User:RfDogli22/sandbox

PART ONE (1)

LIFE HISTORY OF THE REV. FATHER A.O. DOGLI

The first Black African Priest of Catholic Religion in West Africa, the Late Rev. Fr.

A.O. Dogli was born at Baglo-Buem in the Volta Region, Ghana, in the Year of Our

Lord 18B4.

PARENTS

His father was called Dogli, a farmer. The mother was known and called Nzowu

from Akposo Wobe in the Republic of Togo. Nzowu was married by Dokpor the

brother of Dogli without a child. After the death of Dokpor his brother married her

and she begot four (4) Children; three females and one son, Known as Odaye Kofi.

Dogli was a sub-chief of Baglo and so when the German Fathers came to Baglo on

their Evangelical Tour they introduced compulsory education, and demanded a

child from each clan to go to school. These Rev. Fathers came from Kpalime Via

Hohoe to Baglo. Dogli being the chief of his clan offered his only son for the school.

The first teacher/catechist who came to Baglo with these Fathers was Doctor

Kodzo who hailed from Likpe Avedzeme. Dogli handed over his only son Odaye

Kofi to the teacher saying, "You are the only son | have, let God do what he likes

with you. | shall take care of your sisters; ie, Theresa Egbetoke, Cecilia Mualewulu

and Okalawa. Go in peace and think no more of us’.

Doctor Kodzo took the boy away to stay with him as a house boy at the age of

twelve (12) years. Odaye being so brilliant was sent to Gbi-Bla Hohoe, to continue

his Education. From Gbi Bla he went to Kpalime and back to Bla where he

completed the school.

He was appointed to teach at Gbi-Atabu as a Head-Teacher or Teachergah (as in

Ewe), a Catechist and Organist in the year 1907. He was transferred to Agou

Klonou in the Republic of Togo where he married a girl Known as Agnes Doklo.

They were blessed by God with a child, Philothea Akosiwa on Christmas day 1910

(Dec. 25" ). The Ways of God are mysterious, for after a year of arrival of this child,

the mother died. Because of this sudden shock, Odaye made up his mind never to

marry again in his life He went to the Rev. Superior at Kpalime and asked

permission to know if itis allowed for an African to become a Priest.

This was granted and so he gave up his only daughter Philothea to the Rev.

Sisters to be cared for in the Catholic Convent at Keta.

Odaye was sent back to Gbi-Bla to start his lessons in Latin, as a Seminarian.

From Bla he was taken toAneho in the Republic of Togo where he stayed as self-

supporter. He made a garden of tomatoes which he sole to buy soap and other

necessities of life. He was taken to Lome because the Superior found that he has a

strong determination. He was studying in Lome when the World Warof 1914-

1918brokeout. All the foreign Rev. Fathers in Kpando, Hohoe, Kpalime, Atakpame

and elsewhere were gathered at Lome to be repatriated as a result of the War.

Then the Superior gave the keys of Lome church to Odaye Dogli to take care of,

amidst tears from all Catholic communities who gathered there. He was later taken

to Keta to be supervised by the Rev. Fathers there. He was given the Sutan at Keta

after the examination. He was sent to Bishop Humel at Cape Coast where he was

ordained in 1922 July 2nd as Rev. Father Anatasius Odaye Dogli, the First Black

Priest in West Africa.

HIS ACTIVITIES AS A PRIEST

When Odaye became a Priest, Bishop Augustine Herman was transferred from

Nigeria-Lagos to take charge of Trans-Volta Togoland. He came to join Rev. Fr.

Dogli the only African Priest. Bishop Herman resided at Keta while Fr. Dogli was

sent to Kpando as his first station.

He opened many stations and baptized Christians in the area. He travelled with

Bishop Herman on bicycle to Papase and Kete-Krachi where he opened other

stations.

He was sent to Gbi-Bla from Kpando in 1928. At Kpando he was requested by

Bishop Herman to open and build a Mission House and a School at Jasikan for the

Buems as there were no Catholics in the whole area He was allowed to write

Lelemi Books and the Koyu Bungune (the Lelem prayer book) by Bishop Herman.

HIS STATIONS

He worked in the Kpando Parish, Jasikan, Hohoe, Abor, Liati, Baglo and Lome

where he wrote the book called Togbe Zikpui'. He went to Rome and Holland three

times for the printing of Lelemi Books (Vol. 1-12) all of which can be seen in his

Library today. He was pensioned by Bishop Anthony Konngs He therefore came

back to Baglo to open the Baglo Parish. He died on 28™' May, 1970 after forty-eight

years in Priesthood.

May He rest In Peace

HIS QUALITIES

Father Dogli was a man of Prayer, infused in the knowledge of Herbs, a Phi

anthropist, a foresighted Man, a Great and Eloquent Preacher, a Great and

Wonderful deliverer of difficult Child Births. A Psychologist, a philosopher, a

Humble and Patient Priest, a Consoler of the sufferers and a Great Catholic

Politician.

