The History of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus
North Western Province
THE HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE HANDMAIDS OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS, NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE
THE HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE HANDMAIDS OF THE HOLY CHILD JESUS, NORTH WESTERN PROVINCE
Establishment of the Province
The 7th General Chapter held at Eriam in March, 1996 decreed that the Congregation be organized in Provinces for a more Effective Administration and Apostolic Ministry. As a result of this mandate, the following Provinces were created: North-Western Province, South-Eastern Province, Central Eastern Province, and Ghana Province.
North-Western Province Inauguration
The North-Western Province of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus was erected on the 18th of August, 1997 at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria with the headquarters located at 2-6 Somosu Street, Aguda, Surulere, Lagos.
This event was carried out after the First Provincial Assembly held at Gwagwalada, Abuja on the 15th of August–September, 1997. The then Superior General, Mother Mary Langley, HHCJ presented an opening address.
The North Western Province was made up of Communities in the Archdioceses and Dioceses of Lagos, Abuja, Lokoja, Ilorin, Ijebu-Ode, Idah, Makurdi, Minna and Ondo. The Province had the total number of ninety-six Professed Sisters living in eighteen Communities of the Congregation at her inauguration. The North western Province is multi-culture with Sisters from different parts of the country.
The First Leadership Team (18th August 1997)
Sr. Emmanuella Ladipo, HHCJ
Provincial Superior
Sr. Beatrice Azide, HHCJ
Provincial Vicar
Sr. Mary Tuku, HHCJ
Provincial Councillor
Sr. Justina Obiajunwa, HHCJ
Provincial Councillor
Sr. Dorothy Okpanachi, HHCJ
Provincial Councillor
Provincial Chapters
First Provincial Chapter (26th July – 1st August 2000)
Theme: Towards Building a More Effective Community Centered on Gospel Witnessing
Sr. Emmanuella Ladipo, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Beatrice Azide, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Justina Obiajunwa, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Mary Tuku, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Dorothy Okpanachi, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Second Provincial Chapter (8th – 17th July 2023)
Theme: Living Out Our Charism and Mission in Accordance to the Signs of the Times
Sr. Dorothy Okpanachi, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Justina Obiajunwa, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Francisca Josephine Nzeke, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Grace Ushie, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Ngozi Frances Uti, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Third Provincial Chapter (30th July – 6th August 2006)
Theme: Passion for Christ, Passion for Humanity: Handmaids as Signs and Instrument of Gods Compassionate Love and Reconciliation
Sr. Dorothy Okpanachi, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Grace Ushie, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Rosemary Ukata, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Cicilia Oboh, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Josephine Ngama, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Fourth Provincial Chapter (27th July – 3rd August 2009)
Theme: Towards the Renewal of Our Religious Commitments
Sr. Justina Obiajunwa, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Anthonia Uche, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Rosemary Ukata, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Oshieza Ann Otonoku, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Agnes Ijoko, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Fifth Provincial Chapter (1st – 6th August 2013)
Theme: Understanding, Owing and Prophetic Living of Our Identity as Handmaids
Sr. Ngozi Frances Uti, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Oshieza Ann Otonoku, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Agnes Ijoko, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Patience Amadike, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Philomina Akem, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
6th Provincial Chapter (17th – 24th September 2016)
Theme: And Love is the Answer: Re-Birthing the All-Embracing Charity of our Mother Foundress
Sr. Osheiza Ann Otonoku, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Grace Ushie, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Patience Amadike, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Philomina Akem, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Callista Umeh, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
7th Provincial Chapter (22nd – 30th August 2019)
Theme: Call to Conversion in the Living Out of Our Mission Statement
Sr. Osheiza Ann Otonoku, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Callista Umeh, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Jane Onyeneri, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Cordelia Nwefo, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Mary Okolo, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
8th Provincial Chapter (22nd – 30th September 2022)
Theme: Synodality in the Life, Vision and Mission of the Handmaids in the 21st Century
Sr. Jane Onyeneri, HHCJ - Provincial Superior
Sr. Cordelia Nwefo, HHCJ - Provincial Vicar
Sr. Mary Okolo, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. MaryElizabeth Adedeji, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor
Sr. Anthonia Onuegbu, HHCJ - Provincial Councillor