The Sisters of the ‘Missionary Daughters of the Holy Wounds of Jesus’ celebrated their seventh anniversary

By Ezeakukwu Emmanuel Nsoedo (PhD)

The Order of the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Wounds of Jesus celebrated thee seventh anniversary of its founding.

The Sisters, who are residents at St Felix Catholic Church Egbu-Umumenem, Otolo, Nnewi, have in their short existence shown a remarkable commitment to the lives of the community by exemplifying the essence of their ‘Call’ to the life of religious and poverty.

They have largely been unsung in their approach to ministration. It is essential to mention that they have constantly comforted the highly sick people, intervened in the lives of orphans, attended to the elderly, and provided educational opportunities to young people. Besides the preceding activities, they maintain their core religious activities and services to St Felix Catholic Church, especially the out-stationing, St Charles Lwanga.

The Holy Mass was celebrated at the residence of the Rev Sisters by the Parish Priest, Fr Jude Okwuelu, and assisted by Deacon Martin Ofodile. Reverend Ofodile of Egbu-Umuenem is set for ordination as a Reverend Father. Rev Ofodile gave the Homily, using his situation as a person who belongs to new Order like the Sisters to encourage them to persevere in their ‘Calling.’

Rev Ofodile urged the Sisters to remember that obedience is the most difficult aspect of the life of people committed to religious life. He urged them to show love and understanding among themselves so that they could effectively withstand sometimes the tempestuous or turbulent life of the order.

The occasion was graced by a sister Order of the same parish, ‘Clarissan Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament’. The Sisters who graced the occasion was led by Sister Akubueze. Other attendees were the parishioners, and some dignitaries who came from other parishes.

Sister Christy, on behalf of the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Wounds of Jesus, thanked the parish priest for his immense support of their Order in so many ways. “Father Ekwuelu has given us the maximum that they could never quantify the value,” Sister Christy said. She also thanked Rev Ofodile for the Homily.

While thanking the guests, Sister Christy used the opportunity to reiterate their mission as a community devoted to the Wounds of our Lord, Jesus Christ, which he suffered at the cross. In likewise, she said that “they care for the sick and abandoned elderly persons (including the Priests and the Religious), rehabilitation of wayward youths, vocational training for the handicap, Catechisms, etc.”