Clarissan Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament

Regional Superior: Sr. Evangeline Unaji, MC

Nigerian Region
Regional/Novitiate House Obosi
P. O. Box 1508
Onitsha Archdiocese
Anambra State

Phone: 07017971369

Email: evangelunaji@yahoo.com

Our Apostolate

The Congregation of the Clarissan Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Is a Catholic Missionary Institute founded by Mother Maria Ines Teresa Arias of the Blessed Sacrament (now Blessed Maria Ines Teresa of the Blessed Sacrament - She was beatified on April 21, 2012). As Missionaries without frontiers, we are in different parts of the world bearing witness to Christ. We have our primary objective to make Christ known and loved in all hearts and save for Him infinite number of souls through our daily apostolate, life in common in the communities where we live.

The Nigerian Civil War of 1966 to 1970 between the Northerners and South - Easterners, made the Government to send all the Missionaries out of the country. Immediately after the War, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Arinze (now His Eminence, Francis Cardinal Arinze) who was the then the Archbishop of Onitsha, during one of his journeys to Rome, met our Mother Foundress, Maria Ines Teresa Arias, and invited her to extend her Missionary Congregation to his Archdiocese. This, he said, would help in moral up-bringing of the faithful. However, his invitation was not without a condition. He demanded a novitiate built here in Nigeria for Nigerian girls. They are to be formed here in Nigeria and not to be taken outside the country for their formation.

Precisely in 1976, the congregation celebrated the Silver Jubilee of her transformation from monastic order to missionary congregation in Cuernavaca, Moreles Mexico. It was such a joyful celebration that brought almost all the Inesian Family together in Mexico. Among the line ups of the Jubilee event was the Opening of the House at Onitsha, Nigeria. Our Mother Foundress, in one of her letters, described this Nigerian Mission as "the fruit of a long cherished vision... not only because it is properly a mission land and at the same time very appropriate for the celebration of our 25years as missionaries but also for my great desire to COUNT WITH NATIVE VOCATIONS of Nigeria among the Clarissan Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament". She also called Nigerian Mission "THE CROWN OF PEALS OF THE 25 YEARS"

Blessed Mother Maria Ines Teresa Arias declared the Nigerian Mission open in Cuernavaca, Mexico before all the Regional Superiors, Sisters and Guests gathered for the Silver Jubilee Celebration. There at the celebration, she named the first three sisters who would be the instrument for the new mission to be Rev Srs: Celia Martinez (Mexican) and two Japanese sisters -Leticia Negichi and Magdalene Koike.

On 7^th July, 1976, the above named three missionaries arrived in the company of His Lordship, Most Rev Dr. Anthony Gbuji, the then Bishop of Issele - Ukwu who atLagos International Airport met the sisters; from there he became their guardian angel and thus led them safely to their new mission land, "Holy Trinity Cathedral (Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity) Onitsha. Many thanks to His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Anthony Gbuji, now the Bishop Emeritus of Enugu Diocese. On their arrival to the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Onitsha, our sisters were received by the then Archdiocesan chancellor, Rev. Fr. H. Adigwe and his assistant Rev. Fr. M. Uzuegbunam (late), who accompanied them to the Immaculate Heart Sisters Convent, Waterside, Onitsha where they stayed until their house was ready.

On the arrival of His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Arinze, on 20^th July 1976, he had audience with the sisters who were waiting patiently for his directive. As missionaries without frontier and according to the direction of His Grace, they took up the apostolate of teaching at All Hallows Seminary, Social Centre (Regina Pacis) and Queen of the Rosary College (Q.R.C) respectively.

The same year in December, our Mother Foundress visited the sisters in the company of Rev Srs. Magarita Torres and Edelmira Rivera with the intention of meeting with the Archbishop and to arrange for the site for the formation house. Among the four different places shown to her, Our Mother Foundress decided and chose Obosi, where she would have her Novitiate built. She wished that her daughters would, before the Blessed Sacrament in their daily adorations, call down blessings and Divine mercy on the whole town.

The clearing of the site at Uruowolu started shortly after the official introduction of the Clarissan Missionary Sisters to Obosi Parishioners on 16^th April 1978. The construction followed immediately with the help of our foreign and Nigerian benefactors and the house was ready for formation of souls for Nigerians.

On 10^th November 1984, Nigeria was officially declared one of the Regions of the Congregation with Rev. Sr. Lydia Rodriguez (late) as the first Regional Superior. In 1990, for the convenience of the General Government of the Congregation, the Region of Nigeria was dissolved as a Region and later in 1996, it was re-named with Rev. Sr. Blanca Rivera as the Regional Superior. In the year 1998 Rev. Sr. Caroline Mbamalu took over the baton of leadership and was succeeded by Rev. Sr. Maria de la Luz Roa Ventura in 2005. Presently, the Region is under the guidance of Rev. Sr. Martha Mireles as the Regional Superior.

The Congregation is in different parts of the world such as; Rome\(Generalate) Mexico, Argentina, India, Korea, Indonesia, Costa Rica, United State of America, Japan, Spain, Ireland, Sierra Leone, Germany, Russia, Nigeria and so on. In Nigeria the Congregation has some of her communities in Onitsha Archdiocese and Novitiate at Obosi. The Congregation also has her communities in Nnewi and Abakaliki Dioceses and counts with 57 professed sisters and 17 Nigerian sisters working and studying outside the country.

We run the following apostolate:
Education from Pre-School to University level.
Health Care Services.
Pastoral and Social Work.

Our Charism is MISSIONARY PAR EXCELLENCE, centered on Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the guide, love and Strength of our vocation.

Our spirit is MISSIONARY, EUCHARISTIC, PRIESTLY AND MARIAN live in CONFIDENCE, JOY, and SIMPLICITY.

If not to save soul, life is not worth living (Blessed Maria Ines Teresa Arias).

Sisters in Perpetual Vows

Number of Sisters in Temporary Vows – 18