14 September, 2021
By Abigail Ihuoma, first-year novice
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As at 29th August, 2021, because of the 24-hour curfew in Jos as a result of terrorists’ attack, we were not sure whether the second-year novices would begin a six-day retreat in preparation for the profession of their vows. To the glory of God, the curfew was relaxed on Monday, 30th August; this gave the directees the opportunity to return to Jos from Lagos and Bauchi, where they were before the curfew was imposed. The days of the retreat was then shortened from six to a five-day retreat. Therefore, instead of beginning their retreat on 30th August, they began on 1st September and finished on the 7th September 2021. During the morning Mass on that 7th, in the Novitiate Chapel, Rev. Fr. Linus Umaru, admonished them, through his own vocation success story, to remain steadfast in the path they have chosen because the journey has just begun.
Our Province Leader, Sr Helen Ebede arrived the community on the 6th, a day before the novices came out of the retreat, in preparation for the occasion. The parents, siblings and friends of our sisters to be professed and some interested ladies arrived the community on the 7th and they were given a comfortable accommodation at Centre for Renewal (CFR). After the morning Mass, on the 7th, the novices had their breakfast and were ready for rehearsal in preparation for the following day with Sr. Helen Ebede. At 5:00 pm on the 7th, we gathered at the CFR hall for “Parents’ Night”, where we prayed with the parents and educated them on the meaning and implication of the vows their daughters were to make.
On the D-day, 8th of September 2021, the birthday of our Lady, the day looked so beautiful as the sun shone so brightly. Everyone was filled with joy and the novices to be professed looked so much like any beautiful bride. They radiated so much joy together with their parents, guardians, sisters and invitees. The Eucharistic celebration began at 10:00 am and was officiated by His Lordship, Rt. Rev. Dr. David Ajang, the bishop of Lafia diocese, together with twenty-one priests. A good number of Rev. Sisters from different congregations and invited guests were there to grace the occasion. In the presence of the Province Leader and in the midst of God’s people, the seven novices professed their vows. There were jubilations!!! His Lordship admonished all present and the newly professed in particular to always look up to God, who has called them, in everything they do. The Holy Mass came to a successful end at 1:30pm, with a final blessing by his Lordship. Few pictures were taken and all were directed to CFR hall and refectory respectively for refreshments.
To the glory of God, the whole event came to an end with a mind-blowing social night, which was coordinated by Sisters Stella Envulu and Victoria Dyikuk in CFR hall at 8pm.
The parents and guidance of our newly professed sisters left for their different places on 9th September 2021 while our Province Leader and the newly professed sisters departed the community for their respective communities on Friday, 10th September, 2021.
It was indeed a great event!!
Click on the photos below to enlarge them.
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