'Let Your Faith Shine'

Rev. Mgr. Francis Abuah Quansah, Delegate of the Apostolic Administrator of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese has charged Catholic women to internalise the values of compassion and mercy in their hearts and shine as a light in their families and in society.

Msgr. Abuah Quansah who compared the ideal Catholic woman to the Good Samaritan, urged women to be compassionate towards their neighbours as well as show respect and dignity to all.

The Apostolic Delegate made these remarks in a homily at a thanksgiving Mass to climax the 8^th Biennial Congress of the St. Theresa of the Child of Jesus Society of the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese at the St. Matthew Parish, Tarkwa. 

As women of character and women who matter in our society, the Apostolic Delegate reminded women them of the mission Jesus Christ entrusted to them to be the salt and light of the world.

Concelebrants at the well-attended Mass included Rev. Fr. Clement Kwasi Adjei, Director of the Directorate of Good Governance, Justice and Peace at the National Catholic Secretariat, Rev. Fr. Nii Noi Dowunor, Parish Priest of St. Matthew Church, Rev. Fr. Isaac Atta-Mensah, Diocesan Spiritual Director of the Society and Rev. Fr. Micheal Blay Morkeh, Tarkwa Denary Spiritual Director of the Society. 

Very Rev. Fr. Bonaventure Annan, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, speaking on theme of the Congress: The Ideal Catholic Woman as the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World in the 21^st Century, entreated women to emulate the virtues of St. Theresa and let their faith shine in their conduct and character.

He urged Christians especially women to excel in their good works and never get tired of doing little things for others, adding that Christianity is a practice that must be seen in our lives and not only in the Church.

The Vicar General said as ideal Catholic women, they have a role to protect their families and ensure the sanctity of the marriage as well as preserve human life at all stages.

Fr. Annan, observed that the greatest challenge of Christians today is the temptation to go with the crowd and the tendency to lose their values and self-worth with the current challenges confronting our society but stated that the ideal Catholic woman should not conform to the world but transformed by the enlightenment of the Word of God.

Noting that life was a challenge, the Vicar General urged Catholic woman to be the flavour of life and endeavour to bring some modicum of joy that enhances the quality of people, especially among the vulnerable and marginalized in the society.

He said the ideal catholic woman is a special one who goes to Mass and involves herself in all the churches activities, preserve and protects her family as well as preserves the environment from degradation.

Over 900 delegates from 59 branches of the society in the Diocese participated in the 4-day Congress, held at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa.

Dignitaries including traditional authorities with their retinue, Priests and the Religious, as well as Government officers and well-wishers,  graced the opening of the Congress.

Tεtrεtε Okuamoah Sekyim II, Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, who commended the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society for their efforts, urged them to continue striving to be the ideal Catholic women.

He said the need for the ideal Catholic woman to be the salt and light in the world was a wakeup call to all Christians to rethink their actions and attitudes.

The Omanhene who asked Christians to be firm in their faith stressed the need for them to practicalise their faith and emulate the virtues of St. Theresa.

Similarly, Mr. Albert Kennedy Asmah, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly in a remark commended the Catholic Church and members of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Society for their commitment to development, assured the public that the Tarkwa and Ahwetiaso road under construction would be completed by close of the year.

He appealed to women to support the Government’s effort to develop the area, noting that seedling would soon be supplied to farmers in the area under the planting for food and job programme.