IMCS Pax Romana Ghana Federation @ 75: Full Text-Petition to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference

PETITION FROM IMCS PAX ROMANA GHANA FEDERATION TO THE GHANA CATHOLIC BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 75^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FEDERATION IN GHANA

The leadership and members of the International Movement of Catholic Students (IMCS Pax Romana) present this petition to the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference as part of activities to celebrate the 75^th Anniversary of the Federation. This petition presents some challenges faced by Catholic Students and the Federation in the various tertiary institutions. It seeks to propose some recommendations for your consideration to help address these challenges for the greater growth of the Catholic Church in Ghana.

In coming out with this petition, two (2) virtual dialogue series were held with over 200 participants joining. The first dialogue series was on ‘The Exodus of the Youth from the Church: A Myth or a Reality? My role as a Catholic Intellectual’. The panelists for the first dialogue series were;

1. Fr. Michael Mensah (Lecturer – UG),
2. Fr. Anthony Afriyie Amponsah (Chaplain – IMCS Pax Romana UPSA Local),
3. Dennis Appiah-Sasraku (General Secretary – GHANCYC & National Coordinator – IMCS Pax Romana),
4. Peter Owusu Ansah (Pax Alumnus),
5. Ms Apoore Joycelyn Atanpokbila (Student).

The second dialogue series was on the topic, ‘Evolution of Pax Romana in Ghana, fortunes of the past, the present struggles and a hopeful future’. The panel members for this discussion were;

1. Mr Aaron Fenu (Former National Coordinator & Former Pan African Coordinator – IMCS Pax Romana)
2. Mr Victor Ayertey (Former National President & Former International Secretary General – IMCS Pax Romana)
3. Mr Elliot Awedana Akuna (Former Pax President – UG Local) and
4. Ms Delia Bandoh (Pax Alumnus & Public Health Professional).
5. Veronica Ayerki Ayertei (Student)

CHALLENGES

1. Lack of inclusion to exhibit God-given gifts in the church. There are too many bureaucracies to be followed for one’s gift to be validated and accepted to be practiced within the liturgy. This leads to many of youth leaving the church when their gifts are appreciated elsewhere.
2. Refusal of some priests to listen to the problems and challenges of the youth.
3. Logistical challenges in most parishes and school chaplaincies. Some institutions do not even have places of worship leading to some worshiping in make-shift structures, corridors and under tents. This is because some school authorities do not allow worship in lecture halls because of distant and weekend lectures.
4. Lack of pastoral care from most Diocesan Priests.
5. Some priests taking sexual advantage of the youth and students
6. Homilies not tailored to the need s of young people.
7. Lack of Chaplains in some institutions. Some institutions also have chaplains that are old and are not able to relate and meet the spiritual needs of students.
8. Maintaining a very strong Catholic presence on all campuses.
9. There is a growing number of needy students and the chaplaincies inability to support

most of them financially.

10. Lack of recognition by some universities for non-teaching chaplains
11. Accommodation challenges for chaplains.
12. Payment of ground rent to the tune of GHS 140,000 per year by the Legon Chaplaincy

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Seminary formation should be opened up to lay faithful in areas of theology, the bible and catechesis. The seminaries should run short courses in these areas during vacations for lay faithful.
2. Organization of Parish, Deanery and Arch/Diocesan Youth Camps to teach relevant topics affecting the youth and students.
3. Pay more attention to lay apostolate.
4. We propose the institution of permanent Deacons in Ghana.
5. Investing more in the talents of young people and create space to accommodate their gifts within the liturgy.
6. We need to start having the mindset of the minority as a church.
7. Create a ministry assigned to mixed marriages as most of the youth leave the church due to mixed marriages.
8. Institute the church’s own periodic census to confirm or debunk data brought out by the Ghana Statistical Service through the National Census.
9. Appointments of chaplains to institution who do not have chaplains. The religious priests, brothers and sisters could be requested to step in to support.
10. The Arch/Diocesan Arch/Bishop should personally negotiate with the authorities in various institutions for places of worship for the Catholic communities in the various institutions facing challenges with places of worship.
11. Request for a National Coordinator dedicated to only IMCS Pax Romana whose roles are not merged with other duties aside Pax.

CONCLUSION

These and many other challenges are faced by the youth of the various tertiary institutions in the country. We plead with the leadership of the Church to take measures to address the concerns of the youth of the Church as they are the pillar on which the future of the church lies.

We believe that if the considerations of the youth are taken into considerations, we are assured of the continuous growth of the church both spiritually and numerically.