About St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic Quasi Parish · East Hartford, Connecticut
St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic Quasi Parish is a Twi-speaking Ghanaian Catholic worship community in East Hartford, Connecticut, serving roughly 400 members of the Ghanaian diaspora. It is part of the Archdiocese of Hartford and grew out of a Ghanaian Catholic ministry that was inaugurated in 2000 and originally hosted at St. Mary's Church. On January 1, 2019, the community separated from the North American Martyrs Parish to become the first-ever Ghanaian Catholic Quasi-Parish, established by decree of Archbishop Leonard P. Blair on December 6, 2018. It occupies the 1964 mission church of St. Isaac Jogues in the Mayberry Village / Laurel Park Heights neighborhood and celebrates Mass in Twi (Akan) on Sundays.
- Established
- 1964 (church dedicated May 2, 1964); Ghanaian ministry inaugurated August 27, 2000; quasi-parish established January 1, 2019
- Patron
- St. Isaac Jogues
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Paul Baffuor-Awuah (of the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong, Ghana; installed March 17, 2019)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Hartford
Why belong here
St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic Quasi Parish is the home for Ghanaian Catholics in the greater Hartford area who wish to worship in Twi and live out their faith in the cultural and liturgical traditions of Ghana. With about 400 members across five ministries, eight societies, and seven committees — plus a Music Ministry, Ushers, Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Youth Ministry, and Sunday School — newcomers find a tight-knit community organized around vibrant Twi-language Sunday Masses and ongoing lay leadership through the elected parish council. As the first-ever Ghanaian Catholic Quasi-Parish in the United States, established in 2019 under the Archdiocese of Hartford and in pastoral partnership with the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong, it is both a place of rooted cultural belonging and a historic witness to the diversity of the American Church.
Mass times at St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic Quasi Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
History of St. Isaac Jogues Church
The building that houses the parish has its own long history dating to World War II. In 1944, Father Austin Munich of St. Rose parish began saying Mass in a community building on Cannon Road for Catholic defense-housing workers in Mayberry Village. A dedicated church was built on Laurel Park Heights and consecrated on May 2, 1964 — the first in New England to use precast 'tilt up' concrete panels. St. Isaac Jogues became a full canonical parish in 1965 and later merged into the Catholic Communities of East Hartford North (2004) and then the North American Martyrs Parish (June 29, 2017).
- First Mass in community building: December 25, 1944
- Church dedicated: May 2, 1964 by Archbishop Henry J. O'Brien
- Full canonical parish status: 1965
- Joined Catholic Communities of East Hartford North: 2004
- Merged into North American Martyrs Parish: June 29, 2017
- St. Isaac Jogues separated to become the Ghanaian Quasi-Parish: January 1, 2019
History of the Ghanaian Catholic Ministry
The Ghanaian Catholic community at St. Isaac Jogues grew from a 1997 ministry begun by four lay visionaries — Edward Adjei Kensah (now a Deacon), Robert Bentil, Nana Yaw Bonnah, and the late Mathias-Onyina-Assenso — after a pastoral visit to New York by Bishop Kwasi Sarpong of Kumasi. The first priest was Rev. Nana Ampah, and on August 27, 2000 Bishop Joseph Osei-Bonsu of Konongo-Mampong formally inaugurated the ministry. A standing agreement between the Archdiocese of Hartford and the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong has since provided four-year resident priest assignments from Ghana.
- Ministry co-founders (1997): Edward Adjei Kensah, Robert Bentil, Nana Yaw Bonnah, Mathias-Onyina-Assenso (dec.)
- First priest: Rev. Nana Ampah
- Ministry inaugurated by Bishop Joseph Osei-Bonsu: August 27, 2000
- Resident priests in order: Rev. Fr. Augustine Owusu-Sekyere → Rev. Fr. Joseph Savino-Gyimah → Rev. Fr. John Kyere → Rev. Fr. Paul Baffuor-Awuah
Establishment of the Quasi-Parish (2018–2019)
On December 6, 2018 Archbishop Leonard P. Blair of Hartford signed the decree establishing the St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic Quasi-Parish — the first of its kind in the United States. The historic inauguration and installation of Rev. Fr. Paul Baffuor-Awuah as pastor took place on Sunday, March 17, 2019, concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt and Bishop Joseph Osei-Bonsu, with State Senator Saud Anwar and leaders of Ghanaian Catholic fraternities present.
