The Catholic Bishop of Wa, Most Reverend Richard Kuuia Baawobr, has observed that humility is something that must be treasured and appreciated but added that insincere humility is dangerous and more poisonous than pride.
He therefore stressed the necessity for us to uphold humility whilst serving humanity in our various fields. The Bishop made reference to rise and fall of the Biblical David. He continued that David was aware of his weakness but he loved God with all his heart.
Bishop Baawobr made the observation at a mass to launch the diamond jubilee of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI) at Diffiama in the Upper West Region.
GBC’s Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo reports that the Bishop of Diebougou in Burkina Faso, Most Reverend Raphael Kusiele Der Dabire was a co-celebrant at the mass to launch the anniversary. Four Reverend Sisters had special mention at the event for serving the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate for 50 and 25 years and used the occasion to renew their vows. They were Sisters Patricia Ti-Beyog, Juliette Kpimebome and Philomena Taaere who celebrated their Golden Jubilee with Sister Francisca Nyimebaare marking her Silver Jubilee.
Most Rev. Baawobr, who told a story on humility to the congregation said: “You know there is a part of Eucharistic prayer when the Bishop is presiding and he is saying that prayer himself, instead of mentioning his name just like pray for Richard, the Bishop of Wa, he will say pray for your unworthy servant. So the priest, who was always listening to him, heard it and then when it came to his turn one day to pray that part, he said ‘pray for your unworthy servant, Richard Baawobr’. The Bishop became angry, he said, I can say that about myself but not you about me. So you see, you pretend to be humble, but when they don’t praise you, you get annoyed. That is not humility. So if I’m really humble, either they praise me or not, I know God knows my worth. So I wouldn’t be worried too much.”
Bishop Baawobr reminded the Sisters that their calling is a gift from God to serve humanity.
“God wants to use us as His instruments if we accept to be used together with the Sisters we recognise that our call is also a gift from God and He has given to us free. Let us welcome it with joy. Let us use our talents properly to serve our brothers and sisters,” he noted.
The Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate (SMI), Reverend Sister Christina Pogbeyir said the Congregation was founded by Bishop Oscar Morin (Missionary of Africa) and canonically erected on 6th 1946 in Navrongo.
In 1928, Bishop Oscar Morin brought the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa (White Sisters) to Navrongo to work with women and girls for their development with intention of preparing them towards the establishment of a Local Congregation.
According to the Superior General of SMI, the first attempts made between 1928 and 1931 were a complete failure because the people did not understand what religious life was about but Bishop Oscar Morin was a man of determination and did not give up.
Reverend Sister Christina Pogbeyir pointed out that the mission of the Congregation is to continue the mission of Christ through acts of charity and empowerment of people especially, the vulnerable in society.
The Superior General of SMI was thankful to the Founding Fathers of the Congregation as well all those have contributed immensely to its development, saying the group now has 48 Convents across Ghana and beyond.
The concluding words of Bishop Baawobr at launching of the 75th anniversary of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate were: “I launch this diamond jubilee celebration year that opens today in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The focus of the occasion was “Gratitude to God for His Grace for 75 Years of Evangelization and Empowerment of People, especially the vulnerable in Society”.
Story by Emmanuel Mensah-Abludo.
