In a colourful ceremony held on September 12, 2026 at the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Tamale, Sr. Rebecca Dery, FMM, Sr. Grace Ateriyine Atazina, FMM, Sr. Gladys Dery, FMM made their definitive commitment to God in the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary ( FMM).
The ceremony was presided over by the Most Rev. Philip Naameh, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Tamale Archdiocese.
In attendance were the Provincial Superior of the Missionaries of Africa, the Very Rev. Dennis Pam Dashong, M.Afr, the Vicar General of the Tamale Archdiocese, Very Rev. Fr. Hillary Pogbeyir, and Very Rev. Fr. Martin Muosayir, the Vicar General of the Damongo Diocese.
Also present were about 60 Priests from the Archdiocese of Tamale, the Dioceses of Bolgatanga, and Wa.
There were several Religious Brothers and Sisters, Seminarians, Novices, and Pre-novices from different Religious Congregations.
The Very Rev. Fr. Jonathan Kuuyonongme, the Parish Priest of Holy Cross Parish and also doubles as the Archdiocesan Chancellor, warmly welcomed the entire congregation to the ceremony.
He expressed gratitude to the FMM for choosing Holy Cross Parish as the venue for the ceremony. The three celebrating sisters took the readings and the responsorial psalm.
This singular act was significant as they have journeyed together over the years and were now about to profess their perpetual vows together. The Gospel reading was preceded by a lively cultural performance from the Dagbani liturgical cultural troup showing forth the rich spirit of inculturation in the Catholic Church and in the Tamale Archdiocese.
In his homily, Archbishop Naameh affirmed the courage of the three Sisters who have decided to commit themselves entirely to God.
He challenged them not to see their vows as burdens but means through which they serve God. He added that “Through the vow of Poverty, you have declared that God is enough for you. Through Chastity, you have agreed that God is your true love. And through Obedience, you have accepted that your will is not yours but God’s.”
Rhetorically, he asked the three Sisters if they believed in these statements.
He said that “In a society that values possessions and power, Consecrated Life can appear a challenge. People will ask what you are gaining by being sisters. You may not build houses of your own but you will build people. Therefore, you need not be ashamed of your vocation but live it in a fulfilling manner for a difficult vocation is not necessarily a failed vocation. Jesus assured His followers that they will have trouble in the world but they should take courage because He has conquered the world. There will be disappointments and misunderstanding but you need to persevere, not allowing gossip or other problems to destroy what prayer has built up over the years. Those who trouble you may be instruments to shape your lives. Through your commitment, you have resolved that you would not turn back after laying your hands on the plough. You would see friends marrying and building carriers but you need to hold on to your call.”
The Archbishop further exhorted them by saying; “When tired, turn to prayer, when discouraged, turn to the Eucharist, when confused, turn to Scripture, and when tempted to turn back, remember the one who called you.”
He thanked the Congregation for the accompaniment given to the three sisters, he thanked the parents and guardians for their support. He made an appeal to the families present not to place excessive material demands on the Sisters.
This, the Archbishop noted could distract them from the vocation God has called them to.
He told the parents that the three Sisters had not abandoned them but had embraced a life that will allow them to support the family spiritually.
The ceremony of Perpetual Profession of Religious Vows continued with the calling of candidates to which they responded with a song. They were then presented to the Archbishop of Tamale for interrogation after which the Saints were invoked through a prayerful Litany sang by Sr. Joyce Bangninuo Kuukye, FMM and the FMM Pre-novices.
The three Sisters took turns in pronouncing their vows to be FMM for life through the grace of God who chose them, and they signed the necessary documents on the altar amidst songs from the FMM Sisters.
The beauty of the occasion and the spiritual significance was further deepened by the act of the three newly Professed Sisters presenting their profession candles to Mother Mary the model of the FMM Institute. Through her powerful intercession, they will remain faithful to their call.
Another significant moment which crowned the occasion was the FMM reaffirmation of their acceptance of Sisters Rebecca, Grace, and Gladys in their midst.
The newly Professed Sisters were congratulated by the Regional Superior; Sr. Julia Mombo Pelenah, FMM and the FMM Sisters.
There was an expression of great joy in congratulating them. There was a lovely offertory procession dance by the FMM Sisters with a Swahili song. Post-communion was characterized by an immense demonstration of gladness through various cultural dances.
The newly Professed Sisters expressed gratitude to all and sundry for being part of their journey.
They were particularly grateful to the Archbishop of Tamale for gracing the occasion with his presence, to their Congregational Leaders and Formators for the acceptance and sisterly accompaniment.
A moment of silence was observed for Sr. Lawrencia Hanee, FMM and Sr. Laetitia Dombesegtah, FMM of blessed memory who served as their Vocation Promoter and Candidacy Mistress respectively.
The congregation then prayed the group prayer for the beatification of the Servant of God, Peter Cardinal Porekuu Dery after which the FMM Sisters sang the Magnificat in thanksgiving to God for His manifold blessings in the lives of the three Sisters.
The Congregation was inspired by the ceremony and many expressed joy in being part of it. Most of them remained to share a meal with the FMM Sisters whilst enjoying varied cultural performances and traditional send-off rites from the families of the newly Professed Sisters.
By Sr. Eunice Angsotenge, FMM (Catholic Sister Communicators Network Ghana- CASCON-GH)
