St. Hubert Seminary Alumni Hold Annual Reunion in Columbus

It was a beautiful spring Saturday morning in Pickerington, Ohio as United States-based St. Hubert Seminary Alumni (SAHUSA), with their families arrived at a serene, well-manicured lawn suburban neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Coming from across the U.S., these former seminarians were there to attend their 2-day annual reunion which takes place every Memorial Day weekend. For two days, Abofoo, as they call themselves, would engage in wide-ranging social, intellectual and spiritual sessions.

The special guest of honor was Rev. Monsignor Thomas Manu Denteh, former Vicar-General of the Konongo-Mampong Catholic Diocese, currently pastor of St. John the Cross Rectory at Kronom, Kumasi. It was a fitting tribute to his work at St. Hubert Seminary. From 1983-1993, Monsignor Manu served as the fourth Rector of the school when most Abofoo were students. Addressing the participants, the visibly elated Monsignor Manu Denteh expressed his profound gratitude for inviting him to the 2014 Columbus Reunion. He said he was thrilled to see that his former students had turned out to be useful members of society, which in his opinion was the essence of their seminary formation. He urged them to value transparency and avoid backbiting at all times.

Rev. Dr. John Amankwah gave the keynote address. “It will not be enough to ship containers full of items to institutions but it is all enough for you to engineer and design ideas to help our young students in Ghana to learn and engage various national issues with a sense of determination to change the face of the country,” argued Father Amankwah. Dr. Amankwah is an Associate Professor at the Department of Communications and New Media Studies of the College Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. After his opening remarks, he engaged Abofoo in an intellectually stimulating discussion on the theme: “Seeking the Common Good for A Healthy Community.” He charged Abofoo to help build and maintain healthy communities in Ghana by taking part in cultivating community activism, especially in the youth.

Prior to the keynote address, Nana Seinti Nyame, a distinguished personality and the Ceremonial King of the Ghanaian community in Cincinnati, Ohio, also shared nuggets of wisdom with Abofoo when he and his wife Obaapanin Vida Nyame dropped by for a brief moment. He advised Abofoo to be devoted to one another, and always have a vision and a purpose in life. He asked to be considered as an honorary member of SAHUSA.

Thanks to advances in Information and Communication Technology, Abofoo interacted with some of their Ghana and U.K. counterparts via Skype and telephone. The tech-savvy Dr. Michael Boakye-Yiadom, Dean of Students at Hiwassee College in Tennessee, was instrumental in connecting the colleague alumni. Written messages also came in from the Archbishop of the Kumasi Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Gabriel Justice Anokye and the Rector of St. Hubert Seminary, Rev. Fr. Stephen Owusu Sekyere.

On Sunday, Abofoo joined the Columbus Ghanaian Catholic Community for Holy Mass at the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus, Ohio. Monsignor Manu, and Fr. Joseph Henry Opoku, an alumnus, and Fr. Nkansah concelebrated. Ladies Vida Adusei Poku and Rita Assiamah, spouses of SAHUSA President and Vice President, respectively, joined the Praise and Worship Team and led the congregation in inspiring songs. Selected Abofoo and spouses read the Scriptures and led the prayers of the faithful. During the Mass, Mr. Pius Wiafe-Akenten, an alumnus and the talented choirmaster and conductor from New York, displayed his skills as he led the local choir and congregation to minister music unto the Lord.

Awards were presented to Anthony Sarpong (Charlie Bates), Victor Appiah (Puzuuzu) and Daniel Amponsah (Aloysius) for their unwavering dedication to SAHUSA. The Abofoo resolved to hold their 8th Annual SAHUSA Reunion in Los Angeles, California. On behalf of Abofoo, Victor Appiah expressed gratitude to Nana Nsiah-Korankye, Chairman of SAHUSA-Ohio and the other members and their families for contributing in diverse ways to host the 2014 SAHUSA Annual Reunion. The meeting was adjourned until Memorial Weekend of 2015, and Monsignor Manu prayed for and asked God’s blessings upon the participants.