Assorted activities

MOVING INTO REGION WITH MARY AND ALL THE SAINTS

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME, AND ALL THE TIME GOD IS GOOD

God in His goodness and mercy to us has accompanied us over the years throughout our journey of transformation as an Institute towards moving into Regions. The Lord during these moments of grace and conversion, has blessed us in divers ways both in our spiritual and physical needs of which we ought to be grateful.  On the 31^st October 2023 we had the blessing of our new block named ‘Divine Providence Block’ made up of a big chapel, a number of rooms and offices to serve the needs of the new Region. This was done in the context of Eucharistic celebration presided over by his Grace Most Rev John Bonaventure Kofi, Archbishop of Accra concelebrated with the parish priest Very Rev. Fr. Francis Oteng Bawuah of Blessed Sacrament Parish and other priests.

At the beginning of the celebration the Archbishop expressed his appreciation to the FMM congregation for the good work we are doing for the course of evangelization in the Archdiocese and beyond. He commended us for our dedication and sacrifices for the promotion of God’s kingdom wherever we find ourselves.  His Grace in his homily, emphasized that the blessing of a chapel and the consecration of an Altar in a place like ours tells us that the house must be used for the things of God, be kept neat and holy because it is the dwelling place of God and where Christ is offered on the Altar for our sanctification and holiness. Thus, it should be a place of blessing for all who enter there. Therefore, Christ becomes the Centre of our lives and the focus of our call to follow Him in all that we do.  May Our Lady continue to lead us on the path of Christ as we let go the OLD to embrace the NEW with open minds and hearts in this historical moment in the life of the Institute.

The next day, the Solemnity of All Saints, 1^st November 2023, the inauguration of our new Region (Divine Providence Region) took placed in the community of St. Rose of Lima Provincialate as the Regional House in the Accra, the capital town of Ghana. In attendance were our sisters from    the various communities of the Region, priests and religious and a few parishioners. We were very privilege to have the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, His Excellency Henryk Jagodzinski to preside over the Eucharistic celebration concelebrated with other priests.  On the arrival of the Apostolic Nuncio, the sisters gathered to welcome him with a song.  The Provincial Superior Sr. Sebastiana Bekyane said a word of welcome indicating the purpose of our gathering before he was ushered him into the chapel. The mass begun with a procession of the Leadership Team, Priests and the Nuncio into the Chapel with singing and dancing.  The Apostolic Nuncio in his homily asked three questions: what do we need a chapel for? What do we need the Leadership and Council of the Region for? And why do we need the congregation of the Franciscan missionaries of Mary for? The answers to these questions were; “is to help us to grow and to achieve holiness which is the meaning of religious life and the Christian life in general. He also appreciated the good works the FMMs are doing. 

HANDING OVER

At the moment of the handing over of the Leadership from the Old Team to the New Team, Sr Sebastiana presented a big Lighted Candle to Sr. Julia Pelenah as the symbol of Christ to show her the way to lead the sisters of the Region according to the will and plan of God. The Four Flags of the four countries making up the Region: Ghana, Ethiopia, Liberia and Kenya placed in a carved symbol of our unity as a Region, was also presented to her by Sr. Ursula.\

Furthermore, a wooden carved hand holding an egg representing the Divine Providence Region was offered to her to signify the manner and attitude she needs in her task of leading the sisters. As an EGG, it should be handled with care, not to be held too tight or else it will break nor too loose for it to fall and break and the threads of different colours revealing our weaving together the word of God with our Blessed Mother Mary.

The Keys to the chapel: to meet Jesus each day for power to lead the region.  Lastly, an empty pot was placed in the hands of the Regional Superior, Sr. Julia Mombo Pelenah and each sister came with a   branch of flower to put in the pot as her support and acceptance of her in building the new Region.  At the end of it all, Sr. Sebastiana Bekyane, the out-gone Provincial Superior announced the mission of Sr. Helenka Nalenpa to Cameroun. 

The day ended with our FMM get together where we shared food and drinks. Both new and out-going Leadership were presented with gifts as a sign of appreciation.

All were happy with the activities of the entire celebration and expressed their joys, emotions and gratitude to God for a DREAM REALIZED.