he St Michael’s Catholic Church at Jamasi in the Ashanti Region in the Konongo-Mampong Diocese, is celebrating its Centenary. This is the home Parish of Most Rev. Joseph Osei-Bonsu, Bishop of the Diocese. The Catholic Church was brought to Jamasi by Opanin Peter Bekoe from Cape Coast around 1908.
The first Baptism in the Jamasi Church was on November 21, 1916 by Fr. Philip Munzinger, SMA. Three people were baptised – Thomas Kwame Bour, Mary Akosua Nyarko and Agnes Akua Nyarko. Earlier converts were baptised in Kumasi. This centenary which was launched last year, celebrates this landmark event of the first Baptism in the history of Jamasi Church.
Before the visitation from Priests, the Church was under the care of Catechists, who worked hard and made a lot of sacrifices for the growth of the Church. Some of the Catechists were Mr. Ansah, Mr. Sey, Mr. Amoateng, Mr. Oppong and Mr. Amponsah.
In 1938, Rev. Fr. John Bastian established the Catholic Primary School. This was followed by the founding of the Middle School in 1947.
These schools catered for the education of many young boys and girls from Jamasi and some of the Outstations including Asamang, Boanim, Bepoase, Kyekyewere, and Anyinasu. From 1949 to 1950, Jamasi became a centre for the training of Catechists.
This was under the directorship of Rev. Fr. Bergervoet and Rev. Fr. Huisman; both were SMA Fathers. Two of the first Catechists who were trained at the centre were Mr. Tsiquaye from Obuasi and Mr. Mensah from Bechem which at the time, formed part of the then Kumasi Diocese.
Another landmark in the history of the Church was the establishment of the preparatory Seminary. Young men who wanted to become Priests studied there before moving on to St. Teresa’s Seminary at Amisano. This has accounted for the flourishing of vocations in the Jamasi township and its environs.
Fourteen Priests from the Jamasi Church itself have been ordained and there are many more from the outstation Churches. There are two Religious Sisters.
The first Monastery in Ghana was built at Jamasi. This was the Divine Providence Monastery started by Fr. Mensah-Brown, which had been converted in to the Divine Providence Centre where Diocesan Pastoral programmes are held.
The project to commemorate the occasion is the construction of a Centenary Hall. The facility when completed, would have places for Catechesis, Sunday School programmes and meetings. There will be a large hall for general programmes of the Parish.
On this memorable occasion, the Bishop, Most Rev. Joseph Osei Bonsu, the Parish Priest and his Assistant, the Pastoral Council and the entire members invite all the sons and daughters of Jamasi and all Catholics to the Centenary celebration. The climax is on April 22, 2017 and the Thanksgiving Mass on April 23, 2017. Each programme starts at 9:30 am.
