by Doug Wilkowske

I had an opportunity to travel to Ghana, to visit a friend in the priesthood there and personally deliver funds from the tithing committee of St. Mary's Church in Willmar. One and a half of my two suit cases were full of school supplies donated by St. Mary's religious education students as well. It was a trip never to be forgotten, and one of those life-changing experiences people talk about over and over again.

Where on God's good earth is Ghana? It sits at about five degrees north latitude with the Prime Meridian crossing through from north to south. It is in West Africa on the southern coast of "the hump" facing the Gulf of Guinea.

What is the Catholic church like in Ghana? In a word, vibrant! It's alive and celebrating and growing! Enthusiasm, clapping, singing, dancing and a little Bach too, are all a part of the Ghanaian church but there is more.

The Ghanaians have a lot of sweat equity in their parishes and their faith is very strong. One sees them mixing sand and concrete and making cement blocks to build churches. They march in the streets with signs and banners and musical instruments drawing attention to the urgent needs for social reform. They are hungry to learn more about being followers of Jesus, and expect to spend a minimum of two hours at a Mass. On hot steamy days, that alone can build up a lot of "sweat equity!"

It is amazing so many people here ask about our "Missions" in Ghana. In truth, the only Catholic missions there are the diocesan outposts established and operated locally. The Ghanaian church in at least one way considers Europe and the United States as their mission. Why? Ghanaians flock to junior and senior seminaries to the point that priests and others in religious vocations can be exported, to help out in other parts of the world as needed.

That’s not to say Ghana doesn't need outside help. The church there may be long on spirit and participation, but the people are for the most part very poor, making the church extremely short on funds.

St. Mary's Church in Willmar has been financially assisting a priest and his building projects for the past 11 years. We met him through my brother-in-law, Dr. David I. Norman, who as a professor of Geology from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology lived and taught in western Ghana. Over the years Dave met and continued a friendship with Father Francis Tawiah, who is now Cathedral Administrator at Star of the Sea Cathedral in the Sekondi-Takoradi Diocese located in the Western Region of Ghana. Father Francis has visited and presided at Mass at St. Mary's, describing the things he has been able to accomplish with funds from our tithing committee and telling us how much a little aid means to his community.

The visit to Ghana was more like royal treatment for 10 days of non-stop diocesan and regional touring! One highlight was to be able to inspect and stay in a beautiful building that provides housing for priests serving more than 25 stations in the surrounding bush country. This residence was built in part by funds from St. Mary's in Willmar plus the determination and hard work of hundreds of volunteer laborers serving God and the church. Father Francis continues to be the producer and director of countless other diocesan projects involving hundreds of local volunteers.

While in Ghana I asked myself, "Why am I here? For the very first time to be off the continent of North America, how did Ghana become the destination? After posing that question to myself, it seemed to be answered immediately and several times over: The need to bring adventurous, American Catholics to Ghana became apparent. This way many others could experience the richness of the Ghanaians' faith, while cementing cross-cultural relationships with Ghana's people and helping to stimulate the fledgling tourist economy. That was the very last answer I expected but is anyone interested in coming along on the second trip? School supplies and used computers are stacked up and waiting to be stuffed into suitcases!

Doug Wilkowske is Director of Religious Education at St. Mary's Church in Willmar.