This write-up is not borne out of pride of office or technical know-how, but out of the need to encourage one another in the Religious Life to tell our own stories by sharing our vocation and apostolate on the internet and social media for the glory of God and also to serve as encouragement to others on our common journey of faith.
“The glory of God”, St. Irenaeus of Lyons once said, “is a human being fully alive.” I initially resisted the call to religious life on the basis that it would downplay my already chosen journalism career. Still, today, being a Religious has made my writing profession fully alive, to the glory of God! I am deeply grateful to the Catholic Church in Ghana, as my first missionary journey as a Religious and communicator began there over two decades ago. It has blossomed through God’s grace and my hard work.
Communication Mission to Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese (2002-2006)
Burning with the zeal of a budding, newly professed, and a journalist, ready to go on mission, my congregation, the SHCJ, missioned me to the Catholic Diocese of Navrongo-Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana, for a communication apostolate. That was in response to the special request by the then Diocesan Bishop, the Most Rev. Lucas Abadamloora (now of blessed memory), to the SHCJ, which had been working in his Diocese since the 1970s.
My first arrival in Ghana was in 1998 as an SHCJ candidate at the Candidacy Formation House, located within the Holy Child School complex at Cape Coast. In September 2002, I arrived at the shores of Ghana anew as a professed Religious and journalist and took up my first apostolate or ministry at the Centre for Development Communications (CEDEC), Navrongo, as Coordinator of Diocesan Communications, with special responsibility as Editor of the diocesan magazine, named “The Diocesan Link”.
The CEDEC Director, then, Rev. Fr. Lazarus Anondee, was an astute administrator. He was away on studies, and within a short time, he returned and continued in his position. I took over from Rev. Fr. Kuha Indiyer, CSSp and worked with Rev. Fr. Gabriel Atido, who stood in for Fr. Lazarus while he was on studies. Together with some other dynamic Priests, Religious and lay faithful of the Diocese, especially, Msgr. Roger Aboteyuure, who was at that time the National Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) Director, raised “The Diocesan Link” magazine to an enviable height through the production of quality content, wide coverage, nice informative photos and clarity of prints.
Msgr. Roger, as he is still fondly called, is a Priest of international repute. He provided occasions for news of great interest to the rural dwellers as he often brought in some Canadian student nurses and doctors who assisted in offering medical services to patients at the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga and the Healthcare Centres in the interior villages.
He also assisted in bringing in some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that dug bore holes for water in the rural areas. Later in 2006, he collaborated with the Diocesan Bishop to usher into the Diocese three Franciscan Capuchin Friars from India, who began their foundation in the Diocese at the Kongo Spiritual Centre, near Bolgatanga.
In all of those programmes and projects, I was always on hand to cover the joyful occasions and did not stop at coverage, but made sure the copies of the magazine got delivered to the groups, the Parishes and the Outstation Churches. Even the uneducated folks purchased their copies, happy to see their pictures in the news.
Also, in our news from the Parishes and Outstations pages, catechises, celebration of the Sacraments and the Church’s seasons, yearly Church harvest thanksgiving, marriages, births, deaths and funerals -all had their place in the bi-monthly publication.
The cover price was constantly increased, yet the magazine remained highly patronised. Between November-December 2002 and July-August 2006 editions, when I left the Diocese, the cover price of “The Diocesan Link” rose from one thousand to six thousand Ghana cedis (that is to say, in the current status of the Ghanaian cedi): from one cedi to 6 cedis per copy.
Print Versus Social Media in the Early 2000s
The print media was the order of the day in the early and mid-2000s, at least in some parts of Africa. Though the internet and social media had come into existence then, they were hard to come by, and were not popular. So, the “Diocesan Link” proved a veritable means of diocesan communication, supported by diocesan seminars, training workshops, and advocacy programmes, especially for women empowerment, and formation of cooperatives on how to market local products such as share butter and woven artworks beyond the region and even abroad.
Occasionally, the CEDEC team carried out those activities in collaboration with some NGOs and some women advocacy giants such as Madam Melaine of Navrongo, Madam Margaret Issaka of Bolgatanga and Sr. Lena Nwaenyi, SHCJ (in charge of HIV/AIDS Programme). In fact, in the year 2003, Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese emerged best in awareness raising and handling of the HIV pandemic in the whole of the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province and “The Diocesan Link” served as a Reference Paper that showcased some of the activities.
Diocesan and Provincial Special Events: 2004-2006
After one year of what could be described as stunning exploits in the print media enterprise, I returned from a short home leave in September 2003 only to be presented with an official information that the Bishop has officially requested from the SHCJ African Province Leader, for me to be relocated from CEDEC, Navrongo, to the Bishop’s office in Bolgatanga as Bishop’s Secretary.
It was also the era of table telephones. So, while waiting for the SHCJ leadership’s response, I dialled the Bishop and explained to myself that I would not want to be secretary in the sense of a secretary typist or other office routines. I recall explaining further that I only knew how to put pen to paper or plan and execute a given programme at certain levels, including the executive level. He said that was exactly why he was relocating me. He wanted me to plan and execute his tenth Anniversary Celebration in the Episcopate and help him articulate his life and put it on record in the form of a “Tenth Anniversary Brochure”.
