In autumn 2024, Mother Marie and Sr Michele visited our daugher house, St Justina’s monastery in Abakaliki, as part of a pastoral visitation conducted by Dom Augustine of Conyers (USA) and M. Marie. Sr Michele had been Junior Mistress at St Justina’s from 1991-2001, helping the Glencairn foundresses and the fledging community there and so, accompanied M Marie on her trip. After her recent visit, she writes:

In his Rule St Benedict reminds us, “Let us open our eyes to the deifying light.” I think I had an experience of being exposed to some such light recently. 

On September 24^th, 2024, Mother Marie set out from Glencairn to assist Dom Augustine of Conyers, USA, doing Visitation at St Justina’s monastery, Abakaliki, Nigeria. Mother Regina Nebo was elected first Abbess of this Abbey in October, 2022. I worked at this monastery for 10 years with Mother Margaret-Mary Hanrahan (RIP) over 20 years ago! Mother Regina invited me to return for a visit on many occasions, but little did I expect this to happen. However, the God of surprises is always at work and one day in Glencairn I experienced this when I asked Mother Marie if I could come with her to Nigeria. She paused and said graciously “I think you could, yes.” I have been excited ever since.

Many people had warned us of the risks of travelling in Nigeria at present. I was aware of this myself but I need not have worried about the wisdom of travelling through Lagos, because many things happened to make this a marvellous experience. Many friends, Sisters and Associates prayed us through it all. The Kiltegan Fathers at Mende Road, Lagos offered us wonderful hospitality for our first night.

The following day, after staying the night with the Kiltegan Fathers, Mother Regina met us after our short flight to Enugu airport. One can only imagine the welcome we received at St Justina’s! So full of warmth, joy and excitement. This could only happen like this in Nigeria! I had known more than twenty Sisters at various stages of formation from my time there as Junior Mistress. Now, we had the privilege of meeting more than twenty new community members, including three Postulants, one Novice and four Junior Professed Sisters. 

“What can bring us happiness many say, lift up the light of your face on us, O Lord” (Ps. 4). There was light and joy, beauty, love and immense goodness enfolding us for the next 17 days. God’s light, life and love was so evident and expressed very freely. 

We were impressed by the work of the community in the burning sun each day in order to support themselves. Their industries are mostly outdoors—farming, cultivation of fruit trees, poultry—along with indoor work on Eucharistic bread production. They receive as many as one thousand chicks at a time and also give much appreciated employment to several local people. Given their youthful energy, they seem to put equal enthusiasm into whatever activity they undertake, from liturgy to community life to work. 

M Marie spoke of the community as ‘brilliant’ and Dom Augustine considered this a ‘uniquely special and beautiful community.’ They are a powerful witness to all that is good. 

I found my strength, energy and joy increasing from day one! I felt totally at home. But can they continue in this national precarity? We pray that God’s merciful love will continue to protect and guide them and that they continue to grow. Amen. 

The first Sunday’s Gospel when we returned reminded us that “with God, all things are possible.”