Friday, July 31, 2026. Remarkable day when the Daughters of the Holy Spirit of the Vice-Province of Nigeria welcomed eight new young sisters taking their vows and three sisters marking the 25th anniversary of their religious profession! This celebration took place in the DHS Novitiate of Ido, in the Archdiocese of Ibadan.
It was a great celebration that welcomed a multitude of people from Ibadan and other neighboring dioceses. The Holy Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Pierre ODETOYINBO, catholic bishop of the diocese of Abeokuta, with other prelates including representatives of bishops of the catholic dioceses of Oyo, Oshogbo and Ondo. Also present were priests, consecrated men and women from other religious congregations, the families of the eight new sisters as well as the families of the three Silver Jubilee sisters, DHS sisters, DHS associates, Novices, postulants and a host of friends and benefactors.
In his homily, the Reverend Father emphasized the importance of gathering: “The purpose of today’s celebration is to bear witness to a commitment of love. Consecrated life is a true school of love, it is a school of Christian service with the aim of perfecting Christian charity. It is a call to fulfill an apostolate, not a job. It is a call to bear witness to the love of God in the lives of his children through the commitment of the three evangelical councils – poverty, chastity and obedience – and the charism of the Congregation.”
He exhorted the sisters who were about to commit themselves through the three evangelical vows to focus on Christ who takes the initiative to call. He reminded them that the consecrated life is a life of sacrifice and therefore, according to the Gospel of St. Mark, this life involves leaving families, relatives, friends and all material things to follow Christ. He also exhorted the three sisters who will mark their silver jubilee to remain firm with God in their commitment and to pray for the grace of perseverance.
After the eight sisters took their three vows, they received the emblem of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit – a dove, symbol of union and love for service in the Congregation – and were fully welcomed by the Vice-Provincial Superior, Sister Cynthia AZUGHARA, delegate of Sister Ann ALMODOVAR, Superior General.
First names of the eight new Sisters: Roseline, Victoria, Cecilia, Peace, Agatha, Rachael, Grace and Anastasia. First names of the three Silver Jubilee sisters: Anne, Emiola and Grace Oladejo.
At the end of the Eucharistic celebration, all those present joined in the procession of thanksgiving by singing and dancing, thus expressing their joy to God. After the thanksgiving, Sister Cynthia AZUGHARA presented to each of the eight new sisters her letter of “Sending on a mission” to live and participate in the construction of the “house of charity”. Each one received the letter with joy.
It was a great day for all the sisters of the vice-province of Nigeria, for the dioceses in which the sisters work and also for the families of the new religious. At the end of the celebration, thanks were expressed by Sister Helena UGORJI: she thanked God for his blessings and kindness shown to the Daughters of the Holy Spirit in the vice-province of Nigeria through this remarkable event! She thanked the bishops, priests and religious congregations for their participation in the celebration. She also thanked the families for their generosity in giving their children to the service of God in the congregation.
The celebration brought joy to everyone’s hearts. It was a new great opportunity to thank God for the increase in religious vocation and his graces granted to the vice-province of Nigeria.
Sister Patience EFFIONG, DHS. Published on August 3, 2026
