As part of the apostolates and mission of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC) to serve the poor and the marginalised in society, a five-member Committee in charge of Prisons Ministry in the Ho Diocese, visited the Ho Central Prison to share the love and joy of Christmas with the inmates.
Headed by Sr. Dr. Lucy Hometowu, the Superior General of the SMMC, the Sunday, December 25, 2022 visit during which the inmates were feted, was supported by Mr. Blaise Tony Hometowu, a friend of the SMMC, to reach out to the inmates and share a meal with them.
Four hundred and fifty-nine inmates; 450 males and nine females and officers on duty shared a meal together.
Rev. Fr. Francis Nana Eboo (Supt.), the Chaplain of the Prison received the gifts on behalf of the inmates and expressed gratitude to the Sisters for their kind initiative.
Some of the inmates were beamed with joy because society had not forgotten about them during the yuletide and asked for special prayers from the Sisters for God’s will to be done in their lives.
Fr. Eboo who had earlier welcomed the Sisters gave the inmates the opportunity to lead praises and worship session. In a moving moment, two of them took the readings for the day and Sr. Josephine Azigi, SMMC, shared a reflection on the Word of God.
She encouraged the inmates to be joyful because the birth of Christ was a wake-up call to all Christians, Muslims, Traditionalists as well as unbelievers to know that He is with us ‘Emmanuel’.
She stated: “we come to share the joy of Christ with you. His birth has brought light and this light gives hope. Be encouraged that God’s children are called to rejoice no matter the circumstances surrounding their lives. Christmas is all about sharing joy and love with one another.”
On her part, Sr. Hometowu, also shared a word with the inmates based on the gospel according to Matthew 25: 40 and emphasised that the gesture of visit was to remind them of how our Lord Jesus Christ lived.
According to her, Jesus shared the word of God with the multitude and later shares a meal with them: “breaking the Word and sharing a meal.”
The Superior General encouraged the inmates to be filled with love and to desist from making other inmates uncomfortable through pilfering.
She remarked: “Do not allow people to judge you based on your past but may they see a change in you and so give glory to God. We love and care for you. For ‘whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren’ says the Lord, you do it to Christ.”
She asked the inmate to pray for their benefactors and benefactresses for their benevolence.
In an interview, Mr. Hometowu shared his motivation for his support to the inmates through the SMMC, saying, “I have been blessed so much by the Lord and it is one of my smallest ways to say thanks to Him for His mercy.”
Mr. Hometowu’s gesture of generosity towards the marginalised in society is based on Matthew 25:40 “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me,” which is one of the charism of the SMMC; charity to the poor and marginalised.
In attendance with the Superior General were Srs. Margaret Mary Akordor, Arcade Eleeza, Grace Dakudedzi, Doris Mawuvi and Gifty Anastasia Blewu.
Coincidentally, the Sisters met the Deputy Director of Prisons, Mr. Martin Danku and the, CPS Francis Akakpo-Dotse, Second in command, who had come to check on the inmates and to share the joy of Christmas with them.
As a Religious Congregation in Ghana, the mission of the SMMC is to live in faith, simplicity, charity and sacrifice,
By Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu, SMMC//Newswatchgh.com
