The Beginning of St. Joseph

St. Joseph Retreat Center (1996)

The Retreat Center was built by Fr. Josef Glatzel, SVD and named after him by Bishop James Kwadwo Owusu. For a short time, the building was the home of the Salesian Community while they were building their mission quarters in Odumasi, which they officially opened on January 31, 1996.

As the first director of the Sunyani Pastoral and Social Center, Brother Joseph Tsiquaye, CSC was also the director of the Retreat Center which was still being constructed on adjacent Church property. Fr. Richard Kyeremeh served as assistant to Brother Joseph and then became the director when the Holy Cross Brother left the diocese. On March 1st, 1996, the Retreat Center was officially opened with Fr. Richard Kyeremeh as director and Sr. Mary Theresa Bowman, CDP as Programme Co-ordinator, both appointed by Bishop Owusu. A hard-working lay staff prepare the compound to be a beautiful, restful place conducive for prayer and recollection.

On March 8th, 1996 the first Programme held was an evening of Lenten Reflections for priests and religious of the Sunyani Deanery. In 1996-1997, Sr. Dorez Mehrten SSNID came to live at the Retreat Center with Sr. Theresa and Sr. Aganes Clare Kramer, CDP, who was administrator of the Postoral and Social Center with Fr. Richard as the director. Sr. Dorez came to assist Fr. Richard and Sr. Theresa with spiritual direction and retreats. Other priests and religious also were recruited throughout the years to assist in retreats and spiritual direction, among these was Sr. Frances Lorene Lange, CDP, who lived at the Retreat Center in 2001-2002.

In 2000 Fr. John Kofi Takyi was appointed director of the Retreat Center when Fr. Richard Kyeremeh became the Cathedral Administrator, having received his appointment in December 1999. Fr. Takyi served as director of the Retreat Center until he left to serve as the Vicar General of the newly formed Diocese of Techiman in 2008.

On May 18th, 2005, Sister Paulina Albin, S.L. received an official appointment from Bishop Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi to serve as administrator of the St. Joseph Retreat Center, having assumed duties on April 18th, 2005 after the departure from Ghana of Sister Mary Theresa Bowman, CDP. Sister Paulina had in residence at the Retreat Center since 1997, while serving in the Diocese Catechetical Office, which she still does part-time.

The Retreat Center has a beautiful Chapel, which can comfortably seat about 40 worshippers. A large meeting room called Providence Hall, a classroom, and dining facilities can each accommodate groups of about 40. Bed space is limited to 25, while student mattresses can be used for overflow guests.

Individuals and groups from all over Ghana as well as the Sunyani Diocese choose St. Joseph Retreat Center as their house of prayer, reflection, discrnment, and as avenue for meetings. In 1997 Msgr. Peter Kwaku Atuahene, Bishop-elect, lived at the Retreat Center for several months while he was preparing to be consecrated as Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Goaso. Other guests at St. Joseph Retreat Center have included bishop, clergy, religious, major superiors of women and men religious, novices, postulants and aspirants, catechists, wives of catechists, environmental concern participants, youth groups, laity Council, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, married couples, students and staff of the Catholic University, Anglican Bishop and priests, Pentecostal pastors, priests from Diocese of Goaso and Techiman making annual retreats, Salesian volunteers from abroad, and many other.

God has richly blessed this house of prayer, humbly serving people who journey with the Lord.

Sacred Heart Confraternity (Abesim)

This society was founded by Sunyani parish with members from Sunyani, Abesim, Tanoso, Yamfo, Fiapre, Nsoatre, Odumase and Chiraa. The leading members were Mr. Ackon, Thomas Asirifi, Opanin Agyei, Opanin Takyi, Opanin Simon Addae, James Yaw Obeng, Simon Oduro, Gabriel Fokuo, John Sabbi Mensa, JEO, Mensa-Boakoyeya — he taught them prayers and songs. Others include Mark Oppong Addison, Michael Mensah. The society now has four males, twenty-four females and twenty-two Tarcisians. The Tarcisians Association was started in Abesim March 2008, with fifteen boys and eight girls. Their uniforms were out-doored by Most Rev. Bishop Matthew Gyamfi on the same day. Membership has now reached forty-six. All the members are communicants.

