The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady Star of the Sea, is a Religious Institute of the Christian faithful that is founded and exists in the Apostolic Vicariate of Bomadi, Delta State, Nigeria. This Congregation was approved and erected as a Religious Congregation with Diocesan recognition and approval by His Lordship, Most Rev Dr Hyacinth O. The headquarter is located in Tuomo
This
congregation was founded on the 15th of August, 2012 by Sister Felicia Puwei, SOLSS, at Patani in the Diocese of Bomadi. The Sisters profess their religious commitment through Public and canonical vows to live by the evangelical counsels of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience. Besides the personal sanctification of the members through the observance of the religious vows, this Institute equally aims to evangelize the entire un-evangelised local communities and to teach Catechism in the local churches in the spirit of providing pastoral care for the spiritually poor. Furthermore, we are specially committed to the care of the socially deprived in the coastal region. Our aim is to reach out to those millions of untended flock that are cut off in the water ways of the coastal region of the Niger Delta in Nigeria that are quite difficult to reach. The Sisters find their strength in Jesus Christ, the author of life. They offer themselves to Him in humble and unconditional service. They live a simple lifestyle that creates inner freedom with the desire to carry out a ministry that has many faces. This ministry would be exercised in diverse situations in the coastal regions and in the world at large. The charism of the Congregation finds its expression in selfless service that is rendered to Our Lord Jesus Christ in those whom they will come in contact with. Love for the Virgin Mary our Mother, invoked under the titles of: Our Lady Star of the Sea, Seat of Wisdom, Mother of divine grace and health of the sick constitute the basic spirit of our religious patrimony. C4.1. The importance and urgency of our apostolate cannot be overemphasized. The reasons being that:
- there is an urgently felt need for missionary presence in the coastal region to help evangelize the local churches and communities of the coastal regions to help introduce qualitative and formal education to the children of this present and future generations.
- There are no good schools in the coastal region. These schools and health care facilities lack committed and qualified teachers and health care providers due to the challenges of the region.
- Generally, this region presents an abysmal absence and lack of modern infrastructure such as roads, electricity, potable water, health facilities; e.t.c. Hence, the Sisters of Our Lady Star of the Sea will be committed and selflessly render all forms of humanitarian services to the people of this coastal region. C5. The Lord, identifying himself with those who are united, inspires the Sisters who take as their motto: “ONE MIND ONE HEART” which is modeled on St. Augustine of Hippo’s spirituality of religious Community life. Simplicity, Charity and Selfless service essentially constitute our basic spiritual life. (Cf. Acts 2). II. THE PRACTICE OF THE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS
C6. The Sisters by Public vows make the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience the cornerstone of their entire existence, personality, and life. Their vow is directly invoked when the Superior commands expressly in virtue of the vow, or in equivalent terms.
