The Catholic Professionals Guild on Thursday, December 12, 2024 gathered at Holy Spirit Cathedral to celebrate their annual thanksgiving Mass during which Auxiliary Bishop of Accra, the Most Rev. John Louis encouraged members of the Guild to be instruments for greater things, citing Moses and John the Baptist as examples.
“God may use us like Moses and John the Baptist for greater things for others. Let us avail ourselves like Moses and John the Baptist for God to accomplish greater things through us for the salvation and blessing for others,” Bishop Louis said his homily.
The Mass which was presided by the Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, CSSp, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, brought together Catholic Professionals from various fields to reflect on the blessings received throughout the year and to seek divine guidance for the New Year ahead.
Professional Guilds to attend the Mass include Catholic Association of Media Practitioners, Health Guild, Built Environment Guild, Hospitality Guild, Business Management and Finance Guild, Security Guild, Aviation, Maritime and Ports Guild and the Legal Guild.
Bishop Louis emphasized in his homily that though Moses and John the Baptist were great champions of God’s liberation, they did not experience the manifestation of God’s promise could not witness the divine and forgiving love of Christ.
Additionally, he encouraged the Catholic Professionals Guild to recognize God’s presence and blessings throughout their professional journey and asked them to be hopeful in the coming year.
“Beloved Professionals let us thank God for the gift of life. It is the Lord who has given us these days and He has prospered some of us the work we do. Those who have probably not enjoyed prosperity in the work, there is hope in the New Year”, he said.
Archbishop Kwofie in an exhortation thanked the Catholic Professionals for availing themselves to thank God for His manifold blessings bestowed on them.
He said it was a blessing to be with Catholic Professionals who are ready to inspire hope, calling for a down-top approach leadership to bring more professionals on board to appreciate their skills and talents.
As part of the Mass, Engineer Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, launched activities for the CPG for the year 2025, mentioning the first activity as the Catholic Professionals in Worship on January 11, 2025 at the St. Theresa Catholic Church at Kaneshie during which all Catholic music ministries and singers within the Church would perform; May Day Games and Business Fair on May 1, 2025 at the St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School and end of Year Thanksgiving Mass on December 11, 2025 at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.
Also, during the year, there would be weekly online Faith Conversations Arena where discussions are made on topical Church issues and quarterly professionals in prayer at the Holy Spirit Cathedral.
He called on all Catholic Professionals to avail themselves to participate in all activities put together for their spiritual growth and support for the Church.
Dame Dr. Mrs. Mary Anane Mensah shared her experience about the Catholic Professionals Guild’s funeral welfare policy to cater for the needs of members and their dependents.
As a beneficiary, she encouraged Catholic Professionals to enroll on the welfare policy.
The CPG of the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra in collaboration with Enterprise Life Insurance Company launched a welfare policy on February 16, 2024 at the Christ the Parish Hall at Cantonments, Accra.
The scheme, known as ‘Boafo Pa’, provides benefits between GH¢10,000 to GH¢15,000 for members in times of bereavement and severe illness.
The Catholic Professionals after the Mass donated some items from the offertory to the Sisters of Charity to support their work at Ashaiman.
In 2009, the Archdiocese of Accra held a Synod during which a plethora of issues were discussed and addressed. One of the Acts of the Synod advocated the revamping of existing Professional Guilds and the propagation of new ones to encompass all Catholic Professionals.
By Veronica Sena Amenya/Newswatchgh.com
