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25.07.2015 15:26:01 6618x read.
GHANA
St. Louis Community Wa.

St Louis Community Wa 
The St. Louis community was officially opened in 1976 as the province’s formation community and residence of the Regional Superior. Originally both the postulancy and the novitiate were accommodated here and there was the so-called prep school attached to the community, where a one-year course was run to prepare young children for the common entrance examination which gave admission to Senior High School education. This part was officially closed down in the late eighties when a new law on education made it compulsory for all pupils to complete Junior High School. The Provincial Council then decided to turn the faci- lities of the prep school into an In-Service-Training Centre (ISTC), which is still functioning as a guest house and training centre. Instead of the prep school we opened the St. Andrew’s Primary and JHS in town after due consultation with the Diocese. The community also served as the administrative headquarters of the FIC Province for about 20 years until 1996, when the Provincial House in Wa was ready. 
Even though the formation dimension of the community has been moved to Tamale, St. Louis is still the biggest community of the Province. This is also due to the opening of the new educational complex. 
FIC St. Louis Education Complex 
The FIC St. Louis Education Complex is a private school which opened in 2011 and now has 5 classes: P1 to P5. All pupils are boarders and the school has established its reputation very rapidly, causing a rush to buy entry forms for the new academic year. Interested parents start lining up at St. Louis at 4.00 am and by 6.00 am all forms (80, while only 40 pupils are taken) are usually gone. It looks like this initiative will have a bright future. 
The children are currently housed in the former postulancy and novitiate buildings, with plans made to build a completely new school at the back of the present premises. GET (Ghana Education Trust) Fund visited the school in 2012 and promised to provide the school with a three-story classroom block, two dormitories (boys and girls) and two sets of staff quarters. 
This school is completely private, which means that parents pay fees for board and tuition and that the school recruits its own teachers. By offering some special subjects like French and ICT the school is an outstanding one and parents have the fullest confidence in the institution, as witnessed by the rush for the new intake (see above). 
At this moment five Brothers are attached to the school: Bro. Isidore, the Headmaster, Bro. Nimorious and Bro. Godwin (teachers), Bro. Fidelis (domestic bursar) and Bro. Hans who takes care of the financial administration. As time goes on more Brothers will be appointed here. 
As for the other Brothers staying at St. Louis community, all have separate responsibilities. 
Wa Senior High School 
Bro. Cosmas is Headmaster of Wa Senior High School. He writes about the challenges he faces. 
Challenges in leadership 
The biggest challenge that Headmasters face in this school is in- stilling discipline. Because of the large number of students (more than 2000), it is very difficult to identify students by their names and faces. There is also a large Muslim population of both staff and students who constitute a big challenge because of their different background and occasional religious intolerance. The indiscipline among students and staff spills over to the area of teaching and learning. There is high student and teacher absenteeism. 
The water system in the school is very poor. Students spend a lot 28 of time queuing to fetch water.
The result of all these challenges is the poor performance every year by the candidates for the school certificate examinations. 
Challenges as a religious 
Poverty abounds in this community. There are emotional, spiritual, moral, financial and psychological challenges facing many students. The large Muslim group makes issues around religion very sensitive. Very often disciplinary problems are linked to religious practices. In the past riots were very common in this school because of religious differences. 
As a religious, providing leadership in this school demands a lot of tact, dialogue and diplomacy on the one hand and firmness and fairness on the other. Creating a congenial learning and teaching environment is perhaps the biggest challenge as a religious. 
It requires a daily confrontation of teaching and non-teaching staff and students as well. The leader has to be extra careful not to show preference or special connections with any religion or ethnic group, otherwise his authority as a leader will be rejected. 
Nevertheless 
Wa Senior High School is not just about problems, there are also pleasant things happening in the school. The school enjoys a lot of attention from the media and the many stakeholders and has a lot of potential for development. 
Diocesan health services 
Bro Bosco B. is the Diocesan Coordinator of Health. He writes: “It is my pleasure to share with you my apostolic experience, first in the health sector and second, in working for the needy. I am a nurse by profession, but currently into administrative work in the diocese of Wa. After my Master’s course in Health Service in Canada, I was appointed Diocesan Coordinator of Health by the Bishop of Wa in consultation with the then Provincial Secretary in 2010.” 
                                                          
The Health Sector of the diocese of Wa was started by the early missionaries. Out of their commitment and dedicated service to humanity, two hospitals and fourteen clinics were set up, and now we have a vibrant Primary Health Care system. In addition, two nursing training schools were established in Jirapa. Reaching out to the needy, especially the physically sick, is still one of the main objectives of the church’s healing ministry. The major challenge is the ownership crisis between the Catholic church in Wa diocese and the Ghana Health Service in the Upper West Region. That goes for the clinics as well as the two hospitals. One of the issues in the health sector is the recognition of the World Day of the Sick, which is very much supported by the Pontifical Mission in Rome. In our health institutions, we need to encourage the celebration of this important event for the benefit of the sick. 
Living Experience with the physically challenged 
To live according to the spirit of the Founders particularly means: “to have a special concern for the poor and destitute, for the underprivileged and disabled, for the socially weak and forgotten groups, for those who experience little love”( article 17). 
It is in the light and spirit of this art. 17 that the idea of the creation of the orthopaedic services centre is a need and not a want. The past Provincial Council endorsed the idea to support the handicapped in various ways to improve on their mobility and livelihood as part of the society. Due to this, we have started an orthopaedic centre in Kaleo. So far, we have helped about 373 disabled children in various ways. 
Our major challenge is how to develop the Centre for service de- livery to the poor and marginalized in society. You can find the strategic plans on the website at www.disogh.org. 
Home community 
In our community we also have the Brothers Leander and Jerome. Both have retired from active service, though they still make a contribution to the community wherever they can. Leander has been struggling with his health recently and because of that has to take it easy, while Bro. Jerome, although retired and also struggling with his health at times, is still active in the St, Louis vegetable garden. Every day he waters and weeds in his so-called ‘computer-room’ where he battles with the various viruses. 
Pope John XXIII Centre 
Bro. Albert has also retired but in 2008 he was appointed Director of the Pope John XXIII Centre, a place associated with the UDS (University of Development Studies) in Wa. There is a hostel pro- viding accommodation for 120 students. This gives the Centre an entry into the student world where the staff organizes formation programmes for students, to enable them to acquire those values of life that go beyond the academic sphere. We think here of human sexuality and relationships, peace-building in a multi-ethnic society, the challenge of multi-religious society, the challenge of the WYD (World Youth Day) etc. Often new topics are being suggested by the students themselves and it is then up to the Centre executive to coordinate and make it possible. 
ISTC (In-Service-Training Centre) 
Associated with St. Louis is the ISTC, situated in the premises of the former Prep school and started there when that school was forced to close due to the new educational system that came into operation. 
Bro. Peter is Assistant Manager of the Centre and knows every- thing that is going on. The Centre is commercial and offers accommodation and hospitality services (meals and drinks) as well as conference facilities. It is as such that the centre is often used by both NGO and Government departments. People can stay the- re and have their meetings to upgrade their knowledge and ability to serve society in various capacities. The Ministry of Health uses- the Centre regularly for ongoing courses, as do other organisations such as UDS, JICA and VSO. 







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