100 years of Catholic mission in Osu; the perspective of Msgr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning
Msgr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning who joined the St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Sunday 11th August, 2024 to celebrate 40 years of God’s faithfulness in his priestly ministry, told the story of the parish from his encounter with the parish.
During the eucharistic celebration, Msgr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning expressed his profound appreciation for the invitation as the parish plans to celebrate her 100 years of existence and to share the story of the parish from his perspective when he was the pastor of St. Peter’s Catholic Church from 1986 to 1994.
According to Msgr. Adu-Kwaning, around 1925, a group of dedicated men and women who were worshiping at Derby Avenue, for proximity, began meeting at Mrs. Susuanah Opitan’s residence, H/No. F178/2, Awula Kpakpa street, opposite the Osu night market. He said, as the number increased, the group moved to Mr. Dzenkle Dzewu’s residence. It was a time of great challenge and uncertainty, but their faith and determination never wavered.
When the then Gold Coast Government built estates to house the 1,939 earthquake victims, some buildings were constructed at Kaadjanor and Jomo. Some of the first residents of the Estates, who were also parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Derby Avenue, also decided to meet at the residence of the late Tobias Komashi for prayers. Among these early worshipers were Mr. Paul Zigah, Mr. Ignatius Sebuabey, Mr. Emmanuel Kobla Senayah, Mr. Daniel Darku, Mr. Kpakpo Adotey, Andrew Alordeh, and Mr. Francis Tengey (all of blessed memory). Their perseverance and dedication to their faith in the face of adversity were genuinely inspiring.
He said, the two groups of worshipers came together in the spirit of unity for their spiritual growth and to serve the community. As the number of worshipers increased, the challenges of space arose leading to arrangements for the worshipers to meet at the Osu Regal Cinema Hall for their Sunday prayer meetings. Regardless of their backgrounds, the unity among parishioners was a testament to the inclusive and welcoming nature of St. Peter’s Church community, making each parishioner feel a sense of belonging and acceptance which inspired them to continue serving the community.
In 1949, the group of worshipers, drawn to the grandeur of the De Santos building, hatched a daring plan. They decided to purchase it. Little did they know that this building, which would become the heart of the growing Christian community, would hold such significant historical importance in the story of St. Peter’s Catholic Church.
Msgr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning added that, the relentless efforts of Rev. Fr. Adolf Nozer, Rev. Monsignor W. W. Vanderpuji, and Fr. J. H. Lauck, along with other priests who played active roles in developing the church in Osu, are worthy of their most profound reverence and respect. Equally deserving of recognition are the parishioners who have laid a strong foundation for St. Peter’s Catholic Church community through their unwavering faith and dedication.
The succession of parish priests included Rev. Fr. Patrick Twi, Rev. Fr. Joseph Afrifa Agyekum, and Rev. Fr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning, each of whom made distinctive contributions to the church’s progress through overseeing construction and administration. Efforts made under their leadership gave hope and optimism for the future of St. Peter’s catholic church, he added.
Fr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning recalled taking canonical possession of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in September 1986. During his time, the church had a significant spiritual and infrastructural expansion. He gave attention to the home-bound parishioners. He organized healing masses during Lenten and advent seasons where home-bound parishioners were brought to the church to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist, during which they received the sacrament of the anointing.
The St. Peter’s Catholic Church at that time was composed mainly of three ethnic groups: the Ga-Adamgbe, Ewe and Akans who are known in the church today as St. Gabriel, All Saints, and the Holy Family groups respectively. These groups developed healthy competition among themselves. At their patronal feast day each group participated actively in the day’s liturgy.
A twin celebration was later developed with St. Paul Catholic Church, Kpehe. This made the two churches celebrate the feast of Saints Peter and Paul together. The celebration included joint masses, shared meals, and cultural performances from both communities. This brought both parishioners of these two churches together, and fostered unity.
He further stated that the growth of St. Peter’s Catholic Church necessitated the expansion of the church building to accommodate growing number of parishioners. A proposed building plan was approved by the then archbishop. Due to insufficient of space, the old building was demolished to create space to begin the construction of the new church building. They received help from the archdiocese and donor agencies from Germany. Parishioners, on their part contributed immensely to the erection of the new church building.
Msgr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning concluded by adding that, the founding and growth of St. Peter’s Catholic Church was mainly due to its members’ initiatives and personal sacrifices. These initiatives and sacrifices are to challenge the parishioners especially the youth, the future of the church. As the torchbearers of the church’s legacy, they are responsible for intensifying their catechesis and advancing the course of the church further.
The parish presented to Msgr. Stephen Adu-Kwaning a beautiful portrait of himself and a caftan shirt made with the anniversary cloth. On the other hand, he presented an altar cloth to the parish in memory of his 40th priestly anniversary.
BY SR. ALBERTA RABBLES, HDR
DEPSOCOM
CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF ACCRA
