May 2020 – Ah! Qu'il est bon le bon Dieu

Associates work in the footsteps of Saint Julie

Posted May 27, 2020June 19, 2020 chinweodingas89388Posted in Commitment

By Sr. Josephine Tor, SNDdeN

Mr. Christopher Ozougwu and another Associate signs their commitment register as Sr. Monica umeh look on with Joy.

On the 22nd of May,2020; six associates of Notre Dame de Namur, Nigeria-Enugu State made their final commitments while two renewed their commitments as Associates of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Mr. Christopher Ozougwu, one of the six who made his final commitment has been working with the Sisters in the unit for over 25years. The ceremony took place at Awkunanaw community’s chapel in Enugu State. Due to the Covid -19 pandemic, many sisters in the zone could not join in the celebration.

However, Sr. Monica Umeh, a member of the Leadership Team, sisters Dorothy Chime and Rita Obiefule, the unit and zonal coordinator of the associates, two sisters from Ugwuomunike community and sisters in Awkunanaw community were present. There was no celebration after the mass due to the present situation. In a cheerful atmosphere, the Associates, Sisters and the priest joyfully took some group photographs. It was a great day!

A cross section of the Associates, Sisters and the Priest with a little girl who accompanied her mother.

Photos of the Associates as they renewal and make their final commitments.

Feeding the Hungry with Love

Posted May 12, 2020 chinweodingas89388Posted in Pastoral

By Sister Oluchi Ejiemenu, SNDdeN

Our world has been ravaged by a new pandemic called Coronavirus (covid-19). This pandemic has eaten deep into the system, livelihood and fabrics of our world that the rich and the poor are fighting to stay alive through social distancing, hand washing with soap and water/sanitizer and observing the stay at home lockdowns. In Nigeria, while the rich and average income earners are able to cushion the effects of staying at home, the poor, low/daily income earners are growing very hungry by the day with no means of fending for their families as a result of the several weeks of business lockdown in some cities. The numbers of people hungry have become so many that the foods and other palliatives from the government, companies and people of goodwill are like drops in the ocean.

Sr. Virginia Egwuchukwu giving out food to some beneficiaries

In the midst of this reality, Tanke community thought of what St. Julie would do at a time like this to bring smiles at least to some poor women and children. As sisters of Notre Dame whose mission has option for the poor especially in the most abandoned places, we decided to embark on feeding the poor at Easter with our Lenten savings.

Members of the community sprang to action; we cooked rice and beef dish and packaged with drinks and moved onward for distributions to the poor with delight. On our first trip, April 13^th, we feed 9 persons. Seeing the number of persons in need of food on that day, we made more dishes on April 24^th and three sisters went out to food 58 persons who were mostly the most vulnerable. This simple act of love brought much joy and smiles to their hearts and faces. We were also joyful that we could reach out. God is indeed good.