HISTORY OF THE MISSIONARY SISTERS FOR THE POOREST OF THE POOR (MSPP)
The instituting and formation of Missionary Sisters for the Poorest of the Poor came as a child of necessity in offering care to the increasing number of destitute especially orphans and mentally challenged. The growth of Anawim’s destitute family required more hands and the work was enormous. The work of taking care of the orphans and destitute cannot therefore be handled by me alone along with the street boys and girls. The stay in street boys and girls was not permanent as they were regularly and constantly resettled after rehabilitation. Like the Associate members, there existed a group of girls who equally took notice and interest in the work of caring for the destitute, who offered help to me, the Coordinator of Anawim projects. These girls were regarded then as Co-workers to the Coordinator. They devoted their time, energy and talents to the service of Jesus Christ in the midst of the poorest. They created a ‘workforce’ which was categorized thus:
- Coordination of the Centre.
- Destitute searcher for orphans, mentally ill, street children (boys and girls), prostitutes, aged and HIV+ victims.
- Care Giver of orphan children, elderly and health workers
- Counsellors
- Coordinator for self-help projects /education.
These young devotees lived with the inmates and were involved in the day-to-day activities of the inmates – the destitute.
Their mission
The aims and objectives of their mission are to respond to the needs of a growing number of destitute and less privileged ones in society. The Anawim project is to take care of the destitute of all ages and both sexes irrespective of religion, tribe or state of origin. They do so by picking destitute from roadsides, abandoned and uncompleted buildings, marketplaces, brothels etc. providing shelter, feeding, clothing and healthcare services. They also help to re-orientate them for integration into families and larger society after providing them with functional skills.
The daily activities
These include:
- Domestic Work in the Home
- Farming
- Vocational skill work at Vocational Centre:
Boys – small-scale industry, soap, cream, candle, cellophane production, rosary and beads, baking of bread.
Girls- salon, fashion design, weaving, knitting, secretarial studies and catering services.
Spiritual programme
Besides the daily engagement with the destitute, the young co-workers were involved with spiritual devotion programmes which include:
- Daily reading of the Bible and sharing.
- Prayer sessions in the mornings, afternoon, evening and nights.
- Daily devotion to our Lady and the liturgy of the Holy Eucharist (Catholics only)
- One-hour meditation/silent prayer and/or devotion to God.
- Retreat and fasting every Friday.
- Counselling sessions.
The devotee co-workers continued their services and between 2000 and 2005, some elected to be permanently attached to this service to the destitute. They took private vows, which the late Rev. Fr. James Shereen, the then Spiritual Director of the Religious in the Archdiocese of Abuja, received. Among the pioneer group of co-workers, only Sr. Ruphina Anosike persisted and continued in the Anawim project work. Other co-workers that continued in the Anawim project between 2000 and 2005 were Sr. Patricia Ogobor and Sr. Felicia Jabial. More co-workers took private vows.
His Grace, the then Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Dr J.O Onaiyekan, gave moral and fatherly support to the Apostolate, but not to the extent of co-workers becoming a congregation. When the group was increasing in number, there was great concern about the status of these young girls. I, Mother Oresoa, the Coordinator, had to seek advice from the Archbishop who advised that I should look for a Bishop who is interested in the young girls for diocesan rights.
It was by grace of God that His Excellency, Carlo Maria Vigano, the Papal Nuncio, visited the Home. He liked the social work and care of children at Home and became interested in the Home. He encouraged me to meet the then Pope in Rome and also made an introductory letter to Most Rev Dr Peter Y. Jatau, the Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese. Through the introductory letter by His Excellency, Carlo Maria Vigano to the Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dr Peter Y. Jatau, I requested acceptance of Co-workers, who took vows as religious Association. The Anawim project was accepted by Kaduna Archdiocese. The Archbishop developed a Community House for us at Kasuwan Magani, Kaduna. This was opened on 20th April 2006.
Further to that, Archbishop Peter Y. Jatau on 30th November 2006, invoked an official letter of acceptance into the Archdiocese as a “Pious Association” and granted the group degree of private Association. He as well approved the constitution of the group. This was the authority that gave the co-workers the right to bear the name ‘Missionary Sisters for the Poorest of the Poor’ (MSPP). This was a huge transformation in the life of the Anawim project as it became the first step towards the recognition and birth of MSPP as a religious body/association. Within the period, the Archbishop Emeritus Peter Y. Jatau, received four (4) of the girls who persevered and worked with the project for ten (10) years in the ministry.
Kasuwan Magani became a base for the formation of Sisters, the Novitiate, for the Anawim project. The project which later was extended to Angwan Romi, Kaduna was designed to take care of abandoned babies and orphans. With time, young unmarried girls’ ministry was included and Skill Centre was developed to train them in various skills in preparation for self-sustenance.
