Five Reverend Sisters of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR) of Accra recently celebrated their Golden and Silver Jubilees of Profession of Vow at Agormanya in the Koforidua Diocese as part of activities to climax of the 60th Anniversary of the Congregation.
Rev. Srs. Mary Emmanuella Awudza and Mary Clare Spencer marked the Golden Jubilee of Vows while Rev. Srs. Mary Bernice Atsufi Awumee, Mary Gifty Amoah Godwyl and Mary Mercy Stephanie Assan, also celebrated the Silver Jubilee of vows.
In turns, the five Sisters renewed their vow to the triune God to forever live a life of Consecrated Chastity, Evangelical Poverty and Consecrated Obedience.
The main celebrant at the three and a half hour long solemn and impressive ceremony was Most Rev. Charles Gabriel Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra and Moderator of the HDR Congregation.
In attendance were many Priests from Accra Archdiocese, Koforidua and other Dioceses as well as the Religious, the lay faithful, mostly relatives of the Sisters, who could not afford to miss the weekday event.
In a homily, Archbishop Palmer-Buckle entreated them to continue to remain pure in heart and spirit, praying that Mary, their Patroness would be their guide as they continue embarking on the journey of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience.
Superior General, Rev. Sr. Mary Matilda Sorkpor, called on the Sisters to endeavour to walk in the footsteps of Mary and model their lives on her.
She stated that Handmaids “walking in the footsteps of Mary to our Lord Jesus Christ is the HDR’s Christian journey and should be an important concept of our faith, attitudes towards God, fellow men and women.”
Sr. Awudza entered the Convent in January 1964 and had her first Profession of Vows in 1967. She entered the Nursing Training College at Offinso Maase and had worked at Agormanya, Akyem Swedru and Ntronang.
Sr. Spencer also entered the Convent in 1964 and took her first vows in 1967. She pursued Teacher Education at the St. Francis College of Education at Hohoe. She has worked at Akyem Swedru as Headmistress; Accra, Kpong and currently at St. Dominic Hospital hostel at Akwatia.
Sr. Awumee is from Osu St. Peter’s Parish and entered the Convent on April 8 1989, took her First and Final Vows on March 25 1992 and 1999 respectively. She is a fashion designer with specialization in Church Vestments and Linen. She had worked at Agormanya, Accra and Germany.
From the Sacred Heart Parish at Kojokrom in the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese, Sr. Godwyl entered the Convent on April 8, 1989, took her First and Final vows on March 25 1992 and 1998 respectively. She is trained teacher and had worked in Accra, Akwatia, Koforidua, Kpong, Winneba and Lusaka, Zambia.
Sr. Assan also entered the convent on April 8, 1989, took her First and Final vows on March 25 1992 and 1998 respectively. As a Stenographer Secretary and Teacher, she worked in Accra, Akwatia, Winneba and Fiapre, Sunyani. She is a Parishioner of the Holy Family Parish at Mataheko, Accra.
By Damian Avevor
