Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus

Superior General: Mother Leonie- Martha O' Karaga, HHCJ

Generalate HHCJ Ifuho
P.O. Box 155
Ikot-Ekpene,
Akwa Ibom State

Mobile: 0803-668-5734

Email: ifuhandmaids@yahoo.com

Our Apostolate

Our Congregation is called
The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus' (H.H.C.J.) and was founded by Sister Mary Charles Magdalen Walker on January 15, 1931.

Charism/Spirit
The inspiration, which our Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker received from the Holy Spirit and handed down to us is that of 'all embracing charity', which has its foundation in personal love for Christ and humanity. The model and patronage of our Religious consecration is the Blessed Virgin Mary who first declared "I am the Handmaid of the Lord, Be it done unto me according to your word" (Luke 1:38). In her, we find the model of deep faith, humility, zeal, absolute trust in Divine Providence and a delicate attentive service to others. From her we draw the spirit of the Congregation, which is that of "all-embracing charity" manifesting itself in our motto of "Love and Service".

Foundress
Sister Mary Charles Magdalen Walker, an Irish Sister of Charity (now known as Religious Sisters of Charity), came to Nigeria in 1923 at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, CSSp. She came to help in the work of Evangelization and most especially in the area of women's Education. Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker lived out the preaching of being 'all things to all people' as she engaged in any ministry that would uplift the standard of life of the people she served.

She was an Educator, a Medical Personnel, an Evangelist and a Social Worker.

Apostolate:
Our primary apostolate consists in the witness of our consecrated life, fostered by prayer, penance and apostolic ministry through:

Education:
Through Education at all levels, ranging from Nursery Schools to Universities, we share in the teaching ministry of Christ as we teach, train and prepare our students to meet the challenges of life and not just to obtain the Certificates. Our ministry extends to special Schools for the handicapped children and adults. Love, justice and dedication are the characteristics of our Schools.

Medical:
Through medical services, we participate in the healing ministry of Christ and serve the sick and suffering with love, patience and sympathy through improved health-care services in Clinics, Dispensaries, Primary Health Care Programmes, Maternity Homes, Homes for the aged, hospice and hospitals. Home-based nursing is also within our ministry, as we work for the spiritual and material well being of all without discrimination.

Pastoral Ministry:
In our pastoral ministry, we follow the gospel mandate to "Go, teach all the nations ..." and impart the gospel message to different classes of people. Since the young are the foundation on which to build a strong local Church, we take pains to organize Catechism classes for children in order to give them moral instructions and inculcate in them sound religious discipline. We engage in Religious Education Programme, Retreats, Workshops, Parish and Prison Ministries.

Social Service:
Here we attempt to imitate the love, sympathy, and concern of Christ as we serve the under-privileged in our society, such as the orphans, single parents, unwanted babies, prisoners, mentally ill and other marginalized persons. We engage in Economic empowerment of women at all levels and encourage personal and community effort for self-help. We also engage in Agricultural programmes, smallscale industries for self-reliance and creation of job opportunities for the unemployed poor of our society.

Missionary Service:
As members of the Church which is missionary in nature, we undertake missionary apostolate by readily and willingly going forth to manifest God's love in His people, even "to the ends of the earth". In our missionary apostolic activities, we try to adapt to local conditions and identify with the people, after the example of Mother Mary Charles Walker, our Foundress.

Mother Mary Charles Magdalen Walker arrived Calabar, Nigeria in 1923 at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, CSSp.

The Generalate of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus which is the Principal house of the Congregation is located in Ifuho, Ikot Ekpene Diocese, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

The Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus has houses in Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Togo, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Italy, Germany, England, the United States of America, Canada and Grenada.

The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus has 779 professed members.

The Congregation has 114 professed members working/serving outside Nigeria.

Formation Houses:
Our Congregation has three formation houses;
Novitiate HHCJ,Kakwagom, Boki, Cross River State
Novitiate HHCJ, Eriam, Afaha Obong, Akwa Ibom State
Novitiate HHCJ, Nsoatre, Sunyani, Ghana.

Sisters in Pepertual Vows

Number of Sisters in Temporary Vows – 101

Golden Jubilarians

Necrology