In a world that treats commitment as temporary, two Sister Communicators are about to make the most radical promise of all: perpetual profession of vows in the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer of Accra. Forever SR. JENNIFER ABA AIKINS, HDR and SR. MARIA GABRIELLA NADA NADINE YANKEY, HDR, have walked the path of formation side-by-side, using their gifts as communicators to spread the Gospel.
But tomorrow, 25th March 2025, they stop preparing and start living their mission in a whole new way. Join us as we witness their final vows—a beautiful, courageous act of total surrender to God’s love at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Adenta, at 9 am prompt.
They’ve spent years learning to listen to God’s voice. Now, they’re ready to answer with their whole lives. Meet the two Sisters Communicators, Sr. Aikins and Sr. Yankey, on the eve of professing their final vows. A moment of grace, a bond of blood and spirit, and a ‘yes’ that changes everything. Read their story unfold.
Full Name: SR. JENNIFER ABA AIKINS, HDR
Hometown: Elmina
Parish: Good Shepherd Catholic Church, Tema
Date of entry in the Convent: 2nd April, 2013
Date of First Profession of Vows: 4th April, 2016
Profession: Teacher
PROFILE OF SISTERS – PERPETUAL VOWS
Sister Jennifer Aba Aikins is the third born of the late Anthony Aikins and Angelina Aikins. She was born on May 13 in Tema, where she grew up. She received her elementary education at St. John Bosco Basic School and continued her secondary education at Wesley Grammar School in Dansoman. She credits her spiritual growth in the Catholic faith to her parents, who nurtured her faith from birth. She is a member of the Catholic Youth Organisation (CYO) and serves as a Mass Server at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Tema. In response to God’s invitation to a life of consecration, Sr. Jennifer entered the convent to begin her postulancy formation on April 2, 2013. She then proceeded to the Novitiate, where she made her first Profession of Religious Vows on April 4, 2016.
As a religious, Sr. Jennifer pursued her tertiary education, obtaining both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in mathematics education. Following her passion for teaching, she completed internships at Manya Krobo Senior High School and St. Augustine Senior High School. She also fulfilled her National Service at Mount Mary College, where she contributed to the training of future educators and gained valuable teaching experience.
Sister Jennifer has engaged in various apostolates in the Congregation, such as working in the canteen, sewing centre, and administration and secretarial roles both in the HDR schools and the Congregation at large. She also loves being a children’s animator and any forum that helps her spread God’s love and message.
In her personal life, Sr. Jennifer enjoys listening to music, creating artwork, sightseeing, and participating in media publicity. These activities provide her with a good balance and moments of reflection within her religious life. Above all, she finds profound joy and fulfilment in her vocation as a religious, and is deeply grateful for the grace of serving God wholeheartedly through humanity.
Today, as she professes her Perpetual Vows, Sr. Jennifer freely offers her life to God in a definitive and lifelong commitment. Trusting in God’s sustaining grace and supported by her religious community, family, and friends, she embraces this sacred moment with gratitude and hope, dedicating herself fully to the service of God and His people.
Full Name: SR. MARÍA GABRIELLA NADA NADINE YANKEY, HDR
Parish: St. John the Baptist Parish, Odorkor Tipper
Date of entry in the Convent: 30th April, 2015
Date of First Profession of Vows: 12th April, 2018
Place of work: Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi Secretariat
Community: Takoradi-Fijai
Profession: Secretary
Sr. Maria Gabriella Nada Nadine Yankey, HDR, was born on Monday, February 16, at Odorkor to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Cecilia Yankey. She is one of four siblings and hails from Saltpond and Axim. She is a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Odorkor-Tipper. She received her basic education at St. Anthony’s of Preparatory School, South Odorkor, and her Secondary Education at Swedru Secondary School. She later studied Secretarial and Management Studies at Cape Coast Polytechnic, now Cape Coast Technical University. She further pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Development Communication at the African University College of Communications in Accra.
Professionally, Sr. Maria Gabriella worked in the Human Resource Department as a Human Relations Officer and later as a Corporate Credit Manager at Barclays Bank, Accra High Street (now ABSA Bank). During her years of work, she developed a strong inner desire to respond to God’s call to religious life.
She entered the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR) as a postulant in Akwatia on April 30, 2015, and professed her first vows in Koforidua on April 12, 2018. She was subsequently transferred to Agomanya and later to Christ the King Convent, Accra Cantonments, where she worked at Our Lady of Fatima Services (OLAFAS) from 2019 to 2024. In August 2024, she was transferred to the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, where she currently serves as Secretary to the Bishop and at the Diocesan Secretariat.
A devoted Handmaid of the Divine Redeemer, Sr. Maria Gabriella serves the Catholic Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi with love, dedication, and compassion. She is a proud Catholic, called to serve
Christ wholeheartedly. With a deep love for prayer, children, and community life, Sr. Gabriella is vibrant, sociable, and joyful. She spreads joy through dance and shares God’s love by teaching Sunday school and catechism. She is passionate about empowering women and promoting justice and equality through education and service within the Catholic Women Association, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. John International, and beyond. As a voice for the marginalised, she works tirelessly to uphold human dignity and rights. She is known for her outgoing and jovial spirit, combined with empathy and a strong sense of justice.
WHO ARE THE HANDMAIDS OF THE DIVINE REDEEMER SISTER?
The Handmaids of the Divine Redeemer (HDR) is an indigenous Congregation of Consecrated Women in Ghana. It was founded by the late Bishop Joseph Oliver Bowers, SVD (Divine Word Missionary), in 1957 as the Bishop of the then Diocese of Accra, Ghana.
The Congregation started with four Sisters and now boasts over One Hundred and twelve (112) Consecrated Women. Our Congregation undertakes the following apostolates: education and development of children/girls. Child labour advocacy in cocoa-growing communities, empowerment and campaign for women, caring for the sick, poor, and aged; care of orphans, hospital apostolate, care for our common home (based on Pope Francis’s call for the earth), and care for migrants and refugees.
The Congregation has a Diocesan Right under the Code of Canon. Her sisters are currently working in four (4) Dioceses in Ghana, namely, the Archdiocese of Accra, the Diocese of Koforidua, the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi, and the Donkorkrom Vicariate. The charism of the Congregation is, ‘in imitation of the Obedience of our Divine Redeemer and Our Lady, the HDR are called together to lead a dedicated life in Prayer, Simplicity, Humility, and Love, and to Serve Joyfully our neighbours by spreading the gospel in our apostolates, particularly the integral development of women.
(Source: Profession of Vows and Silver Jubilee 2025 Brochure).
What does it take to give your entire life away? For most, it is a question left unanswered. But for two sisters who have spent their lives mastering the art of communication, it is a sharing of faith, hope, and love with everyone they meet—the answer is finally here. Today, we follow our cherished sisters in the final hours before they make their solemn profession. It is not just the end of a journey; it’s the beginning of an eternal promise. This is their story.
Hearty congratulations from the Catholic Sister Communicators Network-Ghana CASCON-GH to our dear Sisters as they make this bold step with other sisters, SR. MARY SAMUELLA PATIENCE KUUTAALA, HDR and SR. MARY CECILIA ADDOBEA AGYEI, HDR.
By Sr. Gifty Anastasia Blewu, SMMC (Catholic Sister Communicators Network- Ghana CASCON-GH)
