Name of Parish: Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
Location: Mim
Name of Priest: Frs. Augustine Owusu - PP, Vincent Kwabena Gyamfi, Samuel Pious Agana Awenongya (Associates) Isaac Boansi– In residence
Outstations: Bediako, Kensere, Asukese, Bitre Adiepena, Bitre Adenkyekye, Bitre Osei Kwame, Bitre Kojo Addai, Bitre Nyankomago.
Contacts: Box 3, Mim
HISTORY OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL SUCCOUR PARISH – MIM
The Catholic Church at Mim was established in late 1919 by Yaw Krah, a native of Mim and a member of Gyasewaa Family. He was a cocoa purchasing clerk from Kumasi – Abrepo where he worshipped. He started the church with some of his family members and friends at his house. Later, the church was moved to the house of Peter Kofi Bofah who became the first President. After some time, the church was relocated to the house of James Kwaku Gyamfi (James Amankwaa). As the number of faithful increased, they put up a chapel at a place commonly known as ‘Eighteen mu’ and was named “St. Joseph Catholic Church”
BAPTISM: The first converts who numbered seventy-five (75) were baptized on 15th March, 1928 at Mim by Fr. G. Fisher. The females on that day were twenty-eight (28) and the males were forty-seven (47). The next converts who were thirty-eight in number were baptized on 14th September 1928 by Fr. Fisher. Twenty (20) of them were females and eighteen (18) were males. Among those baptized were Peter Kofi Bofa with baptismal number NLB 1 and his seven children all males among the second converts to be baptized, Gregory Kwabena Nsia, NLB 19 and his son Michael Kwasi Manu, NLB 51 who later became the church president.
Fr. Gerrit Van De Leeuw succeeded Fr. Fisher in 1933. He was followed by two priests, Fr. J. Lyson and Fr. Henry Monde in 1936. Fr. I. Pietersma replaced Fr. Monde in 1937, whose time the present site of the church was acquired. The next priest was Fr. Pas (1938-1943). During his period one Oppong, a teacher at Noberkaw was transferred to Mim, where he helped in the establishment of a primary school in 1938. His Lordship, Joseph Hubert Paulissen of Kumasi and Fr. John Rothoff travelled from Kumasi to bless the school. Fr. Joseph Mulders visited Mim in 1939. From 1943 to 1947, Fr. Gerrit Van De Leeuw took over from Fr. Mulders. He was succeeded by Fr. Garsel from 1948 to 1950. In 1951, a new chapel was built at the present site and the church was relocated from “Eighteen mu” to the present site under the supervision of Fr. Van de Laar. After Fr. Laar (1951-1953), Frs. Obeskins and Matthew Adjaye also came. During this same period, Mim was raised to a Parish status by Rt. Rev. Andrew Van De Bronk in 1954, and Fr. Obeskins (1953-1955) became the first Parish Priest. The then Mim Parish comprised the following towns: Goaso, Kenyasi, Sankore, Kukuom, Hwidiem, Akrodie, Ayomso, Kwapong, Abuom, Kasapin, Gambia II, Nkasiem and Acherensua.
All the priests who visited Mim trekked to the towns and villages under the above-mentioned Parishes and quasi-parishes before and after Mim became a Parish. In the latter part of 1955, Fr. Patrick Akoi was transferred from Kumasi to Mim as the Parish Priest. During his time, the name of the church was changed from St. Joseph to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. He established a good relationship with Desmond Charmant, Managing Director of the then Mim Timber Company; through which the church benefited a lot in infrastructure. In 1959, Fr. Akoi helped in the establishment of Catholic Middle School at Mim. During the same time, the church cultivated a big cocoa farm at Bitre Adenkyekye near Mim.
On 2nd February, 1960, Fr. James Kwadwo Owusu was posted to Mim as curate during Fr. Akoi’s time. During that time, the old Goaso church building was constructed and Anthony Donkor (Kwasi Owusu), John Yeboah and Elizabeth Agyeiwaa (Ama Yen) jointly bought two big bells for the church. Early January 1962, Fr. Akoi was transferred to Kumasi as Cathedral Administrator, and Fr. James Owusu became acting parish priest for a brief period for Fr. Van de Laar to take over as substantive Parish Priest from 1962 to 1963. Fr. Matthew Adjaye became the Parish Priest and was replaced in the latter part of 1963 by Fr. Stephen Danso. Fr. James Van Swieten took over from Fr. Stephen Danso from 1st December, 1963 to 1967 followed by Fr. Koning from 1969 to 1970.