Catholic Women Association (C.W.A)

The diocesan CWA was established by Mrs. Anne Gambrah with Rev. Sisters Dolores and Jane Frances as organizers. Abesim CWA was established in 1976 through the initiative of the late Mrs. Anne Gambrah, Mrs. Ackon and others. The first president of this Abesim branch was Madam Elizabeth Osei, with Mr. Ntow (a male) as their secretary. New members from Yawmirikrom — a village under Abesim, have joined the association. The Association has sixty-six women, thirteen girls and sixteen children of the Holy Family.

Christian Mboakuw

This society was brought to Abesim by the late Theresa Kyeremaa. It was duly inaugurated by the National Board of Councilors on the 23rd of November 1995. The first president of the society was Osabarima F.G. Appiah with Opanin Kofi Ansu as Kuw Egya and Madam Elizabeth Osei as Kuw Na. Now the president is Stephen Appiah with Isaac Anto-Gyamfi as the secretary, while Mr. F.G, Appiah is a member of the National Board. The society has ten male and fifty female.

St. Joseph Choir (Senior Choir)

This was started in 1968 by Mrs. Yorke as a school choir. Mrs Yorke was the Head-teacher of Abesim R/C Middle school and Mr. Amoako was the choirmaster. It developed into church choir in 1969 with the same Mr. Amoako as the choir Leaders. The choir masters include Mr. Amoako, Mr. Gyasi, S.N. Obeng, Nana Ohene Kyei Dankwah, Isaac Ofori Atuahene, Ansu-Amponsah, Mr. Kingsley Appiah, George Agyei and Mr. Boadu Gyamfi as assistant choir master. Some priests who were members of the choir were: Rev. Frs. John Addae-Boateng, Anthony Kyere, Augustine Ansu-Damoah and Anthony Enyinful.

Holy Trinity Choir

This young choir was started by Mr. George Adjei on the 4th of July 2001. George was a teacher of Abesim R/C JSS. Some of the founding members withdrew from the group. Very unfortunately, Abesim R/C JSS was selected for the Coral Music during the cultural festival in Sunyani District. The festival was held at Fiapre on 5th April, 2002. The students who took part were added to the group on 4th August, 2002. The choir was formally inaugurated on 23rd February, 2003, during the time of Rev Fr. Abraham Berko Atta, the priest in charge. This choir assisted the newly created St. James Seminary Community in February, 2004. Their choir robes were dedicated on 19th December, 2004. Part of the proceeds was used to buy a new organ for the group. The choir is very grateful to Mr. George Adjei, the founder; Rev. Fr. George Kyeremeh, Fr. Abraham Berko-Atta, Rev. Fr. Hubert AsanteKumi, the church committee and all the choir patrons.

Christian Mothers Association (C.M.A)

Abesim Christian Mothers Association was started on the 7th of March, 2004 by Mother Beatrice from Sunyani. It was finally inaugurated on 11th November, 2007, by Rev. Fr. Hubert Asante-Kumi. The aim of the Association is to bring all mothers and their children together. The leaders of the Association are: Mother Theresa Agyapomaa and Gladys Boaduwaa. The present number of members thirty-four - twenty-four mothers and ten children. The present secretary is Theresa Kumi.

Catholic Organization for Social and Religious Advancement (COSRA)

COSRA as an organization was started in the Sunyani Diocese in 1998 but Abesim COSRA was inaugurated in April, 2005, with fifteen men and twenty ladies, during the time of Rev. Fr. George Kyeremeh, the priest in charge at that time. First president was Stephen Appiah with the following executive members: Augustine Yeboah, Joseph Amponsah, John Ansu Kumi, Agnes N. Dery, Florence Asemiah, Alfred Afari-Mintah and Martin Yeboah.