Author Archives: shvmblog

January 25 Reflection: Living in Solidarity

Cathedral basement meeting room.  Enter from adjacent free and secure parking.

Fr. Buersmeyer is a well known speaker on Catholic Social Teachings. See https://www.churchworldkingdom.org/

RSVP appreciated: 313-869-2160. No Charge. Free will offerings are appreciated.

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  • Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world — Margaret Mead

Click here to view the entire Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary website.  If you wish to stop Sisters Home Visitors of Mary news in the future, let us know via email to shvmblog@yahoo.com

 

St. James TasteFest Celebration Luncheon

Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary Convent, Detroit, MI

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, key supporters of the acclaimed Fall TasteFest fundraising event held last November by St. James Parrish, Novi, MI, gathered for a celebration luncheon at the SHVM convent in Detroit. The Fall TasteFest was widely regarded as a “miraculous” event – blessed with success, enjoyed by all, and raising more than 150% of the original fundraising goal. Proceeds of the event will support Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary electric service in Nigeria.

Attendees discussed possible future collaborations and enjoyed Nigerian food dishes specially created by Sr. Clare Emeroum, HVM, Director of Pastoral Associate/Evangelical Charity at St. James.

 

 


Several attendees particularly enjoyed their first visit to historic 121 E. Boston, once home to Detroit’s own Joseph L. Hudson and the location where, in 1916,  J.L. Hudson’s beloved niece Eleanor Clay married Henry Ford’s only son Edsel to subsequently become the forbearing parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents of the entire subsequent (and current!) Ford family progeny.

Click on https://sistershvm.org/2015/02 to see a previous informative post from a fundraising Tea focused on J.L. Hudson held at the SHVM convent in 2015.  And click on   https://relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com/2014/12/touring-jlhudsons-home.html and https://relevanttealeaf.blogspot.com/2015/02/fundraiser-tea-at-former-hudson-home.html for wonderful postings by Phyllis Barkey, a friend of SHVM, providing a beautiful visual tour of 121 E. Boston and further smiling faces at the 2015 J.L. Hudson fundraising Tea.

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  • Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world — Margaret Mead

Click here to view the entire Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary website.  If you wish to stop Sisters Home Visitors of Mary news in the future, let us know via email to shvmblog@yahoo.com

Christmas 2024: Our Light is Here!

Our  HVM Ministry  grows  through  the  support  of  friends,  parishes  and   organizations.  Your  Support  touches  the  lives  of  thousands  – young  and  old  – in  schools,  day  cares,  religious  education  and  parish  ministries.   Now  we  are  in five  dioceses  in  Nigeria.  Please  help  make  2025  even  more  hopeful.  Donate  Here.

  • Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world — Margaret Mead

Click here to view the entire Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary website.  If you wish to stop Sisters Home Visitors of Mary news in the future, let us know via email to shvmblog@yahoo.com

 

75th Anniversary SHVM Celebration

Lord Bless This Vine That You Have Planted!

Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary celebrated the joyous 75th Anniversary of their founding with associates, supporters, and friends at Detroit’s Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, November 16, 2024.   Bishop Donald Hanchon celebrated Mass.  Fr. Tyrone Robinson delivered a rich and powerful homily.  Special thanks to Marjorie Gabriel and wonderful choir for beutious music.   

Fr. Tyrone Robinson delivered a powerful and courageous homily reminding that the words of Luke 4:16-19, which have formed the constitutional basis of Sisters Home Visitors of Mary for 75 years, are as important today as they were when Christ first described his mission.  Fr. Robinson challenged each of us to embrace and advance the spirit of love and protection to poor and marginalized people in this moment of challenge posed today by the powerful in the U.S. and around the world.  

Fr Tyrone Robinson

Bishop Donald Hanchon

Tom & Judy Winkler

Mass was followed by light lunch and raffle in Sacred Heart activities hall.  Guest enjoyed  good food, fellowship and delightful raffle prizes.

