A Jubilee of Thanksgiving, Reflection and a Roadmap for the Next 55 Years
“What would the Church be without you?” This is the question Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso asks at the very start of his goodwill message to the Catholic Mothers’ Association (CMA) of St. Peter’s Parish, Abuakwa, as they mark 55 years of grace.
Writing from Italy where he serves as Chaplain of the Holy Family Ghanaian Catholic Community Church, Fr. Kyei Danso says the question hangs in the air like burning incense.
“Most beloved and cherished Mothers, what would the Church be without you? How can we begin, nurture, and sustain the domestic Church – the Church that begins in the home and grows into the wider parish community – without the invaluable contribution of mothers?” he asks.
For 55 years, he notes, the CMA of Abuakwa has provided the answer – in prayer, in service, in sacrifice that rarely makes headlines but always holds the parish together.
This weekend, under the theme “Behold, The Handmaid Of The Lord. Let It Be Done Unto Me According To Your Word!” (Luke 1:38), Fr. Kyei Danso has written what is both theology and tribute. And his first word is simply: “Ayekooooo!”
A Jubilee Is More Than A Party
A jubilee, he reminds them, is not just drumming and dancing. Biblically, it is thanksgiving, sober reflection and introspection.
For Abuakwa CMA, that story begins with a German volunteer and a handful of women who said yes when it was not fashionable to do so – women who established the Association not just in Abuakwa, but throughout the entire Nyinahini Deanery. Women whose names must not be forgotten.
Why God Still Needs Mothers
Fr. Kyei Danso introduces what he calls the Principle of Sacramentality – why God, who is all-powerful, chooses to work through human beings. Like a teacher who invites a brilliant student to explain a complex topic in simple language, God chose to involve the Blessed Virgin Mary.
“Through her free and faithful consent, Mary became the Mother of Jesus Christ… Mary did not save humanity independently of Christ; rather, by God’s grace, she cooperated uniquely in His saving plan,” he writes.
The Yes That Cost Everything
Dissecting Mary’s fiat, he notes her yes was selfless, risky, and trusting – a pregnancy that in her cultural context could expose her to shame.
He draws parallels to modern struggles: trusting a best friend who betrays you, forgiving when dismissal from work was orchestrated by a colleague who is also a parishioner.
“How can you trust people when you discover that your dismissal from work was carefully orchestrated by your best friend, who is also a fellow parishioner and colleague? It takes grace to trust again,” he says.
Mary’s trust, like Abraham’s (Genesis 12:1-4), led her to the foot of the Cross (John 19:25-27). He then asks mothers: “Can we also trust Christ in seemingly hopeless situations? Can we love our children enough to correct them firmly and responsibly, rather than blindly defending them when they are in the wrong?”
What Next After 55?
Fr. Kyei Danso proposes five concrete steps:
1. Honour the pioneers: Establish a small memorial for the women who founded and spread the Association in the Nyinahini Deanery.
2. Stay loyal to the bigger family: Remain committed to the CMA of the Archdiocese of Kumasi and support projects like the Archdiocesan School at Akropong and the National Office in Accra.
3. Grow and empower: Find welcoming ways to increase membership and empower mothers with vocational skills for financial self-reliance.
4. Build something that lasts: Create a sustainable, transparent, income-generating venture that reflects Christian values.
5. Heal the wounded: Open a counselling office within the deanery for mothers who are embittered, traumatised or stressed – working with qualified professionals and respecting Church teachings.
He ends with celebration: “Beloved Mothers of our lovely and vibrant St Peter’s Parish, Abuakwa, as I join the National President, who also serves as the Archdiocesan President, and her able team in celebrating this milestone, I say to you: Ayekooooo!”
“May the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and your patroness, continue to intercede for you… Remember the past with gratitude, live the present with great joy, and move into the future with hope.”
Source: Goodwill Message by Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei Danso on the occasion of Abuakwa CMA @ 55
