The Parish Priest of Our Lady of Assumption (OLA) Catholic Church, New Achimota, Accra, Rev. Fr. Francisco Machado, MCCJ, has advised executives and members of the newly constituted Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) to lead exemplary lives for the people they have been chosen to serve.
“As PPC members, you must be men and women of God and a light to the Community you are chosen to serve,” he told the new Councillors in a homily on Sunday, January 15, 2023.
The Councillors which is mandated to serve a two-year term (2023-2024) has the following as executive Committee members: Mr. Tobechukwu Odezue, Chairman; Mrs. Ernestina Safoa Osei-Tutu Dossah, Vice Chairperson; Ms. Angela Ofosu Boateng, Secretary and Mrs. Pannel Kesewaa Asiamah, Assistant Secretary.
Committee Chairpersons are: Mr. David Halm, Liturgical; Mr. Solomon Torkutsah, Laity and Catechetical; Mr. James Simpson, Youth and Education; Mr. Nana Boateng, Vocations, Marriage and Family Life; Mrs. Veronica Owusu, Welfare and Health; Mrs. Jemima Gardemor, Justice, Peace and Security; Mr. Damian Avevor, Media Publicity, PA Systems and Projections; and Ms. Catherine Glah, Social Events.
He reminded the 24-member Councillors that their membership of the PPC was a ministry they had to cherish, adding, “Everybody has a vocation and each is charged with a responsibility.”
Fr. Machado asked them take prayer seriously, urging them intensify their personal relationship with God should be intensified.
He alerted the Councillors that the spiritual formation was essential to have a formidable PPC, reminding them again that “Church is all about the salvation of souls, helping others to seek and find the way to Jesus.”
Inducting the PPC Executives, Committee Chairpersons and the members, the parish Priest said “Your office is sacred by reason of its importance not only to this parish’s welfare, but also to the extension of the Kingdom of God here on earth.”
“Be mindful that this parish does not belong to you; it belongs to Christ alone, and you are only stewards of His property,” he noted.
He told them that their office gives the opportunity “to serve God, the faithful of parish, and the world for which Jesus Christ died, and rose again, in imitation of that same Christ Who came, not to be served, but to serve.”
He prayed that through the guidance of God, the new Pastoral Councillors would become faithful servants in the dedication of their time, talents, and treasure to the well-being of the Church.
The Parish Pastoral Council is a consultative body, pastoral in nature, because it strives to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit among God’s people in the Parish.
A Parish Pastoral Council gives its help to the pastor in fostering pastoral activity; it investigates, under the authority of the pastor, all those things which pertain to pastoral works to ponder them, and to propose practical conclusions about them.
It is essential that Council meetings occur in the context of prayer and openness to the Holy Spirit, so that at all times the common good will prevail.
Fr. Machado also inaugurated the Parish Finance Committee which had a mandate of assisting the pastor in the administration of parish temporal matters.
He reminded that an active, well-formed Parish Finance Committee was a key element for promoting the financial health of a parish, assuring accountability and assisting the pastor with his temporal responsibilities.
The members are Mr. Paschal Kpiinzie, Finance; Mr. Eric Harrison Mante, Fundraising; Mr. Yaw Kusi Abebrese, Infrastructural, Development and Maintenance; and Ms. Belinda Dzisam, Audit.