Tenth Anniversary Celebration of Bishop Abadamloora’s Episcopal Ordination: My Role as Bishop’s Secretary
The response from the SHCJ’s African Province Leader came eventually, and was positive, but full of caution. Nevertheless, I took the oath of office as Bishop’s Secretary in October 2003 and took over from Rev. Fr. Lawrence Asure, who was appointed as Chaplain of Navrongo Secondary School (NAVASCO). He is currently the Vicar General of the Diocese.
Apart from carrying out some of the duties of my office, I produced the 10th Anniversary Brochure titled “Ten Years in the Episcopacy”, which eventually sold as a Book in June 2004.
Global Solidarity Partnership 2004-2005
Being in the Bishop’s office and as secretary gave me an added advantage to coordinate effectively, communications, programmes and projects of the Bishop and those of the Diocese for the common good of all. While still writing for “The Diocesan Link”, I started the bishop’s office Bulletin titled “From the Bishop’s Desk” where the Bishop addressed his co-workers, aired his personal views on issues, and also issued his bimonthly itinerary published in the Bulletin and distributed to the various departments and Parishes.
The years 2004 to 2006 were particularly relevant for the Bishop, the Diocese and the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province. By 2004, the Bishop was already elected President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC). He also entered into a Global Solidarity Partnership with Bishop Robert C. Morlino of the Catholic Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, United States, for cooperation and collaboration in the areas of empowerment of women, especially the “Donkey Project” for transportation.
In January 2004, the Bishop’s office home committee for the Solidarity Partnership hosted a fourteen-member delegation of the Madison Diocese committee, led by Mr. Ben Weisse of the Justice and Pastoral Outreach Office, Diocese of Madison, for a whole week’s fact-finding tour of the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, which ended in the solidification of the Partnership between the two Dioceses, signed at a joint meeting of the two committees at the Kongo Spiritual Renewal Centre, near Bolgatanga. I was secretary to the home committee and served as recording secretary to that joint meeting.
Brief Study at GIMPA
By February 2004, while still researching for materials for the publication of the Bishop’s Tenth Anniversary Brochure, the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA), Accra, invited me for a three months’ Certificate Course for the award of “Certificate in Administration and Management (CAM)”, arranged by the Bishop, as was his custom for all who pass through his office as secretary. That intensive but interesting adventure offered me the opportunity to learn more as well as interact with some top-notch Ghanaian Administrators, especially the then Rector of the Institute, Professor Stephen Adei. I was delighted by his constant reminder to me of how privileged I was, to be the only Religious in the group of some top business and administrative executives and how I ought to study hard and come out in flying colours.
By April, I graduated with distinction and returned to the Diocese only to be met with the sad news of the demise of the then Vicar General, Very Rev. Fr. Simon Baba Asofo. The Diocese planned and celebrated a befitting funeral for him. After that, I went off to the St. Francis Press, Takoradi, for the printing of the Bishop’s 10th Anniversary Brochure. Both the content and the print quality turned out super, and the Brochure was launched at the Sacred Heart Cathedral and copies sold off, well ahead of the Anniversary Celebration date. The D-Day eventually came (Tuesday, 29th June 2004) and the Anniversary was held and well celebrated. Many of the Bishops were physically present at the special occasion, and that allowed me to get to know them physically.
Global Solidarity Partnership in Action: Trip to the USA 2005
My communication apostolate in the Bishop’s office also took me and a delegation of three Diocesan Priests, one other Religious and eight lay faithful, totalling 13, to the Diocese of Madison in 2005; under the invitation of Bishop Robert Morlino and in positive response to our successful hosting of his 14-member delegation the previous year.
As secretary to the home committee of the Global Solidarity Partnership, Bishop Abadamloora sent me to represent him as secretary and to bring him reports. The delegation was led by Very Rev. Fr. Moses Akebule, then Cathedral Administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral Parish, Bolgatanga, and Fr. Richard Archambault (M.Afr.), then Vicar General, who was on holiday in the US, joined us at Madison.
Touring the Diocese of Madison for two weeks (23rd September -5th October 2005), we visited five Parishes, launched Bishop Abadamloora’s Provincial Centenary Book (100 Years of Evangelisation in Northern Ghana (1906-2006) and campaigned for fund at the Blessed Sacrament School, Madison, for the Donkey Project, to assist women in the Navrongo-Bolgatanga Diocese, in the area of transportation. We also participated in the launch of the “Divine Milk Chocolate”, a Fair-Trade funfair for Ghanaians, organised by the Madison Diocese under the auspices of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS), led by Mr. Thomas Awiakpo.
I remember carrying along, copies of a special edition of “The Diocesan Link “with front page news titled “Bumper Harvest”, in which for the first time, Bishop Abadamloora ordained seven Priests at a go, for his Diocese. The edition was hot cake and for the first time, I sold “The Diocesan Link” magazine in dollars, cash, and far away USA. News of the historic visit was published in the “Catholic Herald” Newspaper of the Madison Diocese and also in “The Catholic Standard” when we touched down in Accra on our return journey on 5th October 2005.