In 1971 Fr. Michael De Graft was appointed the Parish Priest. Frs. McCarthy, SMA and Vincent Glennon, SMA were posted to Mim on 6th October 1973. During that period, the Parish Hall which is being used as chapel was constructed. In 1973, Kenyasi Parish was carved out of Mim with Fr. Elisha O’Shea, SMA, as the first Parish Priest.
In 1979, Fr. Elisha O’Shea, SMA, became the Parish Priest while Fr. Patrick Lynch, SMA remained the associate priest. These two priests worked hard to put up some structures for the outstation churches. During their tenure, the church experienced great improvement in infrastructure. Fr. Patrick Lynch acted as parish priest for two years for Fr. O’Shea to take over again in 1986, with Fr. Michael Nohilly as his curate while Fr. Patrick Lynch was posted to Goaso as priest in–charge of Goaso zone. On 27th February 1987, Goaso Parish was carved out of Mim with Fr. Patrick Lynch as the first Parish Priest.
In 1990, Fr. Anthony Kelly took over as parish priest for one year. In 1992, Fr. Brian Traynor assumed office as the pastor briefly and Fr. William Kyere, the then curate acted in 1993. In the later part of 1994, Fr. Patrick Lynch was appointed the Parish Priest with Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng as his curate. During that period the church acquired a land at Feteagya in view of establishing a church there. Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng was transferred from Mim and Fr. Simon Gyansa Tabiri was appointed to replace him in 1995. In 1996, Fr. Augustine Amankwaa Boateng became the parish priest with Fr. Augustine Adjei Boachie as curate. In 1998, Fr. Adjei Boachie was replaced by Fr. Gaspard Dery. In 1997, Fr. Andrew Kwabena Poku was sent to Mim to be in residence. It was around this period that Goaso Diocese was carved out of Kumasi and Sunyani Dioceses.
Mim Parish hosted about 15 to 18 Bishops at Mim Timber Company (MTC) bungalows a day before Bishop Atuahene’s episcopal installation at Goaso on 8th February, 1998. In the later part of 1999, Fr. Paul Nimo Boampong, the then Parish Priest of Kenyasi, was sent to Mim as priest in residence due to ill health and unfortunately died after three months on 10th December 1999.
Bishop Atuahene had the first confirmation in the Diocese at Mim with 81 confirmandi on 13th April, 1999. In September 2000 both Fr. Amankwaa Boateng and Fr. Gaspard Dery were replaced by Fr. Stephen Dabanka and Fr. Stephen Gyau as Parish Priest and Associate respectively.
In 2001, Fr. Stephen Gyau was appointed the parish priest while Fr. Augustine Owusu served as his associate. It was during this time that the idea of turning the parish hall into a church was conceived and renovation works started. In January 2005, Fr. Emmanuel Idan Ofori took over from Fr. Stephen Gyau as the Parish Priest. In 2004, Fr. Joseph Donkor was posted to Mim as associate priest. The Zongo Community was established around this time and a piece of land was acquired for it. In April 2006, both priests were transferred and Msgr. Benjamin Opoku Donkor took over the parish in an acting position until Fr. John Forkuoh was appointed the parish priest in November 2006 and Fr. Frank Addai Poku became the associate. These two priests established communities at Airport and Feteeagya.
In 2010, Fr. Stephen Gyau, was appointed to replace Fr. John Forkuoh as the Parish Priest. It was during this period that the parish hall was roofed and plastered, making it convenient for the increasing congregants to be accommodated during major celebrations. In 2015, Fr. Stephen Dabanka took over from Fr. Stephen Gyau until 2017, when Fr. David Kusi, a fidei donum extern priest from the Archdiocese of Kumasi, took over. Fr. Kusi was assisted by Fr. Francis Ayana (2016-2019) and later by Fr. Luke Patrick Effah Gyau (2019). On 1st September, 2020, Fr. Nicholas Afriyie was transferred from St. Peter’s Parish, Kenyasi to take over from Fr. David Kusi who was returning to his home diocese.
