Catholic Professionals in Ghana Encouraged to Make Their Church Presence Count

“We are content with just breezing in out of Church without any real commitment beyond making the absolutely necessary contributions. Some of us can just not be bothered anymore by happenings in our Church even though we might have the capacity and wherewithal to make a difference,” he added during the event held at Christ the King Parish in Accra.

The sentiments by Mr. Ayem were echoed by the Archbishop of Accra John Bonaventure Kwofie who stressed “the need for collaborative effort geared toward development of the Church and the nation at large.”

Addressing the estimated 150 Catholic professionals, the Ghanaian Archbishop urged them to present a united front in the fight against corruption saying, “Let’s come together as Catholic professionals to be agents of anti-corruption wherever we find themselves since often, fingers are pointed at politicians when the issue of corruption comes up.”

Noting that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to get anything done without money changing hands in the West African country, the Prelate advised the Catholic professionals to “lead a life worth emulating at their various workplaces devoid of corrupt practices.”

At the same event, the Vicar General of Accra Archdiocese, Fr. John Louis highlighted the value of having people with expertise for the progress of the Church saying, “identifying and harnessing the expertise of the human capital is very crucial for the growth of the Church.”

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“The Archdiocese (Accra) needs your inputs so badly. It was for this reason of identifying and harnessing your rich expertise and those of others that the Catholic Professional Guilds was formed five years ago.”

On behalf of the professionals, lawyer and media practitioner Samson Lardy Ayenini assured Archbishop Kwofie of CPG’s continuous contribution to the Church’s growth by giving their God-given “bountiful talents and gifts.”

The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) through its Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity ‘Apostolicam Actuositatem’ noted, “Our own times require of the laity no less zeal: in fact, modern conditions demand that their apostolate be broadened and intensified.”

The decree also notes, “With a constantly increasing population, continual progress in science and technology, and closer interpersonal relationships, the areas for the lay apostolate have been immensely widened particularly in fields that have been for the most part open to the laity alone. These factors have also occasioned new problems which demand their expert attention and study.”