St Charles Church .org   News & Events Faith & Sacraments Ministries Volunteer Search/Help Contact Us

20^th Anniversary of Ordination of The Reverend Clement Mweyang Aapengnuo

Thank you for sharing your priesthood with the community of St. Charles! We are indeed blessed!
2 Opportunities to celebrate!

1) Wednesday, August 6, 2008 (actual ordination anniversary) Mass in the Chapel at 6 PM followed by a reception in the Parish Library. Feel free to bring a dish to share. RSVP to Rosario at 703-624-5941 and leave a message on voicemail.	2) Sunday, August 10, 2008 Fr. Clement will celebrate the 11 AM Mass with a reception in Benedict Hall to follow. Feel free to bring a dish to share. No RSVP needed.
Cards & well wishes can be dropped at the Parish Office at anytime

Fr. Clement's Ordination, August 6, 1988

Fr. Clement & his parents on his ordination day Fr. Clement, June 2008

Clement Aapengnuo was born on November 23, 1960 in Nandom, Ghana. He is the oldest of 6 children, including 1 sister. He attended St. Charles Borromeo High School in Tamale, Ghana. When he learned that the Bible Studies class was not obligatory, he refused to attend. He majored in science, hoping to be a medical doctor. He graduated in 1980 and went to St. Victor Seminary, also in Tamale. He studied for 8 years and was ordained on August 6, 1988 on the Feast of the Transfiguration. Fr. Clement was then assigned to the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Tamale as Associate Pastor, Secretary to the Archbishop, and the Director of Communications. In 1993 he went to Rome for 3 years to attain his Masters in Social Communications. His internship during that time was in the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut in the Office of Radio and Television. In 1996 we was back in Ghana to the new Diocese of Damango, missionary territory. He was Director of Communications as well as Administrator of the Cathedral until 2000.

Coming to George Mason University in Arlington
In 2000, Fr. Clement started the Northern Ghana Peace Project supported by Catholic Relief Services, and was its Director until 2006. He was then offered the opportunity to study conflict resolution and George Mason University had one of the best programs. He was living in Washington, DC at the time with the Missionaries of Africa, and praying that one day he would be able to serve at St. Charles, right next door to the Arlington GMU campus where he was studying. When an opening came at St. Charles, within a few minutes of meeting Fr. Gerry and Fr. Jack, they all knew it would be a good match between Fr. Clement and the community. When Fr. Clement was to say his first Sunday Mass at St. Charles, he was asked if he had any particulars about how he celebrates Mass…what he would find helpful. He replied that in Ghana he is used to dealing with the wind, flies, and animals during Mass. We knew he would fit right in at St. Charles!

Fr. Clement received his Masters in Conflict Analysis and Resolution in May of 2008 and is continuing to work towards his PHD in the same field. Upon completion in a few years, he hopes to return to Africa and teach in the area of Conflict Resolution.

Fr. Clem's Interests
Fr. Clement likes to play basketball and tennis as well as read. He loves food and cooking and even likes to do dishes. Serving at St. Charles has been the first time in his priesthood that he is not doing mostly administrative work. He can devote his service to preaching the Word of God and being about the pastoral work of his vocation. He celebrates whenever someone who is broken, trusts enough to share their story and by the end of their encounter there can be joy and peace amidst the challenges of life.

We are blessed by your presence Fr. Clement. May your next 20 years of priesthood be as blessed as the first. Thank you for sharing yourself so graciously with the parish and school of St. Charles! Congratulations!

See also: Fr. Gerry Creedon's 40th anniversary
and an interview with Fr. Jack O'Hara