Accra Launches 110th WUCWO Anniversary

The national launching of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization, WUCWO anniversary celebration was held at the conference Hall of the National Catholic Secretariat – Centenary House, Accra, on the theme, “Let us care for the family in difficult times”.

The celebration which took place at the NCS saw the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, H.E Heneryk M. Jagodzinski, Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, Bishop of Keta-Akatsi Diocese, Hon. Dzifa Gomashi, MP for Ketu South Constituency, representatives from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Women’s Association and some representatives of various organizations in the Catholic Church were present at the event.

WUCWO’s aim is to promote the presence, participation and co-responsibility of the Catholic women in society and the Church; to enable them to fulfil their mission of evangelization, to work for human development, particularly in increasing educational opportunities, poverty reduction, and advancement of human rights.

Very Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, the General Secretary of the National Catholic Secretariat on behalf of the president of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev. Philip Naameh, in a welcome address, said the Catholic Church in Ghana enjoys WUCWO’s motherly care and support since its formation in the areas of women empowerment, spiritual growth, skills development, etc.

He thanked the leadership for their hard work for the growth of the Church. He called on all families, especially the Ghanaian families, to remain united in true love and let mutual understanding overcome the difficulties that will come their way.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana expressed his appreciation to the WUCWO, asked that God gives them the divinity, particularly the vocation and the mission to be realized in the world.

H.E Henryk Jagodzinski said that women are seen in the life of Jesus, where his words always expressed his respect and honour to women.

The MP of Ketu South, Hon. Dzifa Gomashi, in a keynote address, said that Christians’ first example of a family is the trinity, the father, the son and Mary.

“Sometimes I wonder if the Church has not contributed to the broken down families that we have, because of the shifted value system we do not care where one’s source of income or title came from, all we care about is that he is going to help us to achieve certain development for the Church yet that person gets a high place in church and they are the ones who get mentioned, but honest people who make money in honest ways are disregarded and not celebrated while they are the ones children are to be looking up to”, said Dzifa Gomashi.

Again she said, “I found women who don’t believe in women empowerment, women who don’t celebrate other women, women who work against other women, women who are ready to catch you when you fall, women who have been role models and examples of the kind of woman that I have become”.

She said families do not only need financial supports and material supports but, they also need nurturing. She Employed women to identify a brilliant child whose mother does not have the benefit of formal education, therefore, does not understand her role to push her child to go through it.

She urged the Church to look out for children who come with their parents to Church. She admonished mothers to make themselves trustworthy to help build a strong family and support single parents who try very hard for their children.

Hon. Dzifa Gomashi advised mothers to stop neglecting each other and remember that we are one family. She admonished women to position themselves and plan for the next generation.

Most Rev. Gabriel Edoe Kumordji, SVD, finally launched the 110th WUCHO anniversary by saying that the contribution of women cannot be underestimated and ignored. “As we launch this celebration, may the story of great and wonderful women continue to remind women that their sacrifices are never in vain,” he said and added that “may the 110th anniversary you celebrate help in the protection of families especially the most vulnerable in the society and may all women continually exhibit the love of Christ to all who they encounter”.

The president of the national President Council of Catholic women, Mrs Perpetua E. Opong, said the way forward is to promote and advocate Public policies and legislations regarding forced migration and respect for human dignity.

She said WUCWO would promote awareness of the proper use of technology and its dangers. Encourage the protection and care of the most vulnerable members of the family. Education campaigns on responsible sexuality for families and teachers consider the protections and love for children.

The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organization, WUCWO founded in 1910, represents nearly 100 Catholic women worldwide, in 50 countries of around eight 8 million Catholic women of every walk of life. WUCWO was erected by the Holy See as a Public International Association of the Faith in 2006.

Theresa Kpordzo