HEAL Blog
Welcome! Here we will post news and highlight the faces, needs, and services of HEAL.Triplet Girls Monitored In Hospital
Recently, I wrote to you about triplet girls brought to the Messengers of Justice (MOJ) by their desperate parents who could not sustain their lives. I can only imagine how heartbreaking it was for them to give up their daughters because they themselves could not...
A New Compassionate Home
When I first traveled to Nigeria in the spring of 2014, it was the most surreal experience of my life. Over 100 children sang and clapped for me as I stepped out of the vehicle that brought me to the Compassionate Home in Umuagwu village. My hosts, the poor villagers...
When It’s Impossible to Say No
Just a few days ago, Deacon Leo texted me photos of three infant girls whose guardian had brought them to the Messengers of Justice as a last resort to save their lives. Leo’s message that they were probably severely malnourished matched their visible condition in the...
2016 Benefit: Self-emptying for souls
At our 3rd Annual HEAL Benefit, Deacon Leo Okonkwo, HEAL Founder, spoke about self-emptying (cf. Phil 2:6-11) as it relates to a medical mission project for uplifting poor and marginalized orphans, widows, and rural villagers in southeast Nigeria. At our Third Annual...
Sr. Calista Utazi Memorial Medical Clinic Announced
Home to Enhance African Life launched plans to build the Sr. Calista Utazi Memorial Medical Clinic, which will serve poor and marginalized orphans, widows, and rural villagers in southeastern Nigeria. The event was announced at the Oct. 13 HEAL Benefit in Chicago. The...
Test Your Smarts on Nigeria and the Catholic Church
Click the image and test your smarts on Nigeria. Can you find Nigeria on a map? What percentage of people there do not have access to good drinking water? Take our new quiz, Test Your Smarts on Nigeria and the Catholic Church, and get your score.
Sr. Callista’s Health Clinic
Deacon Leo preaching at St. Mary of the Annunciation, Mundelein, IL. Since Deacon Leo Okonkwo arrived in Chicago on August 12th it has been non-stop mission activity. Through the Archdiocese of Chicago Mission office, HEAL has made mission appeals in four parishes for...
An Orphan Who Served Orphans
In the spirituality of the Messengers of Justice order, self-emptying means modeling Jesus who “...humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a Cross” (cf. Phil 2:6-11, RSV). On Friday, July 23rd, Rev. Sr. Callista Utazi, MOJ made her final journey...
HEAL Health Clinic
During my recent trip to Nigeria, I visited the Compassionate Home in Umuagwu village for the 2nd time in 2 years. I couldn’t wait to reunite with one of the children, Scholastica, who, at 3 ½ years old, is the youngest child at the Home. I panned the school courtyard...
A Tale of Two Survivors
The following video, shot during my recent trip to Nigeria, tells the compelling survival story of Scholastica and Fustina and how the Messengers of Justice rescued them.Please help us cover our recurring operational costs of food, fuel, and supplies for our people...