Some Religious/Lay Socities In Ho Diocese

THE SISTERS OF MARY, MOTHER OF THE CHURCH
(SMMC) HO DIOCESE
The Congregation of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church was founded in 1971 by Bishop Anthony Konings, SMA of Holland, who was then the Bishop of Keta.
Bishop Konings’ main reasons for founding this Religious congregation were:
1. The need to provide the necessary facility for young women who want to dedicate their life more fully to God.
2. And secondly, in 1970’s it was obvious that the missionary era was coming to a close as the number of missionary vocations declined. In order to continue the work of the European Sisters in the areas of Education, Social Works and Health (Medical) Services, a Congregation of African Sisters was necessary to carry on that part of the Mission of the Church.

The Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church, which was then referred to by Bishop Konings as the “Sisters of Keta” was founded to continue with the Missionary activities in the Local Church in the areas of Education, social and Medical (Health) Services in the spirit of full dedication to God.

THE BEGINNING
To implement this noble idea, Bishop Konings invited the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles, OLA to start the foundation at Dzelukope. And so on the 6th of January, 1971, Sr. Dolores Davis OLA and Sr. Jane Frances Kenny, OLA began their foundation work with seven (7) young women. Out of these seven young women, three (3) determined religious women are present today as a strong bond of Pioneers for the Congregation.
In 1973, very early in the history of the Congregation the Founder Bishop Konings had to go back home for good due to ill health. Bishop Francis Lodonu, who was already an auxiliary Bishop at the Founding of the Congregation, took over the care and nurturing of the Congregation from that early stage and guided it to full maturity. Sisters were sent to schools for further studies, both inside and outside the country.

GROWTH AND CONTINUATION
The Congregation began to grow steadily as new members came to join year after year. In order to provide space and opportunity for future growth and expansion, Bishop Francis Lodonu acquired a piece of land at Sokode Gbogame for the Congregation. And so, in 1985, the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church formation house moved from Dzelukope to Sokode Gbogame in the Ho District.

Having given their best for 15 years, the OLA sisters, represented by Sr. Patricia McMenamin, OLA, with total faith and trust in God’s providence, handed the Congregation over to the indigenous Sisters, of Mary Mother of the Church.
In 1986, Bishop Lodonu appointed Sr. Georgina Fuglo, SMMC as the Superior General of the Congregation. Sr. Philothea Osibe, SMMC became the first trained Novice Mistress of the Congregation.

1995, the Congregation had its first General Chapter at Sokode, Madonna House Community. Sr. Georgina Fuglo, SMMC was elected the Superior General. In October 2000, Rome gave the approval for the Canonical Erection of the Congregation. On 6th of January 2001, Most Rev. Francis Lodonu, the Father of the Congregation officially erected the Congregation as an Institute of Diocesan Right in the Ho Diocese. This colourful ceremony took place in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Ho.
The second General Chapter took place in 2001 and Sr. Cecilia Clare Kudexa was elected the Superior General. The current Superior General is Sr. Georgina Irene Akoto.
The congregation currently boasts of 86 professed sisters, four (4) novices and (3) postulants, with a good number of aspiring young women.

FULFILLING OUR MISSION
As a congregation founded to carry out Missionary works in our own Local Church, our sisters serve the people of God in the following Educational, social and Health Institutions in the three Diocese of the Volta Region and one time in the Sunyani Diocese:


1. St. Anne’s School - Kete-Krachi - Jasikan
2. St. Luke’s Clinic - Chinderi - Jasikan
3. Immaculata House - Jasikan - Jasikan
4. St. Agatha’s College - Hohoe - Ho Diocese
5. * Mater Ecclesiae Prep. (MEPS) - Hohoe - Ho Diocese
6. St. Theresa’s Demons. Sch. - Hohoe - Ho Diocese
7. Margaret Marquart Hospital - Kpando - Ho Diocese
8. Margaret Marquart Canteen - Kpando - Ho Diocese
9. C.Y.O Vocational School - Sovie - Ho Diocese
10. * Mater Ecclesiae Prep. Sch. - Sokode - Ho Diocese
11. * Mater Ecclesiae Clinic (MEC) - Sokode - Ho Diocese
12. * Mater Ecclesiae Sewing Ind. - Sokode - Ho Diocese
13. * Mater Ecclesiae Physically Challenged Center Sokode - Ho Diocese
14. * Mater Ecclesiae Bakery (MEB) - Sokode - Ho Diocese
15. Catholic Secretariat - Ho - Ho Diocese
16. Bishop Konings Center - Ho - Ho Diocese
17. OLA Secondary School - Ho - Ho Diocese
18. Volta Regional Hospital - Ho - Ho Diocese
19 Assisikope Bishop’s House - Ho - Ho Diocese
20. St. Anthony’s Hospital - Dzodze - Keta-Akatsi
21. Sacred Heart Hospital - Abor - Keta-Akatsi
22. Catholic Secretariat - Akatsi - Keta-Akatsi
23. Bishop’s House - Akatsi - Keta-Akatsi
24. * Mater Ecclesiae Sewing Ind. - Dzelukope - Keta-Akatsi
25. Keta R.C. Schools - Dzelukope - Keta-Akatsi
26. OLA boarding House - Keta - Keta-Akatsi

