Brief History
Fostering a Christian Community
BRIEF HISTORY
The Church started at Teiman as a family get-together and prayer meeting of three families namely Hamenu, Azameti and Gbormita families. These families used to worship at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at Kotobabi and had re-settled in Teiman so they decided to come together on Sundays and other days to pray and share the Word of God so as not to lose their Catholic identity.
The desire of these families to establish a church in the community came to fruition in April 1995 when they celebrated their first Mass in the house of the Late Hamenu. The Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Francis Mulders (SVD) with the Azameti family forming the main singing group. As the numbers increased gradually, they moved to a classroom. They proceeded with the help of the late Mr. Joachim Afetor Mantey and others to establish a school. However, this could not be sustained due to some difficulties encountered and thus the facility was taken over by the Anglican Church. The Anglican Education Unit continued the school and currently runs the school at Teiman.
In the past 27 years of the existence and growth of the church we admit that there have been many challenges (which will be outlined later); but collectively, members, through thick and thin, have been steadfast, accepted the challenges and are moving on strongly.
GROWTH
These great men who started the church did not rest on their achievement. They pursued issues vigorously and carried the message of establishing a permanent church at Teiman to Rev. Fr. Koos Janssen, SVD, Priest-in-charge, assisted by Rev. Fr. Francis Mulders of Queen of Peace Catholic Church – Madina. They in turn took the message to the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. Dominic Andoh (of blessed memory). He received the message with joy and personally moved to Teiman to meet the Landlords for the acquisition of the parcel of land (four plots) where the church is currently occupying. Additional two plots of land were procured and added to the original parcel by the 1st Church Pastoral Council led by Mr. Simon Akli. During that time, the church was called St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Teiman. However, due to duplication of name, the church was changed to Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Catholic Church, Oyarifa in 2012.
We cannot tell the story of our church without the mention of priests who played very critical roles in the establishment of the church. Apart from those mentioned above, others include Rev. Fr. Matthew Abu Cole, SMA and Rev. Fr. Kajitan, SMA. Rev. Fr. Duncan, C.S.Sp. was very instrumental and supportive during the period and we are grateful for his care and support for our church community until he finally retired to his home country.
Then as an outstation of St. John the Evangelist Parish, Adenta, the following Parish priests and their assistants made significant contributions to the growth and development of the church. They are Rev. Fr. Anthony Opong and Rev. Fr. John Benya Mensah.
The Church was elevated to a Rectorate and handed over to the Congregation of the Holy Spiriti (Spiritans) for its pastoral care and management in October 2019 by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev. John Bonaventure Kwofie, C.S.Sp.
Rev. Fr. George Omondi Oyango, C.S.Sp. and Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baffour Osei-Akoto, C.S.Sp. were appointed Priest-In-Charge and Assistant Priest respectively. Shortly after their arrival, the world was hit by COVID-19 Pandemic which seriously affected the activities of the Church pastorally until the latter part of 2021.
Rev. Fr. George Omondi Oyango, C.S.Sp. was transferred by the Congregation of the Holy Spirit to his home Province of Kenya in March 2021. Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Baffour Osei-Akoto, C.S.Sp. acted as the Acting Priest-In-Charge until Rev. Fr. Anthony Anomah, C.S.Sp. arrived on 1st October 2021 as the Priest-In-Charge.