Joyous Easter Greetings!
May our Easter reflections shatter our fears and fill us with awe so we go forth with hope and purpose. May new life blossom in and around us as we become more open to mercy and a compassionate presence with one another.
Please pray for out Nigerian Sisters as they touch families and children in their communities through religion classes, at schools and in day cares. And as they reach out to those hospitalized, imprisoned and displaced by terrorism.
Thank you for being in mission with us through your prayers and generosity. Starting with two Sisters from Detroit, the HVM community in Nigeria now numbers twenty-five vowed religious women in the Home Visitors congregation. The building of our formation house and development of the Pastoral Institute in Gwagwalada has been a dream made real through your support. The chapel still needs to be finished but the classes, library and computer classes are already happening.
Evangelization goes on in many ways. Our HVM ministry is after all (as it has always been) to build up the Church, not buildings. Sr. Vivienn is opening a bookstore and day care as well as continuing her pastoral ministry at St. Charles Lawange parish in Apo while Sr. Anne focuses on prison ministry in the Kuje area. Sr. Lydia opened a second women’s empowerment program to serve victims of human trafficking. These are just some of the new happenings this year. May the Spirit continue to guide and empower growth into all it can be.
Thank your for walking with our HVM sisters as they reach out to share the Joy of the Gospel in the lives of others. We beg you to consider supporting the preparation of religious and laity to help form the growing Catholic family in Nigeria. We hear how the cost of college education is keeping women from joining religious congregations in the USA; the same is true in Nigeria. Could you or your Knights of Columbus group or your sorority or church committee adopt a HVM sister’s education?
Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
Blessings,
Sister Rosemarie Abate, HVM