STATEMENT BY THE KNIGHTS OF MARSHALL AFTER THE STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE SUPREME COUNCIL SECRETARIAT IN SEKONDI FROM 21ST – 23RD JUNE, 2019.

STATEMENT BY THE KNIGHTS OF MARSHALL AFTER THE STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD AT THE SUPREME COUNCIL SECRETARIAT IN SEKONDI FROM 21^ST – 23^RD JUNE, 2019.

INTRODUCTION:

We members of the Standing Committee of the Supreme Council of the Knights of Marshall, held our meeting from 21^st to 23^rd June, 2019 at the Supreme Council Secretariat in Sekondi. As part of the agenda were; Holy Mass, Spiritual Reflection, elevation of 18 Brothers including 9 Priests to the high rank of Past Supreme Knights. The Standing Committee considered and approved a “Policy on Safeguarding and Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults” in line with the directive from the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life at the Vatican.  There was also a talk on “Understanding and living the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church” which was delivered by Sir Kt. Bro. Sir Fosuaba Mensah-Banahene.

Having encountered the word of God, sacraments and reflected on:

1. The critical need for our life and actions to be governed by Christian values and the Social Doctrine of the church
2. The Biblical injunction not to be anxious and not be in two minds, and
3. The need for our total reliance on God for our strength and sustenance.

Having reflected on the fundamental principles of the Catholic Social Doctrine as an integral part of our faith; including primacy of the human being, common good, destination of created goods, solidarity, subsidiarity, participation, just wage, integrity of creation, sanctity of life, equality between man and woman, social justice and preferential option for the poor;

Convinced that by living the Gospel values and acting in consonance with the principles of the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church is a way to promote Integral Human Development and the Common Good so that no one is left behind in our Common Home.

COMMITMENT

We unconditionally commit to:

1. promoting social justice, charity and safeguarding especially children and vulnerable adults at all levels of the Noble Order and in the Communities that we serve.
2. undertaking sustained capacity building and formation of our Members to have deeper understanding of the social teaching of the church and how to apply these in our everyday lives towards creating more just and peaceful societies.
3. taking sustained actions to promote the integrity of creation, especially focusing on tree planting, education and awareness about sanitation, pollution and electronic waste management and the general promotion of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter Laudato Si. In this regard, the Noble Order has plans to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si in 2020 in partnership with other social groups in the Church.
4. Continuing to grow the Noble Order’s business portfolio, especially the Equity Development Consortium (EDeC) based on ethical business principles which is underpinned by the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and our Safeguarding Policies.

CONCLUSION:

The Standing Committee wish to re-echo the ecclesial identity of the Noble Order of the Knights of Marshall and our unalloyed obedience to the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.  We see the Catholic Social Doctrine to be an integral part of our faith and therefore commit to let this doctrine guide all our actions. We will continue to work in close collaboration with all our Bishops, the National Catholic Secretariat, the official development agency of the Bishops’ Conference – Caritas Ghana and other Agencies that demonstrate absolute respect for the Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church. We urge our humanitarian sector, the Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES) to continue to promote the common good through their social development, relief and advocacy activities.

Issued in Sekondi on 23^rd June, 2019 and signed by Sir Kt Bro. Ambrose Ankyebe Yennah, Supreme Knight.