Holy Spirit Parish

### Brief History of Holy Spirit Parish, Chamba

Holy Spirit Parish, Chamba, originally formed part of St. Joseph the Worker Parish, Bimbilla, and was officially established in 1978 by Rev. Fr. Joseph Renner, a Fidei Donum missionary from the Diocese of Regensburg, Germany, who collaborated with the SVD missionaries. After initially considering Dakpam for the mission, he acquired land at Chamba in 1976. Construction began under Bro. Jermain Lussier, M.Afr., with assistance from students of Nandom Practical Vocational School. Fr. Joseph Renner became the first parish priest. On 25 February 1990, Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Wedjong was installed as parish priest, assisted by Rev. Fr. Eugene Sigme. In 1995, Fr. Sigme became parish priest, with Rev. Fr. Matthew Yitiereh, now Bishop, serving as curate. He was transferred to Tamale in 1997 and replaced by Rev. Fr. Isidore Aayang. Following the creation of the Catholic Diocese of Yendi in 1999, Fr. Aayang became acting parish priest in 2001.

In 2006, Rev. Fr. John Mensah Semnanke, who had been incorporated into the Diocese of Yendi from the Diocese of Damongo on 19 December 2005, assumed leadership, assisted by Rev. Fr. Sixtus Dery. On 12 January 2008, the parish administration was handed over to Rev. Fr. John Paul Baalabuon, who served until 2015. His collaborators included Rev. Fr. Michael Maliwu Labre, Rev. Fr. Dominic Andow, a Fidei Donum priest from the Archdiocese of Kumasi, and Rev. Fr. Austin, a Fidei Donum priest from the Archdiocese of Cape Coast. In 2015, a Nigerian priest, Fr. Anselm, briefly succeeded Fr. Baalabuon. Rev. Fr. James Ntikuni Yamba subsequently supervised the parish until Rev. Fr. Basil Tengkye was appointed parish priest on 1 March 2016. Rev. Fr. Prince Enoch Baffoe joined as curate in December 2019, followed by Rev. Fr. Matthew Kyei in November 2022. In July 2024, they handed over to Rev. Fr. Abraham Wunbiyeli, parish priest, and Rev. Fr. Samuel Owusu Mensah, assistant parish priest. Fr. Wunbiyeli officially assumed responsibility on 28 July 2024, followed by Fr. Owusu Mensah on 11 August 2024.

Holy Spirit Parish once served 27 outstations and villages besides Chamba itself, although approximately 13 have become inactive, with efforts underway to revive them. The parish also supports 14 Catholic educational institutions, including Holy Spirit Senior High School, and several government-managed primary and junior high schools. Its healthcare ministry includes St. Joseph’s Clinic and Maternity Home, established in 1979, which provides round-the-clock services to 42 communities. The parish is also home to three religious communities: the SMI Sisters, the Good Shepherd Sisters and the Sisters of St. John Paul II. Parish associations include the Christian Mothers’ Association, Catholic Youth Association, Altar Servers, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Missionary Childhood, St. Monica’s Association, St. Theresa’s Association, Catholic Men’s Association and Prayer Leaders Association. Holy Spirit Parish has also nurtured local vocations, with priests including Very Rev. Fr. Michael Labre Maliwo, Very Rev. Fr. David Kayal, Rev. Fr. Jagri Nsuibaan Jacob, Rev. Fr. Thomas Bamoah Binanbiba and Rev. Fr. Joseph Nweyada, alongside seminarians Noah Ndati Mawii and James Mensah currently undergoing formation.