For The Sanctification Of The Whole World
Brief History Of The ABBEY
St. Scholastica Benedictine Abbey:
“Peace and Joy”, forms part of the great Benedictine family which St. Benedict of Nursia started in the 6th century at Subiaco, Italy. The story of the Abbey began in 1977 when Francis Cardinal Arinze, who was then the Archbishop of Onitsha desired to establish a monastic foundation in his Archdiocese. He then invited the Abbey of St. John the Baptist in Rome to help him establish a Benedictine foundation here in Nigeria. One of the nuns in this Abbey was a Nigerian called Sr. Mary Patricia Alufuo
The foundation stone for the building of the new monastery was laid on 17th December, 1977. After some due preparations, the founding Abbey in Rome sent 5 nuns to begin the foundation. These were Donne Saveria Moscini, Gregoria Toffano (R.I.P), Arcangela Bruni, Gertrude Moscini and the Nigerian Sr. M. Patricia Alufuo. These, accompanied by the Mother Superior of the founding Abbey, arrived at Umuoji where the foundation was situated on 8th July, 1978 which is the official birthday of the monastery. Thus, monastic life commenced at St. Scholastica on that very date. On 9th August 1978 , Sr. Patricia Alufuo was appointed the Prioress of the new foundation.
The Novitiate was opened on 23rd July, 1980 with the clothing of eleven Postulants. In 1992, St. Scholastica became independent from the founding Abbey in Rome thus attaining the status of a Monastery Sui Iuris. The monastery was further raised to the status of an Abbey on 13th November 1993. Then on the 16th of November, 1993, Sr. Patricia Alufuo OSB was unanimously elected as the first Abbess and she received her Abbatial blessing on 21st. August, 1994. She piloted the affairs of the Abbey from 1978 to 2007. After the resignation of the first Abbess, on 27th August, 2007, Mother Margaret Mary Ngobidi OSB was elected as the second Abbess of the Abbey and she ended her tenor of abbatial office in mid-August 2019.
On the 14th of August, 2019, Rev. Mother Mary Ruphina Chukwuka OSB, was elected as the incumbent and third Abbess, of the Abbey of St. Scholastica, Umuoji. The ceremony of her abbatial blessing took place on 17th of November, 2019. It is also worth – noting that the Abbey of St. Scholastica is an enclosed religious institute of papal right, wholly ordered to contemplation and does not engage in any external apostolate. However, the Abbey engages in the baking of altar bread, sewing of liturgical vestments, farming, candle making, poultry, piggery, bee keeping, etc. It also operates a retreat/ guest house where Priests, religious and Christ’s faithful come for their spiritual uplifting.
News:
The Abbey has already established two daughter houses namely: 1. Queen of Peace Benedictine Monastery, Ozubulu, Nigeria, which was founded in 1998 and (2). Nuestra Signora del Camino Monastery in the diocese of Caxito, Angola in East Africa, which was founded in June 2012. Recently, we suppressed the proposed Warri Monastery Foundation in September this year (2021), due to many challenging factors millitating against it. The Archbishop of Cape Coast, in Ghana invited us for a new foundation in his Archdiocese. Our Mother Abbess has visited and examined the permanent site of the proposed Monastery in June this year and found the site very conducive for monastic life. We continue to pray for its success and that in all things, God’s will shall triumph.
Our Apostolate
Canonical Status: Pontical Right
MOTTO: PEACE AND JOY
CHARISM: PRAYER AND WORK
MISSION STATEMENT: The nuns of St. Scholastica Benedictine Abbey, Umuoji, are monastic women who seek God in Community life through prayer work and work. Living in accordance with the Gospel, the Rule of St. Benedict, and the Declarations of our Abbey. and the general and specific norms of Subiaco-Cassino Congregation. We respond to the needs of the Church through our prayers and sacrifices for the sanctification of the whole world.
VISION STATEMENT: In light of our Benedictine values we seek to live:
– a cenobitic contemplative life in humility, silence, simplicity and joy within the enclosure.
– a life of prayer, worship and praise
– to seek God and follow Christ under the Rule and the Abbess
– to be a place of welcome through our hospitality.
APOSTOLATE & PURPOSE: The Abbey of St. Scholastica is an enclosed women religious institute of papal right. It’s purpose is wholly ordered towards contemplation praying for the sanctification of the whole world. The apostolate of the Abbey is following a Contemplative Benedictine way of life through prayer and work for the salvation of all mankind. However, the nuns engage themselves in any kind of spiritual, intellectual and manual works within the cloister as means of sustenance and do not engage in other external apostolate.
POSTAL ADDRESS:
St. Scholastica Benedictine Abbey, Umuoji.
P. O. Box 103, NKPOR, Idemili – North L.G.A, Anambra State, Nigeria.
E-mail Addresses:
umuabbey@yahoo.com/ stscholasticabbeyumuoji@gmail.com
FORMATION HOUSES:
At St. Scholastica Benedictine Abbey,Umuoji.
