Category Archives: Collaboration: Village and Parish

Collaboration in Education, Collaboration with the Church, Collaboration with the State, Collaboration: Village and Parish, Health Clinic, Hospital, Justice, Maternity Clinic, Mental Health, Ministry, Outreach, Peace-making

Diamond Jubilee Joy in Nigeria Province 1963-2023

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by Sister Priscilla Aliu, SNDdeN

On February 2, 2023, as Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN), we opened our Diamond Jubilee with Associates, and Friends in Mission. The Jubilee gong echoed in our Communities and Ministries, in remembering St. Julie Billiart and the goodness of God in the life of our Province. We lit candles to celebrate six themes in the decades of our SNDdeN History.

Jubilee Joy: 2023 Timeline

  • On April 15, Sisters explored with a Jesuit our “Ignatian & Notre Dame Spirituality.”
  • On May 13, Sisters joined in mini-celebrations across the four zones in Nigeria.
  • On August 10, Sisters and Friends gathered at the Redemptorist Pilgrimage Centre in Enugu, to thank Mary, whose name we bear as “Notre Dame.”
  • August 12, 2023, Eucharistic Liturgy and Reception for Diamond Jubilee Year.
Rosary Procession during the Marian Pilgrimage.

Highlights of the Jubilee Liturgy

The entire Province gathered to celebrate a Eucharistic Liturgy of Thanksgiving at Holy Ghost Cathedral at Enugu, with Most Reverend Anselm Umoren, MSP, officiating Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Abuja. The procession included two bishops, 50 priest-celebrants, the Province Leadership Team (PLT), and two Sisters of the Congregational Leadership Team (CLT). This threefold celebration included:
1) Perpetual Vow ceremony
2) Silver Jubilee of 5 Sisters
3) SNDdeN Diamond Jubilee.

Most Reverend Callistus Onaga, Bishop of the Diocese of Enugu, gave the welcome. He congratulated our Congregation for our Mission: “to serve the poor in the most abandoned places.” Bishop Onaga recalled his first meeting with our Sisters in Enugu Diocese. In 2001, having returned from Europe, he saw our Sisters living on a small stipend while teaching children, living in dire poverty, in the remote village of Ugwuomu, a place without water, roads and electricity. So impressed by our Sisters, he marvels still at our St. Julie Billiart, who gave such witness to her Sisters. He stressed the need NOW for SNDdeN, as followers of Jesus, to inspire more Religious Vocations in order to reach more people living in poverty and suffering from multiple crises in today’s world. Bishop Onaga praised and thanked our Sisters for our “work for humanity,” on our Diamond Jubilee!

CLT gifts to the Nigeria Province received by the Provincial Leadership Team.

Sisters Miriam Montero Bereche and Amarachi Ezeonu, SNDdeN (CLT from Rome) recognized with pride and joy the Nigerian Daughters of St. Julie, proclaiming God’s goodness through various ministries. She thanked the Province Leadership Team, Sisters Fidelia Chukwu (Province Moderator), Prisca Igbozulike and Monica Umeh, SNDdeN for their Leadership and growth in the Province. Sr. Miriam encouraged the Sisters in their ministries for children and adults. She asked us to invite more young women to join our Congregation, in becoming, like St. Julie, women of faith filled with love for God and God’s people! Sr. Amarachi Ezeonu brought a Blessing from Pope Francis to the Nigeria Province. This papal gift is a symbol of prophesy and witness of St. Julie’s ongoing commitment through her Sisters in Nigeria. The Sisters recognized and honored staff serving for many years in the Nigeria Province… province drivers, teachers in different schools, hospitals, clinics.

The Jubilee Celebration concluded with a joyful reception at the arena of the Cathedral with cultural dance – a day of thanksgiving for the Sisters, Friends, Families and good people of God at the Liturgy and Reception.

Growth of the Nigeria Province
We remember 1963, with the arrival by boat from the United Kingdom of three Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Oro, Kwara State. Sisters Ellen Gielty, Joan Mary Brown and Mary Dolores Greeley opened Notre Dame Girls’ Secondary School at the invitation of Monsignor William Mahoney, SMA. In 1967, we went to Edo State at the request of Bishop Kelly in Benin Archdiocese. He had travelled to the Generalate in Rome to beg Sr. Loretto Julia Carroll (Superior General) for Sisters to manage St. Angela’s Girls’ School in Uzairue. Later Families and Friends built there a Notre Dame Hospital.

Eight Sisters who make FINAL VOWS as SNDdeN at Cathedral in Enugu.
(L to R) Sisters Angela NNAMANI, Jacinta OJILIMOBE, Lilian ORAMAH, Nanadein PABOR, Rita OSIGWE, Saratu BAKO, Veronica PASCHAL
and Virginia NNADI.

