History was made on June 27, 2021, when the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy (DMMM) opened a convent at Badore – Ajah, in the neighbourhood of Lekki, Lagos. The opening Mass was celebrated at St. Peter Catholic Church, Langbasa where the DMMM Sisters were assigned to do pastoral work, by Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. Francis Shola Ogunmodede, the then Dean of Lekki Deanery and Episcopal Vicar of Lekki Region, whose encouragement and patronage, DMMM enjoyed greatly at that teething stage. “We worked under the first Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Stephen Enearo, followed by Rev. Fr. Stephen Akinsowon, the current Dean of Ajah Deanery. Then, came the period of Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Idoko and his Associates: Rev. Frs. Emmanuel Omoroke and Dominic Onuoha who eventually handed over to the current Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Jacob Usman.
They have been wonderfully supportive to the DMMM Sisters’ Rev. Sr. Ugochukwu Agbakwuru, Administrator, Mother of Mercy Model School recalls. The blessing and opening of the convent attracted the presence of many DMMM, Sisters from other Congregations, Priests and very distinguished Parishioners of St. Peter Catholic Church, Langbasa. Speaking at the occasion, Very Rev. Fr. Stephen Akinsowon, the officiating Priest and Dean of Ajah Deanery, Delegate of Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, likened the establishment of Mother of Mercy Nursery, Primary and Secondary schools and the convent as the growth of the mustard seed. “The moral, spiritual and intellectual formation going on there are for the future of our country and the betterment of the society at large”, the Dean said.
He also testified to the fact that the DMMM are touching many lives and are witnessing to Christ in this part of the Archdiocese of Lagos in a quiet but eloquent manner, through the school apostolate and pastoral work. Expressing appreciation, Rev. Sr. Agbakwuru said the DMMM remains very grateful to Almighty God Who made it possible. “We thank Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins, Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos for all his support and care. We are obliged to our Superior General; Mother Angeleen Umezurike for her unalloyed support.She pragmatically took the bull by the horns and saw to the completion of the Convent and Chapel which we are blessing today.
“In most special way, we thank the Dean, the Delegate of the Archbishop for his love. Our thanks also go to our current Regional Superior, Sr. Mary Ozioma Nwokorie for her encouragement. Once again, we appreciate our Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Jacob Usman. He celebrated the first Mass in our new convent! We remain grateful to Sr. Mary Ugochukwu Agbakwuru, Sr. Maria Virginia Ajuzie, other DMMM Sisters, the Parishioners of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Langbasa, and all our friends and benefactors who in one way or the other supported us towards the establishment of the school and the convent.”
