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

St. Theresa Pilgrimage

St. Theresa’s chair is there – Will you be?Please plan to join us on our bus pilgrimage to visit the National Shrine and Museum of St. Therese in Darien, Illinois […]

Vacation Bible School

Students entering grades K-5 in the fall of 2025 join this summer for VBS!June 24-27, 8:30-11:30 a.m.  St. Theresa Parish HallTo volunteer or ask questions, contact Jane Ann Becicka, 515-279-4654 x304 […]

New & Current Ministers Spring Retreat

Saturday, April 59:30-11:30 a.m.Parish Hall The Word of the LordThe Body of ChristThese words are proclaimed and presented by Ministers of the Word and Ministers of the Eucharist. Since the […]

Pilgrimage to Italy

Come along with Fr. Dan Kirby and Fr. Mike Mahoney on an extraordinary ten day journey to Italy in October of the Holy Year of 2025.  We invite you to […]

2024 Parish Annual Report

Fall Clean Up

Thank you for making this years’ Fall Clean Up a total success. Thank you to the members of our parish, whose yards we cleaned, giving us the opportunity to serve. […]