MOVING TOGETHER IN HOPE

Plenty of HVM good news from Nigeria!  Sr. Rosemarie Abate returned to Detroit from a month-long visit with her HVM Sisters in Nigeria.  She is delighted to share from her trip, highlighted by the joy of witnessing the perpetual profession by Rev. Srs. Winifred Umoh and Chioma Unomah on August 21 at St. Paul Parish in Gwagwalada.   Sr. Monika Etokudoh also professed her first vows.  The ceremonies and Sunday Eucharist were celebrated by Most Rev. Anselm Umoren, Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja.

The beauty and struggle of the future is being confronted with boldness, courage and conviction by the Sisters Home Visitors of Mary in Nigeria.  Growth and involvement are blossoming.  We’ll try hard to report further on the activities and challenges of our sisters in future online posts and at the upcoming SHVM Gala at St. John Armenian Cultural Center in Southfield, MI on Sunday, October 9.  The formation house in Gwagwalada is nearer to completion.  The Home Visitors of Mary Theology Institute housed there provides certified pastoral ministry and theology courses through CIWA (Catholic Institute of Western Africa) especially for laity and women religious.  In addition, the Home Visitors will be welcoming Blessing Oluchulawu as a candidate on September 12.  Blessing has been a pre-candidate for 2 years as she finished her degree and government community service requirement of college graduates.

Profile of Sr. Winifred …

Profile of Sr. Chioma …

Associate members also play an important role in HVM ministries.  Associates meet at 7:00 pm the third Tuesday of every month at the SHVM convent at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria in Abuja.  They welcome new members …

In addition to the profession of vows by Srs. Winifred, Chioma and Monika, Sisters Home Visitors of Mary also held their quadrennial chapter congress attended by all available Sisters.  See smiling sisters below posing with His Lordship Most Rev. Anselm Umoren, Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja  …

Below: Elected leadership of SHVM.   Sr. Mary Divine, Sr. Barbara, Sr. Clare, Sr. Calista, Sr Rosemarie.  With Most Rev. Anselm Umoren, Auxiliary Bishop of Abuja …

Below:  Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Cathedral in Abuja.  The SHVM convent is right across the parking lot from the cathedral.

 

Below:  typical Sunday attendance at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria.

Below:  Sisters Home Visitors of Mary Convent at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria.

Below:  scenes from day care center near the SHVM convent & Our Lady Queen of Nigeria.

Below:  scenes from day care center and book store in nearby Apo.  Click here to see a fuller description of these two new SHVM endeavors.