At the Cantonments Post-Junior High Pre-Varsity (a.k.a. St. Thomas Aquinas Senior Secondary School), we gathered at different places for different reasons. The classroom, resource labs, school and bush canteen, the field, the car park, library and what have you.
But in this piece, I wish to take a closer look at the school chapel which among others served the following purposes: mass, morning and special assembly, Student Representative Council (SRC) meetings plus other gatherings.
Within the context of other gatherings: Two main events click, a skit on hygiene sponsored by Sunlight lit the chapel as Daniel De Long, Titus Nanoh, Shadrach, Aboagye and the drama club got us cracking up. Then there was the HIV/AIDS program where an infected woman told her story.
One of the main features of the chapel is the sculpture of a crucified Jesus Christ hanging atop the front – occupying central territory and overlooking the dais. If you entered the chapel via the main door or through the sacristy you could still not miss the sight of Holy Mary’s son.
The Aquinas Muslim Students Association – which I served as General Secretary of in the final year, had our handing over ceremony planned after largely a successful tenure under President Swallah Abdul Razak and other executives.
All was set for the event – all but the venue to host the over dozen schools and top dignitaries invited. After deliberations over a suitable venue, we ended up with the chapel as the best location – Swallah was a good friend of Chaplain Father Ohene – we were soon sorted.
The episode of Father Ohene, Swallah and his Junior Graphic article is a story in and of itself to be told another day – Insha Allah.
Invitations dispatched, confirmations made, program line-up set, refreshment fixed et al. just then someone asked about Jesus Christ. ‘He can, in fact, must excuse us,’ he retorted. ‘Any issues if he stays with us?’ another person asked, then there was a small chat about Jesus.
In the end, the request to have Jesus temporarily leave his spot failed. Jesus was to be our guest and he was. Come the D-day, from his privileged position Jesus looked on as we went through the motions of the event.
There in the chapel, we prayed for Muhammad (May Allah exalt his mention), we responded ‘Allahu Akbar’ when the prompt ‘At-Taqbir’ was uttered multiple times. We listened to the Quran being read, we listened keenly as Arabic verses and terminology were displayed.
We did all this as Jesus Christ hang on the wall with his ‘trademark’ look on occupants of the chapel at any point in time. Jesus’ serenity combine that with our peaceful conduct and in the end, we were cocksure that Aquinas accommodated law-abiding people irrespective.
READ ALSO: A Muslim-Roman Catholic and my ‘holy’ days at St. Thomas Aquinas
We had Sheikh Muzu from Al-Muntada speak on an issue, Sheikh Arimiyao Shuaib was around as was Mrs. Juliana Ben-Eghan and our AMSA patron Mrs. Nadia. Our chair for the day was one Alhaji from New Town – whose name I can’t immediately recall – sadly.
Whiles at it, let me hail the AMSA president I met as a first-year student. Senior Abdul Rahim ‘Ramzy’ was such a crucial force in policing us back in the day. He would not mind preventing you from praying if it will create the least inconvenience to the collective.
I saw him sack someone for arriving at the mosque with barely minutes to the end of second break. I wondered for a moment why and let it slide. Long after he had completed, I remember Fr. Batsa cautioning a student for disobeying regulations despite right to worship.
Aquinas almost always had water and that made ablution very conducive. If the closest tap did not have it, no water at the library also, Father’s house would most definitely have it. The days of satchet water also kicked in albeit very rarely.
A sad narrative is that we still haven’t gotten to cement a prayer grounds. Successive administrations have found ingenious ways to let us know that Cantonment Vatican will not allow a Mecca adjacent it – but still we push, one day, one day – it shall come to pass – give me an ‘Amen.’
Talk of one day, one day if I get plenty money, I will drastically escalate the idea of a conference facility, if you want an Assembly Hall for St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School.
For Father (Ohene) so loved AMSA (Muslims,) that he gave us his holy bespoke chapel
That whoever resides in it, will not be barred but can say ‘Allahu Akbar’ therein. Aquinas Chapter 3, verse 2003.
Aquinas 'perceptions': ‘Wicked’ Mary Boat vs. the lovely one I encountered
Aquinas boys and commute hustle: Danquah, 37, Circle, Tema station etc.
