The Most Rev. Henryk M. Jagodzinski, Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana has commissioned the Bresllica Catholic School at Oshuiman Estate, Accra with a reminder that Catholic education is form evangelisation which is at the heart of the Church’s mission and at the service of society.
The School established by the Society of African Missions (SMA) was started on January 18, 2022 with 54 pupils. It is named after the founder of the SMA, Venerable Bishop Melchior de Marion Bresillac and has a staff strength of 16 made of 10 teaching staff and six non-teaching staff.
Officially opening the school at a ceremony on Saturday, December 3, 2022, the Apostolic Nuncio reiterated that Catholic Education is always at the heart of the Catholic Church and at the service of society.
The theme for the ceremony was The Role of Catholic Education in our Society.
Making reference to the Church’s document: The Catholic School on the Threshold of the 3rd Millennium issued by the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Nuncio said “The complexity of the modern world makes it all the more necessary to increase awareness of the ecclesial identity of the Catholic School. It is from its catholic identity that the school derives its original characteristics and its structure as a genuine instrument of the Church, a place of real and specific pastoral ministry.”
According to him, the Catholic school participates in the evangelisation mission of the Church and is the privileged environment in which Christian education was carried out.
He said “in this way Catholic Schools are at once places of evangelisation, of complete formation, of inculturation, of apprenticeship in a lively dialogue between young people of different religions and social backgrounds.”
Archbishop Jagodzinski noted that the school cannot be considered separately from other educational institutions and administered as an entity apart but must be related to the world of politics, economy, culture and society as a whole.
He noted that “The Catholic School is firmly resolved to take the new cultural situation in her stride and by her refusal to accept unquestioningly educational projects which are merely partial, be an example and stimulus for other educational institutions, in the forefront of ecclesial community’s concern for education.”
In this way, he said, the Catholic school’s public role was clearly perceived, noting, “It has not come into being as a private initiative but as an expression of the reality of the Church, having by its very nature a public character.”
Present at the opening ceremony were Very Rev. Fr. Paul Saa-Dade Ennin, SMA Provincial Superior, Ghana Province; Sr. Doris Bennieh Gyan, OLA, headmistress of the School; Nii Abeka Sikafo I, Dzasetse of Oshuiman; Hon. Raymond Tetteh Commey, Assemblyman for the area and Mr. Stephen Amoah, a Procurement Expert who chaired the function.
Fr. Ennin expressed gratitude all those who contributed in making the Bresillac school a reality, specially thanking the Papal Foundation through the Apostolic Nunciature who helped in the foundation of the edifice, the chiefs and people of Oshuiman, Landline properties and the Our Lady of Queen of Africa community who fought to protect the land.
He prayed that through the help of God and benefactors, the structure would be fully completed to achieve the objective of forming impactful leaders of tomorrow.
As the first Headmistress of the school, Sr. Gyan was optimistic that she would together with the staff shepherd the school to realise and actualize its vision of providing holistic and transformative education.
“At Bresillac, we believe that each child is unique,” she stated, adding, the School sought to create a safe haven where every child would be guided to develop his or her full potential, skills, interest and passion, adding, “As a Catholic school, we are not only concerned about the academic growth of the children but also their spiritual and moral growth.”
Sr. Gyan noted that the formative years of children was critical securing a good future, hence the need to merge both academic curricula and other useful extra-curricular activities to shape their future and development.
“Owing to our core values, as an institution, we are guided by academic excellence, innovation, discipline, hard work, team work and compassion, learner centred approach and inspired by faith in the conduct of our work,” she said.
As part of the ceremony, there were cadet display, graduation of KG 2 pupils and presentation of certificates, various performances by the children including cultural dances, poetry recitals and choreography.
By Damian Avevor
