Eight Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer Congregation, HDR, will on Tuesday September 8 mark their 40th and 25th year journey in their vocation at the Mary Mother of Good Counsel Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Accra.
Sisters Mary Rita Teye HDR, Mary Veronica Amponsah HDR, Mary Cecilia Appiah HDR, will mark their 40th anniversary in their vocation while Sisters Mary Paulina Osei HDR, Mary Diana Gyemfua HDR, Mary Gertrude Lucy Kwaku HDR, Mary Ruth Iphigenia Afful-Mensah HDR and Mary Margaret Rose Baah will mark their 25th anniversary in the same regard.
The celebration will chronicle the infancy stage of their formative journey and the remarkable impact it has had on them and the Catholic community at large.
THE REMARKABLE JOURNEY
Profile of Sr. Mary Gertrude Lucy Kwaku
She was born at Essikadu in the Western region to Mr Aloysius Jikunu Kwaku (Deceased) and Madam Louisa Adjoa Atsu. Sr. Gertrude is the fifth of seven siblings. She is a parishner of St.Teresa Catholic Church, Essikadu.
She had her primary and middle school education at Catholic Girls’ Essikadu, in 1981.
Prior Development
1981-1985 St. Dominic Hospital, Akwatia as Ward Assistant.
1985-1989 Admission to OLA Training College, Cape Coast.
1989-1991 Taught at the St. Theresa Kindergarten.
1991-1993 Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer Postulancy in Akwatia.
1995 First Profession of Vows.
1995 Parish Assistant, Christ the King Parish, Cantonments.
1995-1998 Catholic School, Akim Ntronang.
1998-2001 St. Andrew Boys’ School, Akim Swedru.
2001-2005 Our Lady of Fatima School, Agomanya.
2005-2007 St. Theresa Preparatory School, North Kaneshie, Accra.
2007-2011 Further studies at University of Education, Winneba. B’Ed in Social Studies.
Currently teaching at St. Mary’s Boys’ Senior High School, Apowa. Western Region.
Profile of Rev. Sr. Mary Margaret-Rose Baah.
She was born in Swedru to Mr. Thomas Amo Baah and Late Mrs. Agnes Amo Baah.
She had her basic Education at Ofoase Local Authority Middle School from 1971 to 1981 with a Leaving School Certificate and continued at St. Anne’s Vocational School Nuaso and did fashion. She later joined the congregation in 1991 and had her first vow 1995.
Her first appointment was at St. Martin de Porres Hospital Agomanya. From there she was assigned to sewing room, Bishop’s House in Accra together with School canteen and later posted to Takoradi to the branch congregation and manage their host room till date.
Profile of Sr. Mary Veronica Amponsah
Sr. Veronica was born on 20th July 1957 At AKIM Twereso in E/R to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Amponsah of blessed memory and started her primary education at Akim Twereso, and continued at Akim Ntronang.
She attended St. Roses Secondary school (1972-1977) and obtained G. C. E O’Level and had the call to join the sisterhood in 1977 with her postulancy starting in October 1977 at Agomanya. Had her first Profession on 25th March, 1980 at Agomanya.
After profession, she continued to St. Mary’s secondary school for the sixth form to obtain A’ Level certificate. After National Service at Manya Krobo Secondary school (1984-1985), she was sent to Rome for studies.
She obtained Masters in Religious Sciences at the Gregorian University in 1989. She came back to work at Secondi-Takoradi diocese with Catholic Students in non-Catholic schools. At a point she wanted to pursue science so she gained admission to KNUST to study Pharmacy and graduated in 1998 with B. Pharm. Hons.
Sister Veronica Amponsah is the first student from St. Rose’s to become a Rev. Sister and also the first Ghanaian Rev. Sister to become a Pharmacist. She worked at Battor Catholic Hospital from 2000 – 2006. She was transferred to St. Martin de Porres Hospital at Agomanya till she retired in 2017 as Deputy Director of Pharmaceutical Services (D. D. P. S). Currently Sister Mary Veronica Amponsah is working at Our Lady of Lourdes Pharmacy, Nuaso in E/R.
Profile of SR. Mary Ruth Iphigenia Afful-Mensah, HDR
She is a native of Cape Coast, Abom Wells, Caesar Fry Lodge, born in the Ashiedu Keteke Constituency in the Greater Accra Region. She is the seventh born – the last of her siblings and a parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish, Derby Avenue, Accra.
Her parents are Theresa Croffie and Joseph Afful-Mensah (all of blessed memory).
Primary Education
Sacred Heart Parish Derby Avenue, Accra. St. Mary’s Catholic Girls’ School, Accra.
In 1975 she sat for the Common Entrance Examination and gained admission into the St. Mary’s Secondary School, now St. Mary’s Senior High , Accra for five (5) years.
Between 1980 to 1983 she Enrolled as a Pioneer Sacred Heart Institute founded by Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Campbell, SVD, now Sacred Heart Technical Institute for Secretarial courses.
1983 to 1990 – Employed as a Secretary/Cashier to the Parish and Institute. Entered Religious Life and professed First Vows in 1995.
Further Studies
Government Secretarial School Osu-Accra for Secretarial/Stenography courses.
