Catholic nuns mark 50th anniversary

Sunyani, June 1, GNA - A Catholic female religious congregation in Ghana, Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ), at the weekend launched the celebration of its golden jubilee in the country. Reverend Sister Margaret Owusuaah Yamoah, a member of the congregation in Sunyani Catholic Diocese who did the launch during a church service at Christ the King Cathedral in Sunyani, said the congregation, carrying on missionary, religious and other social activities in all over West Africa, was founded in Nigeria in 1953 but the Ghana province was begun in 1959.

The celebration, under the theme "50 years of love and service to humankind" is aimed at raising funds to put up a female residential accommodation to be called 'Holy Jubilee Hostel' on the campus of Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) at Fiapre near Sunyani. Rev. Sister Yamoah explained though the launch signified the beginning of the celebration in earnest, its peak would commence on Wednesday, August 19 with a candle light possession through some principal streets of Sunyani.

She said other activities would include symposium, sporting events, cultural display, reaching out to the sick and destitutes in the streets and a Holy Mass at Christ the King Cathedral on Sunday August 22 to climax the anniversary.

Rev. Sister Yamoah said the Ghana province consists of 92 Sisters in nine dioceses comprising Obuasi, Sunyani, Kumasi, Konongo-Mampong, Wa, Accra, Goaso, Sefwi-Wiawso and Techiman.

The HHCJ was first established in Saltpond but the Sunyani Diocese province was found in 1974, a year after the creation of the Diocese. She said in the Sunyani Diocese the congregation had since inception established educational institutions such as St. Mary's Preparatory and Junior High School in Sunyani and Sacred Heart Senior High School at Nsoatre.

The members of the congregation are nuns who have dedicated life to the service of God and engaged in teaching, nursing, designing and sewing, counselling and other social services.