Loretta Deloach and Samuel Onyene

Sr Rosemarie Abate

Sr Clare Emeroum

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  • Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world — Margaret Mead

Click here to view the entire Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary website.  If you wish to not receive future notices from Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary send email request to shvmblog@yahoo.com

Sr. Barbara – Mass of the Resurrection

Sr. Barbara Mary Dakoske’s loving, caring life was saluted with a Mass of the Resurrection at Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on November 4, 2024, celebrated by Bishop Donald F. Hanchon along with numerous concelebrant Frs.  Fr. Tyronne Robinson and other speakers  delivered moving tributes.

Bishop Donald Hanchon and concelebrants

Sister Rosemarie Abate, HVM

Fr. Tyronne Robinson. “Sr Barbara is still joined with us.”

Sr Clare Emeruom

Sr. Barbara Dakoske was born 3/23/1939. She was the sixth of eight children in her family. She started her 1st grade al St David’s on Detroit’s east side.  By the 8th grade, two girls from St David’s had entered the newly founded Home Visitors of Mary community. This nurtured Barbara’s interest in religious life and involvement with the sisters. During summer of junior year, she scheduled several girls from school to accompany the sisters on home calls.  Even though most of them cancelled, she continued to accompany the sisters and was impressed by people’s faith and their desire for a better life for their children. She enjoyed reaching out to people in their homes and inviting them to the nearby Catholic Church.

She entered the Home Visitors of Mary (HVM) on July 2, 1957, just after graduation. She graduated from Marygrove College in 1963 and later received her master’s degree in religious education from St. Paul’s University in Ottawa, Canada.  Besides doing pastoral ministry in different Detroit parishes, she worked with a team at an Intercultural Center in Fling doing evangelization with a group of City parishes. She worked the following Detroit parishes – St Jude, St John Berchmans/St. Juliana, St Raymond, Our Lady of Good Counsel and most rccc11Lly Our Lady Queen of Heaven – Good Shepherd, just mention a few.

She served the Home Visitors of Mary community as Administrator and other leadership positions over the years.  As a dedicated sister of Home Visitors of Mary she evangelized in the city in a person-centered way.  She always aimed to build community, enculturate the faith and collaborate with lay leadership.

In 2001, together with Sr. Elizabeth Harris, she courageously moved to Abuja, Nigeria, to sow the seed of the HVM mission there.  In intervening years this little seed has grown to thirty-five Nigerian HVM sisters serving in different ministries in 6 different Catholic dioceses in Nigeria.

Sr. Barbara cherished her quiet time with the Lord and awareness of the indwelling of Trinity. She will forever be remembered for her dedication, hard work, friendliness, courage, good heart and many other qualities.

We give thanks for Sr Barbara’s loving kindness shown in her caring ways. May she rest in peace with the Lord.

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Passing of Sr. Barbara Dakoske

Sr. Barbara Mary Dakoske died October 28, 2024, while undergoing open heart surgery.

We will celebrate her loving, caring presence with all on Monday, Nov. 4, at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  Viewing at 10:00 am, Eucharist at 11:00 am.   Bishop Hanchon will be the celebrant and Fr. Tyronne Robinson will concelebrate and speak.

Sr. Barbara served mainly at St. Catherine-St. Martin (now Sts. Augustine -Monica), St. Margaret Mary, Presentation Our Lady of Victory, St. Luke, and Our Lady Queen of Heaven parishes.

She initiated the Sisters of Judith, a laywomen’s program and the Black Catholic Office and programs in Flint.  Along with Sr. Elizabeth Harris, Barbara planted the Home Visitors of Mary’s religious congregation in Nigeria in 2001 and oversaw its formation and growth over the intervening years.  Sr. Barbara also has served as the HVM formation person and administrator.

A life truly dedicated and fed by her faithfulness to centering prayer.

Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, 9844 Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI

 

 

Upcoming Saturday Morning Reflections

Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary welcome you to upcoming Saturday Morning Reflections.

10:00 am to Noon.  Light Lunch Follows.

Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament.  9844 Woodward.  Basement meeting room.  Enter directly from adjacent free and secure parking.

Speakers.  Shared Table Reflections.  Personal Discernment.  

October 19, 2024.  “Hope Does Not Disappoint”.  Presentation on the upcoming 2025 Jubilee Year.  By Fr.  David Buersmeyer.   Fr. Buersmeyer is a well known speaker on Catholic Social Teachings.   See https://www.churchworldkingdom.org/

January 25, 2025.  Living the Synod   (What Today’s Church Could Look Like)

March 29, 2025. East Meets West: The Resurrection.  What the Common Day for Celebrating Easter Means.

RSVP appreciated:  313-869-2160.               No Charge.  Free will offerings are appreciated.

Sisters HVM Growth & Celebration!

Sisters HVM Growth & Celebration!

Join us in celebrating Sisters Home Visitors of Mary continuing Growth and Expansion!   Give thanks and prayer for the five women who recently made their profession of vows in our HVM religious congregation in Nigeria.  Also celebrate the construction work well underway at the Sisters Home Visitors of Mary Child Day Center in Abuja.

On August 10,2024, in the HVM central house chapel in Gwagwalada, Nigeria, Sisters Juliana Ukunim Udie, Mary Cynthia Ekwosianya, Jacinta Alo, Clementina Okeke, and Mercy Ngunan Baaki professed their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in the Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary order after four years of prayer, study of theology and religious life. Each woman said they were attracted to Home Visitors of Mary by the HVM mission of reaching out to the poor with respect for every person.

Sr. Julian Ukunim Udie.  My name is Juliana Ukunim Udie. I was born into the family of Mr and Mrs Emmanuel Udie as the fifth child of six children in Kutiang 2 village of Obudu in 2002.  I started my primary school education in government primary school Kutiang 2, Obudu. After my primary school education I was enrolled into Comprehensive high school Igwo Obudu and Community secondary school Kubong-Bette were I obtain my secondary school certificate in NECO.  As a young girl with a burning desire to serve the lord as a religious, I met my parish priest Rev. Fr Stephen Omale who introduced me to the congregation of Sisters Home Visitors of Mary.  I was admitted as a candidate into Home Visitors of Mary formation center, Gwagwalada Abuja on the 3rd of October 2020.  What attracted me to the Home Visitors of Mary congregation is the simplicity of the sisters, care, love, charism and their values. The apostolate I have handled in Home Visitors of Mary is catechism instructor and Sunday school.

Sr Mary Cynthia Ekwosianya.  My name is Mary Cynthia Ekwosianya. I am a native of Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra state. I was born in 1986. I hold a bachelor of education with studies in Early Childhood Education. I got to know about HVM sisters through the internet. What attracted me to HVM is the name; “Home Visitors of Mary.” I am a Legionary; I was involved in different kinds of visitations like hospital, home, school, market, to mention but a few. I felt that this congregation will help me to continue my work as a Legionary. Presently, I am into catechism and Sunday school ministry.

Sr. Jacinta Alo.  My name is Jacinta Alo.  l was born in 1990 in Okuzzu in Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. I hold a Higher National Diploma in Biochemistry.  l joined the Home Visitors Of Mary Congregation on 3rd October 2020.  I came to know about HVM when I visited a parish in Abuja where I met a Home Visitors of Mary sister.  She was the only sister I saw often in that parish and she was very active. Having interest in becoming a sister, l approached her to find out more about the congregation. What attracted me to join HVM is her charism … To show universal love for all people especially the poor and the marginalized and also the HVM apostolate which includes Education and Pastoral. The different apostolate I have handled are Catechism Classes and Sunday School.

