[Sr. Angela Amoatwo, SMMC writes] Where the Church is, Mary is present: The living image of Mary and the Church

At a recent choral concert held on 22nd August, 2026, at the St. Cecilia Parish, Ho-Dome, in honor of the Bishop Emeritus of the Ho Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Kofi Anani Lodonu, by the Gbevivi Choral and Cultural Troupe, the atmosphere was filled with melody, reverence, and communal joy.

Yet, amidst the many breathtaking moments of the celebration, one particular image projected onto the screens captured a profound theological truth without uttering a single word: Sr. Georgina Veronica Kpeglo, SMMC, sitting quietly behind the Emeritus Bishop.

Seeing that touching frame, my mind drifted instantly to the bond between Mary and her divine Son, Jesus. It was a sight of deep consolation. It echoed the timeless reality that Mary is always caring for her Son, always close to her Son, the Church. She never stops caring.

Sacred Scripture reveals a Mother whose presence was a constant pillar of grace. Mary was with Jesus throughout every chapter of his earthly journey, from the quiet obscurity of the stable in Bethlehem to the agonizing heights of Calvary. And when the bitter cup of the Passion had emptied, the broken body of our Lord was laid back into the lap of His grieving mother.

In Sr. Georgina’s devoted presence to Bishop Emeritus Lodonu, we witness a living reflection of that very mystery. She has stood by the bishop from his active, demanding years of heavy pastoral governance, through his retirement, and into the fragile twilight of his old age when physical weakness has taken hold.

Like Mary, she is always present. Like a true mother, she tends to his needs with a quiet, unwavering strength, embodying a virginal maternal love that seeks no applause or public acclaim.

There is a striking, beautiful symmetry in this silent ministry. Sr. Georgina belongs to the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church (SMMC), a religious institute whose very name and charism echo this vocational blueprint. By her vows and daily life, she lives out the mystery of Mary’s presence within the body of Christ.

In her gentle vigilance over a shepherd who has poured out his life for the flock, she reminds us of how the Church truly functions: not merely through grand structures and loud programmes, but through the hidden, tender, and persevering acts of love that mirror the Mother of God.

Wherever the Church is; whether in the triumph of joyful song or the quiet, vulnerable twilight of human weakness, Mary is present. She is there in the person of every caregiver, every quiet servant, and every soul that refuses to abandon Christ in His members.

May we, too, learn from Sr. Georgina’s quiet witness, embracing our own call to stand faithfully by the side of the suffering, the aging, and the weary, knowing that in doing so, we draw near to the heart of the Church and its greatest Mother.

Mary, Mother of the Church…
Pray for us.