Father Raphael Assamah

Meet Fr. Raphael

I was born on July 4, 1976 in Ghana. My basic and tertiary education were in Ghana. After discerning the voice of God through retreats and spiritual directions, I entered St. Paul's Major Seminary in 1999 to study Philosophy, Sociology and Spirituality. In 2003, I studied theology and education at St. Peter's Regional Seminary in Pedu, Cape Coast, Ghana. After a successful pastoral year, three of us were ordained as Deacons on January 6, 2008 and later into the priesthood on August 23, 2008 for the Archdiocese of Accra.

My first assignment was at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, in Accra, the capital city of Ghana. While there I oversaw the youth programs and was chaplain to some societies in the Archdiocese. There was a need for priests to assist in Jamaica, so the door was opened for volunteers, and I opted as fidei donum (the Gift of Faith) priest for the Archdiocese of Kingston, Jamaica.

While in Jamaica I worked at St. Pius X and St. Peter Claver Catholic Churches respectively. It wasn’t until later that I was asked to assist as a Priest in the Diocese of Des Moines where I served in Shenandoah and Hamburg as the Pastor of St. Mary’s Churches. I obtained my Master’s in Theology and Christian Ministry from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Recently, Bishop Joensen asked me to serve as the Pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish in Des Moines and I arrived here on the 7th of July to assume my new duties. I enjoy walking, music, playing the guitar, reading, cooking, washing my own car and meeting people.

Parish
News

Cards & Games

Want to laugh, meet new people, and win a game or two? Come, join us for Cards and Games on the second Tuesday of every month in the East Meeting […]

Fall Clean Up

Please mark your calendars and come to help us on November 15. Join us at 8 a.m. in the St. Theresa parking lot. Volunteer your time to help your fellow […]

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Receives Grant

St. Theresa Parish thanks the St. Joseph Evangelization Center for its FIRE Grant, Funding Initiative for Renewal and Evangelization. Their generous gift of $3,000.00 enables our children to build on their knowledge and relationship […]

75th Anniversary Celebration Mass

What a great 75th Anniversary celebration we had on June 28th! Bishop Joensen celebrated Mass and we had several special guests that have served our parish in the past join […]

St. Theresa Feast Day

We had a great week celebrating our patron saint, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus! We prayed together at Holy Hour on Her feast day, our parish school honored St. […]

St. Theresa First Fruits Distributions – FY2023-2024

“what so ever you do to the least of my brethren that you do unto me.” Matthew 25:40 There are many special collections at St. Theresa and we are humbled […]