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Our daughter congregation, the Dominican Sisters of St.
Catherine of Siena of Gusau, Nigeria,
became an independent congr egation of diocesan status, April 19, 2007, at Holy
Family Cathedral, 39 Ahmadu Bello
Way, in the Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria. This momentous occasion
has been over 25 years in the making. Following a letter from Rome, the Most Rev. Dr. Kevin J. Aje, Bishop
of Sokoto, issued the decree establishing them as a diocesan congregation with
their motherhouse in Gusau.
The congregation may now be of “independent” status, but
this does not sever the relationship of the Dominican Sisters of Great Bend and
the Dominican Sisters of Gusau. Our congregation will continue our close ties,
always attentive to ways we can assist the indigenous congregation with
financial and advisory help for their life, growth, and ministry.
Sister Lorena
Bolte, former Prioress (and former AFJN Board Member), and Sister Rene Weeks, Prioress, represented us as the founding
congregation. Sister Rita Schwarzenberger, a Great Bend Dominican who ministers
in Nigeria,
was also in attendance. The Mass of celebration in the Cathedral was two hours
in the 115° heat of the Nigerian hot season. Most of the 55+ professed members
of the congregation as well as the eight novices and two postulants attended
the celebration. The heat did not wilt any of the enthusiasm of this truly
Nigerian and Dominican celebration. In attendance was Fr Ignatius, Provincial
of the Ghana-Nigeria Dominican men’s province, many priests of Sokoto Diocese,
Dominican Laity, and parishioners, especially in the choir. Drums and native
instruments accompanied the singing in Hausa and English, reflecting the
culture of the people as well as the worldwide Dominican Family.
In the 800th anniversary year of the Dominican
Family this new congregation was a new gift to the Family. At this moment in
the story of the growth of the worldwide Dominican Family, the Nigerian sisters
renewed their vows into the hands of Sister Faustina Jimoh, second Prioress of
their congregation. Later, Sisters Lorena
and Rene presented them with gifts, a
letter from the nuns at Regensburg Germany (their great-grandmother congregation!)
and one from Amityville NY (their grandmother congregation!). The
Amityville congregation also gave them a small statue of Mary from Regensburg. Our gifts
included a large icon of Mary Magdalene, Patroness of the Dominican Family, and
a small copy of the icon as a prayer card for each of the Nigerian sisters, as
well as a packet of greetings from all the sisters back in Great Bend.
At the Mass, Sister Faustina thanked Sister Franka Igweilo (the
first Prioress), Bishop Aje, our congregation – especially Sisters Lorena and Rene,
Fr. Ignatius, and all the priests and sisters who were there.
by Sr. Elaine Osborne, op with Sr. Rene Weeks, op
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