Ah! Qu'il est bon le bon Dieu

ASSOCIATES OF THE SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME DE NAMUR

June 19, 2020 Commitment

THE JOURNEY TO FINAL COMMITMENT OF THE FIRST ASSOCIATES
– “I saw you under the cross”, says St. Julie to the Associates

Associates that made commitment with Sr. Fidelia Chukwu, SNDdeN (Moderator), Fr. Pius Aniekop CM, and Sr. MaryPrecious Ugwuoke, SNDdeN (Coordinator)

The journey started with a recollection for the Associates towards their commitment as Associates of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Sr. Esther Adama, SNDdeN who spoke on holiness, challenged the Associates in her talk titled “Call the Holiness”. She said the Hebrew word for Holiness – “Kadahs” means “to set apart”, the Associates are set apart by God to holiness.

According to Sr. Esther, marriage life is a commitment as much as religious life, in all the responsibility of a married person and a consecrated person is gear towards commitment to God and living a holy life. She went further to say that a life of holiness is a call to live righteous to the commitment that demands daily fidelity to God. Luke 9:23, 26.

She also said that to be committed, there will be challenges, distractions and trials, like St. Julie we must and should remain on track, and focus on God amidst all distraction and trial.

Sr. Esther called on the Associates to look at the life of St. Julie and emulate her;

Personal life style
Relationship with people
Apostolic engagement
Devotion to Mary

Some Associates signing the commitment register

The rite of covenant was administered by Sr. Fidelia Chukwu, SNDdeN, the Moderator, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Nigeria Province. The Associates made their commitments accordingly. They were twelve Associates in all, two new members, three for renewal, and seven for final commitment. They expressed their joys and prayed to remain faithful to their commitments.

Words from the Leadership Team: Sr. Fidelia was grateful to God for the success of the ceremony. She said that the Associates have assumed a higher responsibility, and “to whom much is given much is expected”. She encouraged the Associates to make themselves available for the work of God, through the spirituality of St. Julie – Simplicity, Obedience and Charity. She challenged them to have concern for those living in poverty.

Sr. Fidelia Chukwu urged the Associates to work hard to form a body – Associates of Nigeria Province , whereby they will share and exchange ideas with Associates from other zones.

Signing of the commitment register

Appreciation: The Associates’ coordinator, Sr. MaryPrecious Ugwuoke, SNDdeN thanked everyone for their prayers and support for the huge success the Associates commitment.

Thanksgiving procession during liturgy The Associates with the Sisters and the Priest

Sisters singing during liturgy.

Associates work in the footsteps of Saint Julie

May 27, 2020June 19, 2020 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

May 12, 2020 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.