Name of Congregation and Foundation: The Daughters of Divine Love Congregation by the special grace of God, without affiliations to any foreign Congregation, is an indigenous Congregation of Women Religious, the fruit of the labour of the early Missionaries in Nigeria. Founded in Ukpor in Anambra State on July 16^th, 1969 by a native born Nigerian Bishop, His Lordship, Godfrey Mary Paul Okoye, C.S.Sp, of happy memory, the Novitiate Formation of the 1^st group (Foundation members) and the 2^nd group were given by Nigerian Formator: Mother Mary Charles Anyanwu, OSB, and the Novitiate formation of the 3^rd and 4^th groups were given by Mother Patty Alufo, OSB. All forms of subsequent training and formation of the members of the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation have since then been given by Nigerian born Formators.

The First Religious Profession of the Congregation on 4^th November 1973, was a memorable day for all the witnesses when 16 young girls dedicated their lives to God in the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love. Today it has grown to become an International Congregation of Women Religious of Pontifical Rights. The members take the public Vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience otherwise known as the Evangelical Counsels and they dedicate themselves to contemplation and active apostolic work. Members of this Congregation are fondly called and known as: the Daughters.

Charism:
The Charism of the Congregation which is a generous loving response to Divine Love Incarnate is equally the compelling motive force of the Congregation and of every Sister who enters it. It is an ardent response to God’s call to love Him and others in the way and manner Christ did; a self-sacrificing love, and members strive for growth in holiness to the full measure of Christ.

Being an Active-Contemplative Congregation, the Spirituality of the Daughters of Divine Love is a Christo-Centric Spirituality of Divine Love in action; expressed in the contemplation of God, deep fraternal charity and apostolic action.

Profile of the Founder
His Lordship, Bishop Godfrey Mary Paul Okoye, C.S.Sp., the Founder of the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation, was born on 19^th December, 1915, at his home town Ifite-Ukpo now known as Ifitedunu in Anambra State. Through the help of Fr. Liddane of Adazi Parish where Godfrey Okoye attended his primary school, the young Okoye was able to find his vocation to the priesthood. Divine Providence made available to him such a companion and helper as Rev. Fr. Michael Iwene Tansi (now Blessed), who led him through the hardships and troubled times of the seminary life.

Okoye was ordained a diocesan priest on 27^th July, 1947. By his ordination, he became one of the pioneer indigenous priests of the Igbo people. He was equally an eloquent testimony to the future indigenous aspirants to the priesthood and religious life. His first Parish work as a priest was at Elele. Consumed with the desire to become a religious priest in order to offer his entire life to God in a more intimate union with Christ, he joined the Holy Ghost Fathers and had his religious profession in Ireland in 1951. He returned to Nigeria and was appointed Parish Priest of St. Martin’s Ihiala 1952- 1958. He later became the Rector of All Hallows Junior Seminary, Onitsha and eventually the first Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese.

He was consecrated and installed the Bishop of Port Harcourt Diocese on 3^rd September, 1961. He was barely seven years in Port Harcourt when the Nigeria/Biafra civil war broke out and when Port Harcourt capitulated he was rendered a Bishop without a seat. He had to take refuge in any parish where the priest welcomed him and this made him have the liberty of focusing on the needs of the time. He served as a roving ambassador for the Church and the people and was very instrumental in getting the Caritas International Relief Agency and the World Council of Churches to bring relief materials of food and clothing to meet the basic needs of the suffering Biafran refugees. And by Divine intervention, it was in the midst of this most agonizing suffering that the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love was born.

Bishop Okoye was a man so full of love and so large hearted that he had a burning desire to spread this love of God and diffuse it to the four corners of the earth. His participation at the Second Vatican Council deepened his desire to found a new Congregation whose major task would be the preaching of the gospel of God’s love to the ends of the earth in any manner they can do it hence, the nonrestrictive nature of their apostolate. The time and place of the foundation of the Congregation were God’s own providential design. The founding of the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation was not an instant event. Bishop Okoye went through the due process of seeking the will of God through prayer; it was a long premeditated event. God offered him a perfect opportunity during the war and he took advantage of it.

