NATIONAL CATHOLIC LAITY COUNCIL OPEN FORUM WITH EPISCOPAL CHAIRPERSONS, CHAPLAINS AND CHAIRPERSONS:
The National Catholic Laity Council had an open forum with the Episcopal Chairpersons, Laity Chaplains and Laity Chairpersons at the Diocesan formation and Pastoral centre, Techiman from Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th October, 2023. The agenda for discussion included:
Chaired by Prof. Sir Elias N.K. Sowley, members discussed means of stopping the degradation of the environment and asked Catholics not to be involved in the degradation to set an example for others.
Concerning migration of Catholics especially the Youth to other Churches, the Youth chaplain Rev. Fr. James Bour-Mensah attributed it to lack of chaplains for the Catholic students in both Catholic and non-Catholic tertiary institutions.
The Executive Secretary of the Department of Pastoral Ministry and Evangelization of the National Catholic Secretariat/ Laity National chaplain, Very Rev Fr Gabriel Kojovi Liashiedzi added that not celebrating Mass for the missionary children (Sunday school children) makes them find the Mass boring to them when asked to join the main Church because they are not used to it. Most of the missionary children animators are not trained and have no guidelines for the animation of the children, an indirect way of grooming them for other Churches. Lack of catechesis of the lay faithful by Priests and Priests not having time for the outstations.
Rev. Fr. Osmuld Kudolor the past president of the Ghana Catholic Vocations Directors/Directresses Association spoke about the need for the Laity to help promote vocations.
The Executive Secretary added that with the total number of Diocesan Priests at 1,812, a ratio of 90 Priests per Diocese calls for a collective promotion of vocation in Ghana, taking into consideration the number of parishes, rectorates and out stations.
There were presentations of Archdiocesan/Diocesan and Societies situational reports.
Discussion was had on the upcoming 46th annual Plenary to be held in Damongo Diocese.