HISTORY OF OCDS, TAMALE, GHANA
ST. TERESA OF JESUS OCDS COMMUNITY-TAMALE, GHANA
The church-goers in the Carmelite Monastery chapel in Tamale first heard about the Lay Carmelites from Rev. Fr. Thaddeus Dim, OCD. It was in 2015, Year of the Consecrated Life and 5thCentenary of the Birth of our Holy Mother St. Teresa, when Fr. Thaddeus was invited by the Carmelite Sisters to preach at the golden jubilee of Sr. Maureen Therese on 17th January. After mass the following day, 18th January, which was a Sunday, as part of the Jubilee Program, Fr. Thaddeus spoke at length to the large congregation about the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites. This aroused interest in some of the audience who desired the establishment of the Secular Carmelites here in Ghana too.
So the Prioress of the Carmelite Sisters in Tamale decided to invite Prof. Michael Ogunu, the Provincial President of the Secular Carmelites in Nigeria. He came during the novena to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in July 2015. For several days he introduced and explained further the Secular Carmelites, known also as the Third Order of Carmel, to the devotees of the Blessed Virgin. A good number were interested and when Prof. Ogunu left after Our Lady’s feast, fifteen applicants had enlisted. In the mean time, Prof. Ogunu appointed Sr. Lawrencia Abakisi as President of the group, and Sr. Portia Wumnaya as Formator.
In August 2015, a Nigerian Carmelite, Fr. Emmanuel Nnadozie, OCD, who was giving a retreat to the Carmelite sisters took time to meet with the applicants who, by then, had increased in number and were eagerly waiting for the Secular Carmelite Order to officially begin. As Fr. Emmanuel had no mandate, all he could do was to give them some more input on Carmelite spirituality.
At last the long-awaited moment drew near with the arrival of Fr. Cyril Udom, OCD, who was then the Provincial Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Carmelites in Nigeria. Father came, to preach about St. Teresa of Jesus, Foundress of the Carmelites, during the novena celebration for the closing of her Centenary Year, and also to inaugurate the Secular Carmelites. After some days of giving formation to the applicants, Fr. Cyril officially inaugurated the Order of Secular Carmelites in Ghana at the end of the Eucharistic celebration on 15 October, the Solemnity of our holy Mother St. Teresa of Jesus and closing of the 5th Centenary of the saint’s birth. This means that it can be established in any part of the country with the permission of the bishop of the place. The members are now called “aspirants” and after months of initial formation the next stage will be “postulancy”. Archbishop Gregory Kpiebaya who was the main celebrant at mass witnessed the ceremony with deep joy because, as he said, “a new spirituality has come to Ghana” – a gift of St. Teresa and the Discalced Carmelite Order to this country. And so, the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites, Ghana was officially inaugurated by Rev. Fr. Cyril Udom, OCD on 15th October 2015 with the approval of the Order of Secular Carmelites in Nigeria, thus paving the way for the formation of other Secular Carmelite Fraternities in Ghana.
A week later, God’s love providentially sent straight from the centre of the Order, which is the Carmelite Generalate in Rome, the General Councillor in charge of the Secular Carmelites all over the world, Rev. Fr. Mariano Agruda, OCD. His mother was also a past president of a Secular Carmelite Fraternity in his country, the Philippines. He gave us an inspiring talk. It was providential because the Carmelite priest who was supposed to come for the sisters, Rev. Fr. George Tambala, OCD, was suddenly appointed bishop by Pope Francis on 15 October. So Rev. Fr. Mariano Agruda Jnr., OCD was sent to Ghana in place of the then Bishop-elect George Tambala of Malawi.
The admission to Postulancy of the first 29 members, including a Monsignor took place in the Carmelite Monastery Chapel in Tamale on 16th July 2016, Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The Admission ceremony was administered by Fr Cyril Udom and assisted by Prof. Michael Ogunu. Most Rev. Philip Naameh, the Archbishop of Tamale, was the main celebrant. Prof. Michael Ogunu of Carmel also renewed his vows, as that day marked the 40th anniversary of his profession, as a member of the OCDS. Rev. Fr. Cyril Udom received his vows for the Superior-General of the Order of Discalced Carmelites.
The Executive appointed after the admission consisted of: Spiritual Assistant – Msgr. Andrew Tengan, Director of Formation – Sis. Lawrencia Abakisi, President – Bro. Stephen Kabange, Secretary – Sis. Evelyn Suglo, Treasurer – Bro. Paul Yelyen.