Aquinas in ‘Temple Run’ mode: Illegal route, prisons, wall jumps
God is NOT an old tom, 'heaven' has never been at Cantonments
But in this piece, I wish to take a closer look at the school chapel which among others served the following purposes: mass, morning and special assembly, Student Representative Council (SRC) meetings plus other gatherings.
Within the context of other gatherings: Two main events click, a skit on hygiene sponsored by Sunlight lit the chapel as Daniel De Long, Titus Nanoh, Shadrach, Aboagye and the drama club got us cracking up. Then there was the HIV/AIDS program where an infected woman told her story.
One of the main features of the chapel is the sculpture of a crucified Jesus Christ hanging atop the front – occupying central territory and overlooking the dais. If you entered the chapel via the main door or through the sacristy you could still not miss the sight of Holy Mary’s son.
The Aquinas Muslim Students Association – which I served as General Secretary of in the final year, had our handing over ceremony planned after largely a successful tenure under President Swallah Abdul Razak and other executives.
All was set for the event – all but the venue to host the over dozen schools and top dignitaries invited. After deliberations over a suitable venue, we ended up with the chapel as the best location – Swallah was a good friend of Chaplain Father Ohene – we were soon sorted.
The episode of Father Ohene, Swallah and his Junior Graphic article is a story in and of itself to be told another day – Insha Allah.
Invitations dispatched, confirmations made, program line-up set, refreshment fixed et al. just then someone asked about Jesus Christ. ‘He can, in fact, must excuse us,’ he retorted. ‘Any issues if he stays with us?’ another person asked, then there was a small chat about Jesus.
In the end, the request to have Jesus temporarily leave his spot failed. Jesus was to be our guest and he was. Come the D-day, from his privileged position Jesus looked on as we went through the motions of the event.
There in the chapel, we prayed for Muhammad (May Allah exalt his mention), we responded ‘Allahu Akbar’ when the prompt ‘At-Taqbir’ was uttered multiple times. We listened to the Quran being read, we listened keenly as Arabic verses and terminology were displayed.
We did all this as Jesus Christ hang on the wall with his ‘trademark’ look on occupants of the chapel at any point in time. Jesus’ serenity combine that with our peaceful conduct and in the end, we were cocksure that Aquinas accommodated law-abiding people irrespective.
READ ALSO: A Muslim-Roman Catholic and my ‘holy’ days at St. Thomas Aquinas
We had Sheikh Muzu from Al-Muntada speak on an issue, Sheikh Arimiyao Shuaib was around as was Mrs. Juliana Ben-Eghan and our AMSA patron Mrs. Nadia. Our chair for the day was one Alhaji from New Town – whose name I can’t immediately recall – sadly.
Whiles at it, let me hail the AMSA president I met as a first-year student. Senior Abdul Rahim ‘Ramzy’ was such a crucial force in policing us back in the day. He would not mind preventing you from praying if it will create the least inconvenience to the collective.
I saw him sack someone for arriving at the mosque with barely minutes to the end of second break. I wondered for a moment why and let it slide. Long after he had completed, I remember Fr. Batsa cautioning a student for disobeying regulations despite right to worship.
Aquinas almost always had water and that made ablution very conducive. If the closest tap did not have it, no water at the library also, Father’s house would most definitely have it. The days of satchet water also kicked in albeit very rarely.
A sad narrative is that we still haven’t gotten to cement a prayer grounds. Successive administrations have found ingenious ways to let us know that Cantonment Vatican will not allow a Mecca adjacent it – but still we push, one day, one day – it shall come to pass – give me an ‘Amen.’
Talk of one day, one day if I get plenty money, I will drastically escalate the idea of a conference facility, if you want an Assembly Hall for St. Thomas Aquinas Senior High School.
For Father (Ohene) so loved AMSA (Muslims,) that he gave us his holy bespoke chapel
That whoever resides in it, will not be barred but can say ‘Allahu Akbar’ therein. Aquinas Chapter 3, verse 2003.
You may read other Aquinas-related blog posts
Aquinas 'perceptions': ‘Wicked’ Mary Boat vs. the lovely one I encounteredAquinas boys and commute hustle: Danquah, 37, Circle, Tema station etc.
Aquinas in ‘Temple Run’ mode: Illegal route, prisons, wall jumps
God is NOT an old tom, 'heaven' has never been at Cantonments
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