On 3 October 2025, activists from the Daughters of the Holy Spirit’s Laudato Si campaign organised an awareness-raising tour in the village of Ilogbo, in Ogun State, to mark the 10th anniversary of the project launched by His Holiness Pope Francis in 2015. This initiative had a considerable impact on the DHS sisters, the students of Marie BALAVENNE Catholic College and the residents of neighboring houses who had joined forces to clean up the environment. The assistant provincial superior, Sister Cynthia AZUGHARA, and her vicar, Sister Tosin AMUSAN, also actively participated in this clean-up operation.
After this exercise, the sisters involved in the campaign gathered for creative prayer in a natural setting. The symbols used for prayer were different tree samples brought by each DHS community in the vice-province. These included orange trees, young coconut trees, young oil palm trees, mango trees, papaya trees and trees: gmelina and umbrella trees.
Important hymns giving thanks to God for his work of creation were sung several times, and the sisters thanked God with their songs and dances.
4 October, the feast day of Saint Francis of Assisi, was marked by a grand celebration of the anniversary of Laudato Si’.
The event began with the celebration of the votive Mass of the Holy Spirit at 10 a.m. It was celebrated at the chaplaincy of Marie BALAVENNE Catholic College in Ilogbo by Reverend Father Pius Effiong, in the presence of the school chaplain, Father Dauda Ambrose Dauda, and other priests. In his homily, Father Pius preached on the theme ‘Falling in love with nature’. He referred to the simple lifestyle of St Francis of Assisi, considered a lover of nature, honoring God in his creatures; he invited the people of God to imitate him by loving and caring for our ‘common home’.
He also described two types of environments at the college: fertile soil where different cultures interact, and an academic environment where good seeds are sown so that they can grow and produce good fruit for the best selections. He therefore urged the students, especially those who had received their first communion, to be diligent, studious, and obedient so that they could achieve the goal for which they had come to this school.
He called on all the faithful present to adhere to the teachings of Laudato Si’ and to join forces to put an end to disorder and thus promote a peaceful environment conducive to a joyful life. During Mass, 44 students from the college received the sacrament of Holy Communion. It was a memorable day, rich in significant events marking the anniversary of Laudato Si’.
After the Eucharistic celebration, the secondary school students gave a presentation to raise awareness about the importance of caring for Mother Earth. A lecture was also given by the vice-provincial coordinator of Laudato Si’, Sister Justina AKUBO, DHS. In her speech, she emphasised the importance of protecting our ‘common home’, which is the Earth. She encouraged all participants to continue to make greater efforts to care for our environment in order to help reduce natural disasters and man-made devastation. The Vice-Provincial Superior, Sister Cynthia AZUGHARA, also delivered a message of congratulations and words of encouragement to continue putting Laudato Si’ into practice.
At the end of the session, the commemorative trees were planted in the areas reserved for them on the grounds. It was a memorable event in the life of the Vice-Province.
Sister Patience EFFIONG, DHS. Published on 13 October 2025
