Massachusetts to host Ghanaian Catholics in USA

The Ghanaian Catholic Laity Council of New York, New Jersey and New England will hold its first ever Convention/Retreat on Saturday, August 11, 2007.

The St Bernard’s Catholic Church in Worcester, Massachusetts will host this convection, which would bring together Ghanaian Catholics from seven apostolates, which constitute the Laity Council.

Attending are representatives from St Mary’s Apostolate - Newark, New Jersey, St. Catherine of Genoa Apostolate - Brooklyn, New York, St. Benedict the Moor Apostolate-Queens, New York, St Margaret Mary and Christ the King Apostolates from Bronx, New York, St Mary’s Apostolate from East Hartford, Connecticut, and the St Peter’s Parish- Worcester, Massachusetts.

The convention, under the theme “You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world” would afford delegates the opportunity to pray for peace and unity among all Catholics and Ghanaians, as well as sharing in their faith.

The Laity Council was formed in 1998 to foster unity and cooperation among Ghanaian Catholic communities in the tri-state of New York, New Jersey and New England, as well as to coordinate the activities of various Ghanaian Catholic apostolates.

It also promotes Ghanaian Catholic presence in the local areas/dioceses, and serves as a link between Ghanaian Catholic Communities in the United States of America and local churches in Ghana.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference serves as the pillar between this link, and periodically positions itself to resolve disputes, problems and other issues between sister communities and matters of faith to facilitate spiritual advancement.

The Chairman of the Council is Anthony Boadu.

Explaining further the rationale behind the convention, Boadu said “as Christians, there is the need for us to meet from time to time to take stock of our lives, our relationship with Christ and with society”.

He said Christians should let their lives be symbols of peace and love, devoid of discrimination and uncontrolled craving for wealth. These, he said, divert their focus from faith to worldly adventures that are of no use to humanity.

Boadu also explained that the convention would afford the delegates an opportunity to dedicate themselves to prayer as a means to solidify christian morality.

Rev Fr Paul Baffour-Awuah, Chaplain to the Council in his contribution admonished Christians to fulfill the mandate to bring peace and liberty to humanity, and to nourish their belief in God.

He gave the assurance that by the end of the convention, delegates will adopt good community relationship to enable them live in peace with society.

Baffour-Awuah also urged Catholics to regard the church as a family of God and work hard to ensure its growth and stability through God’s blessings, reconciliation, justice and peace.