In the months of January and February 2021, four communities were blessed with permanent Sunday Masses preparing them for quasi parishes in the future. The four churches are St. Lawrence Church, Zongo, St. Anastasia Church, Airport, St. John the Evangelist Church - Feteeagya, and St. Francis Xavier Church - Habitat. Apart from St. John the Evangelist Church, Feteeagya, which is still having Masses and services in a private home, all the rest have services in pavilions.
The priests who served as Pastors since the creation of the parish are: Fr. Obeskins (1954-1955), Fr. Patrick Akoi (1955-1962), Fr. James Kwadwo Owusu (1962), Fr. Van de Laar (1962-1963), Fr. Matthew Adjaye (1963), Fr. Stephen Danso (1963), Fr. James Van Swieten (1963-1969), Fr. Koning (1969-1970), Fr. Michael De Graft (1971-1973), Fr. Bartholomew McCarthy (1973- 1976), Fr. Vincent Glennon (1977-1979), Fr. Elisha O’Shea (1979-1986), Fr. Michael Nohilly (1986-1990), Fr. Anthony Kelly (1990), Fr. Paul Nimo Boampong (1991), Fr. Brian Traynor (1992-1994), Fr. Patrick Lynch (1994-1995), Fr. Augustine Amankwaa Boateng (1996-2000), Fr. Stephen Dabanka (2000-2001), Fr. Stephen Gyau (2001-2004), Fr. Emmanuel Idan Ofori (2005-2006), Fr. Benjamin Poku Donkor (April 2006-October 2006), Fr. John Forkuo (2006-2010), Fr. Stephen Gyau (2010-2015), Fr. Stephen Dabanka (2015-2017), Fr. David Kusi (2017-2020), Fr. Nicholas Afriyie (September 2020-2025) and Fr. Augustine Owusu (2025 till date)
The Priests who served as Curates/Priests in residence were Fr. William Kyere (1991-1993), Fr. Charles Aduse Poku (1993 -1994), Fr. Charles Gyasi Buabeng (1994-1995), Fr. Simon Gyansa Tabri (1995-1996), Fr. Augustine Adjei Boachie (1996-1998), Fr. Gaspard Dery (1998-2000), Fr. Andrew Kwabena Poku (in residence) (1997), Fr. Augustine Asare Addai (In residence)(2000-2001),Fr. Stephen Gyau (2000-2001), Fr. Augustine Owusu (2001-2002), Fr. Emmanuel Owusu Amoako (2002- 2003), Fr. Benjamin Asibuo-Kusi (2003-2004), Fr. Joseph Donkor (2004-2006), Fr. Francis Addai Poku (2006-2009) and (2013-2014), Fr. Theotimus Gyamfi Bonsu (2009-2013), Fr. Isaac Adjei Aniwa (2013-2014), Fr. Benjamin Danso (2014), Fr. Francis Ayana (2016-2019), Fr. Luke Patrick Effah Gyau (2019), Fr. Anthony Dwomo Marfo (2021 - 2023) Fr. Isaac Boansi,(2023 till date),Fr. Cecilia Ernest Ntiamoah(2023-2024) Fr. Vincent Gyamfi (2023 till date) and Fr Pious Samuel Agana(2025 till date)
Church presidents: Peter Kofi Bofah, James Kwaku Gyamfi, Joseph Beditor (Afere Wotrim), John Kyei (Osei Kwasi), John Kyei (1Kwaku Bour), J.K Amoah, Peter Benni Okra, Michael Awua Manu (Nana Awua Manu), Gabriel Atta Bofah (2002-2004), Peter Bofah (Nana Agyapong Ntra) 6th February 2005-2012, Stephen Osei Mensah (2012-2018), Anthony Nana Nkrumah Brobbey (2018-2024).
Choirmaster: Francis Mensah Abrampah (Died in 1992). Catechists: Mr. Addison, Mr. Marfo, Christian Quarcoe, Godfred Kofi Asante, Patrick John Agyapong (1975), Joseph Antwi Agyei (1979-1995), William Anane (2001)