In the movie Field of Dreams, a farmer walking in his cornfield hears a mysterious voice whisper, “If you build it, he will come.” He obeys the voice by building a baseball field on his farm, which draws the spirits of historic players who appear on the field to play ball.
At HEAL, we are building a mission of poverty relief and education for over 550 poor & marginalized children (a.k.a “the Masters”). And people are coming – young women desiring to help form the Masters into Servant Leaders (Mt. 20:26) for the future of Nigeria and beyond.
“We have eight new postulants considering religious life with the MOJ Sisters”, says Rev. Leo Okonkwo. But, what is drawing these young women to the MOJs and the radical lifestyle demanded for this mission?
Fr. Kitzio Ifeanyi Okpara, a local priest who celebrates Holy Mass for the community, gives us a hint. “In pouring out their lives for poor and marginalized orphans and village children, the sisters are imitating the Self-Emptying of Jesus Christ”, he said. (cf. Phil 2:6-11)
Having visited Nigeria five times and observed the MOJs up close, I echo Fr. Okpara’s glowing assessment of their spiritual life. My favorite example among many is when the Masters once prayed for me in a time of need. Only by the spiritual tutelage of the sisters could they have acted this way!
So, I’m not surprised these new postulants have come to contemplate joining the MOJs. For a trial period, they will work with the Masters and experience the communal life of prayer with our five fully professed Reverend Sisters.
“I have learned about the vision and mission of the Founder and the MOJ congregation, which has made my time here so far very worthwhile,” says Celestina Chukwu, who came on the recommendation of a religious sister of another community.
We hope Celestina and the others will go on to become MOJ Sisters, because the continuance of HEAL’s mission depends upon Self-Emptying souls imitating Christ on behalf of the least of His people (Mt. 25:40).
During this season of almsgiving, please show your support for the MOJs with a recurring gift of $10, $25, or $40 per month or your best single gift!