In 2009, I went to my home town, Agua Irrua in Edo state and continued with the ministry that my parents had earlier established in our family. They were caring for the destitute orphans in Agua Irrua, Edo state under the Catholic Diocese of Uromi.
Archbishop Peter Y. Jatau retired in 2008. By that time, the work of MSPP had progressed extensively as four (4) sets of Sisters have been professed and four (4) Communities established: Gwagwalada, Kasuwan Magani, Angwan Romi and Agua Irrua (Edo State).
The aura begot by the Poorest of the Poor Centre nosedived some years after the retirement of Archbishop Peter Y. Jatau in 2008 and Archbishop Mathew Manaso Ndagoso took over the Archdiocese. In 2011, Archbishop M Ndagoso orally suppressed the MSPP in Kaduna Archdiocese. Later, he formally suppressed the existence of the Sisters in Kaduna Archdiocese through a letter to me, the Coordinator, in October 2013. In the letter, the Archbishop gave his blessings to any local ordinary of the Catholic Church who may wish to accept the pious society for his jurisdiction. He assured us of his continued cooperation and support in our effort to serve the rejects of our society but regretted that his Archdiocese has no immediate plans to found such a religious institution.
By God’s design, in 2012, while the fate of the MSPP as a Catholic Pious Association was on the balance, four (4) Sisters of MSPP namely; Sisters Rose Bako, Bukola Obatunmibi, Perpetual Charles and late Mary Francis Brai, went for a three-month course programme (10th April – 4th July 2012) at Institute for Continuing Formation (CIF) Cape Coast Ghana. In one of the programmes and discussions, on the History and Apostolate of the Associations presented by MSPP Sisters, the Bishop of Yendi, Northern Region Ghana, His Lordship, Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai SVD got interested in their Apostolate and invited them for further discussion. Bishop Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai was one of the facilitators of the programme. I, and some Sisters of MSPP, went as a team and discussed with the Bishop. The Bishop emphasized he had a great need for the MSPP to help in evangelization in his Region. The Region has a large number of Muslims and traditional religionists with few Christians. Some of their mores, values and customs helped in creating destitution among the people. Elderly women were accused of witchcraft, stigmatized and ostracized from their homes and kept outside the family homes, sometimes in forests. These rejected and ostracized women are collected and kept in camps referred to as ‘Witch Camps’. Near to this was the issue of forced/exchanged marriages of young girls. Those who objected to the marriages are thrown out of the family and excommunicated. The Diocese also had a few orphanages that were not well-kept. Thus, the Bishop invited MSPP to come and offer assistance in rehabilitating.
On 18th April 2015, Most Rev Vincent Sowah Boi-Nai SVD, the Bishop of Yendi Diocese, Ghana, after further inquiry on MSPP, officially accepted and recognized MSPP as a Public Association of Christian Faithful of Diocesan right decreed the approval of the constitution and sent words to the Local Ordinaries in Nigeria whom I was connected to in respect of setting MSPP on a sound canonical basis to avoid further problems from cropping up. He equally received the vows that were invalidated by the Archbishop of Kaduna Archdiocese, His Grace M Ndagosa.
The Missionary Sisters for the Poorest of the Poor (MSPP) initial base was in Gushegu, Northern Ghana. The Ghana Mission has now expanded to three (3) Communities in their evangelization and apostolate ministry. The Communities are Gushegu, Yendi and Yishelanyili. The apostolate besides evangelization, spiritual works and assisting in the Diocese churches are involved in
- Taking care of young girls is ostracized and excommunicated by their families because they refused to accept forced/exchanged marriages.
- In charge of accommodation and education of these young ostracized, excommunicated young girls. Keep them in Hostels and administer the Hostels.
- Administering and managing ‘witch camps’ where stigmatized, abandoned and ostracized elderly women alleged witches are kept. They tried to evangelise to them, reconcile and reunite them with their basic families.
- Opened school at Yishelanyili Community for children who are not opportune to be registered in regular government schools. The school also admits children from witch camps.
- The Sisters contribute to teaching morals religious studies and guidance counseling in Government and Diocesan schools.
- They sew and produce religious vestments and alter decorating clothes.
- Conduct catechism classes, and women and young girls counselling classes. Many of them have received the three (3) sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation.
- Make hosts, confectionaries and other micro-entrepreneur
- Work in the Diocesan office.
- Prison, Hospital and village visitations.
- Operate boarding facilities for children of alleged witches and other children at the request of the parents.
- Take care of mentally challenged women in the locality.
The Ghana Mission has improved much. The Mission has acquired land and developed their Community (Convent) at Yishelanyili and is further developing land purchased at Kuga Yendi behind the Bishop’s court.