catholics to cultivate the habit of prayer as through prayer, they acknowledge God’s greatness as source of all things and above all as their Saviour.
He, however, lamented people’s negative attitudes to prayer as they saw prayer as a burden while others took to prayer only when they were confronted with danger.
Bishop Boi-Nai urged Christians to practice the virtue of mercy by being sensitive towards people in pain and not close their eyes to suffering around them in this Jubilee Year of Mercy.
He also entreated them to learn to forgive, pointing out that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness. He observed that ironically, people find it difficult to forgive and yet in the Lord’s Prayer, pray asking God for forgiveness.
He therefore tasked Christians to ask God to endow them with a merciful heart to forgive others.
Earlier, the Administrator of the Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Jonas Kuubeta Wazini had welcomed the visiting Marshallans, expressing delight at the visit of such a large contingent to the Cathedral.
He lamented, however, the saga of frequent transfers which left the local Church in Yendi bereft of much needed dedicated lay persons as most parishioners are government workers who are not indigenes of the Diocese.
He therefore appealed to the Society to undertake regular visits to the Diocese to encourage and inspire the people.
On behalf of his colleagues, Bro. Peter Yaro, who is the Grand Knight of Council 27, Tamale, presented a cash donation of GH¢1,000.00 from the visiting Marshallans to the Church which was received by the Cathedral Administrator.
Bishop Boi-Nai expressed profound gratitude for the gesture and for the choice of his Diocese for the celebration of a stalwart in the history of the Church. He disclosed that plans were under way to expand and refurbish the Cathedral and also develop a grotto the Diocese recently established at Sheini near Zabzugu to provide a conducive prayer centre for pilgrims and appealed to the Marshallans for support towards these efforts. He also extended an invitation to them to visit the grotto.