By Henry K. Atachie
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Rev. Sr. Maire O’driscol of the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Congregation, recently celebrated her Golden Jubilee as a Nun with a thanksgiving Mass at the Archbishop Porter Girls’ Polytechnic, Vroomdorp, Elmina in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast.
The celebration coincided with the Feast Day of St. Patrick, the Patron Saint of the Republic of Ireland, where Sr. O’driscol hails from.
Most Rev. Matthias Kobena Nketsiah, Auxiliary Bishop of Cape Coast, presided over the Mass, concelebrated by Most Rev. Francis A.K. Lodonu, Bishop of Ho, Rev. Msgr. Hilary Senoo, Parish Priest of St. Cecilia, Ho, Very Rev. Fr. Eric Awortwe Dadson, Vicar-General, representing Bishop John Martin Darko of Sekondi-Takoradi.
Other concelebrants were Msgr. Benjamin Poku Donkor, who represented Bishop Peter Kwaku Atuahene of Goaso; Very Rev. Fr. Francis Twum-Barima of Koforidua Diocese and Msgr. Francis B. Ocran, of the Archdiocese of Cape Coast and many other priests.
In attendance were several Religious, students and members of Past OLA Girls Association (POGA).
The Polytecnnic, which was established mainly for girls’ education, offers vocational (Secretarial) courses for students who have successfully passed the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
In a homily, Bishop Nketsiah asked the congregation to surrender themselves totally to God, citing Moses, Abraham, Jeremiah and others who surrendered themselves to God’s commandments.
He congratulated Sr. O’driscol, who, despite graduating from the University of Cork, Ireland, did not desire the pleasures of this world but decided to surrender herself totally to the Lord.
“Sister O’driscol at the age of 26, accepted to work among us in Ghana, to share our climate, political life and also to educate our children, to take managerial positions in life and also to become good and responsible mothers,” he said.
Bishop Nketsiah gave a special blessing to Sr. O’driscol and prayed for good health for her, after which she renewed her Perpetual Vows.
Rev. Sr. Mary Rita, Principal of the Institute, noted that 50 years ago, while Ghana became an independent nation, Sister O’driscol professed her Final Vows, describing the event as a “double Golden Jubilee.”
At a reception in Sr. O’driscol’s honour, the Chairperson, Mrs. Mary Agyeman, an old student, praised her for helping to make them what they are today.
She hoped that the virtues Sr. O’driscol had planted in them would blossom.
Various gifts were presented to Most Rev. Nketsiah, who was a former tutor at the School.
Past OLA Girls’ Association (POGA) also presented a framed picture of Sr. O’driscol, a citation, ¢2 million cash, a Golden Jubilee cake and several other parcels to her.
The National Catholic Laity Council also gave her a parcel as its past Chaplain.
Sr. O’driscol thanked all those who had made her stay in Ghana an enjoyable one.
She arrived in Ghana on October 1, 1961, to teach at OLA Secondary School, Ho until December 21, 1981, when she proceeded on leave for further studies in Missiology at the Gregorian University in Rome from 1984 – 1987.
She returned to Ghana to work at the National Catholic Secretariat from 1988 to 2000.
From 2000 to date, she has been teaching at the Archbishop Porter Girls’ Polytechnic, Vroomdorp, Elmina, as a Tutor/Counsellor in Christian Living.
Rev. Frs. Lian Hickey and Patrick Hickey, relatives of Sr. Marie, flew from Ireland to participate in the celebration.
Some POGA Executives who graced the occasion included Mrs. Victoria Eduwodzi Akuffo, (First Senior Prefect – Pioneers); Mama Agblatsu III, a Queen Mother; Mrs. Doris Adadevoh-Ablo, National President and President of USA branch; Mrs. Elizabeth Dodoo, Accra President and Mrs. Anna King, Ho President.
Other dignitaries were Sir Samuel Kofi Asubonteng ,KSG, Executive Secretary, National Catholic Laity Council; Dr. Prof. Leticia Hevi-Yiboe, Lecturer, University of Ghana, Legon; Mrs. Flora Mensah, Acting Head, Achimota Secondary School, Mrs. Philomena Afeti, Headmistress, OLA, Ho; Rev. Sr. Regina Kampo, Former Headmistress, OLA, Ho; Mrs. Evelyn Tamakloe Abotsi; Vice President, USA branch and Ms. Nancy Dzah, Deputy Western Regional Co-ordinator.
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