Cause for beatification of Sir James Marshall launched at Elmina

The Cause for the beatification of Sir James Marshall has been launched at Elmina with a call on members of the Knights (Kt) and Ladies of Marshall to make their lives impact on the society.

A Cause of Beatification is part of the formal process by which a deceased person may be named a saint (canonised) in the Roman Catholic Church. A cause is a lengthy and complicated process carried out at several levels within the church.

Sir Marshall converted from an ordained minister of the Anglican Church to be a layman in Catholic Church on November 21, 1857. He worked for the establishment of the Catholic Church in Ghana and was also instrumental in Rev. Fathers Auguste Moreau and Eugene Murat coming to the Gold Coast on May 18, 1880.

The Metropolitan Archbishop of Cape Coast, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, who also inaugurated the board of trustees of the Sir James Marshall Beatification Trust Fund, further admonished Christians to lead exemplary lives and render services to the benefit of their communities.

"I urged you all to let your light shine in your professions. You may be a nurse, teacher, doctor, industrialist. You must always render your service to God and man," he said at the St Joseph Minor Basilica, Elmina, where the Catholic Church started in Ghana.

Eulogy

In a tribute to Sir Marshall, Most Rev. Palmer-Buckle said although Sir Marshall had achieved a lot in judiciary, he allowed "his light to shine in all aspects of his life".

"I strongly believe that the Marshallans must have gathered enough information to demonstrate that this man was a great man who devoted his time for the good of others. Let him be accorded honour in this church,” he stressed.

"I pray through his intercession that God may grant you light to wherever you are to be lampstands," he told the congregants.

The Chairman of the board, Sir Kt Bro. Dr Peter Acquah, described Sir Marshall as a well respected Catholic, a devoted family man and a teacher who lived well and served God.

An amount of GH¢20,000 was presented to the trustees as seed fund to promote its cause.

The Sir James Marshall Beatification Trust Fund shall be for the sole purpose of providing a financial base and support for the beatification cause of Sir James Marshall.

Board members

Members of the 13-member Board of Trustees are Sir Kt Bro Dr Peter Claver Acquah, Chairman; Sir Kt Vet. Bro. Cdr Sir Dr E.S.K. Kwaw, Adviser; Sir Kt Bro. Ambrose Akyebe Yennah, Most Respected Lady (MRL) Sis. Akua Grace Budu-Smith, MRL Sis. Dame Theresa Pobee, Sir Kt Bro. Samuel Kwaku Barnes, MRL Sis. Margaret Yirenkyi and Sir Kt Bro. Prof. Sir Anthony Annan-Prah.

The rest are Sir Kt Bro Peter King Prah, MRL Sis. Adelaide Benneh, Sir Kt Bro. Peter K. Wireko – Member/Secretary; Respected Lady Dame Dr Agartha Bonney and Worthy Bro. Charles Cobb.