ST.

THOMAS CATHOLIC CHUCH

In 2022, St. Thomas Catholic Church experienced an unprecedented and drastic

reduction in funds raised and parishioner’s participation during its Annual Harvest
and Bazaar. The reasons for this poor outcome were attributed to changes in the
relationship between the parish priest, Father Stephen Kofi and members of the
three parish councils. Councilors complained that he did not listen or consult them
as he used to, preferring to consult and rely on one of the parishioners, Mr. Anthony
Mensah, who had been awarded a contract.

When Father Kofi resumed in the parish ten years ago, following the sudden death
of the former parish priest, he brought his rich experience in administration to the
pastoral activities of St Thomas Parish. He galvanized the community for projects
that initially appeared ambitious, but through his inclusive management style, the
parish built on an eight-bedroom Parish House within twelve months and went
ahead to complete a massive Church building in six years. All the parishioners were
excited to belong to St Thomas Parish Community. The level of parish engagement
and spiritual commitment was unprecedented.

Apart from physical infrastructure, the parish witnessed huge spiritual developments
and membership surged considerably. Annual Community Weddings were
organized to bring people into communion with the Church. The Parish Laity
Council organized several ‘’Life in the Spirit’’ Seminars for all parishioners.
Furthermore, no annual harvest was completed without a ‘’Harvest Retreat’’ where
renowned Charismatic Priests were invited for revivals preparatory to the harvest
activities.

In 2015, St Thomas Parish was quick to implement the Archdiocesan Parish

Guidelines as prescribed by the Archdiocese. All committees and councils were
constituted as prescribed and careful selections of appointees were made by a
screening committee set up by the parish priest to advise him on his nominations.
However, at the expiration of the tenure of these first set of councilors, it appeared
as though the parish priest succumbed to the complaints from some parishioners
from the dominant tribe who expressed their displeasure that they were not
appointed to executive positions in the previous council as all three councils were
headed by parishioners from this tribe. Some of the old councilors expressed
concerns about the quality of the new councilors, as the guidelines did not permit
the reappointment or reelection of any of the old councilors.

Many parishioners of St Thomas Parish became further disenfranchised when the

parish priest prioritized the counsel of a particular parishioner, Anthony Mensah,
over that of committees and councils. Some of the parishioners remarked that this
 shift began after Anthony Mensah proffered an engineering solution to a long-term
flooding problem that had defied resolution for many years. The parish priest has
consulted all of the parish engineers and had initially been skeptical that Anthony’s
solution would work but agreed

to give it a trail. Some of the parishioners believed it was this solution to the
flooding problem that endeared Anthony Mensah to the Parish Priest such that he
would overrule any other suggestion by the Building Committee in support of his
idea. During a building committee meeting, the parish priest’s comments were
interpreted to mean that he preferred that Anthony, as the contractor, carried out any
work first before the Building Committee members could review it and correction
could be made if there was any need. Unfortunately, that incidence marked the end
of the Building Committee as all members decided to withdraw their membership.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the examples of good and bad leadership and administrative practices at
St Thomas parish?

2. Why do Catholic parishes exist? How do the leadership and administration of

parishes affect the purpose of parishes?

3. What should you do to resolve the issues as a: (choose one)

a. Member of PPC
b. Member of PFC
c. Member of PLC
d. An executive of any of these councils.
2