Sr. Clementina Okeke. My name is Clementina Okeke. I was born in 1992 in Mbaukwa, Anambra state. I first joined Sisters Home Visitors of Mary on 3rd October 2020. I got to know about Sisters Home Visitors of Mary through a reverend sister from the congregation religious sisters of charity after I told her of my intent of joining a unique religious congregation. What attracted me to Sisters Home visitors of Mary was the unique mission of witnessing universal love for all people especially the marginalized. I hold a Bachelor’s degree with special emphasis in Accounting. My Apostolate Involvement is Catechism and Sunday school ministry.

Sr. Mercy Ngunan Baaki. I am Mercy Ngunan Baaki. Born in May 1988 to David and Eugenia Baaki in Adikpo Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State. The first among the three children of my parents, I attended Immaculate Heart Nursery and Primary School Adikpo,  secondary education at Mbainenge Community secondary school with Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE), and post-secondary school education at Benue State School of Nursing Makurdi where I graduated as a registered Nurse in 2015. I began my initial formation as a postulant with Sisters Home Visitors of Mary (HVM) in October 2020. I got to know about Sisters Home Visitors of Mary on the internet, where I was inspired so much about their charism “Universal love for all people, working for justice and peace, especially for the poor, elderly and those marginalized by the society.”  I loved also their mission of identifying with that of Jesus and by trying to imitate our mother Mary and praying to imitate her good virtues. During my live-in experience at Sisters Home Visitors of Mary Apo Community at Abuja, I was drawn to the warm welcome, their prayer life, community life, cheerfulness, politeness through respectful communications with church members and workers at the childcare center. I was also attracted by their life of simplicity through mode of dressing which made them look simple, neat and approachable, their hard work and being organized.   I have come to see God’s goodness in my life and how He has been leading and guiding me.   The different apostolate I have handled are catechism classes and Sunday school the children at Saint Paul’s Parish Gwagwalada.

PROGRESS CONTINUES ON DAY CARE CONSTRUCTION ..

Construction work is advancing well at the Sisters Home Visitors of Mary Child Day Center in Abuja.

CLICK PLAY BUTTON BELOW FOR VIDEO OF BUILDING UNDER CONSTUCTION >

 

What is Really Happening at the Border?

 

Strangers No Longer Summer Education Webinar Series

What is Really Happening at the Border?

Tuesday, July 16, 7:00 pm.   On Zoom

Is it really like the chaos we see on the news? What is the effect on communities near the border? What is the impact of the recent Executive Orders from President Biden?

With Dylan Corbett, Executive Director of Hope Border Institute, El Paso, TX.

Hope Border Institute focuses on research, policy, leadership development, and action on behalf of migrants. They are on the ground to assess needs and provide assistance and they bring together faith leaders and experts to develop long-term responses.

Click here to register.

Nuns Against Gun Violence

50 religious congregations under Nuns Against Gun Violence, are uniting on National Gun Violence Awareness Day, Friday, June 7, 2024 to call for meaningful changes in gun legislation. This day highlights the urgent need to address the epidemic of gun violence in communities nationwide. We will #WearOrange to bring awareness to the gun violence crisis, which takes more than 120 lives and wounds hundreds more every single day in this country.

Take Action:

“Wear Orange” on Friday, June 7: Wear Orange to honor the more than 43,000 Americans who are killed with guns every year. For more ways to participate, visit wearorange.org/ways-to-participate.

Contact Congress: Urge support for sensible gun restrictions.

Support Victims: Read about victims and pray for their friends.

Positive Action: Be inspired by Zeneta Everhart’s response to gun violence. After her son, Zaire Goodman, survived the May 14 attack at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo, NY, she and Zaire created an Amazon wish list of books to educate kids on racism, diversity, and inclusion.  News article.

Gun violence demands a moral response.   By raising awareness, supporting survivors, and advocating for stronger gun laws, we can work towards a future where every community is safe from gun violence.

Stand in Solidarity on National Gun Violence Awareness Day — Friday, June 7