Within the context of their ongoing Formation meeting at the Holy Rosary Retreat and Conference Centre, Nsukka, Nigeria, the Congregational Leadership Team, Regional Leaders and Formators of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) Congregation, joined the worshipping community at the Centre for the July 5, 2026 14th Sunday Mass.
The Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Chukwudi Anolefu, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and beautifully animated by the Children’s Choir.
In a homily during the Mass, the Priest maintained that Christianity is in the internalization of Christian principles, and every Christian must accept the Principles of Christ, which are in themselves restrictive, but for their own good.
He further upheld that Christ could mean many things to different people, but that he primarily gives an interpretation to reality.
Reflecting on the Gospel of the day from Matthew 11:25-30, Fr. Chukwudi encouraged the faithful to practice self-disciple as a “yoke” they are taking from Christ, which he described as a “sweet” yoke.
He underscored that if they accept the yoke as a helpful tool for solving their problems, then it ceases to be a restriction.
They must also listen to Christ’s teachings, he added.
The homilist however challenged the Sisters in particular to constantly reflect on what keeps them too busy and sometimes overburdened: “What am I pursuing, and what will that pursuit give me? What am I sacrificing in the course of the pursuit?” he challenged.
He added that they must at all times ask themselves what Christ would do were he in that particular situation, in order not to get lost.
Sr. Patricia Chima, MSHR, working at the Retreat and Conference Centre, extended a warm welcome to the Sisters, and prayed for the success of their gathering. She lauded the efforts of the children, who participated so well at the Mass.
She encouraged their parents/guardians to continue to support them to attain their full potentials. She testified that the children’s performance at the Mass in deed helped her to pray.
Some of the Sisters had gone out to join the faithful of St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Ede-Oballa for Mass.
The Sisters gathered at Nsukka for their meeting that will last till July 13, 2026, are from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Ireland, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Kenya and Ethiopia.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana)
