St. Anthony's Guild

The St. Anthony’s Guild is a Catholic Lay Association of men and women, which derives its specific spirituality from St. Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan Friar. Its members seek to imitate him in his charity and in his apostolic zeal as preacher of the Gospel. Consequently, the care for the poor, the needy and the destitute as well as an apostolic commitment for the spreading the Gospel are the main features of the Guild and the two pillars of the Spiritual and apostolic Commitment of its members.

The St. Anthony’s Guild is a Catholic Lay Association of men and women, which derives its specific spirituality from St. Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan Friar. Its members seek to imitate him in his charity and in his apostolic zeal as preacher of the Gospel. Consequently, the care for the poor, the needy and the destitute as well as an apostolic commitment for the spreading the Gospel are the main features of the Guild and the two pillars of the Spiritual and apostolic Commitment of its members.

The St. Anthony’s Guild is a Catholic Lay Association of men and women, which derives its specific spirituality from St. Anthony of Padua, a Franciscan Friar. Its members seek to imitate him in his charity and in his apostolic zeal as preacher of the Gospel. Consequently, the care for the poor, the needy and the destitute as well as an apostolic commitment for the spreading the Gospel are the main features of the Guild and the two pillars of the Spiritual and apostolic Commitment of its members.

HISTORY

The Guild was established at the St. Dominic Catholic Church in 1978, probably one of the first

Lay Societies established after the Church Choir of St. Dominic.

Most of the members who joined the Guild were already members from their various Parishes who had come to settle at Adweso Low Cost Houses and also joined the St. Dominic Church that was officially opened in 1976.

The first executive members or pioneers included

President – Bro. Paul Bilson,

Organizer - Sis. Mary Okyere,

Sis. Christian Korkuga

Bro. Vanarcio Gada,

Bro. Sylvester Yakohene

all of blessed memory.  

Sis Agnes Anthonio and Bro. Darko-Asumadu are the only Surviving pioneers at the moment.

The St. Anthony’s Guild -Adweso Unit formed the first ever Youth Link (Branch) of the Guild

in 1992 to Commemorate the occasion for the separation of the Koforidua Diocese from the

Accra Archdiocese.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

To support the Diocese and the National Council:

a.   To help spread and defend the Catholic Faith through religious instructions and retreats.

b.   To encourage members in the units and individual members to visit the sick, pray with them and give aid to the poor and needy.

c.   To spread the devotion of St. Anthony of Padua through the Diocese, Deaneries and

Parishes in Ghana.

d.   To help Diocesan and Denary councils to establish branches of the Guild wherever they do not yet exist.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership is opened to all including non-Catholics. Five active members in a Church, can be enrolled as a Unit on the payment of affiliation fee.

MEETINGS AND SPECIAL DATES

- Tuesday Weekly Devotions: Bring members of the Guild to pray to commemorate the burial of St. Anthony that occurred on Tuesday 17th June, 1231.

- A 13-day devotion to St. Anthony, also known as the Tredicina, is a period of prayer leading up to the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua on June 13th. This may be shortened to a Novena (9 Days)

- 13th June- Feast of St. Anthony

- 15th February every year is set aside to honour and pray to the incorruptible “Blessed Tongue and Vocal Cords of Anthony which are still intact after over 700 years ago after his burial.

-   Blessing of Lilies in Honour of St. Anthony

-          The blessing of lilies on the feast of St. Anthony is a tradition where lilies, symbolizing St. Anthony's purity and associated with miracles, are blessed as an act of thanksgiving and in honour of the saint.

-          Distributing of St. Anthony’s Bread

St. Anthony’s Bread is a traditional form of Alms giving at one time, bread was offered to

the needy; today in our industrialized society, the staple of life has been replaced by other forms. Members are therefore encouraged to offer alms (collections) into the Bread Box for the poor, needy and the Church.