The St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church in Bronx, New York City will host this year’s convention/retreat for the Ghanaian Catholic Apostolate Laity Council of New-York and New-Jersey on Saturday, August 16, 2008.

Members from seven catholic churches which constitute the Laity Council are St. Mary’s - Newark, New Jersey, St. Catherine of Genoa - Brooklyn, New York, St. Benedict the Moor -Queens, New York, St. Margaret Mary and Christ the King , from Bronx, New York, St. Mary’s from East Hartford, Connecticut, and the St. Joan of Arc - Worcester, Massachusetts.

Under the theme “By his grace we have been saved through faith”, the convention would afford delegates the opportunity to pray for peace and unity among all Catholics and Ghanaians, as well as sharing in their faith.

The Laity Council, formed in 1998, fosters unity and cooperation among Ghanaian Catholic communities in the tri-state of New York, New Jersey and New England, and coordinates 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.

Anthony Boadu is the current Chairman of the Council.

Throwing more light on the convention, 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 focus from faith to worldly adventures that are of no use to humanity.

”The convention would afford delegates the opportunity to dedicate themselves to prayer as a means to solidifying Christian morality and to ask for God’s guidance in the upcoming general elections in Ghana”, he explained.

Boadu said an invitation has been extended to Christians of various denominations in the tri-state to be part of this year’s convention, saying “together we can pray to God for peace before, during and after this year’s general elections in Ghana”.

Rev. Fr. Justin Kofi Mensah, Chaplain to the Council in his contribution admonished Christians to fulfill God’s mandate by bringing peace and liberty to humanity, and to nourish stronger Christian values.

He emphasized the need for members of the apostolate to see themselves, foremost. as Ghanaians spiritually unified to sustain the relative peace, unity and the cohesion that has existed in Ghana for so many years.

Rev. Mensah also called on Catholics to recognize the church as a family of God and work hard to ensure its growth and stability through God’s blessings, reconciliation, justice, and peace.

Highlights of the convention include rosary prayers, songs of praise and worship, as well as lectures on “Paul’s convention to Christian Faith and its aftermath, “A model of Christian life”, and “The Healing Effects of the Eucharist”.

Rev. Fr. Martin Asiedu-Peprah and Rev. Fr. Justin Mensah would take turns to deliver these lectures.

The convention would be epitomized with a Eucharistic celebration, after which new executives for the Laity Council would be introduced to the congregation.