Fides Media Living the Faith
…As Community, Congregation, Families Join her in Thanksgiving Mass
By CP Uzoaganobi
Reverend Sr. Mary Theresa Chiamaka Onukwube of Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Congregation, on Sunday, June 4, 2023, celebrated a Thanksgiving Mass of her Final Profession at her home parish, St Gabriel’s Parish, Okpuno.
The Holy Mass of Thanksgiving which took place on Holy Trinity Sunday, was presided over by the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Emmanuel Ofomata. In his homily, he urged the faithful to be united as one in love like the three persons in one God.
The father of the celebrant and also the Catechist of St Gabriel’s Parish Okpuno, Mr. Charles Nwuba, expressed joy on how the journey of his daughter to become a Reverend Sister was finally actualized.
‘It has been my daughter’s wish to serve God even before and after her academic career. It is a thing of joy that she listened to my advice to continue with her initial decision to become a Reverend Sister after her studies in the university, notwithstanding that her friends tried to convince her to work in the bank,’ he stated.
The Mother General, Mother Mary Trinitas Obianika, who was represented by Rev. Sr. Mary Dorothy Nwanyanwu, from DMMM Headquarters, Ahiaeke, Umuahia, Abia State, congratulated the Sister celebrant and thanked God for the gift of vocation in the Church.
She thanked Nwuba’s family for the upbringing and training of their daughter in the love of God and the Church and prayed that the good Lord who had called her would give her the grace of final perseverance in her holy vocation.
The younger brother to the celebrant, Mathias Nwuba, thanked God for making it possible for his sister to attain this height and urged the youth to see serving God through vocations as something worth emulating.
The Parish Priest, Rev Fr Ofomata, disclosed that it was a great celebration for the community and for him too, adding that he was fortunate to be the Parish Priest when the community had its first indigenous Rev. Sister.
Fides gathered that Rev. Sr. Mary Theresa who is the second daughter and second child out of the seven children of the family of Mr and Mrs Charles Onukwube Nwuba of Umuodu village, Okpuno, was among the eleven Reverend Sisters that had their Final Profession at Mater Dei Cathedral, Umuahia on May 20, 2023, in a Holy Mass presided over by the Catholic Bishop of Umuahia, Most Rev. Michael Ukpong.
In attendance were representatives of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Congregation from their headquarters in Abia State; past and present priests of the parish; friends and well-wishers.