 |
* Bishop Boi-Nai |
Most Rev. Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai, Bishop of Yendi, has told Religious in the Archdiocese of Accra to be in the forefront of the creative ferment that is shaping the 21st century.
He was speaking at the World Day for Religious at the Queen of Peace Parish, Madina, in Accra, on the theme, Religious in Community Today: Its Challenges and Prospects.”
Bishop Boi-Nai said one of the major tasks for the Religious today is to become fully aware of living in a changing world.
There was need to make a deep commitment to creative change so as to be true to their prophetic vocation and to live meaningfully the values of the gospel, he said.
In his 13-page presentation, Bishop Boi-Nai asked them to be “transparent human beings in whom others can see what it means to make the human journey loving and responsibly and bring hope to the marginalised.”
He said it was apparent that “we cannot take all dimensions of community and integrate them into a single vision of community.”
What is important is to highlight the different dimensions at different times, he added.
Bishop Boi-Nai presented some models of community with various prospects and challenges, namely the Institutional model, the individual model, the ministry model; and the Communion Model.
He said each model raises a number of challenges regarding community life and ministry that need to be addressed by members.
The Bishop enumerated several basic challenges facing consecrated life today.
This includes the challenge of mission, living in another culture and learning another language.
“We need to work hard to overcome our weaknesses just as St. Paul did. One area that needs attention is the area of ethnicity. Permit me to say that in some of our religious communities or congregations tribalism has become an overriding factor.”
He asked them to be accountable and transparent.
“We need to overcome our individual and egoistic tendencies, respect each other’s viewpoint and make one feel part of the decision making.”
Bishop Boi-Nai said that at a time when religious values are increasingly being ignored by society, there was need for renewal of consecrated life and continuing formation.
Such on-going formation programmes would help consecrated persons to “see” God with the eyes of faith in a world which ignores his presence, as well as be effective in making his presence known through the witness of their charism.
To be effective signs and witnesses in a rapidly changing world, “we need a vision that provides meaning, a faith that gives us courage, a supportive community that by its very genuineness challenges the system of selfishness and competition on which the “world” is built.
“Our call is neither to condemn the world nor imitate it,” he added.
Bishop Boi-Nai said to make “our Christian witness to God’s justice, peace and love effective, we need planned collaborative action.”
Such solidarity and co-operation is needed in order to carry out more fully the Church’s mission according to the will of Christ.
The Bishop however acknowledged what he termed as, “the great work” the various religious congregations are doing in the country as a whole adding “Some of us are what we are today as a result of your hardwork.”
More News... |