- Decree of establishment: December 6, 2018
- Inaugural Mass and installation of pastor: March 17, 2019
- Installed pastor: Rev. Fr. Paul Baffuor-Awuah (Diocese of Konongo-Mampong)
Architecture & Notable Interior Features
St. Isaac Jogues was the first church in New England built using precast 'tilt up' concrete panels, and its simple lines were intended to evoke the rustic American frontier where St. Isaac Jogues served as a missionary. Inside, two large murals, a Christ Pantocrator sanctuary panel, a handcrafted walnut altar with two altar stones for both orientations of the Mass, and a suspended jeweled cross of 88 gems from early parishioners give the worship space a distinctive identity that has carried through its Ghanaian Catholic era.
- Construction: precast 'tilt up' concrete panels (first in New England)
- Mural of Abraham offering Isaac
- Mural of St. Isaac Jogues offering Mass with mutilated hands
- Christ the Pantocrator sanctuary panel
- Handcrafted walnut altar with two altar stones (ad orientem and versus populum)
- Suspended jeweled cross with 88 gems — gifts of early parishioners
Lay Leadership & Parish Council
The community has been led by four successive elected parish councils since 1997, working alongside the resident Ghanaian priests and the Archdiocese of Hartford. The fourth council, in office at the time of the 2019 inauguration, was led by President Thomas Andoh and Vice President Fred Kwadwo Kyeremeh. The Laity Council also represents the various Ghanaian Catholic fraternities active across the United States.
- First Council (1997–2001): Edward Adjei Kensah (President), Nana Adansi Bonnah (VP)
- Second Council (2001–2007): Edward Adjei Kensah (President), Robert Bentil (VP)
- Third Council (2007–2010): William Pinamang (President), Larry Bempong (VP)
- Fourth Council (2010–2017): Larry Bempong (President), Emmanuel Ewusi (VP)
- Fifth Council (2017– ): Thomas Andoh (President), Fred Kwadwo Kyeremeh (VP)
Ministries, Societies & Committees
The community numbers roughly 400 members organized into five ministries, eight societies, and seven committees. Liturgical roles are filled by a robust Music Ministry, Ushers, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers, while faith formation for children is provided through Sunday School and a Youth Ministry.
- Music Ministry
- Ushers
- Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministry
- Youth Ministry
- Sunday School
- Eight societies and seven committees (in addition to the five ministries listed)
Sacraments & Records
Because the parish was canonically separated from the North American Martyrs Parish on January 1, 2019, sacramental records are split between two offices. Records for sacraments received at St. Isaac Jogues prior to that date are held by the North American Martyrs Parish office; records from January 1, 2019 onward are held by the St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic office.
- Pre-2019 sacramental records: North American Martyrs Parish — 860-289-7916
- 2019-onward sacramental records: St. Isaac Jogues Ghanaian Catholic office — 860-290-1880
Visiting & Contact
The parish is located in the Mayberry Village / Laurel Park Heights section of East Hartford. Inquiries about Mass times, sacraments, and community life can be directed to the parish office at the phone number below.
- Address: 1 Community Street, East Hartford, CT 06108
- Phone: (860) 290-1880
- Website: https://www.namct.org/st-isaac-jogues-church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Austin Munich1944–1965
Founder; began Mass in community building on Cannon Road on Christmas 1944; oversaw building and dedication of the church May 2, 1964; died 1965 the year the parish attained full canonical status.
- Rev. Fr. W. Vincent Cronin1965–1990
Succeeded Father Munich; oversaw rapid development of the parish; the Father W. Vincent Cronin Parish Center was later named for him.
- Rev. Fr. Emilio Padellifrom 1990
Continued close-knit community life and oversaw construction of the parish center linking the church and rectory.
- Rev. Fr. Paul Baffuor-Awuahfrom March 17, 2019
First pastor of the Ghanaian Catholic Quasi-Parish; installed by Auxiliary Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt; priest of the Diocese of Konongo-Mampong.