About Us
We Have Been Carrying Out Our Mission Since 1964
THE PREAMBLE
“That the works of God will be manifested”
The Most Rev. John Kodwo Amissah was enthroned as the first Ghanaian Archbishop of Cape Coast on 8th June, 1960 to succeed the Most Rev. William Porter, SMA who had retired due to old age. The above quotation was the motto for the new Archbishop, and so one of the first things among many others that he undertook was to build a convent where young girls could be trained as religious sisters. He said several times that this idea of starting a new Religious Order was in line with what his predecessor, Most Rev. William Porter, SMA had already laid down. The Institute is called the Society of the Infant Jesus. The aims of the Archbishop John Kodwo Amissah, as the Founder in starting the Society are: (a) To form native sisters for Catholic education for both the young and the old, as the expatriate sisters were getting fewer and fewer, (b) To have a house of prayer for the evangelical work of the diocese (c) To care for the sick and the aged. In short the Society of the Infant Jesus was founded mainly for prayer, teaching, and nursing in all its aspects. With time, others like catechetic, secretarial, and sewing of liturgical vestments have been added.
THE BEGINNINGS
How it all began
The foundation stone for the new Convent was laid on 11th June, 1960 on a ridge behind the last building (St. Maria Goretti House) of the Holy Child Secondary School, popularly known as “Scorpion Hill” because the place used to be infested
with scorpions. The Seminarians from St. Peter’s Major Seminary were there to provide music for the laying of the foundation stone. Many faithful from St. Francis de Sales Cathedral were present as well as the Holy Child Sisters. The convent was going to be ready in September, 196, therefore, invitations were sent to interested young women in the Parishes in the then Archdiocese of Cape Coast which included both Central and Western Regions. Those who responded were asked to send their names to the Vicar General at the time – Very Rev. Fr. Van de Weijden, SMA.
ORIGIN OF THE SOCIETY/PEOPLE AND FORMATORS
Our Predecessors
In order to get a Religious Institute to take the formation of the new Institute, the Archbishop John Kodwo Amissah, first approached Our Lady of Apostles Sisters and asked them to take the formation of the new Institute. Due to lack of personnel the OLA Sisters could not respond to the invitation. The Archbishop, as founder of the new Institute went to visit the Superior General of Holy Child Sisters in Rome (Rev. Mother Mary Lawrencia, SHCJ) and pleaded with her to accept to be the formators of the Religious Institute he intended to begin. The Superior General entrusted the formation to the Cape Coast Community. Mother Mary Tarcisius, SHCJ (Sr. Marjorie Lee) was appointed by Mother Mary Joachim, SHCJ the superior of Cape Coast community to be in-charge. The other Holy Child Sisters at the time were Mother Mary Cyril, Mother Mary Magdalene, Mother Mary Ignatius, Mother Mary Stephany, Mother Mary John Cantius and Mother Mary Fintan. The first nine young ladies arrived on the 9th September, 1961 and stayed at Holy Child School infirmary for the night as the electricity was only being connected in the new convent. The following are names of the first group – Elizabeth Mensah from Star of the Sea Parish (Takoradi), Anastasia Afoakwa from Assin Dominase, under Immaculate Conception Parish (Assin Foso), Agnes Cudjoe from Asankra Breman, under Immaculate Conception Parish (Asankrangwa), Mary Arthur and Elizabeth Amissah from St. Anthony’s Parish (Agona Swedru), Paulina Arthur and Agatha Mensah-Brown from St. Joseph’s Parish (Elmina), Victoria Quartson and Grace Ekwam from St. Joseph’s Parish (Apam), and Teresa Kassano from Prestea. After spending a night at Holy Child School, Mother Mary Tarcisius (Sr. Marjorie Lee) led the young ladies through a path behind St. Maria Goretti’s House and climbed fifty-two steps to the new convent. The group was excited and anxious to get to their new place. They were put to work by cleaning the new convent. Five of them were sent to St. Michael’s Girls School, near Holy Child Secondary School. Agatha Mensah-Brown and Teresa Kassano were sent to St. Mary’s Secondary School – Accra. Anastasia Afoakwa was sent to St. Mary’s Commercial school where Elizabeth Mensah was already schooling. They were all staying at the convent and attending school except the two who were sent to Accra. The Archbishop brought a middle age woman Madam Susanna Suapim from Shama as cook and Madam Faustina Forson as the matron.
