After three and half years in formation, Sr. Helena Abena Atia and Sr. Gifty Gyabeng made their first vows in the Institute of the Sisters of St. Louis ( SSL) on July 25, 2026.
The event happened at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at Krapa, near Ejisu in Ghana’s Konongo-Mampong Diocese where the two Sisters had their Sunday apostolate as Sunday school teachers in the Novitiate.
Professions always come with nostalgic feelings of joy and happiness. It brings Sisters together from their various communities and takes their minds back to the day they themselves professed their first vows.
As it is done in St. Louis, the family of the Sisters gathered with the Sisters of St. Louis who had travelled from far and near to grace the occasion on the eve of the profession for a time of prayer.
The Ceremony was attended by the Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu, the Emeritus Bishop of Konongo-Mampong who was the main celebrant, Priests, Sisters of St. Louis, Religious Brothers and Sisters from other Congregations in the Diocese as well as friends and family of the two Sisters.
At the Mass, the Sisters of St. Louis processed into the chapel after the mass servers, followed by Srs. Helena and Gifty in their dazzling white habits with their parents.
In his homily, Bishop Osei-Bonsu said that every vocation story begins with God and not us.
He admonished the Sisters to remember that it was God who had called them to this life and not anybody else and so they should be ready to live for him alone.
He also said that they should always find time to listen to God in silence and in prayers as it would help them to live their lives to please God.
After the homily, the parents of the Sisters presented them to God and the Church as the Sisters sang the popular hymn from Dan Schute “Here I am Lord, Is It I Lord…” the Bishop then asked of the mission of the sisters and their parents to which one of the parents responded that they had come to give their Children to God and the Church.
They promised their unflinching support for their Sisters in the life they had chosen. The Bishop then asked the parents to then take their seat as he interrogated the Sisters further.
Srs. Helena and Gifty took turns to profess their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for two years in the Institute of the Sisters of St. Louis.
The vows were received by Sr. Brigid Nancy Andoh, the Regional Leader of the Sisters of St. Louis Ghana and the delegate of the Superior general.
The two Sisters signed their vows on the altar to show that they did not make the vows out of coercion and as a sign of their self-giving to God.
Srs. Brigid Nancy Andoh and Michelle Ankrah, the Novice mistress also signed the vows as witnesses to the profession of the Sisters.
The professed Sisters received their symbol of profession, which is the emblem of the Institute of the Sisters of St. Louis.
As Novices, the Sisters wore an emblem with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary,as a sign of our mother’s intercession for them.
As first professed Sisters, the emblem has a crucifix attached which signifies that they must take up their cross each day and follow the Lord.
The Sisters were congratulated by all present amid singing and dancing. After the Mass, pictures were taken with friends, family and all present and there was a time of refreshment and more congratulatory messages.
In the 21st century just as in times of old, God continues to call people into his vineyard. Happy are the people who hear the Lord’s call and respond positively to it just as Srs. Helena and Gifty have done.
Congratulations to Sr. Helena Abena Atia, SSL and Sr. Gifty Gyabeng, SSL and it is the prayer of all that the good Lord will be with them in the journey ahead of them.
By Sr. Clara Adwoa Konadu,SSL(Catholic Sister Communicators-Ghana)