Celebration of 100 Years of Evangelisation of Northern Ghana (1906-2006)
By 2005, it also fell on the Bishop to plan the celebration of the Centenary of Evangelisation of the whole of Northern Ghana, grouped under the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province. He was the Chairman of the Provincial Planning Committee. Part of the remote preparation was our launching of the Bishop’s Book on the Centenary Celebration during our tour of the Madison Diocese.
Having successfully carried out the tasks for which I was relocated to the Bishop’s office, the Director of CEDEC requested that I be relocated back to CEDEC, Navrongo, to assist in the immediate preparation and celebration of the 100 years of Evangelisation in the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province, scheduled to take place for a whole year, beginning from Navrongo by May 2006 to the other Arch/Dioceses in the Ecclesiastical Province up to April 2007. The Bishop gave his consent, and by the end of October 2005, I went back physically to my seat at CEDEC, though I had all along been there, through my communication work in the Diocese.
Together with the Diocesan and Provincial Centenary Committees, we formed the dynamic team that planned and carried out the centenary celebrations, beginning with the official opening Mass at the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Cathedral, Navrongo on Saturday, 27th May, 2006.
Raising of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Cathedral to Minor Basilica
On that same date, 27th May 2006, the Vatican announced the elevation of the Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Cathedral, Navrongo, to the status of a Minor Basilica, The Vatican, we were told, did that in recognition of the fact that Navrongo was the place from where the Catholic Faith first entered Northern Ghana, through the Missionaries of Africa or the White Fathers in April 1906.
The Vatican, through the then Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, His Excellency, the Most Rev. George Kocherry, handed over the Church to the Tamale Ecclesiastical Province by a symbolic gift of a Monstrance to Bishop Abadamloora for the Minor Basilica.
The Missionaries of Africa, in turn, handed over the baton of evangelisation to the Church in the North, through another symbolic gift of the Bible, also to the Bishop. The Priest who handed over the Holy Book to Bishop Abadamloora, Rev. Fr. Francis Bomansaan, M.Afr. (on behalf of the Missionaries of Africa), is now the Bishop of Wa Catholic Diocese.
Elevation of Most Rev. Peter Porekuu Dery to Cardinal
Another historic and special event celebrated within that significant year 2006 was the creation of the Emeritus Archbishop of Tamale, the Most Rev. Peter Porekuu Dery, as Cardinal, on 22nd February 2006, by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. That, and the elevation of the “Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Cathedral” to the status of a Minor Basilica on 27th May 2006, were all viewed as part of the special centenary gifts to the Church in Ghana, especially in the North of Ghana.
I was happy then to be in the CEDEC team that interviewed Peter Cardinal Dery ‘live’, on his elevation, and at his residence in Tamale. The events were all well-articulated and published with appropriate images in the July-August 2006 Edition of “The Diocesan Link”, after which I took my leave on transfer to the Catholic Diocese of Bauchi, Nigeria, in August 2006.
The Nigeria Mission
I spent 8 years in communication and teaching apostolate in Northern Nigeria, specifically in the Catholic Diocese of Bauchi (September 2006-July 2014), where I served as Editor of the “Bauchi Caritas”, a Diocesan Newspaper and as Assistant Coordinator of Diocesan Communications, as well as went into teaching at the Immaculate Conception Secondary School, (ICSS), Bauchi, at the request of the then Diocesan Bishop and proprietor of the school, the Most Rev. John Moore, (SMA). I remember him asking me one day: “Sister, I heard you can do all things?” I just shook my shoulders in disagreement. I later found out he was a person of great humour. May God continue to rest him in peace. He passed on 20th January 2010, while on a visit to his country, Ireland. His successor, the Most Rev. John Malachy Goltok, was consecrated a Bishop on 19th May 2011, and I continued the work with him until I left the Diocese in 2014.
Well, details of what the Lord Jesus did in Bauchi Diocese through my poor self were partly captured in my Master’s Degree Thesis and would be a subject for another time. Suffice it for now to believe that I left the Diocese of Bauchi in 2014, after a successful communications and teaching apostolate and went for a Master’s Degree programme on Pastoral Communication, at the Catholic Institute of West Africa (CIWA), Port Harcourt, Nigeria (July 2014-September 2016). I met the current Assistant Secretary General of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) for the first time in that hallowed institution. He came for a Master’s Degree course in Sacred Liturgy.
Thereafter, I was assigned to an SHCJ school as Vice Principal of the “Our Lady of Nigeria Secondary School” (OLNSS), Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria. The staff, students and members of the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) of that great institution also identified me as their Media Director. Three years into that apostolate, I had a call for a second missionary journey to Ghana.
My Second Missionary Journey to Ghana
After 13 years of my return to Nigeria on communications and education apostolate, I was re-missioned to Ghana through the invitation of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), for a contract employment at the National Catholic Secretariat (NCS), Accra, which is the “Administrative Arm” of the GCBC.
Consequently, I arrived at the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra in June 2019 and was well received by both my community members, the SHCJ, the Accra community, as well as by the Accra Archdiocese.
To be continued. Watch out for PART 2