His repeated words are “My being an African Priest will not be meaningful unless

there is a total Liberation and a complete African Clergy in the near future’ unquote.

He started to train African Sisters at Jasikan in 1937 but Bishop Herman put a ban

on it. He was removed from Jasikan after building the church, the mission house

and the school. He left for Rome to report his activities, but he was not allowed by

the Bishop to see the Pope. He stayed in Rome for twelve (12) days without seeing

the Pope; and went to Lyon the Head Quarters of the missions and came back to

Dzolukope where he was put before the ecclesiastical Court. He was suspended

to say Mass for about four (4) years Papal delegates came to Ghana for the case

before he was reinstated to say the Mass. He established a Teachers Training

College at Baglo with 170 non-resident students. He named it African Unity

teachers Training College.

4. HIS SIX (6) TEMPTATIONS

1. After building the Church and School at Jasikan, he incurred some debt,

which the Mission refused to pay.

2. He went to Rome to report the case to the Pope but Bishop Herman sent a

Cablegram to the Pope that Rev. Fr. Dogli was an insane African priest

who left Ghana without permission, so he should not be allowed to see the

Pope. He stayed in Rome for 12 days without seeing the Pope.

3. He came back to Ghana and was judged in Ecclesiastical Court at

Dzolukofe.

4. He was forbidden to say Mass for 4 (4) years, till Papal delegate came to

reinstate him and allowed him to say Mass.

5. The Sisters convent which he started at Jasikan was closed down by the

Bishop.

6. He opened African Unity Teachers Training College at Baglo with 170

students but that was closed down when Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's regime was toppled in 1966. He continued as a First black West African catholic

Priest for 48 years till he died in 1970.

The last service so far to God and man

I Have Kept My faith

I Have fought A Good Fight

I Have Finished My course

Henceforth There is Laid Up For Me A crown Of Righteousness Which

The Lord The Righteous Judge Shall Give me On That day And Not To

Me Only But Also them That Love His Appearance

RECORDED BY PANCRATIUS KWAME DORKPOR

AS HE IS KNOWN TO ME

FROM 1925 - 1970

PART TWO (2)

WORK DONE AT JASIKAN BY REV. FATHER A.O DOOLI

(THE OPENING OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN JASIKAN)

It is well for generations of both boys and girls born and yet inborn within and

without the Buem state that Father Dogll alias Anatasius Odaye Kofi Dogli has

been able to use his gifts of inducement and laid down the foundation stone of the

Catholic Churches and schools In Jasikan and the district as a whole.

Apart from the fact that the Buem state was visited by the German Fathers,

Jasikan in particular was left without the Catholic Doctrine. In 1927 the Gospel

reached Jasikan through a shoe-maker called | Edward Kodjoe Kutame_ from

Anfoe Wodemaxe. This man was the only catholic staying at Jasikan for his

personal business. When he heard that Rev. Fr. Dogli has arrived at Bodada Buem

on his Evangelical tour, the shoe-maker brought Mr. Mathias Mensah, the then

stool father and the late Mad. Ama Anna the Mother of Odikor then known as Nana

Emenu to Fr. Dogli at Bodada. FatherA.O. Dogli asked them whether they liked the

Catholic Church, and they answered in the affirmative.

Father Dogli then wrote a letter to Bishop Herman about his interview with the two

person from Jasikan. The Bishop in his reply asked Fr. Dogli to appoint a teacher to

Jasikan immediately. He appointed a teacher Mr. Alex Koranteng of Teteman to

open a school as a Catechist. Ln 1928 Rev Father Dogli was transferred from

Kpando to Hohoe Bla to be in charge of Buem state. He invited the Omanhene and

all other chiefs of Buem state to Jasikan. As custom demanded he produced 4

bottles of schnapps and put to them the idea of opening a Catholic Mission and

School. The Omanhene and his chiefs agreed that Jasikan should be given to

Father Dogli to do his work. When the Bishop came he approved that Jasikan

should become the Central station.

The first Mass was said at Jasikan in the Court House of the Chief, Nana Brantuo.

The Bishop at a meeting with the people declared that although he approved that

the work should be started, he had no money for the building project. The people

took responsibility of all money matters. The Elders of Jasikan took Father Dogli to

Asuoboi road and showed him the site for the building. It was a thick forest and yet

swampy. He started clearing the forest. It was very interesting to see him with an

axe felling trees among the labourers at noon.

In June 1929 he started the journey round all Buem towns collecting money for the

work. On 16th June 1929 he removed all class 5 children from Bodada to Jasikan

School. In the same year he brought 22 Buem boys from Hohoe to Jasikan. Among

them were Messrs, Pancratius Dokpor, Norbert Eleeza, Theodore Quanson, Philip

Odumah, Blasius Gbogbo, Nicodemus Abordjor and Blasius Dokpor. At the end of

1929, he opened a boarding school. He saw by experience that without a boarding

school facility the school could not exist. He engaged a competent teacher in the

name of Mr. Seth Dzakuma from Peki to be in charge of the approved school.

