At the Opening Mass of the 9th West African Summit of the Knights of St. John International held at St. Joseph Parish , Capitol Hill, Very Rev. Fr. (Brigadier General) Dennis C. Nimene, the Spiritual Director of the Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Liberia in his homily has called on Brothers and Sisters in the Noble Order to defend and promote the Catholic faith.
He highlighted the importance of the unity of the Catholic church, stating, “The church professes one faith. No one is a stranger in the Catholic Church. Once you are a Catholic, wherever you go, you’re welcome.”
Rev. Fr. (Brigadier General) Dennis C. Nimene, who is also the Secretary General of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Liberia emphasized on the importance of participating in the synodal process, encouraging all to be active participants and to leave no one behind.
Reflecting on the gospel reading, he explained the journeys of St. Paul and encouraged all Brothers and Sisters to take up the responsibility of defending and promoting the Catholic faith. He said, “Against all odds and challenges, they were going by way of the sea and sometimes by road because they were convinced of something that propelled them to go out from their comfort zones to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth”.
He also added, “Today my dear people, this mission invites us and it is part of our responsibility as a local church, as a regional church to carry out this mission. I often say we owe it to the great men and women of faith that speaks for this faith. It makes this faith alive. ”
During his homily, Fr. Nimene recounted Pope Paul VI’s exhortation in Uganda in 1975, where he called on all Africans to become missionaries in their own communities.
He added, “… to tell us that as a church, it is time for us as Africans to promote this faith, to hold this faith that the first missionaries brought like Paul and his companion’s defended.”
Fr. Nimene urged members of the Knights of St. John International and Ladies’ Auxiliary to remain steadfast in promoting and defending their faith.
He noted , “…we should never give up in the promotion of and defense of this faith, the famous Catholic hymn: Faith of our Fathers , the faith for which our ancestors died, still living strong, still going in spite of dangers and sword and we carry the swords, that is what we are called to do.”
The West African Summit which is took place at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, Monrovia, Liberia is reflecting on the theme, “Bridging Differences, Empowering Together”.
Countries present at the 9th West African Summit include Ghana, Nigeria, Togo, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
By: Veronica Sena Amenya//Newswatchgh.com
