Sunyani Diocese launches St. Anna support society for widows, widowers

The Catholic Diocese of Sunyani has officially launched the St. Anna Society, a dedicated support network for widows and widowers within the Berekum Deanery, in a move seen as a strong statement of solidarity with some of the most vulnerable in society.

The inauguration, held on 23 June 2025 to coincide with World Widows Day, took place in Berekum and was presided over by Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, Bishop of Sunyani and President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference. The event drew more than 250 widows from parishes including St. Theresa’s (Hospital Area), St. John’s (Jamdede), St. Matthew’s (Nyamebekyere), St. Patrick’s (Kato), and St. Augustine (Jinijini), reflecting the Church’s growing pastoral commitment to the marginalised.

The Society is named after Prophetess Anna, the devout widow from the Gospel of Luke who served day and night in the Temple. According to organisers, the Society seeks to provide a spiritual home, emotional support, and opportunities for empowerment for those navigating the often-isolating experience of widowhood.

During the ceremony, Bishop Gyamfi blessed and commissioned the members, marking the formal integration of the Society into the Church’s pastoral structure.

“Let us be beacons of hope, touching the lives of more widows and widowers as we walk together in faith,” the Bishop said.

He further stressed that caring for widows is a sacred duty that reflects the heart of Christian love. “Supporting widows is not only a duty but a reflection of our Christian love and compassion,” he said. “The Society of St. Anna embodies the Gospel call to care for the least among us.”

The launch of the St. Anna Society marks a new chapter for many. For years, widows across the Deanery have had to deal with grief and stigma with little structured support. This initiative not only responds to their needs but also brings the Church’s social mission into clear focus.

The idea for the Society was first conceived in March 2010 by Sr. Lucy Yeltule Dery, HHCJ, in Nsoatre Parish. Her vision was to raise awareness about the injustices widows face and to respond in a way grounded in Catholic social teaching and the charism of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ).

“This inauguration of St. Anna into the Catholic Church echoes the words of Pope Francis that, ‘The Church is a community of believers who, through acts of love and justice, bring hope to a world in need,’” Bishop Gyamfi noted.

He also urged that the Society not remain confined to the Berekum Deanery but be expanded to the diocesan and national levels to reach more widows and widowers across Ghana.

Among those present at the launch were Very Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Asiegbu, CMF, Dean of Berekum Deanery and parish priest of St. John’s, Jamdede; Very Rev. Fr. Francis Kwame Mfodwo, parish priest of St. Matthew, Nyamebekyere; Rev. Fr. Christian Nti, assistant parish priest at St. Theresa of Avila Parish; as well as Sr. Judith Magbity (HHCJ Provincial Vicar, Ghana), Sr. Theresa Barnie, HHCJ, Sr. Emelia Fekaa, SVI, Sr. Lucy Yeltule Dery, HHCJ, and Sr. Felicia Fokawati, HHCJ.

Those wishing to support the widows and widowers of the St. Anna Society are encouraged to contact 020 721 0771 or 050 222 7703.

God bless you in advance.