OUR CONGREGATION
ABOUT OUR CONGREGATION IN NIGERIA
The Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, is a religious and clerical Institute of Apostolic Life of Pontifical Right, formed of Priests and Brothers, consecrated to God by religious profession of evangelical counsels through public vow. As missionaries, we are called to live out the love of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in the spirit of reparation, expiation and sacrifice to become messengers of their love.
Right from the inception of the Institute by St. Gaetano Errico in 1836 in Secondigliano, Italy, the congregation has continued to grow and to spread to different parts of the world. The congregation came to Nigeria through the instrumentality of Rev Fr. Luigi Toscano and other Indian members of the congregation in the year 2000. It began as a small community at Works Layout Owerri, Imo State, from where it continued to grow and extend to other areas. The first official Delegate Superior of the Nigerian delegation was Rev. Fr. Mathew Cherian m.ss.cc. He later handed the mantle of leadership to Nigerian priests with Rev Fr. Peter Morkah m.ss.cc, as the first Nigerian Delegate Superior of the congregation.
Presently, we have our formation house for the training of seminarians situated at Ulakwo Owerri, Imo State. Our seminarians live in our community while they undergo their Philosophical and Theological studies at Seat of Wisdom Seminary, Ulakwo, Imo state. We also have a functional clinic in order to meet the health needs of the villagers, as well as a Nursery and Primary and Secondary school for the promotion of quality education in accordance with the spirit and charism of St. Gaetano Errico. Our community at Works Layout Owerri which is also a special jurisdiction has a commendable number of worshippers and also serves the spiritual needs of the worshippers.
The Nigerian delegation has experienced tremendous growth and development like a mustard seed which grows to become a mighty tree. As a concrete proof of the growth of our congregation in Nigeria, the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Nigerian delegation has ordained over fifty priests working in different parts of the world like: Italy, America, Canada, UK, Germany, Argentina, Cameroun etc. In Nigeria our priests are presently working in the Archdiocese of Owerri, Archdiocese of Onitsha, Lagos Archdiocese and Markurdi diocese.
It is important to note that our confreres participate in the mission of the Church in varied ways namely: administration of parishes and sacraments, organization and preaching of retreats, organizing workshops and seminars to promote Catholic social justice, the apostolate of the Word (Preaching and Catechesis), hospital, prison, school chaplaincies, and promotion of social works according to the need of the time and places. Our congregation exercises its apostolic activity in communion with the Church. We are subject to the Bishops in whatever relates to the care of souls, the public exercise of divine worship and other apostolic works.
Finally, the Missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary Nigeria delegation still works tirelessly to spread the love of the Sacred Hearts through the ministry of the word and through works of charity.