After the civil war in 1970, Bishop Okoye was appointed the second Bishop of Enugu Diocese and transferred to occupy the empty seat of Enugu Diocese which was left vacant following the demise of Bishop John Cross Anyogu on 5th July, 1967 just at the onset of the Nigeria/Biafra civil war. Bishop Okoye again spent seven years in Enugu Diocese from 1970 to 1977 before he answered his home call on 17^th March 1977. His transfer to Enugu Diocese made the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation locate their Mother House in the Diocese.

Ministries and Apostolates
The apostolates of the Daughters of Divine Love consist primarily in prayers and the witness of their consecrated life of Divine Love. And since love knows no limits, their apostolates are equally varied and diversified. They are committed to such ministries as: Catechetical, Domestic work, Education, Health care, Counselling, Legal Practice, Prison and Home visitation, Pro-life, Liturgical Vestments, Sutan and all types of Clerical dresses, Hospitality/Catering servi ces , Char i ty Home, Agricultural, Social services and apostolate of the Presence. T h e Daughters respond to the needs of the Local Church according to the availability of personnel with the right qualification and ability.

Special Contribution to the Church in Nigeria
The Daughters of Divine Love Congregation has made some modest contributions to the Church in Nigeria considering their humble Beginnings. At the death of their Founder, Bishop Okoye of Enugu Diocese in 1977, the Congregation was just eight years old and the Foundation members barely four years from the date of their first profession in 1973. Their existence and survival was very much in doubt and many people suggested that they be disbanded and sent home. But thanks to the great Amazons, the Foundation and the co- Foundation members who rallied round Mother Maria Ifechukwu Udorah and encouraged her to be their leader, and with the stalwart support of Bishop Michael Eneja who succeeded Bishop Okoye; it would have been a different story! From nowhere, concerned Catholics formed themselves into the Association of the Friends of the Daughters. The leader of the group was Dr. Winifred Kaine. They saw to the survival of the threatened emerging Congregation by providing material items for their needs. This is one of the contributions to the Church for prior to this time most existing Congregations did not have associations of friends.

In spite of the overwhelming storm of the time, the Daughters, hanging on the oars of the God of love and Divine providence, were able to surf the crest of the storm and their survival is one of the greatest miracles of God’s love, a major contribution to the Church in Nigeria. If they had not been great women of faith with childlike trust in Divine Providence from the onset, but listened to those who insisted they must disband and go home, there would not have been anything like the Daughters of Divine Love Congregation in the Church anywhere today.

Generally the Daughters have made the Church very visible in some places through their apostolate of the Presence and catechetics. Their establishment of the Retreat and Conference Centres popularly known as DRACC in certain towns in the country has also been of great benefit to the Church. They undertake the challenge of catering for the sick, homeless, orphans, widows, handicapped and the marginalized in their Charity Home. By sheer Divine Providence and the great love of God for the Congregation, the Daughters have touched many lives and positively impacted them through their school and hospital apostolates. Many more are reached in the various offices and departments where the Daughters work and witness to Divine Love Incarnate in different official portfolios.

Location of Houses and Numerical Strength
The Generalate of the Congregation is located in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State and the Congregation has two formation houses; the Postulate and the Novitiate all located in Enugu.

Members witness to God’s love in many dioceses in Nigeria and God has borne them on his wings of love to other countries outside Nigeria: Gabon, Cameroon, T’Chad, Mali, Kenya, England, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, the United States of America, Cuba, Jamaica and Haiti.

The Lord has generously blessed the Congregation with a teeming vocation and for this, they are thankful to God for the wonderful Daughters; out of which many indigenous Daughters are missioned outside the shores of Nigeria, their Father-land. It is important to note that the affairs of this noble Congregation have been piloted since the death of their founder in 1977 by three great rare gems as their Superior General: Rev. Mother Maria Ifechukwu Udorah, Rev. Mother Maria Angela Uwalaka (Late) and Rev. Mother Maria Chilota Elochukwu.

Caritas Christi, UrgetNos!