INSTALLATION ADDRESS BY MRL SIS GRACE BUDU-SMITH
ON SATURDAY, 23RD SEPTEMBER, 2017
AS THE 23RD GRAND LADY OF LADIES OF MARSHALL
AT THE CHRISTIAN VILLAGE, KUMASI.
Supreme Director, Sir Kt. Veteran Bro. Cdr. Dr. E. S. K. Kwaw, lnstallation Officer; MRL Sis Dame Theresa Pobee, lnstallation Secretary; MRL Sis Margaret Gaisie – Essilifie; lnstallation Sentry; MRL Sis Victoria Yellu, Rev. Fathers, Supreme Knight, Most Respected Ladies, Sir Knights, Respected Ladies, and dutiful Officers of the Noble Order; I thank the Almighty God for making it possible for us to be here today to witness my installation as the 23rd Grand Lady of the Noble Order of the Ladies of Marshall. I thank Him especially for bringing me this far and for the good things He continuous to do in my life. Yes, they that wait upon the Lord always renew their strength (Isaiah 43:34), and because Christ lives, we are seeing today, we shall see tomorrow and the days ahead. AMEN!!
Rev. Fathers, Senior Officers, I welcome you all and register my sincere thanks to you for being here in your numbers to share this great and memorable day with me. There are some of you here, that no amount of words used can be enough to show my appreciation to you. Your prayers, pieces of advice, warm and inviting smiles; your words of encouragement as well as sacrificing both human and material resources to make this day possible, cannot be catalogued. May God bless you all.
Supreme Director; Installation Team; all protocol observed, my vision is not different from that of my predecessors. Already, structures and organizational systems are in place and I will continue to strengthen these exiting structures and ensure that the systems in place work efficiently and effectively. My vision, mission, value statements and activities that will engage my team and l for the next two years (2017-2019) have all been outlined in the brochure and l will plead with you to read the Brochure when you are given. Everything has been simply explained to make reading interesting. Please do not put them away as we normally do and forget about it.
- The issues discussed include: Upholding and Promoting the Tenets of the Noble Order which are Unity, Charity, and Service.
- Our Noble Order has been built on these values, I will therefore plead with all to live up to these values in our daily lives as Marshallans, so that, these values will not only be professed by mere lip service; but internalized to characterize our individual and collective lives.
- Promoting Unity among Sisters:-
The precursor of true unity among any group of people is love, and by love, l mean genuine concern for the well-being of one another, where the joys and sorrows of one is that of all; where we all support the growth and success of one another and rejoice when there is an achievement. Where all seek the prospects that unite the group instead of those that divide us. In this way, one can say to one another, “l am because we are; and you are because l am.” 1.
Sisters, unity is strength, let us therefore bury petty squabbles, love each other and allow peace prevail whenever and wherever we meet.
I urge our overseas branches to promote unity and peace among members. We assure you of our continuous support and fraternity to collaborate with all of you in Togo, Benin, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Cote D’voire and United Kingdom to move the Noble Order forward.
- Sisters’ Welfare:
There are many Sisters who due to age, health or financial challenges are not able to attend meetings regularly. I suggest that Regional Noble Ladies and Noble Ladies invite them periodically together with other Sisters, pray with them, celebrate Masses with them, interact with them on social issues and share a meal with them in addition to seasonal visits as done in some Courts.
- CHARITY WORKS:
We should continue to do our charity works and include our own members who need support one way or the other. This time round, let us roll out with more comprehensive charity works in collaboration with MEREDES on Regional basis and involve the Priests in charge of some of the vulnerable roups. For instance, in Ghana, Rev. Fr. Campbell has been handling Leprosarium issues and Mgsr. Rev. Fr. Bobby Benson is for ‘’Mathew 25’’, an HIV/AIDS Programme at Koforidua in the Eastern Region for impactful results.
- DEPENING THE SPIRITUALITY OF SISTERS:
Many of us complain of paying lots of money but not really gaining spiritually. I urge all of you especially those of us in leadership positions to explain and teach the spiritual dimensions of our Rituals at Court meetings, and intensify the study of Mystic Psychology Course. I charge our Noble Ladies to do more spiritual and religious activities both within the Court chamber and outside. They should design programs that emphasize our Spirituality through lectures, retreats, intellectual debates, discourse on the social Teachings of the Catholic Church, organize Formation and Holy Masses at Court meetings.
