IHM Sisters had 16 Sisters who made their Final Religious Profession on the 3rd and 7th September, 2022 at the Basilica of the most Holy Trinity, Onitsha and at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Urualla respectively.
While Most Rev. Valerian Maduka Okeke presided over the celebration at Onitsha, Most Rev. Augustine Ukwuoma took charge of the Urualla celebration. The Sisters span from different dioceses in Nigeria – Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Nsukka and Idah.
In his homily which he termed ‘Learning from the School of St. Gregory the Great: Service, Sacrifice and prayer’, Archbishop Okeke encouraged the Sisters to model their life in the example of St Gregory on whose feastday they are celebrating. “That is the way to greatness”. Don’t scheme in order to be anywhere. God will put you where he wants you, he admonished. Bishop Ukwuoma on the other hand said to the sisters, “The vow of Obedience is the apex of the Vows. Therefore, pay particular attention to the vow of obedience. It is very crucial to our survival as a Church.”
Mary Claude Oguh, the Superior General received their vows and welcomed them as permanent members of the Congregation. Sr. Mary Jerome Obiorah, Councilor and Sr. Mary Anthonia Ekwelem, Co-ordinator of On-going Formation, were witnesses at the celebration.
The Sisters expressed their joy in reaching to this stage of their vocation in Religious Life in the Institute.
IHM Sisters together with their families of the Finally Professed Sisters, their parishioners, friends and well-wishers organized a reception for them at the church premises. They joyfully cut their Profession cakes. While the families of the Finally Professed sisters appreciated the Religious Institute, the Superior General in turn, handed them special heads of Jubilee cakes.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the Superior General thanked all who honoured the occasion and especially, those who contributed to the success of the celebration.
It was a graceful celebration blessed with a clement weather.
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