Our Daughter Foundation in Nigeria

We, the Dominican Sisters of St Catherine of Siena of the Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria, trace our roots in the Church to several sources: the person of St Dominic de Guzman and the Dominican Communities of Regensburg (Ratisbon), Germany; Amityville (Brooklyn) New York; and Great Bend, Kansas, USA.

St Dominic (1170 - 1221), in founding the world-wide Dominican Family in the thirteenth century, calls each of us to share in the mission of Jesus by responding to the needs of the people of God in the location and time in which we live. The unique charism which he brought to the Church is an apostolic way of life rooted in contemplation. He continues to call us today, as Dominican Sisters of the Diocese of Sokoto, to prayer and study, inspiring us to preach truth by our lives, words and works.

Our Community has developed within the general heritage of the Dominican family. We appreciate our special heritage as Dominican Sisters, which traces its roots to the Holy Cross Convent in Regensburg. This Community was guided by the Sisters of St Sixtus in Rome, a foundation originally under the governance of Sister Blanche from St Mary in Prouille, France, the first foundation of Dominic himself (1206).

Our general and particular histories are interwoven with the thread of response to needs. Dominic responded to the need for truth in a heresy-torn Europe; in 1853, the Regensburg Nuns responded to the education needs of the German immigrants in America, resulting in the Amityville foundation; and Mother Antonina, in 1902, founded the Congregation in Great Bend, Kansas, to answer the twentieth century needs for health care and education in Kansas; and in 1956, the Great Bend Sisters responded to several needs: namely, health care, religious education and the need for a Christian presence in northern Nigeria, which resulted in the foundation of the Nigerian Community of Dominican Sisters in Gusau, Zamfara State (the then Sokoto State), Nigeria, West Africa.

These Sisters expended their youthful energies in these ministries and this at a time when Nigeria was far from what it is today. Those they came to minister to viewed life from a totally different perspective. They thought going to the hospital meant going to die. So rather than meet the Sisters at the dispensary/hospital for treatment and delivery of babies, the Sisters went to their homes for such services. What VIP services the people received!

After many years of strictly engaging in medical and educational ministries, the Sisters saw the need to start an indigenous foundation of Dominican Sisters. In 1966, twelve young women who were recruited as “Preps” (preparatory to Secondary School) were sent to a Secondary School started by the Great Bend missionaries at Amakohia, Ikeduru in the present day Imo State at the invitation of Bishop Whelan of Owerri diocese.

In October, 1967, the Sisters at Amakohia who almost got trapped in the Nigerian/Biafran crises left the country at the last minute and as a result were not allowed entry when they wanted to return. That school was taken over by the then East Central State government soon after the Nigerian civil war. Thus that first attempt of training indigenous young women who would later become Dominican Sisters was interrupted by the war. After the war, in 1973, a fresh move was made to start again the establishment of a local Dominican Community. Two young women were received as Postulants in 1973.

The fresh move of any worthwhile venture, however well planned initially, always carries with it its difficulties, hardships, uncertainties, and sometimes seeming failure. It was no less so for this community in its nascent stage. In the first place, as new vocations joined the Community, some of those in formation discontinued or had their formation interrupted. There was the question of seeking legal recognition from the diocese. This was to ensure that the budding community was favourably looked upon by the Church for what it was worth and struggling to become.

This process took many long meetings of the founding Sisters with the then bishop of the diocese, Bishop Michael J. Dempsey OP, of happy memory. This was an onerous task and a painful period for the Sisters. The description of their mission with regard to founding a local Congregation of Dominican Sisters was not understood by the bishop and his sacerdotal senate. It was really a trying period, a period of great uncertainty and hopelessness; a period when great faith and trust and courage were manifested by the founding Sisters and the three foundation members at the time as well.

Deep soul-searching questions expressing concern were asked of the founding members by the bishop and the Great Bend leadership team. Among them were: long-term committed involvement in a local Dominican Novitiate; the question of continuity of vocations; the stability of the establishment; financial autonomy; and the identity of the members in the new foundation. The process, which began in 1976, came to a favourable conclusion on December 8, 1981, when the entity was raised to a “Pious Union” status (presently known as “Association of the Christian Faithful”).