We celebrate our Sisters in Nigeria
In 1980, the Congregation invited and received young Nigerian women to become SNDdeN. Through the following years more Nigerian women came. Our communities grew and our ministries expanded
with formation and education as a priority for our Sisters and their ministries. In 2000, we were 67 Nigerian Sisters, 7 British and 3 American SNDdeN serving in 13 Communities in the Nigeria Province.

In September 2023, L-R: Sisters Mary OLIKAGU, Chinaza NNEJI, Florence BAMEYI, Lilian
UWAH, Ngozichukwu EGBO, Genevieve UGOCHUKWU, Edna CHUKWUEMEKA, Grace LAWRENCE, and Blessing AGBONLAHOR made FIRST VOWS as SNDdeN at St. Philip Neri Church in Jattu.

On September 23, 2023, 9 Novices made First Vows. We are now 121 Professed Nigerian SNDdeN, with most serving in 18 Communities in Nigeria. Two British Sisters minister with us. Nigerian Sisters are also studying or giving service in other countries. Sr. Amarachi Ezeonu is a member of our Leadership Team for the Congregation.

We celebrate our Communities and Ministries
We now live in 17 communities in Nigeria and serve in 9 Catholic Dioceses in 7 states. We serve in the apostolates of Education, Health Care, Pastoral Ministry, Retreats, Spiritual Direction, Social Work, and Justice and Peace Communications. In collaboration with Church Leadership, the Province is growing. We open new communities and staff new ministries, as throughout these 60 years.

We celebrate our Mission and Growth into the Future
We move with hope into an unknown, challenging future. We face world crises: global warming and its tragic consequences in multiple deaths, wars, kidnappings, murders, trafficking of young people, with homeless and starving migrants and refugees, etc. We experience divisions
in countries, religions and even our Church. Yet we look to a future where SNDdeN can make a difference, in UNITY with Pope Francis into spreading SYNODALITY around the Globe. Our prayer and ministries in this NEW MOMENT are a “labor of love” as in these past 60 years.


God is so good!

African Photovoltaic Project, Clinic, Collaboration: Village and Parish

SNDdeN Photovoltaic Project Provides Energy for Health Care

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by Sr. Marie-Madeleine Ngawene, SNDdeN

Sr. Marie-Madeleine Ngawene tries to ease the pain as she gives the child an injection.

The Photovoltaic Project of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) reaches far-away, rural places with energy and provides electricity and water for hospital care. The Referral Health Center in Notre Dame Parish in Pelende, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is only one of these small villages where more services for health care have happened for the people. Located in the Diocese of Popokabaka, this Center began as a State emergency First-Aid Center, opened by the SNDdeN Congregation in 1956. About 67 years ago, this Center, in the health zone of Wamba Luadi, at a great distance from any hospitals for the people in Pelende, was too far away to reach a hospital in medical emergencies.

Sr. Marie de la Croix, an SNDdeN from the Belgium Province opened the First-Aid Center as the first Director and served from 1956 until 1960. Sr. Helen Casci, another Belgian SNDdeN replaced Sr. Marie as the Director and served until 1968. Since then, our Congolese Sisters have directed and managed this health care facility. Sr. Marie-Madeleine Ngawene, SNDdeN is currently the Director of this Referral Health Center. She has been able to expand services at the Center with electricity and water provided by the SNDdeN Photovoltaic Project.

With the creation of rural health zones, this First-Aid Center has undergone an evolution in health care. It became a dispensary and then a maternity clinic/hospital. As a Health Center, this facility serves a large population of nearly 9,285 people, spread out in 7 villages who were unable formerly to reach hospitals on time. Distances to hospitals from these villages resulted often in home deliveries of babies, the deaths of mothers and their infants, as well as other sick and elderly persons. The entire population of the area now finds health care at this Center in Pelende…with electricity, light and water.

The population has somewhat diminished in these villages. The disastrous roads, especially during the rainy season prevent vehicles from traveling in the region and as a result, the people cannot sell the surplus of their farm produce. This means that the farming activity of this population does not provide enough money to access health care. In the light of the needs of the population and the demand for more SNDdeN in the region, since 2021, the Diocese of Popokabaka with the Minister of health, have provided an attending physician, Doctor Swamina Mu Yesu Julien. He works with Sr. Marie-Madeleine Ngawene who directs and manages the Referral Health Center.

Doctor Swamina Mu Yesu Jelien helps a patient get comfortable after surgery.

