The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus concluded a powerful spiritual workshop on June 20, 2026, in Nsoatre in the Bono Region of Ghana.
The main sessions focused on a fresh look at the three Evangelical Counsels of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience.
Moving away from modern ideas, the facilitator, Rev. Fr. Stephen Oscar Amo, OFM, Parish Priest of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Penkwase, challenged everyone to return to the deeper definitions taught by the early Church leaders and the Bible.
Opening the talk on Poverty, Fr. Amo described the vow as a deeper stripping away of the ego.
He maintained that true poverty requires Sisters and Brothers to step back from public praise and personal ambition.
He reminded the congregation that their identity comes from who they are before God, not from the jobs or positions they hold.
Furthermore, he urged everyone to “travel light” and give up the desire to accumulate personal items.
He noted that in the early Church, holding onto private goods was seen as taking from the truly poor.
Instead, he explained that religious life means depending entirely on God’s daily care.
Turning to the vow of Chastity, the speaker highlighted its spiritual meaning as a preview of heaven.
Drawing from ancient spiritual guides, he countered the modern view that chastity is just a set of strict rules.
He defined it as a complete transformation of human nature. Fr. Amo explained that because human desires are so strong, relying on willpower alone is not enough and can lead to pride.
Consequently, Fr Amo pointed out that true chastity is a gift given to the humble, requiring a peaceful balance of body, soul, and mind through God’s grace.
As the final section focused on Obedience, the facilitator removed the cold, military ideas often tied to the word, connecting it back to the biblical root meaning “to hear and to do.”
He argued that making excuses, putting conditions on community transfers, or ignoring leadership shows a failure to truly listen to God’s call.
Recalling how God’s people promised to follow His law without delay, he challenged the Handmaids to obey with open hearts, viewing the decisions of leadership as part of God’s plan.
Fr. Amo concluded the workshop by urging everyone to drop their anxieties about future assignments and trust completely in God’s daily providence as they return to their communities.
By Sr. Emmanuella Dakurah, HHCJ and Sr. Sheila Adombire, HHCJ ( Catholic Sister Communicators Network Ghana CASCON-GH)
