On 10 January 2026, at the Renée Burel Center in Ilesa – NIGERIA, during the first general assembly of the year, the Vice-Province reserved a day for the celebration of a mass in favor of the souls of their two icons of faith: the very reverend Julius Adelakun and Sister Jeanne Louise Le Gall.
This commemorative mass was officiated by the Catholic bishop of Osogbo, the Very Reverend John Oyejola and celebrated by the Rev. Father Peter Adeyemi, Rev. Father Felix Oyedeji and Rev. Father Michael Olu, SDB.
Rev. P. Peter Adeyemi, in his homily, remarked that the BISHOP JULIUS ADELAKUN had an exceptional gift for the Church he who, in his life, used his gentleness and simple lifestyle to draw people towards God, that it is in simplicity that we can lead people to God.
And recalling the life of SISTER JEANNE LOUISE LE GALL, Fr. Peter Adeyemi remarked that she was of a beautiful soul. He told that Sister Jeanne Louise was known as being close to nature, because she loved planting flowers and taking care of them to beautify the environment. He also testified that she was in love with the needy: this was evident in her frequent adoption of certain abandoned children on the streets… Through his keen attention, these children were brought back to life by finding in it a reason to live.
As part of the charity work undertaken by Sister Jeanne Louise, it was recalled the opening of the charity shop “Hosanna”, in Ota, diocese of Abeokuta, where the poor and people with all disabilities were taken care of. The great testimony of this achievement is that the small shop always remains of great benefit to the poor and needy. He was also reminded of her care for street people with mental difficulties, to whom she brought hope of survival thanks to the drugs she administered to them.
Fr. Adeyemi encouraged all the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in the Assembly to refrain from a life that seeks self-interest. He pointed out that: “The religious are not destined to live a sophisticated life because such a life will not help them focus on God. The selfish life cannot lead people to God, but we must live simply for the good of the Kingdom of God.” And he quoted Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus saying: “I respect my life here on earth, preparing myself for my eternity” or: Saint Theresa did not become holy by the sophistication of her life but rather because of her simplicity and self-denial.
After the first reading from the book of Wisdom, on the souls of the righteous who have entered into the hand of God, Fr. Adeyemi encouraged all priests and religious to model their lives on those of Bishop Adelakun and Sister Jeanne Louise Le Gall for our own salvation and the good of our brothers and sisters.
We expressed our gratitude to God for having benefited from the gifts and service of Sister Jeanne Louise in the Vice-Province… until the current generation. We asked God for the grace to live a simple and faithful life as Daughters of the Holy Spirit in Nigeria.
Sister Lauretta Adegbe, DHS. Published on 16 January 2026
