Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters in Ghana

SSpS Mission in Ghana
Many faces, celebrating the Golden jubilee of two SSpS
The Holy Triune God lives in our hearts! We have shared this message with the hearts of our Ghanaian people for the past sixty years. It was in 1946 that two American Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters left their homeland in the USA and arrived in Ghana, West Africa. They followed the call of the Holy Spirit and made this land their home. Future generations of missionaries from many countries of birth have followed in their footsteps.
A joyful day – three Ghanaians profess perpetual vows	Early beginnings always hold memorable moments. With the coming of more missionaries from the Netherlands, Argentina and again a few more Americans, schools, clinics, and pastoral work became active and vibrant. There were girls in smart marching band dresses playing musical instruments and performing for the various Church activities. The life expectancy of babies and children was very low, calling some sisters to visit the large government hospital and bring the waters of baptism to many who were on the verge of death. Bible classes, religion classes were conducted. Through our ministry, the lepers, the sick and the dying were treated with tenderness and care. The Sisters came to bring the love of the Triune God to all people.
A role play and discussion during a workshop of Christian Mothers on HIV/AIDS	EFPHA Circles seminar – education for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS
As we celebrate sixty years of presence in Ghana, we can rejoice in His Love. Our schools, clinics and hospital have been essential instruments in touching the lives of so many Ghanaian people. We have grown and opened our doors to so many other nationalities of Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters. We have Sisters from twenty one different countries, with Ghana serving as a home of formation for young women coming from other African countries. Our Ghanaian Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters have been missioned to the Philippines, Togo, South Africa, Zambia and Rome.
Sr. Defensora, ministering in Holy Family Hospital Outpatients Department	Sr. Paschalina Gyereh with one of the PLWHA (People Living With HIV/AIDS)
Formation: The African woman has a deep sense of the sacred, and the call of God to a life of consecrated chastity, poverty, and obedience has been well received. In 1925, our first Ghanaian Holy Spirit Missionary Sister professed her first vows in Steyl, the Netherlands. After receiving her mission assignment to Argentina, Sr. Virginie Althoff returned to her home country of Ghana in 1947. She worked in schools and in pastoral care. She was asked by Bishop Joseph Bowers, SVD, to assist in the formation of a woman’s congregation for the Diocese of Accra. The Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer of Accra were nurtured by a number of Holy Spirit Sisters until they became independent.

Novices from Togo, Ghana, and Zimbabwe; Listening to the Word of God, having music lessons, and working in the garden

Tertians preparing for perpetual vows	After seeing to the establishment of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer, we gradually began our own formation program. In 1988, we witnessed the first vows of Sr. Cecilia Boateng. Sixteen other Ghanaian women have followed in her footsteps. Now our formation program also includes eight young women from Angola, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Togo and Benin. The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters have a beautiful African flavor! We are open to receive and share with all young African women who want to join us in making the saving love of the Triune God known and loved.
Primary school Children dressed for a play	Sharing the Word of God with secondary school girls
Many helping hands	Self-reliance - Sr. Agathina and Sr. Margaret in the garden
St. Mary's Vocational School, Afram Plains students and staff at an excursion	Ferry Boat a means of transportation
Ministries in Ghana: Archdiocese of Accra: St. Mary’s Convent: Provincial House Catholic Social Advance Institute (Vocational Secondary School), Accra St. Mary’s Secondary School, Accra Bishop Bowers School, Accra Diocese of Koforidua: Madonna School, Koforidua Mother Maria House – Postulancy, Koforidua Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw St. Joseph Clinic/Maternity, Kwahu Tafo Holy Spirit Convent, Donkorkrom – Vocational School Mother Josepha Convent – Kwesi Fante – Clinic Diocese of Sunyani: Holy Spirit Formation house, Dumasua/Sunyani – Novitiate Holy Spirit School, Fiapre Diocese of Navrongo/Bolgatanga: Holy Spirit Convent, Wiaga – Clinic/Maternity Diocese of Yendi: Trinity Convent, Saboba – teaching, laboratory technician, pastoral work

SSpS Mission in Ghana

Many faces, celebrating the Golden jubilee of two SSpS

The Holy Triune God lives in our hearts! We have shared this message with the hearts of our Ghanaian people for the past sixty years. It was in 1946 that two American Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters left their homeland in the USA and arrived in Ghana, West Africa. They followed the call of the Holy Spirit and made this land their home. Future generations of missionaries from many countries of birth have followed in their footsteps.

