Bishop Anthony Konings was born at Posterholt in Holland on May 3, 1910. He was ordained priest in1935. He arrived in the Gold Coast in 1935 and posted to Kpando, Hohoe and Jasikan in that order (1938 – 1944). In 1944, he was appointed General Manager of Catholic Schools in the lower Volta Vicariate. He was Pro-Vicar from 1947 – 1950. When the Vicariate became Keta Diocese in 1950 he consequently became the Vicar General and was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Keta Diocese in 1953 when Bishop Holland resigned because of ill-health. Very Rev. Anthony Konings was appointed Bishop of Keta Diocese on 27th February, 1954 and was consecrated Bishop in Posterholt his home town in Holland on May 1st 1954 and returned to the Diocese in the same year.
On 1st February, 1954 Our Lady of Apostles (O.L.A.) Secondary School for girls was opened at Keta. Sr. Theodora Fahy, OLA, was the first Headmistress. In January 1956, the school was moved to her permanent site at Ho. The student population for the 2005/2006 was 950.
In 1955, Anfoega, Saints Peter & Paul Parish was opened. Fr. Theodore Maessen is the first pastor. They were all established by the initiative and zealous apostolate of lay people.
In 1957, Keta Diocese was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes at Kpando Agbenoxoe.
Shia and Vakpo parishes were opened with a resident priest in each of the parishes. In 1958, The Government of Ghana took over all Church Schools in the Volta region. But the schools were returned to the Churches in the same year after strong protest.
St. Paul’s Secondary School for boys was opened at Hatsukope, Viepe Aflao near Denu in 1958. Fr. Caffery was the first Headmaster.
The Holy Rosary Church, Gbi – Hohoe was officially started with a Holy Mass by Rev. Fr. Rudolph Zijstra, SMA on 12th June, 1958. It was Mrs. Alice Tsaku and Mr. Anselmus Amedzi who initiated the idea of having a church at Hohoe (Ahado). It is now a fully grown parish with 1st cycle schools, and socio-economic developments: A bakery and confectionary for the youth, a credit union, a welfare association and ten church associations and sodalities.
On 20th December 1959, Anfoega Catholic Hospital was founded. The pioneer staff consisted of Sister Gras and Sister Huisman. Dr. Bouwers-Bavinck joined them later. In 1963, Maria Dekkers popularly known as Sr. “Ria” came to continue the good work and developed the hospital which now has 105 beds distributed in three wards.
Kpando Catholic Hospital was founded on February 2, 1960. It was staffed by a Team of Grail Movement led by the First Medical Officer, Dr. Margaret Marquart in whose honour the Hospital has been renamed: The Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital. The Grail Movement established a Catechetical Social Center, popularly known as the Grail Center in Kpando next to the Hospital.
St. Anthony’s Hospital, Dzodze was founded in1960 with the initiative of Fr. Leo Brouwer the beloved Parish Priest with communal labour provided by the people.
St. Mary’s Minor Seminary was founded at Lolobi on 29th September, 1961 headed by Fr. William Van Frankenhuijesen, SMA. St. Mary’s Seminary Secondary School for boys opened admission to non-seminarians and students of all denominations right from the very beginning of its foundation.
St. Theresa’s Teacher Training College for training lady – teachers was opened at Hohoe in September, 1961 headed by Ms Catherine Bagley, an Australian member of the Grail Movement.
In 1963, a Catholic Hospital was opened at Dodi – Papase by Fr. Harry Smith and in 1971, St. Joseph’s Hospital run by OLA Sisters was opened at Nkwanta (now in Jasikan Diocese). It started as a Clinic and Maternity.
The Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church (SMMC) was founded by Bishop Anthony Konings in 1971 with the Novitiate at Dzelukope. The formation was entrusted to O.L.A. Sisters on 6th of January 1971, Sisters Dolores Davis and Jane Frances Kenny started with seven novices. The pioneers S.M.M.C. Sisters are Georgina Fuglo, Philomena Osibe and Arcade Eleeza.
Bishop Lodonu continued the founding process and brought it to maturity. The formation house was moved to Sokode Gbogame, near Ho, in 1985.
In 1986, Bishop Lodonu appointed Sr. Georgina Fuglo as Superior General and Sr. Philomena Osibe became the First SMMC Sisters trained Novice Mistress. At her first General Chapter, the SMMC Sisters elected Sr. Georgina Fuglo, Superior General.
In October 2000, Rome gave approval for the Canonical Erection of the SMMC Congregation. Bishop Lodonu officially erected the SMMC Congregation as “an Institute of Diocesan Right” in Ho Diocese on 6th January, 2001 at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Ho.
At her second General Chapter in 2001, Sr. Cecilia Kudexa was elected Superior General. Currently, the Congregation has 69 Professed Sisters and 4 novices. The SMMC Congregation is professional and faithful servants of the Church in Educational, Social and Health Institutions in the Dioceses of Ho, Keta – Akatsi, Jasikan.
