Immaculate Sisters mark Diamond Jubilee

The celebration began on 7th February 2012 with a special commemoration of the death of the Father Founder of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ Sisters, Archbishop Charles Heerey, CSSp. This year is exactly 45 years the venerable Archbishop died and was laid to rest inside the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity […]

The celebration began on 7th February 2012 with a special commemoration of the death of the Father Founder of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Mother of Christ Sisters, Archbishop Charles Heerey, CSSp.

This year is exactly 45 years the venerable Archbishop died and was laid to rest inside the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity Onitsha, Anambra State.

A statement by Rev. Sr. Lucella Ukaegbu indicated that the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary celebrated not just with their beloved Father Founder, but also with all the IHM Sisters who have departed from this world into eternity.

This is in the spirit of the Communion of Saints which unites both the living and the dead who share in the salvation brought humanity by Christ.

Before 9:00am mass, the Sisters processed into the Basilica for an hour of prayer for and with Archbishop Heerey.

A reflection on the life of the revered Archbishop was delivered by one of the youngest Professed Sisters in the congregation, Sr. M. Immaculata Fides Idoko.

She described Archbishop Heerey as one who nurtured his vocation from early childhood, a man of strong faith, full of compassion and humility; a fearless missionary who gave all to God.

The elderly Sisters who had the opportunity of meeting Archbishop Heerey spoke of their encounters with him and the humility which marked all his actions.

In his sermon at the Mass which followed immediately after this special moment, Rev. Fr. Justine Dike, CSSp, described Archbishop Heerey as a man of great faith and conviction who fearlessly embarked on missionary journey with fellow missionaries to Nigeria at a time when there was no running water, no electricity.

The cleric said, “He was consumed with apostolic zeal and compassion for the poor and less privileged, especially women, who were at that time terribly marginalized.

“Archbishop Heerey therefore founded a congregation which would help him flood the world with compassion especially in the care of women and children.”

The priest enjoined the Sisters not to relent in their efforts to carry on their founder’s legacy because the world is very much in need of them and to remain ever grateful to the foundation members who shouldered the initial difficulties with remarkable courage to lay the solid foundation on which the congregation stands today.

At the end of the celebration at the Basilica, the Sisters proceeded to the Sisters’ grave yard located at the Immaculate Heart Novitiate compound, Nkpor, Anambra State.

There, they prayed for all the members of the congregation who have departed this life.

The Superior General, Rev. Mother Mary Claude Oguh, thanked the Sisters who participated in the celebration with the dead.

She reminded all that death is an inevitable end but also a gateway into eternity.