Sr. Chinyeaka Ezeani, MSHR, has
called on the Formators of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Holy Rosary (MSHR) to imbibe the authentic Values and Virtues of their founder, Bishop Joseph Ignatius Shanahan, CSSp., as they journey with the young members of the Congregation.
Sr. Ezeani, who is the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Canonization of Bishop Shanahan (Dublin Inquiry), highlighted the “humanity” and “Christ-like” nature of the Founder.
She raised this awareness in the July 3, 2026 Talk on Bishop Shanahan, within the context of the Formators’ Meeting at the Retreat and Conference Centre, Nsukka, Nigeria.
She was assisted in the talk by Sr. Catherine Asomugha, MSHR, Vice Postulator for the Founder’s Canonization Cause (Onitsha Inquiry).
Sr. Ezeani described the MSHR Founder as an “Impressive Figure,” who had a great Passion for the Mission; was Modern-minded and had a Pioneering Spirit. He was very much involved with the Laity, and had deep respect and reverence for everyone.
She also mentioned his respect and validation of Africans and their way of expressing their religion, his high standard in everything, docility to God’s will, and his major accomplishment, which was the founding of MSHR, among other achievements.
The Dublin Vice Postulator made reference to a quote about Bishop Shanahan by Sr. Catherine O’Carrol (Bishop Shanahan 1871-1943).
He was described as one with a “magnificent physique, an attractive and compassionate manner,” which drew a lot of people to him.
“But there was something uniquely special about him: People often spoke of his ‘Christ-likeness’. It is a more descriptive term than ‘holiness’.
There was a grandeur about him that was utterly inspiring; his stature being that of saints, and his work enduring like theirs,” she quoted.
She made further reference to the Catholic Mirror, Nairobi of June 1971, Vol 6, No. 6, which described Bishop Shanahan as “A man ahead of his time”.
Sr. Chinyeaka called on the Formators to emulate the heroic Virtues of their Founder, Bishop Shanahan, which included humility and simplicity, Apostolic zeal, Gratitude, Obedience, Forgiveness, Large-hearted generosity and Unshakable Trust in Divine Providence, Charity, Holiness and Indwelling, Deep Faith, Prudence, Pastoral Sensibilities and Fortitude in his many Personal Sufferings.
“He is the most humble man I have ever met and we in Nigeria have always recognised that virtue in him. You would not get another bishop to do that – he has the fullness of the Priesthood – I am a nobody…,” she quoted Monsignor William Lumley SMA, Prefect of Jos, Nigeria.
She mentioned that the cause for the Canonization of Bishop Shanahan initiated in November 15, 1997, for the Onitsha Inquiry, and on August 25, 1998, for the Dublin Rogatorial Inquiry, is ongoing.
Speaking of his family background, Sr. Ezeani, revealed that Bishop Shanahan was the 4th child out of 9 children, born to Mr. Daniel Shanahan and Madam Margaret Walsh on June 4, 1871 in Glankeen, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
He was baptized on June 7, 1871 in Borrisoleigh Catholic Church.
She touched on his educational background, stating that Shanahan attended Primary Education in Templederry National School, Parish of Templederry, and completed in July 1886.
He did his 2nd and 3rd Level Education in Beauvais-Cellule from 1886-1894.
Concerning his Priestly/Religious Formation, Shanahan did his Philosophy studies at Langonnet in France from 1894-1895, and Novitiate at Chevilly, France from 1896-1897.
His Theology studies took place at Rockwell College, Ireland from 1898-1900.
He did his First Profession at Rockwell College, Ireland on April 10, 1898, Ordained to the Priesthood at Blackrock College, Ireland on April 22, 1900 and did Perpetual Profession at Blackrock, Ireland on June 29, 1901.
The Nigerian-born MSHR further disclosed that Fr. Shanahan worked as Dean of Discipline at Rockwell, Ireland from 1900-1902, and was assigned to Nigeria, where she arrived at Onitsha in November 13, 1902.
He was appointed Prefect Apostolic of Southern Nigeria on September 27, 1905, Vicar Apostolic, and later ordained Bishop on June 6, 1920 at Maynooth College, Ireland.
The MSHR Founder, according to her, resigned as Vicar Apostolic in 1932, served as a Missionary in Kenya from 1939-1943, and died in Nairobi, Kenya on Christmas morning, 1943. He had always desired to die in Africa.
To her, Bishop Shanahan’s ideal for the Holy Rosary Sisters was reflected thus: “We must show them Christ in our own lives. To their women, we preach Mary, the great Mother of God. We must show her to them; show to their strange eyes lives most pure, most chaste, refined, delicate, modest”.
“Lives of self-sacrifice, self-forgetfulness, lives of pity, tenderness towards those who fail, patience, gentleness, a sympathy for suffering.
Lives of power, ability, energy, courage. Lives full of joy and peace and gracious radiance, heaven-born. This is the Gospel we preach, this is the Christ, this the grace which makes possible the lives of those sisters”.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana CASCON-GH)
