For the proclamation of the Good News through teaching, healing and caring ministry of Christ
| Founded, Date/Place | 13th Jan, 1965 Shendam, Nigeria |
| Founder | Bishop John Reddinton |
| Canonical Status | Diocesan Right |
| Motto | Yes To Jesus Through Mary |
| Charism | Generous And Spontaneous Service To The Children Of God. We Aim To Evangelize The People In Ways That Are Deeply Rooted In The Gospel Values And Our African Culture, According To The Signs And Needs Of The World To Christ Nurturing The Seed Of The Word Already Present In Every Culture. To Actualize God’s Kingdom Here On Earth Through Education, Medical And Pastoral/ Social Work |
| Purpose | For The Proclamation Of The Good News Through Teaching, Healing And Caring Ministry Of Christ |
| Mission Statement | We Aim To Evangelize The People In Ways That Are Deeply Rooted In The Gospel Values And Our African Culture According To The Signs And Needs Of Our Times. |
| Spirit | Faith And Simplicity |
| Arrival Date To Nigeria | Founded In The Northern Part Of Nigeria On The 13th Of January, 1965. |
Superior General: Sr. Florence Larai Golam, OLF,
Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima Generalate,
Off Metropolitan Avenue,
P. O. Box Tudun Wada, Jos
Plateau State, Nigeria
Mobile: 08069742353,
Email: Olfsisters@Gmail.Com
Our Apostolate
Spirituality:
Our Lady of Fatima Sisters’ Spirituality is centered on Christ who has given us the injunction to ‘seek first the kingdom of God’ (Mt. 6:33). We inevitably draw inspiration from Mary our Mother and Patroness. Like her we seek the courage founded on faith and humility that will risk the unknown at the Father’s bidding
Information About Founder:
The Congregation of Our Lady of Fatima Sisters was founded by Bishop John Reddington of blessed memory. He was an Irish SMA and the first Bishop of Jos Diocese. Bishop John Reddington was born on 26th June 1910 in Ireland. He came as a missionary to Nigeria in 1954 and was consecrated and installed the first Bishop of the then Jos Diocese on April 10th, 1954.
Bishop John Reddington had great interest, zeal and love for the local Church. It was his desire to indigenize the Church in Jos Diocese in every way. This gave rise to his founding an indigenous female Religious Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima in 1965 to give a generous and spontaneous service to the people of God in a simple, cultural and yet faith- filled way.
Bishop John Reddington was popularly called ‘J of Jos’ by his SMA brothers. He was a man of prayer, a man of great faith and vision. He was blessed with the virtues of simplicity, detachment, deep trust in Divine providence and adaptability. These outstanding virtues enabled him to effectively handle some seemingly unsurmountable administrative difficulties of his office as a pioneer Bishop. Bishop John Reddington lived most part of his priestly and missionary life in the Western part of Nigeria. Bishop John Reddington was ordained a priest on the 10th of June 1934 and immediately sent to Lagos in Nigeria as a missionary the same year. He came up North when he was appointed Bishop in 1954. It was not easy for him coming to a place he knew nothing about, to lead a people and groups of priests that unknown and unfamiliar
Bishop John Reddington took great risks in founding the Congregation. He, in fact, began the Congregation on the foundation of faith with no candidate and when asked, he said ‘the Lord will bring the candidates’. The candidates came in as soon as he established the Congregation. Bishop John Reddington was blessed with a great sense of gratitude to God. He was ever grateful to God for all His mercies to him and for all that He has accomplished in and through him as a missionary.
The Scripture passage that inspired and guided his life and mission was (Matthew 6:33) ” Seek first the Kingdom of God and every other thing will fall in line”. This Bible text motivated him to seek and accomplish God’s will. He was a faith-filled man of God, a description that forms the basis for our Charism and Spirit as Our Lady of Fatima Sisters.
Ministries/Apostolates: Our primary Apostolate consists in the witness of our consecrated life through our community living, our life of prayer and asceticism. Our way of life helps us to reach out to the poor, the sick, the ignorant and all who come to us seeking Christ.
We Do This Through:
- ♦ Teaching
- ♦ Nursing
- ♦ Catechesis
- ♦ Social Work
- ♦ Direction Of Lay Apostolate And
- ♦ Any Other Apostolic Work Which The Congregation, In Consultation With The Diocesan Bishop, Relying On The Holy Spirit Speaking To Us, Through The Needs Of Our Times, Considers Useful And Helpful To The Growth Of The Church.
Special Contribution To The Church In Nigeria:
The Our Lady of Fatima Congregation is the First Indigenous Religious Congregation founded in the Islamic dominated North of Nigeria. Since foundation in 1965 they have worked tremendously to build and strengthen the foundations of Catholic faith laid by the early missionaries. They have so far spread to the three provinces of the North and are actively working in nine Dioceses in these provinces through the above named ministries/ apostolates.
Location Of Generalate:
Tudun Wada Jos, Plateau State of Nigeria, West Africa Name of Places where we are for now we are: We are in Nigeria working in the following places Jos, Kaduna, Abuja, Lafia, Minna, Zaria, Kano, Jalingo, Shendam.
Nigerians Working Outside Nigeria: Nil
Location Of Formation House(S:)
Postulancy House: Shendam in Shendam Local Government of Plateau State, Nigeria West Africa.
Novitiate House:
Kuru in Jos South Local Government of Plateau State, Nigeria – West Africa.
Sisters In Perpetual Vows
- Sr. Martin De Porres Damen
- Sr. Mary Patrick Dimlong
- Sr. Mary Lucy Kudi
- Sr. Sarah Njoku
- Sr. Mary Nkechi U Kah
- Sr. Stella Nkem Ugwu
- Sr. Caroline Aliboh
- Sr. Mary Bulus
- Sr. Florence Golam
- Sr. Josephine Marie Eke
- Sr. Lucy Gidado
- Sr. Beatrice Danladi
- Sr. Theresa Dung
- Sr. Irene Mary Miaphen
- Sr. Esther Shebi
- Sr. Mary Sidi
- Sr. Lucy Tanko
- Sr. Patricia Gyang
- Sr. Regina Utre
- Sr. Rhoda Enna
- Sr. Theresa Guzuma
- Sr. Grace Offo
- Sr. Bibiana Nyam
- Sr. Virginia Shuaibu
- Sr. Florence Dunkong
- Sr. Juliana Bodang
- Sr. Rufina Gadongga
- Sr. Jovita Egwu
- Sr. Magdaline Gotau
- Sr. Elizabeth Shikyil
- Sr. Rose Katung
- Sr. Cecilia Agule
- Sr. Maureen Ahyuwa
- Sr. Comfort Ayavga
- Sr. Veronica Nkom
- Sr. Mary Goteng
- Sr. Janet Waziri
- Sr. Gloria Dabang
- Sr. Theresa Dawa
- Sr. Victoria Utaji
- Sr. Victoria Aholong
- Sr. Victoria Amana
- Sr. Patience Dala
- Sr. Christiana Archibong
- Sr. Pauline Moorkwa
- Sr. Hanatu Audu
- Sr. Josephine Shuaibu
- Sr. Martha Gofwen
- Sr. Rita Okoye
- Sr. Blessing Anzak
Number Of Sisters In Temporary Vows – 17
Necrology
- Sr. Vincent De Paul Barau 13th May 1988