Daughters of the Holy Spirit

Vice-Provincial Superior: Sr. Monica Anyi, DHS

Daughters of the Holy Spirit
Vice Province of Nigeria
Plot 26, Ilobu Road G.R.A,
Catholic Diocese of Osogbo,
P. O. Box 1891, Osogbo,
Osun State, Nigeria

Mobile: 080 3584 1875

Email: vprovfse@yahoo.com

Charism:
We receive to live together in the spirit of Pentecost and to participate in the mission of love in the world.

Spirituality:
For us Daughters of the Holy Spirit, 'there is no mission without adoration, without calling on the Holy Spirit to renew the face of the earth". Our Spirituality is to reverence the presence of the Holy Spirit in ourselves, in others and in all creation. We consecrate ourselves to the least favoured of the society. Each day we draw the strength to love in this way from the love of the Trinity and we pray in a special way to the Holy Spirit. Math. 25:40 speaks to us and stimulate us to be close to all people especially the most disadvantaged. We celebrate in a special way the feasts of Pentecost and 8thDecember- the Immaculate Conception.

Information about Foundress/Founder:
The Congregation began by a devoted widow named Marie Balavenne who noticed the mystery of the people around her, a woman with a great sense of duty, she always forget herself so as to bring comfort to those in distress. She later re-married to a widower named Guillaume Despons who had seven (7) children whom she loved and brought up as her own.

Attentive to the children, Marie Balavenne also brought help and comfort to the families struck by sickness or death, with this rich experience this young woman fully prepared to fulfill with love and take her task as the stepmother she was to be. Once she brought up the Despons children, she was to dedicate herself under the guidance of Jean Leuduger; the spiritual director to a wider field of apostolic work.

Marie Balavenne, freed from family duties, left for good the home of the Despons to make community with Renee Burel, who had for a while contemplated entering the Ursuline Order.

Younger and more educated than Marie Balavenne, Renee Burel supported the nascent community. On December 8, 1706, adopting a white habit in honour of the Mary Immaculate, and choosing her as their patron-saint and advocate with the Holy Spirit, they pledged to live together and to devote themselves firmly to the service of Christ and of the poor, his living images, as recommended by Jean Leuduger their spiritual director.

Ministries/Apostolate: Living together to serve the poor and the less privileged through basic education, adult education, empowerment for women and the youth, care of the sick in their homes and in the hospitals/clinics, retreat direction, guidance and counseling.

Special contribution to the church in Nigeria:
With others, we work to defend human rights, the dignity of each person; children, youth, women, handicapped people, respect for creation, care for the environment. We are inserted among our people. All these involvements are done through education in all its forms, health care for the sick, counseling, retreats, rehabilitation for the disabled, pastoral work, children and youth ministry, women empowerment, collaboration with organizations aimed for greater justice and love.

Sisters in Perpetual Vows

Number of Sisters in Temporary Vows – 15