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
Christmas Sing Along
The season of Christmas runs from December 25 through the Baptism of the Lord on January 11. Celebrate this joyful time with a Christmas Sing-Along on Monday, December 29, 6:30–7:30 […]
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 […]
Lunch & Learn
Thursday, January 8, 10 a.m. in the Parish HallBring a friend, a potluck dish, and a smile. Surprises await!
Winter Wisdom Series
Warm up your winter evenings with inspiration, connection, and meaningful conversation! Join us for our Winter Wisdom Speaker Series, a four-week gathering designed to deepen insight, spark reflection, and strengthen […]
2024-2025 Parish Annual Report
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 […]