The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, the Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski, has advised Major Superiors of Religious Men and Women in Ghana to adhere to their rules, regulations and charism upon which their congregations were founded.
“I encourage you to be faithful to your Rule and Constitutions and to your Charism, the Nuncio advised when he opened the Bi-annual Meeting of Conference of Major Superiors, Ghana at Koforidua on October 12, 2022.
“It is very good to remember the need for constant reference to the Rule, because in the Rule and in the Constitutions, there is a map for the whole journey of discipleship in accordance with a specific charism of your congregation confirmed by the Church,” the Nuncio said.
According to the Nuncio “This way of following translates the particular interpretation of the Gospel given by the founders and foundresses as the result of a particular prompting of the Spirit and it helps the members of the Institute live concretely according to the Word of God.”
Archbishop Jagodzinski referred the Religious Leaders of Pope Francis’ Apostolic Constitution, Praedicate Evangelium, concerning the reform of the Roman Curia promulgated on March 19 2022.
According to the Nuncio, at the beginning of this document, the Holy Father speaks of the Missionary conversion of the Church: “The Church’s missionary conversion” aims to renew her as a mirror of Christ’s own mission of love. For you religious, it is a call for renewal that you will truly be a shining mirror of Christ’s own mission of love.”
“Reflecting on those inspiring words of Pope Francis being said above can help you for this renewal,” the Nuncio noted.
He reminded the Consecrated men and women that one of the Church’s renewals that Pope Francis launched was the Church Synodal Journey, saying, “Talking of the significance of this Church Synodal Journey to the Religious, Pope Francis addressed the International Union of Superiors General (UISG) on 5th May of this year that “In addition to actively participating in the synodal process at the local Church level, it is very important that communities, congregations, make their own synodal journey.”
The Nuncio indicated that the Pope was counting that the synodal process being experienced in the local Church might also take place in every institution where everyone listen to each other, to hear what God was saying to all of them.
He told the Major Superiors that the Synodal process provides an opportunity for ‘young and old to exchange their wisdom and visions of consecrated life, saying “ I reiterate the call of Pope Francis to each one of you here to let the synodal process take place in your communities and in your conference.”
The four-day Meeting from October 11 to 14, was attended by Superiors of all Religious Congregations working in Ghana led by Sr. Mercy Boateng, SSL, President of the Conference of Major Superiors, Ghana. At the opening ceremony was Msgr. Francis Twum-Barimah, Vicar General of the Diocese of Koforidua who represented the local Ordinary.
The Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana made up of both men and women leaders of the Catholic Religious Congregations in Ghana was established on August 23, 2013 when Rome recognized the group as a body in the church in Ghana.
The Conference composed of about seventy (70) members of both religious men and women is aimed at promoting deeper collaboration between the leaders of the congregations in Ghana.
Story and photos by Damian Avevor//Robert Mawuenyegah, Koforidua