The group drew up separate program of activities for 2017 and 2018 and executed them though a few activities could not be carried out. Other activities included monthly meetings, divine office prayers, charity activities, retreats and pilgrimages. We also prayed with the nuns and celebrated with them and the Carmelite Community on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
After admission, formation continued for the first promise. New aspirants also registered.
On 9th December 2017, on invitation, the president was selected to represent the community, in Nigeria on the occasion of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the OCDS in Nigeria. This was preceded by the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on the 8th of December 2017. It was spirit filled and interactive. The OCDS – Ghana made a donation and were also given materials. The travel by road was hectic yet revealing.
The year 2018 brought some changes in the Discalced Carmelites Vicariate in Nigeria. Rev. Fr. Franklin Udenze, OCD became the new Provincial Spiritual Assistant for the Secular Carmelites. Invited by the Sisters to preach at the Novena and celebration of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in July, he also gave formation talks to the Secular Carmelite postulants and aspirants.
The admission to the first temporary promise of the pioneer group was originally scheduled to take place on the 16th of July 2018, the solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. However, Prof. Michael Ogunu observed that the group needed more time for formation and recommended an extension to Saturday, 8th December 2018, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. He sent to us a detailed programme for spiritual formation. His recommendation was accepted by the group.
On 8th Dec. 2018 the pioneer group, now consisting of 26 members took their first promise. Prof. Michael Ogunu had come the previous week in order to give them an intensive preparation followed by Rev. Fr. Franklin Udenze, OCD, the new Provincial Spiritual Assistant, who preached their three-day retreat and received their Promises. Six Aspirants were also admitted to Postulancy by Fr. Franklin Udenze assisted by Prof. Michael Ogunu. The Holy Eucharist was celebrated by the Archbishop Emeritus of Tamale, Most Rev. Gregory Kpiebaya. A few aspirants again registered. The community now has three groups: Aspirants (Candidates for admission to formation), Postulants(Candidates for admission to first promise) and the third group is candidates preparing to renew their first promise.
On 17th February 2019, the group held our first elections for the posts of President and the three councilors. The new council then named the Secretary and Assistant, the Treasurer and Assistant. The council also named an Acting President, since the substantive President was then a nursing mother. It also named another Formator; since we then had three group stages of membership for formation.
The official leadership was then: Spiritual Assistant – Msgr. Andrew Tengan, Director of Formation – Sis. Lawrencia Abakisi, President – Sis. Abigail Akanpabadai, Acting President – Sis. Joyce Kuubiere, 1st Councillor – Bro. Stephen Kabange, 2nd Councillor – Bro. William Abakisi, 3rd Councillor – Sis. Joyce Kuubiere, Formator – Bro. Stephen Kabange, Secretary – Sis. Bibiana Nangbeikuu, Assistant Secretary – Sis. Irene Kwotuah, Treasurer – Bro. Paul Yelyen, Assistant Treasurer – Sis. Magdalene Piuse.
Handing over was done during the general meeting on the 10th of March 2019.
The Group received members on visit from Ghana and abroad who shared and supported us. The latest was Sis. Sophia Ankrah, a Ghanaian but a member of the London St. Joseph OCDS Community. She attended our monthly general meeting on 10th of March 2019, shared her experiences with us and we celebrated in a small way her birthday.
Challenges over these years included poor attendance to meetings and programs. We were not able to launch fully a membership drive. The time allotted by the group for formation was not adequate. Members had poor reading habit and meetings were uncontrollably long. There were financial difficulties and social relations problems. On a sad note one member from the group died. May her soul rest in the perfect peace of the Lord.
The way forward includes emphasis on spiritual and charity activities, a new commitment to launch a membership drive in the diocese and to spread the order in Ghana. The group would assist the president to cut down on meeting time. A new program of activities for 2019 is being approved and commitment in all activities is solicited for the coming years. The spiritual Assistant and the nuns will be contacted more on social issues.
We are grateful to all who supported this first fledgling group in Ghana thus far, especially those who paved the way for the OCDS in Ghana, the Nigerian team, the Nuns in Tamale, the bishops and all the clergy. Our prayer is that they continue to assist us to mature in the order.
To the members, I urge us to be committed to the spirituality of Carmel, especially our prayers, the evangelical counsels and practice of charity.
May God bless us all abundantly.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Watch over us.
Written by BRO. STEPHEN KABANGE
(President)
10th March 2019
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