- MEMBERSHIP DRIVE / TWINING PROGRAM:
Membership Drive and Consecration of Courts will continue but concerntrate more on the sustainability of the existing Courts, especially the newly consecrated ones. In this regard, I want to encourage a Twining Program whereby, bigger, stronger and well established Courts will twin up (adopt or pair-up) with the younger, smaller and weaker Courts within the same Region or outside to support them through educational programs; assist them to implement programs and activities of the Noble Order; organize workshops for them on spiritual development; help them understand our rituals; code of ethics and help solve their social and financial challenges for them to be
on their feet. In a way, to mentor the smaller, young Courts and encourage dispensation of ideas to strengthen our fraternity. 2.
In this regard I will charge our Regional Noble Ladies to see to the successful implementation of the program. Reports on the activities of the Twining Program should reflect in their reports to Grand Court.
- EXISTING PROJECTS AND PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE – GRAND COURT SECRETARIAT
- My dear Sisters, in addition to the Twenty Ghana Cedis (GH¢20.00) Levy per sister per year which we all feel comfortable with, we have to re-double our efforts by making additional but voluntary individual and group contributions to support this special project otherwise, it will be left ad infinitum.
It is my fervent prayer that the Grand Court project will reach an appreciable level by the time I bow out as Grand Lady. A pledge form would be designed to give to all Regional Noble Ladies and Noble Ladies as well as some individuals including both Brothers and Sisters at a later date. On this note l’m donating Five thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢5,000.00) to support the Grand Court Project.
Sisters, we are a charitable organization therefore we should make yearly fund raising activities compulsory to enhance our financial situations. Fund raising activities such as organizing Dinner Dances, Gospel Concerts, Fun Fairs, as well as seeking support from corporate organizations and philanthropists, should be looked at. Organizing such fund raising activities will help ease the financial burden on Sisters.
- Re-evangelization:
In trying to carry out re-evangelization in our respective Countries we must bear in mind social issues such as; Domestic Violence against women, Child Labour, Early Marriages for adolescent girls, Widowhood Rites and menace of HIV/AIDS and Trokosi in our various Countries. We should team up with other NGOs for instance National Council of Catholic Women (NCCW) in Ghana and its International body; World Union of Catholic Women Organization (WUCWO), which have been dealing with some of these social challenges to educate people in our communities. It is better to educate them so that they do not suffer from these social devices, than to wait for them to suffer or experience any of these especially HIV/AIDS before visiting them and donate money or other basic needs. I plead with our Noble Ladies and the Regional Noble Ladies to contact leaders of such organizations in their Parishes and work with them on these issues, whilst playing your part in the Re-Evangelization Program.
- Reporting system:
A Template for Reporting will be introduced. All Regional Reports must be in that format when Reporting to the Grand Court. This will make monitoring and evaluation of activities simple and easy.
- The Junior Order:
The Youth need a solid foundation for the future. We will therefore continue to support
them to build a bright future, to enable them harness their respective talents and abilities through educational programs. I urge the Adult Courts and Councils to continue 3.
to provide maximum financial and moral support to them and in addition encourage them to be involved in spiritual and formation programs.
- Best Court Award:
This will be continued and the Twinning Programme will be one of the criteria for selection.
- Cross Cutting Issues:
These are issues of great concern to our past and present Popes. They include Human Trafficking, Migration, Tribal Conflicts, Civil Wars, Child Labour, the Environment, Human Ecology, Climate change and many others. All these have negative impact on our societies and communities when not properly handled. I will urge all of you, my dear officers, that anytime you get the opportunity to mount a platform as a Marshallan, try to educate people including our members on the effects of these issues when not cared for.
- Marshallan Reunion Conference:
The 9TH Marshallan Reunion Conference will be held in Accra on July, 2018 and we should all prepare to take active part.
Detailed programme will be drawn later for your information.
- 50th Anniversary Celebration of Ladies of Marshall:
The Ladies of Marshall of the Noble Order of Knights and Ladies of Marshall will be 50 years in December 2019.
A comprehensive programme will be drawn to make the celebration an impactful one.
All Courts are urged to prepare themselves to participate fully in the celebration of the Golden Jubilee.
Conclusion:
My dear sisters we have inherited a legacy of a strong vibrant society in the Catholic Church in West Africa and the United Kingdom. We must therefore work to ensure we leave a better legacy for the young ones who will take up the mantle after us.
Let us, as one family, work in harmony to sail this great Noble Order smoothly to its destination whilst resolving to maintain the Marshallan Society as the greatest Order of the Holy Mother, the Catholic Church.
Thank you for your patience and attention.
Long live the Holy Mother, the Catholic Church
Long live the Noble Order of the
Knights and Ladies of Marshall in
West Africa and the United Kingdom.
God bless you All. AMEN!!