New Achimota OLA Parish Launches 35th Anniversary

Mr. Katako

The Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church at New Achimota, has launched its 35^th Anniversary as a Church and 10^th Anniversary as a Parish on the theme: The Almighty Has Done Great Things for Me, Holy Is His Name (Luke 1:49). The Anniversary is characterised with series of activities including Blood donation exercise, Health walk and screening, Charity work, Grotto Mass and Triduum, Clean – up exercise, Variety show to be climaxed with a Thanksgiving Mass on August 19, 2018.

Launching the Anniversary on Sunday, July 1, Mr. Godwin Katako, the Chairman of the Parish Pastoral Council, urged the Parishioners to use the anniversary to thank God for His love and greatness to the Parish for the past 35 years.

He appealed to the Parishioners to assist in making the Anniversaries fruitful by actively participating in all the programmes outlined by the Planning Committee.

He paid glowing tributes to the founding fathers of the Church, whose tireless efforts had seen the growth of the Church over the years. He encouraged the Planning Committee chaired by Ms. Paula Lorwia to ensure the successful organization of activities.

Other Members of the Committee are Ms. Angela Ofosu Boateng, Secretary; Mr. Pascal Kpiinzie, Mr. Solomon Torkutsah, Mr. Teddy Dagadu, Mr. Emmanuel Akorli, Lena Tantuo, Mr. Elikem Dzisam, Ms. Mary Owusuaa Nkwantabisah, Mr. James Carsem, Regina Dabiri and Mr. Paul Nuvor.

The OLA Catholic Church started in the early 1980s, when many people began settling at New Achimota and its environs, Catholics among the residents found it very difficult traveling to Mass at their mother Parishes. At that time, there was no Catholic Church at New Achimota Mile Seven, which made them either not to attend Mass or were always late to Mass.

Some of the residents were parishioners of the Holy Spirit Cathedral, St. Paul, Kpehe, St. Thomas More, Christ the King, St. Francis Xavier, Kotobabi and other nearby Catholic Churches, all in Accra. Prominent among the families that started the Church were the Avevors, Oten-Gyans, Yankeys, Demordzis, Mifetus, Dzisams, Afranies, Annan Essiens, Ayivors, Apohs, Bedis, Zokas, Awuyes, Akpohs, Amemakalors, Larmie Sisters, Addo-Sunus and the Quaysons.

The families, which were usually praying the Rosary, developed into a Prayer Group. With the zeal at which the group grew spiritually encouraged Mrs. Philomena Avevor to initiate the idea of getting in touch with Mrs. Mercy Afranie, Mrs. Antonia Avevor, Mrs. Mary Yankey, Ms. Rosalind Gbeho, Mrs. Lawrencia Dzisam, Mrs. Annan Essien, Madam Agnes Berko, alias Madam Asabea, later (Mrs. Oteng- Gyan’s), Mrs. Demordzi, and the Larmie Sisters, to pass words round for other Catholics resident at New Achimota who might have not heard of it to join the group.

Owing to the distance from their new place of residence, the families led by Mrs. Philomena Abla Avevor after identifying themselves as Catholics began to meet at Madam Asabea’s residence for prayers, which was at the time a Maternity Home.

The husbands of the zealous women mentioned above did not leave any stone unturned but gave the necessary encouragement and support by acting as foot soldiers to recruit Catholics who showed interest in the group with the aim of one day becoming a Church. Owing to the growth of the group, the Rosary Prayer moved from home to home as a form of making every family feel part of the Group.

The core group of about 200 through the effort of Colonel Emmanuel Mifetu (Rtd.), had the first Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Joseph Tetteh Addy on August 15, 1983, the Feast of Assumption, celebrated the Mass, hence the name Our Lady of the Assumption (OLA), with Mr. George Apoh as its first President.

The young Church worshipped as one family at Madam Asabea’s residence and every member had a part to play in the initial development of the Church. A Choir and Altar Severs were formed, as some also volunteered to become Catechists to help in the formation process.

The Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus took charge of both OLA and St. Louis Churches at Parakou Estates, near Dome in 2001. The Church was elevated to a Quasi Parish (Rectorate) on January 4, 2002, with Rev. Fr. Francisco Machado, MCCJ as the Priest- in -charge.

Before the arrival of the Combonis, the Church had had Priests who were once asked to be in charge of OLA. They included Rev Frs. Joseph Addy (1983-1985), Msgr. Pius Kpeglo (1985), Frs. Peter Agbenu (1985-1996), Emmanuel Quarshie (1996), Marek Kwalik, SVD (1996), Carlos Lariosa, SVD (1997-1999) and Raphael Azarias Benuyenah (2000-2001).

On August 15, 2008, the feast of Assumption marking the 25^th anniversary of the Church, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, consecrated the new Church building and elevated it to a full Parish status Present at the Church dedication ceremony was the former Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Leon B. Kalenga.

Rev. Fr. Eugenio Petrogalli, MCCJ, was installed the first Parish Priest with Rev. Fr. Moses Huruwella, MCCJ as his Assistant, both Comboni Missionaries. Fr. Petrogalli became the first Comboni Priest in Ghana to be canonically installed as a Parish Priest. Currently, the Parish is pastored by Rev. Fr. Godwin Kornu, MCCJ as the Priest- in -charge with Rev. Fr. Francis Machado, MCCJ and Rev. Fr. Charles Macharia, MCCJ assisting. It has Immaculate Heart of Mary, Chantan; St. Daniel Comboni, Tantra Hills and St. Cecilia, Ofankor Churches as Outstations.