The Referral Health Center in Pelende has set the following objectives:

  • To provide quality health care to the population
  • To reduce maternal and infant mortality
  • To promote preventative, curative and motivational activities while educating the population

For quality care, the Center organizes the following services:

  • Consultation
  • Laboratory
  • Hospitalization
  • Maternity care
  • Preschool and promotional consultation

With the arrival of the Physician, three other services have been added:

  • Consultation with Physician
  • An Operating Room
  • Hospitalization and Surgeries

All services have the goal of contributing to improvement of the quality health care for the sick in this region. The Sisters make known God’s goodness in bringing energy and light to people through the Photovoltaic Project.

Africa, Collaboration: Village and Parish, HIV/AIDS Ministry

Sr. Elizabeth, SNDdeN, Serving in HIV/AIDS Ministry

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Interviewer: Sr. Brigid Rose Tiernan, SNDdeN

Q: As a Social Worker in Harare, Zimbabwe, what has been and is now your ministry?

Elizabeth-Chinamo-2015-webFor two years, I have been working with the Mashambanzou Care Trust (the Trust), established in Harare 20 years ago. With teams of social workers and nurses, the Trust works to alleviate poverty in the community and to contribute to a generation free from HIV.

People suffering from AIDS are brought to the Medical Centre (Centre) in the city for care and treatment, and in some cases, to die with dignity. The Centre has 28 beds, male and female sections, and a small section for children. In my first year, I was responsible for counselling very sick and dying people in the Centre, and reaching out to their families and the community of these patients.

This ministry took me to Mbare, one of the oldest, high-density suburbs, south of Harare where I had oversight for two homes for vulnerable older children, one for boys and one for girls. As a social worker, I needed to follow-up on school attendance and performance, and to verify identity documents for these students. During school holidays, I drove long-distances to accompany some teenagers to family members in other parts of the country, and insure their return at the end of the holidays. The Centre relies on donor funding for several vehicles and drivers to serve this need. Another responsibility in Mbare was to visit, check attendance and documents for 60 orphans and vulnerable children with AIDS in a crèche (day nursery) directed by the Trust.
Continue reading Sr. Elizabeth, SNDdeN, Serving in HIV/AIDS Ministry →

Collaboration: Village and Parish, educating for life, Health Clinic

Health Pastoral on the Island of Marajó, Brazil

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By Sister Maria Socorro Oliveira da Silva, SNDdeN

Health care is a primary concern for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur on the Island of Marajó, Pará, Brazil. They initiated a Health Pastoral on this island to provide support, spiritual encouragement, information about the rights of infirm persons, and to offer an alternative mode for treating illnesses. They encourage good health and healing by natural means, with fewer chemicals in the body, when possible and feasible.

Sister-Socorro-preparing-material-for-home-medicines
Sr. Maria Socorro Oliveira da Silva, SNDdeN, prepares herbs for alternative medicines.

The project began with women leaders giving their time in service to alleviate the suffering of people living in poverty who are not able to get to doctors and do not have the money to buy medicine. The Sisters, working with women leaders in the town of Breves, participate in a pastoral approach to health care. They search, through home remedies, to alleviate and cure illness. Sr. Maria Vagner Souza Silva, SNDdeN began the Health Pastoral in the town. Now, Sr. Maria Socorro Oliveira da Silva, SNDdeN visits the sick in the community and meets monthly with the women to discuss what would be the best way to make the home medicines. Her previous two years of experience in health and pastoral care has been beneficial for the people. The Sisters in the local community give support as well to these endeavors.

Experience of Growth
The Health Pastoral offers an alternative for treating illness. In September 2015, the Sisters invited a woman from the mainland who has a long experience in furthering education with home remedies for healing. For three days, the people participated in workshops on remedies for colds, oil for massage and special medicine for anemia. This experience enabled the women leaders, and infirm persons in the neighborhood to have a greater understanding of alternative medicines. The workshops were a great success. The people believe strongly in healing from medicines made with plants and natural herbs. In fact, they usually search out these alternative methods. Now, about 30 families benefit from the consultations and the use of alternative medicine.

The neighborhood has about 4,000 people and is growing every day. The group of seven women, including Sr. Maria, find this outreach demanding. They make home remedies of natural materials: leaves, flowers, barks, oils and water. These remedies sometimes work more slowly than chemicals, and require many visits, but they are generally more effective over the long run, and certainly are less expensive. Receiving invitations from the sick, the volunteer helpers are generous and patient, as they visit monthly about 40 persons in their homes. Since the sick are so weak and frail, even conversations become limited. In all visits, prayer is essential to the healing process. The community of Our Lady of Fatima is the most active in the Parish. The opportunity to serve in this Health Pastoral has called for growth in a spirit of compassion and solidarity in the community. The leaders and volunteers rely on two important ingredients for this service: the love of the sick and faith in the loving action of the good God.