Contact numbers:
07067008006 / 08034005989
Contact Superior (ABBESS):
07067008006/ 09021587003
E-mail: ruphinachuks@yahoo.com
Residential Address:
St. Scholastica Benedictine Abbey,
Abidi Village, Monastery Road, Umuoji.
Idemili – North L.G.A.
Anambra State, Nigeria.
Congregation Mobile Numbers:
08034005989/ 08024962941.
Date And Place Founded:
8th July, 1978. @ Umuoji.
Founder: Francis Cardinal Arinze
Superior:
REV. MOTHER MARY RUPHINA CHUKWUKA OSB.
E-mail: ruphinachuks@yahoo.com
SISTERS IN SOLEMN MONASTIC VOWS:
- Sr. Mary Bernadette Nwankwo
- Sr. Anastasia Umunnaka
- Sr. Maria Teresa Ozoemena
- Sr. Mary Pauline Anugha
- Sr. Mary Veronica Ayika
- Mother Margaret Mary Ngobidi
- Sr. Mary Bernadine Ikeghe
- Sr. Magdalene Muojama
- Sr. M Assumpta Emenike
- Sr. Mary Perpetual Amailo
- Sr. M. Josefa Anyaegbunam
- Sr. M. Clare Agbim
- Sr. Jacinta Chialu
- Sr. M. Augustine Ezenwanwe
- Sr. Patrick Adibe
- Sr. Maria Consilia Ukadike
- Sr. Mary Ann Nneji
- Sr. Maria Benedicta Ikebudu
- Sr. Neolla Maria Offor
- Sr. Mary Gerard Rosa Ubadigbo
- Sr. M. Martha Nwizu
- Sr. Mary Lilian Pascha Anibuenwa
- Sr. Anthony Ewim
- Sr. M. Philomena Ezeh
- Sr. Louis De Monfort Akubude
- Sr. Bonventure Nwosa
- Sr. M Joseph Okeke
- Sr. M. Samuel Onyeoziri
- Sr. Philomena Maria Aniakor
- Sr. Vincent Okolo
- Sr. Sixtus Okoli
- Sr. Jude Nwamekwa
- Sr. Maria Perpetual Azumara
- Sr. Catherine Maria Okeme
- Sr. M. Regina Anisiobi
- Sr. Miriam Veronica Ezeani
- Sr. Mary Fortunata Omeke
- Sr. Miriam Martha Ejinima
- Sr. Caritas Maria Ogbu
- Sr. Maria Victoria Aninwogbu
- Sr. M. Victoria Aziekwena
- Sr. Scholastica Cordis Igbozoba
- Sr. John Baptist Ugokwe
- Sr. Martin Of Tour Arinze
- Sr. Miriam Philomena
- Sr. Veronique Oluwa
- Sr. Angela Ojiakor
- Sr. Miriam Regina Obimata
- Sr. Nativitas Mariae Emeodi
- Sr. Cor Jesu Oraegbunam
- Sr. Marie Leonie Ezeugo
- Sr. M. Gloria Onyeguili
- Sr. M. Paul Ebere
- Sr. M. Thomas Ibeh
- Sr. Loyola Nwachukwu
- Sr. Mary Annunciata Obimata
- Sr. Mary Eucharia Okoye
- Sr. Genitrix Maria Okongwu
- Sr. Mary Callista Okeke
- Sr. Maria Eugenia Onyegbu
- Sr. Elizabeth Arinze
- Sr. Agnes Mary Uzoezie
- Sr. M. Providentae
- Sr. Miriam Pauline Igbanor
- Sr. M. Francisca Oguonu
- Sr. Stella Maris Enuka
- Sr. Miriam Concepta Okeh
- Sr. M. Edith Arinze
- Sr. Rita Maris Obiejinwa
- Sr. M. Sabina Nwosu
- Sr. Jot Augusta Nwankwo
- Sr. Caro Christi Ononamadu
- Sr. Trinitas Maria Asodu
- Sr. Maria Patricia Mgbechi
- Sr. Assumpta Maria Ezennolum
- Sr. Mary Sussan Ekpechi
- Sr. Maria Lucia Odimgbe
- Sr. Mary Sylvia Enemuo
Number Of Sisters In Temporary Vows : 22
Necrology: 10
- Sr. Cordis Maria Uchendu, OSB
- Sr. Ann Claire Obika, OSB
- Sr. Mary Fidelis Ezeani, OSB
- Sr. Mary Verbum Dei Oyeakpu, OSB
- Sr. Mary Esther Ogbuka
- Sr. M. Elizabeth Ann Okeke, OSB
- Rev. Mother M. Patricia Alufuo
- Sr. Consolata Nwogu
- Sr. M. Callistus Ezike
- Sr. Mary Benedict Ezegolu