The Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ), Ghana Province at their Annual Retreat, reflected on the life of St. Monica, whose life speaks strongly of patience, vigilance and perseverance in prayer.
The Retreat is being held at the Our Lady of the Annunciation Novitiate, Nsoatre, from August 23 to 29, 2026 under the theme: “Transformed Through Consecration, Empowered for Mission as Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus.”
The Retreat is being facilitated by Fr. Edmund Agorhum, SJ.
In his homily during Mass, Fr. Edmund drew the Sisters’ attention to the remarkable patience of Saint Monica, who prayed for seventeen years for the conversion of her son, Saint Augustine.
“Think about that,” he reflected. “Is there something you’ve been asking the Lord for a year? Years? Three years? Counting seventeen. That’s a lot of patience. That’s a lot of vigilance. That’s a lot of perseverance.”
St. Monica’s perseverance was not limited to the conversion of Augustine. Her husband, Patricius, was also a pagan and an abusive husband. Yet Monica remained faithful and persevered. She also helped other women who were experiencing difficulties in their marriages.
Her life, therefore, embodied the Gospel call to “be vigilant until the very end.” Saint Monica reminds us that we may have to pray when there seems to be nothing else we can do, especially when we are faced with situations beyond our control.
Fr. Edmund reminded the Sisters that God is faithful and that His delay should never be mistaken for His absence.
“Pray when nothing helps. Stay awake and never confuse God’s delay with God’s absence.”
Some prayers, he noted, may take seventeen years to flower. Others may not receive their complete answer in this life. Yet God’s presence remains, and He asks us to wait with patience and trust.
The witness of St. Monica therefore invites the Sisters to remain faithful even when they cannot see the result of their prayers. Her life reminds every person carrying a burden in prayer that God is always there, even in the waiting.
As the HHCJ Sisters continue their retreat journey, Saint Monica’s witness challenges them to remain vigilant, persevere in prayer and trust that God’s faithfulness does not depend on how quickly an answer comes.
By Sr. Vera Tina Woelinam Tay, HHCJ
Catholic Sister Communicators Network – Ghana (CASCON-GH)
