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Information reached me from a pen pal in
Denmark in early 1988. I became much
interested and contacted Patti Melvin in Texas.
Fr. Albert Kretschmer started promotion in
the same year in Accra. Fr. Charles Palmer
Buckle, now Archbishop of Cape Coast,
was one of the pioneers enrolled in 1988.
In 1990, St. Peter’s Cathedral was chosen as
the ideal home for the Living Rosary and
Anthony Oduro was appointed National
Representative. In 1990, the first and second
class relics of St. Philomena were received
from the Vicar General to His Holiness. A life
size statue was donated to us from Rome
and dedicated, and enthroned in St. Peter’s
Cathedral by Archbishop Peter Sarpong.
In 1995, a plot of land was allocated to the Association by Archbishop Sarpong. The
House of St. Philomena was built by our own local funds and communal labors.
Here, we teach the Rosary, take enrollments, prepare packages and devotional
articles for mailing to new members, The work goes on tirelessly. We have special
prayer devotions every Tuesday and Friday. We do full-time work at the Center.
In 1997, I was sent by Patti to visit four countries in Africa and plant the seed of
this devotion. During 1997-2008, we employed a French teacher to help with the
many letters from French speaking countries. In 1998, through the kindness of
the ULRA, we were able to purchase a mini-bus for our trips to distant parishes to
introduce and spread this devotion.