A brief History of Blessed Michael Tansi Catholic Church
In 1997, a group of ECOMOG soldiers from Nigeria, led by Lieutenant Colonel Augustine A Ogunna of the 231 Tank Battalion and a Catechist (a soldier) John Ologunleko began to meet and pray in the morning. Sylvester Wuya, then Parish Priest, gladly offered to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist (the Mass) with them. Col Augustine A. Ogunna. In 199
8, an ECOMOG Priest, Fr. Lt Jonathan C. Agbedo, was appointed to the 7th Battalion Barracks. He was later succeeded by Fr. P C Amah in 1999, who served the community until he left for Nigeria in September 2000. Michael Fillie, C.S.Sp, took over after a month without a Priest. It was during this time that a heavy storm blew their ‘make shift’ Church away. With the leadership of Fr. Michael Fillie, the present permanent Church was started. Due to health reasons Fr. Michael Fillie left and the then Parish Priest Rev. Ambrose M Damba appealed to Rev. Henry Aruna, for regular assistance to this community. On the 17th June, 2007, the Church suffered another storm disaster thereby forcing them to celebrate Mass in the Military Mess. Fr Aruna rallied around to raise funds to build the present structure. During a visit by Archbishop Joseph Ganda, the Church was renamed after the Nigeria Saint - Blessed Michael Tansi, to remember the Nigeria Soldiers who started the community. On 31st May 2008, the present Church was officially opened by His Grace the Archbishop, Dr, Edward Tamba Charles in a well-attended ceremony. When Fr. Aruna was appointed Bishop of Makeni, Fr. Sandi looked after the community until the appointment of Fr. Joseph E. Bangura as Priest in charge