A joyful day – three Ghanaians profess perpetual vows

Early beginnings always hold memorable moments. With the coming of more missionaries from the Netherlands, Argentina and again a few more Americans, schools, clinics, and pastoral work became active and vibrant. There were girls in smart marching band dresses playing musical instruments and performing for the various Church activities. The life expectancy of babies and children was very low, calling some sisters to visit the large government hospital and bring the waters of baptism to many who were on the verge of death. Bible classes, religion classes were conducted. Through our ministry, the lepers, the sick and the dying were treated with tenderness and care. The Sisters came to bring the love of the Triune God to all people.

A role play and discussion during a workshop of Christian Mothers on HIV/AIDS

EFPHA Circles seminar – education for the Prevention of HIV/AIDS

As we celebrate sixty years of presence in Ghana, we can rejoice in His Love. Our schools, clinics and hospital have been essential instruments in touching the lives of so many Ghanaian people. We have grown and opened our doors to so many other nationalities of Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters. We have Sisters from twenty one different countries, with Ghana serving as a home of formation for young women coming from other African countries. Our Ghanaian Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters have been missioned to the Philippines, Togo, South Africa, Zambia and Rome.

Sr. Defensora, ministering in Holy Family Hospital Outpatients Department

Sr. Paschalina Gyereh with one of the PLWHA (People Living With HIV/AIDS)

Formation:
The African woman has a deep sense of the sacred, and the call of God to a life of consecrated chastity, poverty, and obedience has been well received. In 1925, our first Ghanaian Holy Spirit Missionary Sister professed her first vows in Steyl, the Netherlands. After receiving her mission assignment to Argentina, Sr. Virginie Althoff returned to her home country of Ghana in 1947. She worked in schools and in pastoral care. She was asked by Bishop Joseph Bowers, SVD, to assist in the formation of a woman’s congregation for the Diocese of Accra. The Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer of Accra were nurtured by a number of Holy Spirit Sisters until they became independent.

Novices from Togo, Ghana, and Zimbabwe; Listening to the Word of God, having music lessons, and working in the garden

Tertians preparing for perpetual vows

After seeing to the establishment of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer, we gradually began our own formation program. In 1988, we witnessed the first vows of Sr. Cecilia Boateng. Sixteen other Ghanaian women have followed in her footsteps. Now our formation program also includes eight young women from Angola, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Togo and Benin. The Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters have a beautiful African flavor! We are open to receive and share with all young African women who want to join us in making the saving love of the Triune God known and loved.

Primary school Children dressed for a play

Sharing the Word of God with secondary school girls

Many helping hands

Self-reliance - Sr. Agathina and Sr. Margaret in the garden

St. Mary's Vocational School, Afram Plains students and staff at an excursion

Ferry Boat a means of transportation

Ministries in Ghana:

Archdiocese of Accra:
St. Mary’s Convent: Provincial House
Catholic Social Advance Institute (Vocational Secondary School), Accra
St. Mary’s Secondary School, Accra
Bishop Bowers School, Accra

Diocese of Koforidua:
Madonna School, Koforidua
Mother Maria House – Postulancy, Koforidua
Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw
St. Joseph Clinic/Maternity, Kwahu Tafo
Holy Spirit Convent, Donkorkrom – Vocational School
Mother Josepha Convent – Kwesi Fante – Clinic

Diocese of Sunyani:
Holy Spirit Formation house, Dumasua/Sunyani – Novitiate
Holy Spirit School, Fiapre

Diocese of Navrongo/Bolgatanga:
Holy Spirit Convent, Wiaga – Clinic/Maternity

Diocese of Yendi:
Trinity Convent, Saboba – teaching, laboratory technician, pastoral work