FIRST HOLY MASS
On the 15th of September, (Feast of Our Lady of Sorrow) Very Rev. Fr. Van de Weijden, (Vicar General) brought word that the Archbishop had given the go ahead to have daily Masses and the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the chapel. Mother Mary Tarcisius together with the group hurriedly moved a dining table to the sanctuary; a spare tabernacle was brought from Holy Child sacristy, vestments, altar furnishings, candle sticks and other things needed for celebrating Mass. Soon the essentials were ready for the Holy Sacrifice and the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. A history was made on 16th September when Monsignor George Ansah who was appointed the chaplain said the first Holy Mass at 6.15a.m in the new Convent Chapel. The aspirants learnt to prepare the altar and fix the vestments. They also learnt how to make the altar bread. There was an electric baker, a hand cutter and an electric sealing machine for the polythene bags – Mother Mary Tarcisius thought this would be good apostolate for the future sisters to do. During the period from September 1961 – August 1962, the aspirants had a wonderful time of adventure and learning. These young ladiess were eager to learn about the new way of life which they have come to embrace.
NAME FOR THE NEW ORDER
In February 1962, the Archbishop John Kodwo Amissah, the Founder, asked Mother Mary Tarcisius for the name that should be given to the new order. Mother Mary Tarcisius, right from the beginning had wished that the name for the new order be as close to Holy Child Jesus as possible and so said, the name is “Infant Jesus” and the Archbishop accepted it.
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS AT THE CONVENT ON THE HILL
On Christmas Eve, 1961, the Archbishop brought over three beautiful tabernacles for Mother Mary Tarcisius to choose one. Mother chose the medium one, which is still being used. Monsignor George Ansah, our chaplain blessed it and used it for the midnight Mass. Three very nice pews, each comfortably holding eight people and a beautiful tabernacle designed by a Swiss architect also arrived. For the first Christmas Midnight Mass, the Holy Child Sisters, the Staff from Holy Child School including Mr. Joseph Danso, (the bursar of the School) and his family came over to join the aspiring pioneers in the lovely Chapel. Mother Mary Ignatius (Sr. Katherine Tracy) was the choir mistress. She taught the aspirants the Proper of the Mass and Carols. Together with the Sisters and the secular staff, a nice choir was formed. The aspirants really loved their first Christmas in a Convent – It was an experience. After Mass on Christmas Day, all the aspirants were led to the common hall (later to be known as the community room) for their Christmas gifts. Abundant surprises! Each aspirant had a different thing and with cheers and dancing all shared their gifts. The aspirants went home on 28th December, 1961 for a two weeks holiday. They returned on 10th January to continue with their schooling. On 18th February 1962, the first Benediction took place in the Convent’s lovely Chapel. Mother Ignatius had taught the aspirants songs and they sang beautifully.
FIRST HOLY MASS
On the 15th of September, (Feast of Our Lady of Sorrow) Very Rev. Fr. Van de Weijden, (Vicar General) brought word that the Archbishop had given the go ahead to have daily Masses and the Blessed Sacrament reserved in the chapel. Mother Mary Tarcisius together with the group hurriedly moved a dining table to the sanctuary; a spare tabernacle was brought from Holy Child sacristy, vestments, altar furnishings, candle sticks and other things needed for celebrating Mass. Soon the essentials were ready for the Holy Sacrifice and the reservation of the Blessed Sacrament. A history was made on 16th September when Monsignor George Ansah who was appointed the chaplain said the first Holy Mass at 6.15a.m in the new Convent Chapel. The aspirants learnt to prepare the altar and fix the vestments. They also learnt how to make the altar bread. There was an electric baker, a hand cutter and an electric sealing machine for the polythene bags – Mother Mary Tarcisius thought this would be good apostolate for the future sisters to do. During the period from September 1961 – August 1962, the aspirants had a wonderful time of adventure and learning. These young ladiess were eager to learn about the new way of life which they have come to embrace.