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The name ANN means Grace.
INTRODUCTION
The Archbishop Rt Rev. I.S. Mills Lemaire (of blessed memory) in 1973 invited three noble women in the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity, Accra – Mrs. Rose Torto, Mrs. Thyra Caseley Hayford, and Madam Ruby Quartey-Papafio for discussion on a possible formation of an association of all women in the Anglican Church. This revelation came about because the women were using different clothes for National Day of Prayer programs and again to get them together for the development of the Anglican church.
The Archbishop in 1974 at a Synod raised his proposal for the formation of the association and members at the meeting supported the idea wholeheartedly.
Bishop Lemaire realizing the importance of the missionary (Evangelical) work, the character of the church, and the great responsibility of women who are the recognized helpers of this great work, gave ‘Saint Ann’ as Patron Saint for the Fellowship. He ordered Ven Sackey of Sekondi Diocese to ensure that every woman joins the association.
We thank God for how far He had brought the Fellowship because the Fellowship has been growing since its formation.
THE BRIEF HISTORY OF ST ANN – OUR PATRON SAINT
The Patron Saint of the Anglican Women’s Fellowship was the mother of St Mary the Virgin, the mother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Mary was born to Saint Joachim and Ann who were highly faithful people who lived honest and pure lives. Saint Joachim, the father of Mary, was a descendant of King David the Psalmist, whilst Saint Ann, the mother of Mary was the daughter of Matthan of the tribe of Levi as Aaron, the Priest and brother of Moses. They were wealthy and loved God which was very rare for rich people at their time. They were not content in life because they did not have a child even in their old age. The barren couple were considered somehow punished by God in the Jewish tradition at their time. So, they were made to sit at the back of the temple and their offerings were received or rejected after those who had children had offered. In addition, no one would eat or sit with them at the same table.
Once, during a Holy Feast, the righteous Ann dared to offer her sacrifice to God before the other people with children. The bishop told her in public:
“we are not allowed to receive offerings from your childless hands, because you are barren, without children, God, blessless woman who knows what hidden sins you have committed. Wait then and make your offering at the end, after all people with children, according to our Religious Orders”.
And then others with children humiliated Saint Ann with harsh words. “why do you, a childless woman, dare to offer your sacrifice to God before us – people with children? You do not see how worthless you are, offering your sacrifices, as you are not able to live as descendants of Israel as we are.” After this painful incident, Saint Ann was in deep sadness and went to her home.
Saint Ann and her husband Joachim were very good God-fearing, wealthy, and very generous people. They divided their annual income into three parts:
- The first portion went to the poor
- The second portion of the temple
- The third portion is for their own needs
For many years they were denied the blessing of children, which gave them great sorrow, however, they kept praying to God for favour. They suffered scorns and contempt from acquaintances and Joachim’s offerings to the temple were publicly cast out.
They continued to pray to God until one day both had visions concurrently when Ann’s husband, Joachim had gone to the desert to fast and pray. The Angel of God appeared to him and assured him of a daughter to be named Mary. When Ann saw his husband coming home, she rushed to him and said ‘Now I know that the Lord God has blessed me exceedingly for, behold, a childless would conceive and give birth to a daughter to be called Mary’. They both hurried to the temple, beaming with smiles and with joy, they entered the golden portals of the Sanctuary.
They were blessed with Mary the Virgin.
It is through Joachim and Ann that history was written where Divinity entered humanity that brought the birth of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.
MY SUBMISSION
As a member of the Fellowship, and Saint Ann as your Patron, what have you learnt from this woman? The Fellowship would be 50 years next year and this means we have come of age and must desist from all forms of negative attitudes as Christians and as fellowship members. I urge you dear members to:
- Take the evangelism drive of the fellowship seriously – in our workplaces, and neighborhoods, we have friends who do not know Christ, it is our responsibility to lead them to Christ.
- We have church members who are not members of the fellowship, we must lure them to join the fellowship.
- As women, we must portray good motherly roles in our homes.
- Respect and be submissive to our husbands.
- Our marriages should be exemplary to others.
- We should be role models for the women in the church and the youth.
- Our dressing should be moderate and not questionable to raise eyebrows.
Saint Ann and her husband were humiliated in public for not having children, but they did not stop worshiping God.
The couple’s offerings were rejected but they did not stop offering to God
My plea to you members of this noble fellowship is that:
- We should come together to do evangelism as commanded by Christ, (Matthew 28:19-20)
- Nobody from outside the fellowship will insult you – stand firm
- Instead of leaving the fellowship, pray for strength.
- If a barren woman became a ‘blessed mother’ you can also become a blessed woman.
- If a “blessless” woman became a ‘favored woman’, you can also become a ‘favored woman’ in God’s own time.
- What are you expecting from God that has not come, my sister just wait on the Lord, in His own time it will be beautifully given to you.
- The fellowship is a society for God not for any individual so do not let anybody discourage you from the Fellowship.
- Take the fellowship as your project and grow it for God.
- As a woman fellowship member, you need to be as patient, tolerant, and humble as Saint Ann.
- Be prayerful.
- Be kind and sympathetic to both young and old in their needs and help.
- As the Motto of the Fellowship says ‘Unity in Christ” we must stay united.
I wish you all Happy St Ann Day
Long Live, AWF, Long live Members
Thank you.
Joyce Adu-Amoah
National Secretary
