Aid to the Church in Need: Nigeria: Serving souls – by forming and guiding the formators

Nigeria: Serving souls – by forming and guiding the formators

Posted by Project Description on 17/8/2009, 2:16 pm
Board Administrator

Serving souls – by forming and guiding the formators

Monica Devine is a petite and dainty woman. Her cheerfulness is infectious. She is a very open person to talk to; she speaks precisely, listens attentively. The fact that she is 70 years old astonishes everyone who first hears it. The fact of her ability to tackle even difficult challenges is something that no one doubts, however.
Monica Devine comes originally from Ireland, but she has spent over 30 years of her life in Africa. She studied chemistry and theology and as a young woman she entered a missionary congregation, the Missionaries of the Holy Rosary, who have been active in Nigeria since the late 1920s. For many years she worked as a teacher, travelling for her congregation to Nigeria and Tanzania and also to the United States. She has organised fundraising campaigns and most recently was living back in her home country, but now, at the request of her superior, she is returning to Africa again.

At the "Institute for Formators" (IFF) in Du (near Jos)Sister Monica Devine, MSHR, of the congregation "Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary" in Jos teaches spiritual direction skills to the participants.
The "Nigerian Conference of Women Religious" (NCWR) entrusted Sister Monica to reestablish the IFF.

During her visit to the headquarters of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in Germany, the intrepid Sister Monica explains why she has come. Africa needs help, she says. Europe's future is more than ever tied up with the fate of this, our neighbouring continent. The Church has an important contribution to make here, she believes. The specific task facing Sister Monica is this: she has been asked to re-establish an Institute that was forced to close its doors in 2004 for lack of resources – the Institute for Formators (IFF).

This Catholic institute is situated in Du, a small town, not far from Jos, the capital of Plateau State in central Nigeria. This is a region Sister Monica knows extremely well, for she worked here for many years. It is also a nation in which the political, economic and social climate has for decades been extremely tense.
This West African state, the most populous on the continent, is undoubtedly also one of the most important for the future development of Africa. But for years now it has witnessed a succession of political confrontations and violent clashes between Muslims and Christians. It is not always clear who the actual perpetrators are, or who is pulling the strings in the background, since the tensions often spring up, or are stirred up, from widely differing interests and motives.
The prospect is not one that intimidates Sister Monica, however – quite the contrary. She is convinced that her congregation can help bring peace and development to Nigeria. If they succeed in this, then it should have an impact on the entire region and indeed the entire continent, she believes. Her new mission is an important part of this process, she says. She is to re-establish the IFF under the auspices of the NCWR, the Nigerian Conference of Women Religious. Its role will be to form those who will later be responsible as pastors for others - whether as priests or as male or female religious.
Says Monica Devine: "We hope to offer a high level formation programme that will correspond to the needs of Africa and be rooted in its local culture". Among other things it will seek to convey a deeper understanding of Sacred Scripture, of theology, philosophy and psychology, while giving practical guidance regarding social work and explaining the foundations for an education in spirituality and prayer.
In addition to funding for the restoration and refurbishment of the existing buildings, including the library, Sister Monica is also seeking help to establish a self funding scheme involving goose rearing, rabbit breeding and fish farming. "A viable concept must include sources of income for the ongoing upkeep of the centre. The participants' fees alone will not suffice to run the Institute", she explains.

At the "Institute for Formators" (IFF) in Du (near Jos): Sharing time at IFF

ACN has already promised to help.
One thing is particularly important to Sister Monica, whose congregation is represented in nine African, three American and three European countries – including Ethiopia, Ghana, Cameroon, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, England and Ireland. It is this: she believes there will always be young women and young men in Nigeria who will opt for a religious vocation. But there is a real shortage of good further educational opportunities and top-level spiritual accompaniment for young priests and religious. And yet this is of decisive importance. Sister Monica Devine concludes: "A person who lives the Faith can transform his environment. If we are united, if the waters of baptism can be shown to be stronger than our cultural origins, then we can pass this on to others also".

To help this cause please contact the Australian office of ACN on (02) 9679-1929. e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org or write to Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148. Web: www.aidtochurch.org

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Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org