President of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious, Ghana (CMSR-Gh), Sr. Dr. Lucy Hometowu, SMMC, has said Consecrated Persons remain relevant to the mission of the Catholic Church and continue to be a gift through their witness and service.
Speaking at the opening of the CMSR-Gh Biannual Plenary Assembly at the In-Service Training Centre in the Diocese of Wa on October 6, 2026, Sr. Dr. Hometowu said “Indeed, our witness is needed, we are relevant, and we are a gift to the Church.”
The assembly, which runs from October 4 to 10, brings together Major Superiors of Religious men and women, Consecrated Persons and collaborators for prayer, reflection, dialogue and discernment on matters affecting Consecrated Life and its service to the Church in Ghana. And being held under the theme, “Synodal paths to mission sustainability: Walking together in hope.”
Sr. Dr. Hometowu made the remarks while recalling a personalised video message Pope Leo XIV delivered to the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States in August during its 70th anniversary celebration.
She said she was deeply touched by the message, in which the Pope highlighted the contribution of Consecrated Life and the ministries represented by the women religious.
“The Church needs you, and all the diversi and richness of heforms Consecrated Life and ministries you represent. For with your vitality and the witness fa lecenired o Jesus, you contribute to waking wp he world, ” she quoted Pope Leo XIV as saying.
Sr. Dr. Hometowu further said the contribution of Consecrated Persons over the years had helped make the mission of the Church visible and impactful.
“Our longstanding contributions in the field of evangelization, education, health, caring for the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized have helped to make the mission of the Church visible and impactful,” she said.
The CMSR-Gh president acknowledged that Consecrated Life faces challenges, including declining vocations in some Institutes, ageing membership, financial pressures and changing pastoral realities.
She also pointed to the need for Consecrated Persons to respond to emerging socio-cultural, geopolitical and ecological realities.
“The future may require us to do things differently. Some structures may have to change. Some ministries may need to be restructured. We may need to share personnel and resources more generously. We may need to let go of certain things in order to embrace new possibilities. But change does not necessarily mean the loss of our mission. It can be an invitation to renewal,” she said.
She urged Consecrated Persons to remain open to change while staying faithful to their charisms and responding creatively to emerging needs.
“With courage and hope, let us continue to transform lives, remaining faithful to our charisms while responding creatively to emerging challenges,” she said.
Sr. Dr. Hometowu also called for greater collaboration among Congregations, saying their different charisms, traditions and apostolates should become a strength rather than a source of division.
“The time has come for us to move beyond simply working alongside one another to genuinely walking together,” she said.
She said no single Congregation could adequately respond to all the needs of the present time and urged Consecrated Persons to bring their gifts, experience, personnel and resources together.
“No single Congregation can respond adequately to all the needs of our time. But when we bring our gifts, experiences, personnel and resources together, we can accomplish much more,” she said.
She identified formation, vocation promotion, youth empowerment, safeguarding, ecological justice, healthcare, education, pastoral ministry, social transformation and communication as areas with potential for greater collaboration.
She also cited care for elderly and infirm clergy and Consecrated Persons and sustainable management of resources. “Our diversity should not divide us. It should become our strength,” she said.
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