This is a transitory stage of any religious group with the intention of attaining a diocesan or papal status. On January 27, 2007, the Dominican Sisters of St Catherine of Siena was raised to a diocesan status to the glory of God. The granting of the recognition came after approximately twenty-six (26) years from the time it was accepted by the Church as a “Pious Union”.

There is also the problem of a total claiming of the property on which the central and the formation houses are located. In 1973, our dispensary and maternity situated on the Community property were taken over by the local government. Since then, a span covering 1976 - 1985, there have been concerted efforts to eject the Sisters from the place. In 1986, the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the property expired after forty years of land lease. In spite of the fact of it being renewed after much difficulty, the Community is yet to enjoy a total claim of her property as the Gusau Local Government is still not ready to hand it over totally. And yet, this is the only Congregation in this vast diocese.

Alongside these problems was also the taking over and/or the closing down of the medical institutions managed by the Sisters in various parts of the diocese like Yelwa — Yauri, in Kebbi State, and Malumfashi in Katsina State. This called for an “aggiornamento” — a reorientation of ministries and apostolates. The traditional ministries and the mode of running them had to be revisited. The sisters then played the role of “presence” among the majority Muslim community by working in government-owned hospitals and schools, and offering literacy, hygiene, and handicraft programmes to the less privileged rural women regardless of their creedal belief.

In 1977, the community had the First Profession of its members. Growth came in trickles at that early stage in that first professions were not had every year. However, from 1982 things took a different turn. There were first professions yearly, sometimes even twice in a year. It is so to this day.

One of the historic events in this Congregation was the first Final Profession of five of her members on September 23rd, 1989: Srs Josephine Ottah OP, Martha Offor OP, Magdalene Okorie OP, Joan Ofuokwu OP, and Carol Chilaka OP. The occasion drew crowds from far and near and beyond continental frontiers. For many it was the mark of the birth of the Congregation.

On February 2nd, 1996, death knocked on the congregation’s “door” and snatched away one of our members — Sr Beatrice Ugwu OP. Her death was a great shock to all of us. Prior to that sad event, we least expected the congregation ripe enough to begin to lose its members. Her death raised many rhetorical questions in our minds as we looked on and wondered. Yet, in the light of faith, we believe she has preceded us to eternal glory where she is making intercessions for us.

Another historic event, which took place in this community, was the first General Chapter of Elections and Affairs, which was held in September 1997. Here, for the first time, the leadership team was elected by the Nigerian Dominican membership with Sr Francisca Igweilo emerging as the first Nigerian Prioress (Superior General). Perviously, the congregation was under the leadership of the Great Bend Dominican Sisters. The Chapter was a sure march towards autonomy. In January of 1998, the last and remaining founding member directly involved in the foundation returned to the USA. That meant that the young community was thenceforth on its own, directing its affairs by itself.

In October 1998, the Congregation celebrated a landmark in the history of its existence — the twenty-fifth (25fth) anniversary of its foundation. Bishop Kevin J Aje, the bishop of Sokoto Diocese in no small measure contributed in making that singular occasion what it was.

On October 31, 2005, the baton of leadership was handed over to a newly elected leadership team with Sr Faustina Jimoh as the Prioress. This goes to demonstrate the continued growth and maturity of the Congregation. The growth of the Congregation is also evident in the presence the Congregation has registered in other Arch/Dioceses within Nigeria. So far, we are present in the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Issele-uku and Makurdi Dioceses and Kontagora Vicariate. In these different ecclesiastical jurisdictions, our Sisters minister the love of Christ to all through the education, health, pastoral/grassroots evangelization and social work apostolates.

Today, April 19, 2007, we are celebrating another landmark in our history: the erection of the entity to a diocesan status. As you rejoice with us, we implore you to lift us up in prayers for the wisdom, strength, and courage to face the challenges ahead.