By The Catholic Standard
On the front-page of this week’s edition of The Catholic Standard is an interview granted us by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, SVD, Parish Priest of Christ the King Church at Cantonments, Accra on his services to the poor and the needy in society.
We commend him for giving hope and dignity to the destitute, marginalised and under-privileged in the society through his Soup Kitchen and Under the Bridge Projects.
Fr. Campbell is able to carry out these Projects and many others not only because of the courage and the faith he has in his Vocation, but also because he is sustained by the conviction that he is carrying out the Evangelisation Mission of the Church. Indeed, he his putting into practice his love for his neighbour.
“I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited me…” (Matthew 25:35). These words embody one of the axioms not only of Christianity but also serve as a golden rule for all human beings.
It is very sad to know that some of those who are being assisted by Fr. Campbell are from families which are very capable of taking care of them but rather chose to neglect them. We think it is high time that such families or relatives were made known publicly.
The main causes of poverty are greed, selfishness, corruption and unfair distribution of our national resources. We have for far too long made the resources of our country to be controlled or owned by a few while the majority of the population live in abject poverty.
We remind ourselves of what Pope Francis said in an address at the Headquarters of the UN’s World Food Programme in Rome: “Poverty has a face! It has the face of a child; it has the face of a family; it has the face of people, young and old. It has the face of widespread unemployment and lack of opportunity. It has the face of forced migrations, and of empty or destroyed homes.”
While lauding Fr. Campbell and all other Priests who might be undertaking similar Projects in their Parishes, we urge them to never give up; and may people of goodwill continue to be more generous enough to support such laudable projects.
The Catholic Standard is also appealing to all Priests, the Laity and Pastoral Workers in all Parishes in Ghana to endeavour to emulate the good works of Fr. Campbell.
In our view, it does not make sense to put up structures (brick and mortar) all over the place when people in your Communities are not able to afford food, education and health care.
Indeed, the Church cannot and has never remained aloof from this process in her proclamation of the Gospel.
We therefore call on the Government, Religious Bodies and all people of good will to be more committed and dedicated in the eradication of hunger and to defend and protect the dignity of those who suffer as a result of our indifference.
The onus lies on all of us to give hope to the poor and destitute through our little acts of love, care and kindness. Do not consider your widow’s mite as too little because it might be all that is needed to wipe the tears off someone’s face.
May the cry of the sick, the poor and the needy be heard and responded to, in Ghana and throughout the world.
