MESSAGE FROM FR. EMMANUEL OBENG CODJOE
WELCOME TO ST. JAMES CATHOLIC CHURCH, OSU - ACCRA!
It is amazing to note that we are already in the latter days of 2022. That was a very fast one! No matter how this year has turned out, let us remember the words of St. Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Under all circumstances give thanks; for that is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.â€If we are lucky to be experiencing the last month of 2019, we must count our blessings and name them one by one! Like Job may the latter days of this year see more and abundant blessings than its beginnings (cf. Job 42:12). Amen!
In as much as Advent begins the Liturgical Year (we have ended Cycle C and have now started Cycle A), it also prepares and ushers us into the Season of Christmas, the most important celebration of the Church after Easter. I paid a visit to the Accra Mall and saw a Christmas tree already mounted and shimmering.
As Catholics, we cannot celebrate Christmas without purging our hearts to be the manger that Jesus would be born in. Let us use this season to clear our hearts of desires that prevent us from having intimacy with Jesus. Let us make this New Liturgical Year an extraordinary
You cannot remain in a particular class in school forever. Yes! You have to move forward. And this is the opportunity Advent gives us.It is my prayer for all Parishioners to partake in the activities organised for December. Do not miss any programme outlined for this month.
CHURCH HISTORY
The absence of a Catholic Church in the Cantonment, Labone and “Regional Engineers†area required devoted Catholics to
join their fellow brethren at the St. Peter’s Parish in Osu to celebrate mass. It soon became clear that distance was a
difficulty causing parishioners despite all efforts to miss important session of the Sunday Mass.
A temporary solution was
found at St Maroun’s Catholic Church, in central Osu. Although the
Mass was spoken in Arabic, Mr. Osei Asibey, still an active
parishioner and fellow Catholic parishioners were welcomed in 1961 by
Fr. Abdullah to the Lebanese Catholic Community.
The Ghanaian parishioners at St Maroun grew over the ensuing year and included the late Mr. J H Allasani, late Mr. Bright
Michael Opoku and Mr. Owusu Sarfo. In 1965, led and supported by the late Mr. J H Allasani and Mr. Owusu Sarfo, a request
was made to His Grace, Emeritus Archbishop Dominic Kojo Andoh for permission for the Ghanaian elders to serve at Mass under
the guidance of the Maronite Missionaries. His Grace, Emeritus Archbishop Dominic Kojo Andoh granted the request and Mass was
conducted in English by visiting priests.
The late Mr. J H Allasani livened the Mass by organising a church choir interestingly
made up of members of his household and later joined by the family members of Mr. Osei Asibey. Mr. Lawson later joined the
choir as Choir Master.
The zeal and commitment of our fellow parishioners was recognised
during a visit by His Grace, Emeritus Archbishop Dominic
Kojo Andoh who conferred with Rev Fr Abdallah to arrange for
accommodation and the appointment of a resident Priest to join
Fr. Abdullah in serving the English speaking parishioners.