The-women-prepare-the-alternative-home-remedies
Sr. Maria Socorro Oliveira da Silva, SNDdeN, (second from the end) with her pastoral team, prepare alternative medicines for sick and infirm neighbors.

GW June 2016 – Health Pastoral on the Island of Marajo, Brazil

Good Works Archives on sndden.org

Collaboration: Village and Parish, educating for life, Peru

Enabling Women with New Skills

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By Sister Mary Isabel Kilpatrick, SNDdeN

A few years ago, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur began a new mission in San Clemente, Pisco, south of Lima, Peru. In this region, the people continue to experience lasting effects from the earthquake of 2007. In February 2010, Sisters Miriam Montero Bereche and Mary Isabel Kilpatrick, SNDdeN visited this area in an effort to determine the best way to reach out in a new mission to the people.  The needs were obvious.  At first only those who could prove they were “damnificadas” received any grants for housing.

Miriam-Bereche web
Sr. Miriam Montero Bereche with Rosa and Magdalena at a workshop.

Sister Miriam (center) began to offer workshops to help displaced people dealing with stress. With such little assistance and a lack of housing, multiple difficulties resulted in physical and emotional health problems, including poor nutrition, family violence as well as delinquency among the youth.

Yogurt Project
Sr. Mary Isabel saw the need to provide some employment for women seeking a source of income. She searched for the possibility of developing small projects with the women. She called on a friend, Maria, a food engineer who had helped her previously in Lima. Maria had given a course on the preparation of fruit drinks and yogurt with the mothers of the children in the Fe y Alegria School in Lima. Again, Maria was willing to give lessons in

Women-and-Sister web
Patty and Sr. Mary Isabel Kilpatrick label and seal the yogurt containers.

making yogurt, now in San Clemente.  First, someone offered their house for the classes, the women contributed ingredients and shared the product at the end. While in this area, Sr. Mary Isabel and her volunteers discovered a small hall that had been built recently for people with special needs. The watchman, a blind man, offered the use of this hall, far from the centre of town but with better conditions and more space for the course. This location put the Sisters and volunteers in touch with some of the families with special needs in the area.

Project Becomes Sustainable
From this contact, they developed two small lunch programmes, one in this centre for disabled persons and another in the Santa Rosa barrio, in collaboration with the Dominican Sisters ministering also in San Clemente. Various groups of women enjoyed taking the courses but they had difficulty in organizing themselves to be able to continue.

Collecting-the-milk-with-the-help-of-Jenny's-granddaughter web
Jenny and Rosa collect milk for the Yogurt Project while little Yumi helps.

Later, we were able to rebuild  one of the rooms damaged by the earthquake  next to our house in the Parish. This space is large enough to have the necessary equipment and reasonable conditions for groups to learn different skills. With the help of our engineer friend, Maria, a small group of women developed successfully the Yogurt Project. At present, by working two days a week, the six women are able to produce 60-80 litres of yogurt. This amount covers the cost of the ingredients and gives a small profit for each participant as they sell the yogurt. It is possible to increase the capacity but the women are not yet ready to take that step.

Preparing-the-fruit-Jenny web
Jenny assists in the fruit preparation.

Although the project is small, it is significant as a source of income for the families involved; the product itself has health benefits for the recipients; the  participants  have developed friendships, learned to deal with customers and  to cope with fluctuations in prices and availability of ingredients. They have their trials and tribulations but also a place to share them. They bring more life to the parish community. They hope eventually to provide catering services for groups that come for baptisms and funerals.

Development for Women
Besides the Natural Yogurt Project, Sister Mary Isabel is creating an Integrated Development Program for Women by providing workshops and hands-on training. Sewing Projects, such as painted tablecloths, which are sold, give training and income and cover as well the cost of the materials and supplies for the women workers. The Baking Project allows saleable goods yielding some income for the women workers after financing initial expenses. A growing program, Healing Touch, trains pastoral health group members to use “energy medicine” as a tool for overall wellness. An educational component is growing slowly yet positively as two women prepare for Level 5 certification. About 50 women have benefited directly from these projects while many more members of the parish community also received assistance.

Although family responsibilities continue to make demands on the time and energy of these women, those who choose to work together and learn new skills, do become more self-sufficient. They grow in confidence in their own abilities and a sense of God’s goodness in their lives.

GW June 2016 – Enabling Women with New Skills.pdf

Good Works Archives