The Second Biannual Meeting of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Ghana (CMSRG) has opened at the Holy Cross Continuing Formation Centre, Brafoyaw-Cape Coast.
The Meeting being attended by about 70 Superiors of all Religious Congregations in the West African country of Ghana is on the theme: Working Together for a Sustainable, Peaceful and Corruption Free Ghana: Collaboration between CMSR-GH and Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
The Meeting was opened on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 with a talk on the theme by Very Rev. Fr. Michael Quaicoe, Director of Governance Justice and Peace at the National Catholic Secretariat, Accra.
Present at the opening ceremony were the Very Rev. Paul Saa-Dade Ennin, SMA, President of the Conference of Major Superiors Religious, Ghana and the Provincial Superior of the Society of African Missions (SMA) and Very Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Annan, the Vicar General of the Cape Coast Archdiocese.
In a goodwill message, Fr. Annan commended the leadership of Major Superiors for holding their meeting the caper Coast Archdiocese.
Sharing his views on recent happenings on the degradation of the environment, he condemned the pollution of water bodies and destruction of the environment through the activities of illegal mining.
He stressed on the need to intensify education on the dangers of environmental destruction since they did not start today.
He lamented that the wrongful activities of galamsey was taken an alarming proportion, saying “We can’t sit for some selfish few to destroy our water bodies and ecosystem.”
The Cape Coast Vicar General commended the leadership of the Conference of Major Superiors for the bold step in partnering the Archdiocese of Accra to organise a prayer walk as a contribution to fight against the galamsey menace.
He prayed that the Holy Spirit would journey with Catholics to embark on the Prayer Walk to fight the menace.
In his Goodwill Message, Friar Moses Kabenla Arthur, OFM Conv., President of the Association of Consecrated Men and Women Archdiocese of Cape Coast said “This meeting comes in a specific moment in the history of the Church, a moment of grace, as we prepare to celebrate the Holy Year, 2025, a Jubilee of the Lord which under the guidance of the Holy Father, Pope Francis is under the theme Pilgrims of Hope.”
He expressed joy that the Major Superiors have taken that theme and with inspiration from the Dicastery for Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life and attached to it, the Care of Creation-Protection of the Environment.
“This is definitely a timely theme, and a timely call especially in the history we are experiencing in Ghana as far as the destruction of the environment is concerned, and has been highlighted in the past weeks in a concerted effort by various stratums of Ghanaian society to fight the menace of galamsey,” he stated.
Friar Arthur noted that as far as sustainability is concerned in Ghana, “there is more to our problems than galamsey, but we are hoping that a victory against galamsey will inspire the efforts to fight against the destruction of the environment in other areas: waste disposal especially electronic waste and used clothing, the menace of plastic.”
In a welcome address, Fr. Ennin said “We gather today as champions of hope, unity, and transformation,” adding that theme embodies their shared dream for the nation where justice, compassion, and integrity thrive.
He said the theme is a combination of “Collaborative ministry” of the GCBC and the Jubilee theme of Care for creation-Protection of the environment which the Major Superiors have taken as our special battle cry for the Jubilee Year 2025.
According to him, in March this year, “we laid out our Jubilee Year activities with the passion prayer of the Psalmist “Send forth Your Spirit Oh Lord and Renew the Face of the earth” Psalm 104: 30.”
Since then, he noted “we have been faithful to our program – its launch on May Day in collaboration with the Catholic Professional Guild, followed by the Candle Light Procession in many Dioceses to promote care for the environment in June and ongoing Mini-Jubilee Celebrations for religious at Arch/Diocesan level.”
By Newswatchgh.com
