Every year, the Sisters of St. Louis Ghana Region holds an Aspirants Retreat for young ladies aspiring to the Religious Life.
The event often brings together young ladies still in Senior High School, those who have completed Senior High School and those in various Tertiary institutions.
The first retreat of the year was held in March this year, at Adoagyiri in the Eastern Region of Ghana for those in the Greater Accra, Eastern, Western, Western North, Volta and Central Regions of Ghana.
The Aspirants’ Retreat held from August 28 to 30 targeted young ladies who lived in the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, Bono East Regions and the five Regions in the Northern part of Ghana.
The retreat was held at the Louis Bautain Formation House at Apromase in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. It brought together eleven young ladies who came to learn and pray about their vocation.
The theme for the retreat was “Speak, Lord, Your Servant is Listening from 1 Samuel 3:9-10.
The retreat began on 28th August with arrival and welcome by the sisters. Sr. Michelle Ankrah, SSL, led the evening prayer and adoration.
She reminded the ladies of how much God loves them and desires for them to be happy.
Fr. Abraham Appiah, OFM Conv., led a recollection on August 29,2026 on the theme.
He admonished the ladies that coming for the retreat was a step in the right direction, as it will help them to discern well. He also said that every individual needs an Eli in their lives, just as Samuel had, so that he/she may help them to make the right decisions for themselves.
He continued that they must communicate with God in prayer so that he may give them directions.
Sr. Mary Boatenmaa, the Vocations Directress for the Sisters of St. Louis Ghana Region, offered a word of advice to the aspirants during an informal session. She said that they must listen to their hearts daily as God speaks to our hearts.
She also advised them to pray for their vocation and live exemplary lives.
Sr. Michelle Ankrah, SSL, took the ladies through an aerobic session to teach them how important exercise was for their bodies.
The Aspirants were taken through a Brief History of the Sisters of St. Louis by Sr. Clara Adwoa Konadu, SSL.
During the interactive session, the aspirants had a lot of questions to ask about life in General, the life of the sisters and Vocation. Srs. Georgina Edwine, SSL, Michelle Ankrah, SSL and Mary Boatenmaa took time to answer these questions.
During the creative art session, Sr. Helena Abena Atia, SSL, taught the ladies how to make keyholders using beads. Each one of them was happy to learn this new skill, and it was evident in the manner in which everyone worked on her own.
As a form of entertainment and learning, the ladies watched a movie on the life of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare. The movie portrayed how St. Francis and St. Clare abandoned everything and followed God in Religious Life.
The Retreat ended as the sisters and aspirants prayed together to commit their lives and their journey back home to the Lord.
It is our humble prayer that the good Lord will increase the labourers in his harvest.
By: Sr. Clara Adwoa Konadu, SSL (Catholic Sister Communicators Network Ghana, CASCON-GH)
