The Bishop of the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate, the Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu, SVD, has encouraged Consecrated Men and Women to rekindle the spirit of community life that existed among the first Missionaries for a better support system.
Addressing the Religious at the 2023 celebration of the Day for Consecrated Life at St. Theresa Mission Station, Kwaekese in the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate on Saturday February 4, the Bishop said exhibiting missionary zeal, could make them carry on with the work entrusted to their care without anyone feeling overburdened.
Reflecting on the communitarian aspect of the consecrated life, he calling to mind, the fact that the Catholic Faith came to the Afram Plains through the efforts of the Divine Word Fathers, who lived in unity, connectedness, and had great community spirit which attracted some of them to become the consecrated persons that they are today.
He challenged the Religious to ask themselves whether in this day and age Consecrated Persons still had the qualities that could draw young people to their various Congregations.
The celebration of the Day for Consecrated Life which traditionally falls on the February 2 each year was shifted this year to Saturday February 4 for the Donkorkrom Apostolic Vicariate.
Religious Men and Women from various Congregations and Communities within the Vicariate congregated at St. Theresa Mission Station Kwaekese for the celebration which began with Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Asiedu.
Sr. Cecilia Kudexa of the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC) Congregations in a reflection urged Consecrated Men and Women to always remain in God’s love in order to bear fruits.
Reflecting on the theme: “Remain in God’s Love” from John 15:9, she entreated the Religious to continuously remain in God’s love to bear individual fruits.
The Religious collectively affirmed the need for Consecrated Persons to return to the initial zeal they had when they first received their calls and fan it into flame so that they can remain rooted in Christ.
They pledged to remain in God’s love in order to bear fruits and embrace all challenges that would come their ways as Religious, promising to surrender their all to Christ in whom they lived and have their being.
According to them, they would remain in God’s love by emulating Christ’s endurance even when the going gets tough.
By Sr. Sylvive Lum Cho, MSHR//Newswatchgh.com
