by Carole Anne Scott

Even those parishioners who are new to Sacred Heart are familiar with the affable and kindhearted Rev. Peter Ayorogo. Originally stationed here year-round while pursuing his doctoral studies, Father Peter, after receiving his degree, returned home in 1999 to his native Ghana where he resumed his position as a professor at the local seminary. Each summer, however, he is a most welcome sight at Sacred Heart as he returns among us to assist the parish by saying Mass and generally filling in for vacationing priests.

Despite his hectic teaching schedule, the ever active and energetic Father Peter, once back in his homeland, asked for a parish post where he could help out on weekends. From the list of possibilities offered, he chose an outstation that was an offshoot of a parish seven miles away, which coincidentally is also called Sacred Heart.

The place where he was sent to help out had been named after St. Charles Lwanga, one of the Ugandan Christian martyrs killed by a cruel king in the late nineteenth century. The church at the outpost was merely the size of a room. Most of its parishioners were forced to stand outside for Mass as very few of them could fit within the walls of the tiny structure.

Father Peter sent photos of the place to Sacred Heart’s pastor, Monsignor Francis Kelley, who wanted to help the impoverished parish. Monsignor soon set up a series of ask parties and provided Sacred Heart parishioners with an opportunity to donate to their fellow Christians half a world away in Africa. They responded so generously that now, a new and, by Ghana standards, spacious place of worship has been built beside the original tiny church.

Mass still cannot be said in the new church, however, because the raised surface for the altar has yet to be constructed. That item is next on the agenda, as are the pews. The architect for the project suggested that the seats be built to last and be made theft-proof by using iron frames bolted to the floor. That plan has been adopted. Once the new church has been consecrated and is in use, the original house of worship will be converted into meeting space.

Since theft is a problem everywhere, the new church has been equipped with burglar-proof windows, covered by heavy iron bars. It seems that the chalices used in the Mass are a very popular target for thieves.

To further commemorate the Sacred Heart Roslindale connection, the new parish has been named St. Francis of Assisi. The name Francis was chosen in honor of Monsignor Francis Kelley who played a pivotal role in bringing the plans for a new church to fruition, with his fundraising assistance. Of the project, Father Peter joyfully exclaims, “The Lord has worked a miracle!”

Sacred Heart Roslindale’s donations have not been confined merely to monetary gifts. When St. Andrew the Apostle School sadly closed its doors, its fifteen computers were shipped to Ghana to assist the impoverished students there. They will be used by the pupils at St. John’s Secondary School, Father Peter’s alma mater.

Father states, “The teachers and students are very happy to have these wonderful machines. They are using them for word processing and for learning to type. The Internet is not so common yet in Ghana. In fact we only have one Internet café in the whole town of Bolgatanga, the capital city of one of our ten regions that correspond to your fifty states.”

Soon, the Roslindale donations will also take the form of hands-on service as Sacred Heart parishioner and Boston College student Matt Carroll, accompanied by a group of ten classmates, will spend fifteen days of their Christmas break in Ghana. The students will help the masons build a bathroom for the church and a library for the school. This outreach effort has affectionately been named “Project Apuntoldyou,” a clever combining of English with Ghana’s native language into a real play on words.

Surrounded by grocery stores overflowing with food, it is difficult for us in 21st century America to imagine what the people in Father Peter’s section of Ghana face in trying to obtain food. In the dry season from November through April, crops will not grow; in the rainy season from May through October, sufficient water makes food plentiful. Unable to farm during the dry season, many people temporarily move to the southern part of the country where rainfall is more consistent. By building dams for irrigation, the government hopes eventually to eliminate the need for this southern migration.

Though Ghana does have some natural resources, including small amounts of gold and minerals which are surface-mined, the quantities are not great enough, so it remains a financially poor country. Father Peter points out, however, that his native land is rich in other ways for no one ever complains there. He explained, “Everybody is happy in Ghana. It is a land of hospitality.” As proof of that fact, he quoted an old native proverb which states, “When the visitor comes, then the children can eat well.”

The generosity of the people of Ghana is also shown in the fact that they share their priests with people in other lands. Though they themselves face a clergy shortage, they have sent their native sons as missionaries to Canada. Father explained what a sacrifice those priests make since they leave the always warm climate to which they are accustomed for the frigid temperatures of a Canadian winter. Longtime parishioners will undoubtedly recall Father Peter’s many comments about Boston’s chilly temperatures.

Even though conditions are very hard and times are often bad in Ghana, whenever a native is asked, “How are you?” the answer always is, “We’re managing.”

Managing has become increasing difficult, however. As Father pointed out “When the price of petrol increases, the price of everything increases.” This is particularly true because goods must be transported long distances from town to town, thus escalating the cost of each item.

Father Peter states that his “people are so grateful” and assures us that “every time they pray, they pray for the people of Sacred Heart.” If you would like to be among the many people remembered for their generosity to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Ghana, your donation may be made through Sacred Heart. Simply indicate that your check is for the Ghana Fund and give it to Monsignor Kelley or drop it off at the Rectory.

As I got up to leave our interview, I said to Father Peter, “It’s wonderful all that has been accomplished at your parish,” to which he graciously replied, “The wonder began here at Sacred Heart.”