Miles apart and 84 years in the making

Two Parishes were bound together by the hands of God

For 17 years, parishioners of St. Boniface, Germantown, have been living their faith through their partnership with Sacred Heart Parish, Bolgatanga (Bolga), Ghana. Since 1992, they have donated more than $70,000 and shipped eight containers of goods to their African sister parish.

Despite being separated by 5500 miles, the two parishes have not only forged a working relationship, they have also developed a friendship which stems from the destined meeting of Msgr. Roger Aboteyuure, Africa, and Fr. Bernie Sippel, Wisconsin, over 35 years ago. Those closest to this story believe it was God’s hand that brought these two parishes together; however, it is hard to say exactly when God first put His plan into action. It appears He was sowing the seeds long before Msgr. Roger and Fr. Bernie first met.

When missionaries wanted to build a Catholic church in Bolga 84 years ago, it was the local chief, Msgr. Roger’s grandfather, who granted them the needed land. Although he donated land for a Catholic church, the chief continued practicing his religion which included animal sacrifice and polygamy. In 1945, when his grandson Aboteyuure was stricken with cerebral meningitis, the customary sacrificial rites were performed to ensure his quick recovery. When Aboteyuure’s health failed to improve, a priest at the nearby Catholic mission was called. He provided medicine and baptized Aboteyuure with a Christian name, Roger, so he would “go to heaven” if he should die.

When Roger was well, the priest asked his father to allow him to be educated and practice Catholicism at the mission’s school. His father agreed. So, during the day, Roger went to school, studied his new religion and received an education. In the evening, he returned home to tend the cows and goats.

Roger cherished the teachings of the missionaries and was sent on to seminary college for five years. He became a priest and traveled abroad to study and make appeals for the mission in Bolga. In 1973, Fr. Roger traveled to Wisconsin to preach and appeal for money. While traveling, he confused Packwaukee with Pewaukee and ended up at St. Mary’s Parish, Elm Grove. At Mass, Fr. Roger met Fr. Bernie, the pastor of the parish. The two priests exchanged names and addresses. They kept in touch through the years and Fr. Bernie sent money to Fr. Roger’s parish in Bolga; a friendship developed.

When Fr. Bernie was assigned to St. Boniface, Germantown, in 1992, he decided to get his new parish involved with the mission in Bolga. He invited Fr. Roger to come and speak about the needs of the people of Bolga to solicit parishioner support through prayer and donations.

In 1998, Fr. Bernie concluded it was time to visit Bolga to see the need first hand. He sought volunteers to travel with him and Deacon Jim Chrisien, who had always yearned to see Africa, decided to go with him along with three other St. Boniface parishioners: Mike Hilgers and Billy and Joann Newburg. In 2007, St. Boniface sent a second delegation to Bolga: Deacon Jim, Mike and Pat Hilgers, Carol Kohl and her sister from Madison, Lois.

Of her visit to Africa, Pat Hilgers said, “The conditions you see them living in are quite overwhelming, but they are very happy. [People] are grateful for every single thing they have.” Seeing the lack of bare necessities in Bolga inspired Pat and the others to work even harder to raise money for Sacred Heart. Their dedication has also inspired others within their parish to give generously to the people of Bolga. As a result, several eighth grade classes at St. Boniface have raised money, as a class project, to enable the people of Bolga to buy solar panels to economically power a clinic and drill a well and buy a pump so villagers would have clean water.

Over 35 years after the two priests were drawn together by God, the partnership continues. Some things have changed. Fr. Bernie retired and Fr. Roger is now a Monsignor. Yet others, such as the generosity of St. Boniface, remain constant. Parishioners continue to collect donations based on the most significant needs of the people in Bolga. Several have also begun saving up for the next trip to Africa in 2010, as each trip costs individuals $5,000 of their own money. Msgr. Roger also hopes he will be able to return to St. Boniface to, once again, thank the people who have meant so much to his parish. Msgr. Roger says of this collaboration, “We are grateful to God for all that he has done … . We are also thankful to the missionaries, priests and laity … we owe a lot to the people of Wisconsin for their love for the missions.”    

For information on how you can help the people of Bolga, log on to the St. Boniface Parish Web site.

Article by Gillian Lester-George
Cover picture (Deacon Jim with parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish, Ghana) submitted by Pat Hilgers