GHANA
Every Sunday in Bowina, Ghana, a small but dedicated community of about 100 Catholics gathers to celebrate Mass against countless odds. The mud chapel they constructed in 1999 is at risk of caving in. After many years of renovation and repairs, it has reached a point where maintenance is almost impossible as the walls have big cracks and are almost falling apart. For now, a mango tree serves as shelter for the community to celebrate Mass and to hold meetings. Despite all this, nothing deters these Catholics from believing in Jesus and gathering to praise Him!
The community is a tiny minority in an area where most people practice African Traditional Religion. Two-thirds of the parishioners have never been taught to read, and the rainy season often shuts down roads for months at a time. For the past two years, the Bowina community has been working hard to raise local funds for the construction of a new chapel, dedicated to St. Paul. Considering the poverty level of the people and the area, they will not be able to collect enough funds to put up this chapel within the next 5 years.
This faithful community has reached out to Catholic World Mission for help constructing a new Chapel which will accommodate 250 parishioners. A sacristy and a bedroom will give priests and catechists a place to stay during their evangelization and outreach programs. The chapel also will provide a space to store holy vessels and vestments; it will enhance Catholic worship and the important work of evangelization in this part of the world.
PROJECT UPDATES
Chapel of St. Paul in Bowina, Ghana is now complete
May - December 2024
Thanks to the incredible generosity of all our Catholic World Mission Donors, the structure of the Chapel of St. Paul in Bowina, Ghana is now complete. The Catholic community in the area now has a permanent location where they can praise the Lord.
The Nelson family, major supporters of the project and longtime friends of Catholic World Mission, were invited to the consecration of the new Chapel. Marion and her husband, JD Nelson, from Spokane, Washington, were raised with a strong foundation in their Catholic faith. Marion attributes her commitment to global service to the example set by her father, Robert Mattos, who instilled in her the belief that serving others is a central tenet of the faith. When Robert learned about the rebuilding efforts for St. Paul Chapel in Ghana, led by Fr. Peter, he was deeply moved by the thought of parishioners living in poverty gathering under a mango tree for services, even during the rain. Inspired, he made a lasting gift to the community, enabling them to fully rebuild their cherished church.
Marion and JD Nelson are pictured next to a very happy Father Peter on the day of this momentous occasion. The completion and consecration of the chapel of St. Paul is a major achievement and milestone for the Catholic community in Ghana. All that remains for the project to reach total completion is the interior furnishings. Local clergy and residents have expressed their profound gratitude to all the support they received from the Catholic World Mission family of supporters.
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