By: Elorm Yao Aryee.
The Institute of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church, a Convent at Sokode, Gbogame in the Ho Municipality of the Volta Region has commemorated its golden jubilee celebrations with a resolve to focus more on humanitarian services to uplift the spirit of vulnerable groups in the country.
The Institute has been instrumental in providing quality education and healthcare delivery in the Municipality and surrounding districts over the years.
Superior General of the Institute, Sister Dr Lucy Hometowu said the exigencies of the current world requires Catholic Nuns to channel their energies into supporting victims of abuse, the poor and the sick in society.
The Institute of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church was established on 6th January 1971 at Dzelukope in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region by the late Most Rev.
Anthony Konings, a member of the Society of African Missionaries, was at the time the Catholic Bishop of Keta. It was moved from Dzelukope to its present location at Sokode-Gbogame in the Ho Municipality in 1985 by the then Bishop of Keta-Ho Diocese, Bishop Emeritus Francis Lodonu.
The Institute has over the past 50 years of its establishment served the poor and marginalised in the Health, Education and Pastoral Ministries in Ho, Keta-Akatsi, Jasikan Dioceses, Donkorkrom Vicariate and the Archdiocese of Accra.
Currently the Institute has a membership of 97 Professed Sisters, a steady growth from 7 young women who vowed and devoted their lives to the service of God at the Convent in the beginning. Superior General of Institute of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church, Sister Dr. Lucy Hometowu noted that the Institute is concerned about the plights of the marginalised and underprivileged in society, hence they would provide assistance in that direction.
“Our Mission is to respond to the needs of the Church and share in the Teaching Ministry, the Healing Ministry and in the Social/Pastoral Apostolates of the Church. I believe that if we are to make significant impact on the lives of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized in society for the next 50 years, there is the need for us to adopt and respond to the contemporary needs of the world and the church specifically in areas concerning Human Trafficking, Refugees and Street Children, Sexual Abuse and Exploitation, Teenage Pregnancy, Female Genital Mutilation, Care for the Elderly and Orphans, Physically Challenged, Women Empowerment and Skills Training for Sustainable Livelihood, Youth Ministry and many more,” she said.
President of the Major Superior Conference of the Catholic Church, Sister Felicia Harry lauded the Sisters for their role in moral and physical development of children as well as their contribution in the health and education sectors.
The Catholic Bishop of Ho, Most Rev Emmanuel Fianu encouraged them to work hard towards the growth of the Ho Diocese.
Some individuals and Nuns were presented with citations for their contribution towards the development of the Institute within 50 years of its existence.
In honouring him for establishing the Institute of the Sisters of Mary Mother of the Church, a bust of the Late Most Rev. Anthony Konings was unveiled.
