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St Bakhita Catholic Church, Amasaman

The St Bakhita Catholic Church began in Amasaman, Accra on 4th May 2003. On that day, Rev Fr Francis Adoboli the Parish Priest of St Paul Catholic Church, Kpehe led an evangelization effort in the Amasaman Municipality. The first Mass was celebrated at Mad Rejoice Anastacia Tormeti's house. Starting with few people it grew into a large congregation with two priests serving the community. The church has nine societies who are represented on the Parish Council. There is a Youth Pastoral Council which is an umbrella body for all youth groups. After fifteen years under the St Sylvanus Parish, it was made a rectorate and handed to the Society of St Paul. The church constructed a rectorate and on 21st January 2024 cut sod for the main chapel. Its activities include mass on Sunday and weekdays, celebration of the sacraments and for meetings and funerals.

History of Church

Rev Fr Francis Adoboli held audience with Most Rev Dominic Andoh, Archbishop of Accra, to establish a Catholic Community at Amasaman. The Archbishop agreed to the plan. He said Rev Fr Andrew Campbell (SVD) had acquired land at Amasaman to establish a community and a school. In the course of molding the blocks the chief did not give him consent and he later changed his views. Rev Fr Andrew Campbell collected the cement blocks away.

On Sunday 2nd March 2003, Mr. Joseph Hooper and the Pilgrims of St Michael visited Amasaman on evangelization mission. On 13th March 2003, they made ten benches at the cost of 550cedis to be used at Amasaman. Sunday 6th April 2003. Rev Fr Francis Adoboli met the members who will constitute the community (church).

On 4th May 2003 Rev Fr Francis Adoboli led St Michael Movement members from St. Paul's Catholic Church in Kpehe other Catholics in the area with brass band music to celebrate the first mass. The mass was celebrated under a canopy in the house of Mad Rejoice Anastacia Tometi. The St Michael Movement was led by Mr. Joseph Hooper.

The first people who attended the church included Appiah Francisca, Appiah John, Appiah Felix, Appiah Eva, Appiah Isaac, Appiah Cate, Darko Georgina, Appiah Augustine, Appiah Thomas, Turkson Charles, Okere Paulina, Turkson Vera, Turkson Gabriel, Turkson Bernard, Amoafa Berlinda, Lamptey Junior Emmanuel Christian Clark, Augusta Zogli, Beatrice Kwamega Mariana Gyewornu, Eunice Gyewornu, Florence Gyewornu, Benuyena Bright, Michael Bokorvi, Francis Bokorvi, Comfort Baikalu, Rena Suglo, Francis Suglo, Seth Darko, Mark Klu, Doris Gadasu, Dominic Asiedu, Sylvester Wiafe, Gilbert Ahulu, Emmanuel Salu, Genevieve Ahenakwa, Rejoice Tormeti, Antoinette Adorshie, Eunice Dedon, Georgina Suglo, and Felicia Zogli. The Parish Pastoral Council of St Paul Parish at Kpehe led by their Chairman Mr. Goddard Newman were also in attendance.

St Sylvanus Rectorate

When St Sylvanus Rectorate was created in 2006, St Bakhita Church became one of the outstations and Fr Francis Adoboli handed over to Fr George Ekow Mensah on 11th June 2006. The priest ensured celebration of all the sacraments and purchased land to contain a school and a car park.

Land Aquisition

In 1984, Rev Fr Andrew Campbell bought land from Nii Amasa to build a chapel, a school and a leprosarium. The lease covers ninety-nine (99) years. The Chief sold part to some people. St Bakhita church took the land and built a chapel on it. However, in 2012 the Chief gave part of the land to the Ga West District Chief Executive for building of a school without permission of the church. In June 2010 eight and half ( 8½ ) plots of land a (former sawmill factory) was acquired from Mr. Wilkenson. This new site First Mass was celebration on Corpus Christi Day 16th June 2013.

Building of Church

A sod cutting ceremony was held on 21st January 2024 to construct a new chapel. Most Rev John Bonaventure Kwofie Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra was the main celebrant and cut the sod for the building to commence.

Rectorate under Society of St Paul

The church was handed over to the Society of St Paul for effective management. On 7th March 2021 Rev Fr. Jikson Mullasseril

see image and Rev Fr. George Augustine Mattathinanickel took over the church. Rev Fr Michael Owusu Ofori, Mark Nana Yao Asare and George Ekow Mensah celebrated mass. On 9th July 2021 Fr. Michael Owusu Ofori handed over to Rev Fr Jikson Mullasseril of Society of St Paul. On 11th July 2021, Rev Fr Joseph Kandachamkunnel Regional Superior visited the church and was accompanied by Fr Siji Pannakathl Director General of Apostolate. On 15th June 2022, Very Rev Fr Domenico Soliman, 8th Superior General of the Society of St Paul (SSP) visited Ghana. He is the President of the SOBICAIN, an International Catholic Biblical Society.

Activities of church

• Sunday Mass 7am - 9am,
• Weekday Tuesday/Thursday 6am, Wednesday/Friday 7pm, Saturday 6.30am
• Grotto Mass first Saturday of month
• Adoration first Friday of every month
• Marriage counselling on Sunday 3pm - 5pm

Parish Priest and Assistant

Name	Name	Year
Fr Francis Adoboli	Fr Aiden	2003-2006
Fr George Ekow Mensah	Fr Peter Rocky Hesse	2006 - 2016
Fr Mark Nana Yaw Asare	Fr Delight Carbonu	2016 -2020
Fr Michael Mensah	Fr Emmanuel Boateng	2020 - 2021
Fr Jikson Mullasseril	Fr George Augustine	March 2021 -

Parish Council Chairman

Name	Name	year
Kenneth Marfo	Example	2003 -2005
Emmanuel Salu	Christian Clerk	2005 -2011
Sylvester Wiafe	Peter Dziwornu	2011-2013
Sylvester Akantisi	John Appiah	2013- 2017
Edmund Nelson	Joseph Mensah	2017 -2018
Hillary Danuor	Kwesi Gorkem-Sekyim	2018 - 2022
Kwesi Gorkeh-Sekyi	Rebecca Akanchise	2023 -2024

Catechism

The first catechists were Mr. Akutsa and Mr. Christophe Agyiri. The first baptism was held on 29th February 2004 (16 catechumen), and then 27th March 2005 (17 catechumen). After the church came under St Sylvanus Parish in 2006 new catechists took over the teaching of catechism. They include Mad Veronica Azameti, Mr. Moses Galley, Mr. Emmanuel Salu, Mad Mercy Voegborlo and Mr. Banaman

Societies in the Church

• Catholic Youth Organization - 2004 - Emmanuel Azah was first Chairman,
• Knights and Ladies of the Altar- 31st December 2006.
• St Michael’s Movement formed 1st October 2006 with Mary Ahedor as Chair,
• Christian Mothers - 27th April 2007 - Mad Georgina Darko first chair,
• Sacred Heart Society - 18th May 2008 - Rejoice Tomety was first chair.
• Parish Youth Council - 1st January 2009 - Prospera Dakpiri first chair
• St Theresa of Jesus - 1st September 2012 - Comfort Abban first chair.
• Akan Kuo - 19th February 2017 was chaired by James Fokuoh,
• Ewe Society - 19th February 2017, chaired by Mathias Dorglo,
• Northen Group - 19th February 2017 chaired by William Dakpiri.

Outstation

A new catholic Church was opened at Ayikae Doblo in the Ga West District. it is called St Thomas Catholic Church. This is the first outstation of the church.