Instead of the school being upgraded to the then standards 1, it was rather brought

back to Primary class 3 by the Bishop. Mr. Seth Dzakuma was transferred to

Hohoe. The school however continued again to Form 1 in 1933. He was very

resilient.

In 1934, Mr. P.C. Dokpor from St. Francis College joined the staff. In 1935,

Standard 5 or form 2 was allowed and Rev. Fr. Dogli was removed. He was

replaced by Rev. Father Joachim Boumans of glorious memory. The school and

the church continued its upward trend but after a year or two Rev. Fr. Boumans

retired on sick leave. The work was left in the hands of the teachers without a

priest. In 1938, Rev Fr. Veldboer Theodore arrived and carried on the work. In

1939, Bishop Konings the then school Manager arrived and fought for the first

forms 4 or Standard 7 to be opened in Jasikan. Assisted by Fr. Gibson.

3. The Pioneer teachers who set up the school were:

1. Mr. Alex Koranteng — Teteman

2. Mr. Raphael Shaddy — Teteman

3. Mr. Francis Kafe — Likpe

4. Mr. William Amlode — Kpando

5. Mr. Seth Dzakuma — Peki

6. Mr. Alphonse Dobolley — Kpando

7. Mr. Daniel Kweku — Jasikan

8. Mr. Amekudzl — Agbozume

9. Mr. Gilbert Agbezuge — Kpando

10. Mr. Jacob Akpi — Fodome

11. Mr. PC. Dokpor — Baglo

12. Mr. B.W.Y. Dzathor — Alavanyo

13. Mr. Todokposi — Anlo

14. Mr. Pius Atiega — Kpando

15. Mr. John Nuque — Gbefi

16. Mr. Ata Mathias — Aveme

17. Mr. James Addo — Ho

18. Mr. Ahiakpor Francis — Dzelukope

19. Mr. Lawson — Denu

20. Mr. Homawu — Anlo

21. Mr. Anyigba Thaddeus — Bla

22. Mr Adzasu Francis — Anlo

23. Mr. Welbeck — Anlo

24. Mr. Anamah — Anlo

25. Mr. Hubert Abotsi — Anfoe

26. Mr. Koekpor — Anlo

27. Mr. Anyomi — Anlo

28. Mr. Pomary — Nkonya

29. Cornelius Asafo — Dzolu Beum

30. Geoffrey Tamekloe — Keta

31. Francis Adzasu — Anlo

MY GRATITUDE

Let us thank the Papal delegate who travelled far from Rome to settle the

dispute between His Lordship Bishop Augustine Herman and Rev. Father

Dogli. September 19, 1944 was a great and happy day for the catholic

community at Ho where 50 Head Christians from different Parishes, 10 Priests

and the members of the noble order of Knights of Marshall filled the Church

House of Ho where Fr. Dogli was allowed to say Mass again and peace was

restored. Rev. Fr. Anthony Konings acted as a Lawyer and Mr. James Addo

was the interpreter.

Jasikan is now the seat of the Bishop forever. After 71 yaars Journey, Jasikan

became one of the dioceses In Ghana under His Lordship Bishop Gabriel

Ababio Akwasi Mantay from Nkonya Ahenkro

BUEM REV. FATHERS:

1. Rev Fr. Mathiat Kumatl — Baylo

2. Rev. Fr.BoonmantEleeza —- Blaglo Odumata

3. Rev. Fr Moaat Odumah — Baglo

4. Rev. Fr Simon Agboso —  Teteman

5. Rev. Fr Justin Danso —  Teteman

6. Rev. Fr John Anaah —-  Teteman

7. Rev. Fr FaWx Sasenyo —  Teteman

8. Rev Ctetus Forson —  Teteman

9. Rev Fr Patrick Anumah — Teteman

10. Rev Fr Francis Agbley — New Ayoma

11. Rev Fr John Odjangba — New Baika

12. Rev. Fr Michael Odjangba — New Baika

13. Rev. Fr David Antie —  Jasikan

14. Rev. Fr Joseph Kanda —  Jasikan

15. Rev. Fr Prosper Abotsi — Bodada

16. Rev. FrAnastasius Dzodofe -— Kute

17. Rev. Fr. Daniel Bour — Chaiso

18. Rev. Fr. Joseph Donkor —  Kete Krachie

19. RevAntie —  Jasikan

REV. SISTERS:

1. Rev. Sis. Francis Agbodzanu —- _ Teteman

2 Rev Sis Sesenyo —  Teteman

3. Rev. Sis Asomontsi —  Teteman

4. Rev. Sis Agboso —  Teteman

5. Rev. Sis. Stella Johnson —  Teteman

6. Rev Sis. Ofori — Bodada

7. Rev. Sis. Anoba — Bodada

8. Rev. Sis. Addy — Bodada

9. Rev. Sis. Arcade Eleeza —  Baglo

10. Rev. Sis. Philothea Osibeh —-  Baglo Category:Hello! Project