27. In addition to the above, Sisters work in the administration of the Congregation itself, as Secretaries / typists and Financial Administrators.

* The Mater Ecclesiae institutions have been established and managed by the sisters of Mary, Mother of the Church in the service of the church.

COME AND SEE:
We, the Sisters of Mary Mother of the church are a joyful group of consecrated women dedicated to the service of God in the church. We live the three Evangelical Counsels of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience in Community.
Following the example of Mary, our Mother and Model, and Mother of the church, we are ready and available to render joyful service to the people of God in simplicity and in charity. We do these as well trained professionals in various Educational, Social and Health Institutions in the dioceses.
Young Catholic Women who feel to dedicate their lives more fully to God, who are willing to find their fulfillment in life by putting their gifts of nature and grace at the service of God, are invited to join us. Come and see where the Lord lives and stay with him in joy and peace.
For more information about us:

Contact:

The Vocation Directress, the Sisters of Mary, Mother of the church
P. O. Box 394, Ho, V/R, Ghana Tel. 233 – 093620 – 28908.
Ave Maria mater ecclesiae!!!


THE COMBONI MISSIONARIES
The Comboni Missionaries, also known as Verona Fathers arrived in the Keta Diocese in 1974.
The Dictator, Idi Amin arrived in Uganda few years before 1974 and began to harass foreigners including Missionaries. The Comboni Missionaries were many in Uganda. They have accepted to go few years before 1974 as their Mission field.
One of them then came to ask the Bishop to extend their Missionary service to Keta Diocese. After some consultations, two Missionaries were sent in 1974. The pioneers were Rev. Fr. Cuniberto Zeziola and Guiseppe Rabbiosi. They were given the Abor Mission as their first station.
They were soon followed by Rev. Father Angelo Confalonieri and Eugenio Petrogali. These Missionaries who chose to work only in the southern part of the diocese brought a complete transformation to the Diocese of Keta soon to be known as Keta – Ho Diocese.
We have tried to bring them to the middle of the Keta – Ho Diocese with much difficulty.
In 1997, Bishop Lodonu wrote to their Superior General in Rome to send some to the Liati Mission. They agreed and by 1978, two Missionaries arrived in Liati amidst Jubilation and Celebration. We all believe that these priests will give Liati a face – lift as they began doing in the Abor Parish. The two who arrived were Rev. Fathers Giuseppe Rabbiosi and Eugenio Petrogali.

Later on, we heard that they came by a happy fault “Felix Culpa”. The Generalate went to a meeting on my letter of petition and the meeting rejected my petition. But the Secretary got the message that they agreed to accept the Liati Mission.
He therefore wrote to me and I was so happy that I wrote to thank the Superior who asked to see the letter sent to me. He saw that he signed the letter to me and so there was nothing they could do. The two Priests had to be sent to us in Liati in the present Ho Diocese.

Later on we had Rev. Frs. Jose Maria Jane Coca, Luigi Capelli, Mario Merino, Lino Negrato, Antonio Carlos Villarino Rodriguez and others. In the few years of their stay, they built a Vocational School, a Clinic and expanded the Mission House, and fencing the whole compound.
The last one of the priests was the late Fr. Joaquin Martinez Glez who built the Golokwati Parish House and a beautiful Church with Mexican Architecture.
Although they felt Liati some time ago, their work remained a great landmark for us in the Ho Diocese.
May God bless all and give eternal rest to those who have passed into eternity.

About us

Ho Diocese is located in the Volta Region of Ghana and constitutes ten Administrative Districts, namely: Ho, Kpando and Hohoe municipal areas. Others include, North Dayi, South Dayi, Adaklu, Agortime-Ziope, Ho-West, Afadjato-South Districts and parts of Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region.  [Read More]

Contact us

Patrons: Sacred Heart of Jesus, Immaculate Conception
Bishop: Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu, SVD.

Address: Bishop’s House Box HP 380, Ho (V.R.)
Phone: +233 54 313 0413
Email:  hodiocese@gmail.com or hodiocese@cbcgh.org

© 2024 Catholic Diocese of Ho.