Sisters Home Visitors of Mary

Foundation:
The Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary are a community of Catholic Sisters founded in Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A. in 1949 by an American lay woman Mary Margaret Schutz. She developed a passion for bringing and/or strengthing the faith among Africans and African Americans. This was a population that suffered segration and discrimination and was ostrasized even by the Church. Mary had longed to enter religious Life and searched for a Congregation that would minister to the” colored ” and engage in outreach to them. Finding none, she was authorized by Edward Cardinal Mooney to start one. Together with a retired army nurse, Mary McInnis, she initiated the Congregation on November 21^st, Feast of the presentation of Our Lady. Msgr. John Ryan was appointed their spiritual director and Our Lady of Victory Missionary Sisters provided the initial formation.

Through a ministry of outreach, the Sisters continued the mission of Jesus as He proclaimed it in Luke 4:18 “He sent me to bring good news to the poor …” In many ways the Sisters fostered the Catholic Faith life among the African American population, opening the Church to them and promoting racial/cultural harmony. In addition, the Sisters were forerunners in encouraging vocations among the Blacks and helped many all “white” Congregations to become inclusive of other races and cultures. The Sisters fostered civil rights and supported the National Black Sisters Conference and created other ministries for lay Black men and women to serve in the Church.

This mission was extended to Africa in May 2001 when then, Archbishop John Oniayekan invited the Community to Abuja, Nigeria. Two Sisters, Barbara Dakoske and Elizabeth Harris came and began to minister through Our Lady Queen of Nigeria pro Cathedral while also coordinating the out station Churches of Abittoir, Dantata and Dagbar until they were demolished in 2006.

Ministries:
Pastoral Ministry encompasses the variety of works the Sisters are engaged in. This includes, in addition to Home Visitation, Catechetical Instruction, RCIA, Faith Formation of Adults and Children, Bible Study, Clinic, Teaching School, Marriage and HIV Counseling, Giving Retreats and Personal Growth Programs.

Currently in Abuja, the H.V.M. are ministering in Our Lady Queen of Nigeria, Pro Cathedral, Church of the Twelve Apostles, Mater Dei Church in Gwagwalada, St. Martin Parish, Apo, and teaching in St Aloysius Secondary School, Godswill Academy, New Capital School, Ave Maria Schools.

In addition, the H.V.M. have opened a mission in Ichama, Benue state and are running a pre-school and primary school as well as other pastoral involvements there. A Sister is assistant hospital chaplain at St. Mary’s Hospital, Gwagwalada, while another is coordinating the catechetical program at Mater Dei Parish, Gwagwalada. Having opened their Formation Centre in Gwagwalada, H.V.M. are now sponsoring a Theological Institute affiliated with the Catholic Institute of West Africa CIWA) in collaboration with the Missionaries of St. Paul. Sisters are engaged in marriage and HIV counseling and testing and PRH(Personality and Human Relations) personal growth programs.

The empowe rment of poor women in their knitting center is another avenue for evangelization. The underlying objective of the various ministries the sisters are engaged in is evangelization, to make Jesus known and loved and to build up the faith life of people. Their desire is to inculcate the Catholic Faith, to promote unity and understanding among peoples, and to work for justice And peace.