Great Britain – British Society of Commerce Examination.
2013-2014 University of Ghana, Legon, Diploma in Youth and Management Programme (sponsorship).
2016-2018 Studied at the Catholic University College of Ghana (CUCG) Fiapre-Sunyani, Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration (Management Option) on Conrad N. Hilton Fund – United States of America (U.S.A.) for African Sisters and graduated successfully.
Places of work
¬ Sacred Heart Parish, Derby Avenue, Accra. Secretary/Cashier
¬ Our Lady of Fatima Services (OLAFAS)
¬ National Catholic Secretariat, NCS, Accra – Stenographer Secretary.
¬ Late Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers, SVD, office – Secretary, taught Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E) – St. Anne’s Vocational Institute, Nuaso.
¬ Corpus Christi Catholic School, Secretary/Cashier
¬ St. Martin de Porres Hospital, Agomanya. (General Stores)
¬ Catholic Hospital – Battor (General Stores)
¬ Archbishop Andoh Catechetical Centre, Administrator/Administrative Secretary.
¬ Current Appointment – Directorate of Social Development Office. Project, Gender and Development, Justice and Peace, Water and Sanitation etc. –
Donkorkrom Vicariate.
Profile of Sr. Mary Cecilia Appiah
She was born to Mr. & Mrs. Appiah in Akim Ofoase.
She attended Catholic primary and middle schools in the same town Ofoase. After completing middle school, she proceeded to the Nursing Training at Masse Offinso in the Ashanti Region and worked for a short time, before joining the Congregation.
After Novitiate, she attended St. Rose’s Secondary School for her Ordinary Level Certificate and then continued with the State Registered Nursing at Holy Family Nursing at Nkawkaw.
She did the Midwifery after a year at Korle Bu Midwifery Training in Accra.
After some time she went to GIMPA to study administration.
Workplaces
1980, she worked in Agomanya and went to school, returned to work from 1989-1998.
Akim Swedru from 1998-2012
In Agomanya from 2012-2016. where she retired.
She is working in Battor Catholic Hospital.
Profile of Sr. Mary Paulina Osei
Sr. Paulina is from a family of seven and the third girl. She was born to Mr. Alfred C.K. Osei and Mrs. Grace Josephine Osei. She joined the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer Sisters on August 6, 1991, and had her postulancy at Akwatia the same year.
Two years later she was received into the Novitiate at HDR Motherhouse, Agomanya. On 25th March 1995, she had her first vows. She was assigned to work with Superior General at the time (Sr. Consolata Agyapong).
She worked with Sr. Consolata for about two years in the HDR Superior General’s office and later assigned to work at Christ the King for some years.
From there, she became in charge of Our Lady of Fatima (OLF) shop at Christ the King Convent and worked for a number of years before she was appointed the full-time Vocation Directress, then after some years she became the Postulancy Mistress.
She had the chance to attend Formators Course at Brafoyaw, Cape Coast for nine months before and was appointed the Novice Mistress.
She had the opportunity to study in America for her First degree, came back to Ghana for her Masters of Education in Guidance and Counselling. She is currently working at St. Paul’s Major Catholic Seminary.
Profile of Sr. Mary Diana Gyemfuah
Born at Kwahu-Tafo in the Eastern Region, she had her Primary Education and continued to St. Joseph’s Technical Institute at Kwahu-Tafo for her secondary education and graduated in 1986.
She had her professional studies at University of Education, Winneba and joined the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer in 1991. She had her first vows in 1995 and is currently working at our Lady of Fatima School Kpong.
Profile of Sr. Mary Rita Teye, HDR
Sr. Mary Rita Teye, HDR, was born on 13th August, 1959 and baptized on 27th August, 1959 at St. Martins de Porres, Agomanya – Krobo Odumase in the Eastern Region of Ghana to the late Mr. Peter Kwaku Teye of Blessed Memory and Mrs. Paulina Maamele Teye. Her family is made of nine siblings of which she is the fifth born.
Education
Sr. Rita had her elementary and form four education in various Catholic Schools, after completion she continued to St. Ann’s Vocational Institute to further her education to become a matron. It was there then she developed a strong desire to become a nun and dedicating her whole life to God.
She was then admitted into the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer of Accra in 1976. She made her first Vows in 1980, she went back to St. Ann’s Vocational Institute to complete her education to obtain a certificate. She had her Final Vows in March 1989, Silver Jubilee in March 2005 and Ruby Jubilee in March, 2020.
Appointment
Her first appointment was to Archbishop House in Accra to become a cook and caretaker, after some years, she was transferred to St. Theresa’s Girls Boarding School at Agomanya as a matron.
Later on, she was reappointed to the Archbishop House, then to Takoradi Community to bake Host. Her dedication, hard work and commitment, earned her an appointment to Agomanya to take care of Bishop Bowers. She served as a matron in St. Ann’s Vocational Institute, Agomanya and St. Agatha Girls Boarding School, Akim Swedru. Currently she is in Christ the King Canteen as a matron.
She is striving to do the will of the Divine Redeemer who called her, she likes reading her bible, spiritual motivational books, singing, flower gardening, and praying.
Source: AGNUS-DEI MEDIA