The Ghanaian Catholic Apostolates Laity Council of New York, New Jersey and New England will hold its maiden two-day Convention/Retreat on Friday, August 13 and Saturday, August 14, 2010.

The two-day treat/convention, which is the first of its kind, will be hosted by the Ghanaian Catholic Community at the St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Retreat/Convention would bring together Ghanaian Catholics from seven apostolates, which constitute the Laity Council.

Attending are representatives from St. Mary’s Apostolate - Newark, New Jersey; St. Catherine of Genoa Apostolate - Brooklyn, New York; St. Benedict the Moor Apostolate-Queens, New York; St. Margaret Mary and Christ the King Apostolates from Bronx, New York; St. Mary’s Apostolate from East Hartford, Connecticut, and the St. Joan of Arc Apostolate - Worcester, Massachusetts.

The convention, under the theme “Watch and Pray, Royal Priesthood” would afford delegates the opportunity to pray for peace and unity among all Catholics and Ghanaians, as well as sharing in their faith.

Throwing more light on the Retreat/Convention, the Chairman of the Council, Anthony Boadu said “as Christians, there is the need for us to meet from time to time to take stock of our lives, our relationship with Christ and with society”.

He said Christians should let their lives be symbols of peace and love, devoid of discrimination and uncontrolled craving for wealth. These, he said, divert their focus from faith to worldly adventures that are of no use to humanity.

Boadu also explained that the convention would afford the delegates an opportunity to dedicate themselves to prayer as a means to solidify christian morality.

Rev. Fr. Francis Kwame Anane, Chaplain to the Council in his contribution said the theme for the retreat is appropriate since the year has been dedicated as the “Year for Priests” by Pope Benedict XVI.

He said the dedication of a year for priests indicates the importance of priests in the life of the church, adding that, priests alone cannot do the work of God by bringing salvation to the people.

He, however, admonished all Christians to join hands in spreading the good news about salvation and further urged church leaders to put people in touch with God who is the light, truth and pure love and to nourish their belief in God.

He gave the assurance that by the end of the convention, delegates will adopt good community relationship to enable them live in peace with society.

Rev. Fr. Anane also urged Catholics to regard the church as a family of God and work hard to ensure its growth and stability through God’s blessings, reconciliation, justice and peace.

The Laity Council was formed in 1998 to foster unity and cooperation among Ghanaian Catholic communities in the tri-region of New York, New Jersey and New England, as well as to coordinate the activities of various Ghanaian Catholic apostolates.

It also promotes Ghanaian Catholic presence in the local areas/dioceses, and serves as a link between Ghanaian Catholic Communities in the United States of America and local churches in Ghana.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference serves as the pillar between this link, and periodically positions itself to resolve disputes, problems and other issues between sister communities and matters of faith to facilitate spiritual advancement.

The Ghanaian Catholic Apostiolates Laity Council initiated the Retreat/Convention as a day’s program in August 2007. The Ghanaian Catholic Community in Worcester, Massachusetts, hosted the first one in 2007; the St. Margaret Mary Ghanaian Catholic Community in Bronx, New York hosted the 2008 edition whilst the St. Mary’s Ghanaian Catholic Apostolate in East Hartford, Connecticut hosted the one in 2009.