Societies of Apostolic Life in Nigeria

   Societies of Apostolic Life resembles Religious Institute, but "differ in that their members don't take religious vows". They pursue the apostolic purpose of the society to which they belong. If they profess the evangelical counsels, they take it as a bond/oath and not vows. The approved Societies of Apostolic life Approved by the Church (Holy See) in Nigeria are: 

*Missionary of St. Paul (MSP). 
PMB 2011, Iperu Remo 121003, Ogun state. 

*Missionaries of Africa (M. Afr.). 
Box 19460, UIPO, Ibadan, Oyo state. 

*St. Patrick's Missionary Society (SPS). 
PO BOX 1712, Calabar, Cross River state. spswavocations@yahoo.com

 

*Society of African Missions (SMA) PO BOX 7414, Shomolu, Lagos state. -for aspirants from south and east only. OR SMA HOUSE, PO BOX 84, Kagoro, kaduna state. -for aspirants from North only.

NOTE: THE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION IN NIGERIA ARE AS FOLLOW:

 1. 5-6 CREDITS IN WASSCE OR GCE. 

2. BAPTISED AND CONFIRMED CATHOLIC YOUTH. 

3. AGE LIMIT IS FROM 16 TO 25 YEARS OLD. BUT, SOME ACCEPT ABOVE 25 YEARS OLD.

Evolving religious congregation yet to be approved by the church(Holy See) in Nigeria

Evolving male religious congregation yet to be approved by the church(Holy See) in Nigeria are as follow: 

*Missionary Fathers of the Blessed Sacrament, Awka, Nigeria, E-mail address:sssvocations@blessedsacrament.com. Tel: +2348100274988.

*Compassionate Missionary Sons of Mary, Queen of Peace, PO BOX 3, Otoko, Obowo LGA, 463002, Imo. E-mail: compassionatemissionarysons@gmail.com. Tel:+2349038323905.

 *Missionary Fathers and Brothers of the Eucharist Heart of Jesus, E-mail: eucharisticheartofjesus@yahoo.com.

*Congregation of Sons of our Lady of peace(SOP), PO BOX 222, Enugu, Enugu. sonspeace2@gmail.com.

*Holy Family Fathers and Brothers of the Youth, PO BOX 86, Okija, Ihiala LGA, Anambra.

 *Congregation of the Missionary Friends of the Holy Spirit, tel: 07062401677.

*Missionary Sons of Divine Providence, PO BOX 171, Umuokeawa Ogbe, Ahiazu, Mbaise, Imo.

 *Congregation of All Souls, PO BOX 422, Ankpa, Kogi. +2348066688600, +23481419700799. E-mail:marianpuritans2010@gmail.com.

      *Missionaries of St. Andrew the Apostle, Catholic Diocese of Bafang BP 213 Cameroun, Nigeria Mission. E-mail: missionariesandrew@gmail.com OR missionariesandreanfathers@yahoo.com.

*Missionaries of Divine Mercy, PO BOX 58, Minna, Niger.

*Missionaries Sons of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, Diocese of Benue, 09030724690; 09030724590; 07035077039; 07014503760; 08140968790. E-mail: holyname.ofjesus@yahoo.com. OR holynameofjesus@yahoo.com.

*Missionaries of Love and Mercy, By Catholic Church of Ascension, PO BOX 2242, Asaba, Delta.

 *Missionaries Sons of Blessed Tansi, PO BOX 80, Enugu.

NOTE: IF YOU ARE ADMITTED TO ANY OF THE EVOLVING COMMUNITIES, MAKE SURE YOU CONSULT THE BISHOP'S/ARCHIBISHOP'S OFFICE OF THE DIOCESE/ARCHIDIOCESE WHERE THE COMMUNITY IS TO CONFIRM WHELTHER THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY IS KNOWN BY THE BISHOP/ARCHIBISHOP OF THE DIOCESE/ARCHIDIOCESE OR NOT.

Male Religious Congregation in Nigeria.

  

     Religious institute is an institute of consecrated life in which members pronounce public vows (Chastity, Poverty and Obedience) and lead a life of brothers and sisters in common. The approved religious institutes/congregation in Nigeria that is approved by the Church(Holy See) are as follows: 

*Society of Jesus(Jesuit), 
4L, Agusto Close, PO BOX 223, Surulere, Lagos state.

*Vincentian,
PO BOX 3356, Ugwuaji Rd, Maryland Layout, Enugu.

OR PO BOX 126, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom state. 

*Congregation of the Holy Ghost(Spiritans), Southwest Province, PO BOX 10023, Benin city, Edo state. -for aspirants that reside in southwest.

OR Congregation of the Holy Ghost(Spiritans), Southeast province, Spiritan postulate, PO BOX 1560, Akabor, Imo state. -for aspriants that reside in the southeast.

*Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, PO BOX 430, Orlu, Imo state. 

*Redemptorist, PO BOX 29585, Secretariat PO, Ibadan, Oyo state. redemptoristvocationsofnigeria@yahoo.com.

       *Oblates of St. Joseph, 2, Hendrickse Street, PO BOX 30725, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo state.

OR St. Mary's Catholic Church, 38, Ire- Akari Estate Rd, Isolo, Lagos state.

OR St. Joseph's Seminary, KM 8, Old Lagos Rd, Opere Village, PO BOX 30725, Secretariat PO, Ibadan, Oyo state. 

*Capuchin Franciscan Friary, 3-3 Junction, PO BOX 7559, Onitsha, Anambra state.

*Claretian Missionaries, 14/16, Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island, Lagos. Judomigba@yahoo.com 

*Oblate of Virgin Mary, PO BOX 7754, Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo. 

*Oblates of Mary Immaculate, PO BOX 494, Jos, Plateau.

*Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, PO BOX 3, Ogbere- Ijebu, Ogun.

*Franciscan Friar of Immaculate, Marian House, Mother of Perpetual Help, PO BOX 25, Ijebu Igbo, Ogun. 

*Society of the Sons of Mary, Mother of Mercy, Loretto House, PO BOX 1660, Umuahia, Abia.

*Teresian Carmelites(ODC), PO BOX 3612, Enugu. 

*Order of St. Benedict(OSB), PO BOX 150, Ewu- Ishan, Edo.

*Dominican(OP), St. Dominic Priory, PO BOX 44, Yaba, Lagos.

*Order of St. Augustine(OSA), Augustinian Monastery, PO BOX 1627, Jos, Plateau.

*Order of the Cistercians(OCSO), Mount Calvary Monastery, Awhum, PO BOX 698, Enugu.

*Salesians of Don Bosco(SDB), Don Bosco Centre, Oke Odunwo, PO BOX 397, Ondo. 

Congregation of Brothers in Nigeria are: 

*Brothers of St. Stephen, Holy Trinity Cathedral, PO BOX 411, Onitsha, Anambra. 

*Marist Brothers of the School, PO BOX 307, Orlu, Imo. 

*Brothers of the Christian Schools, De la Salle Centre, PO BOX 601, Ondo town, Ondo.

Male Secular Congregation in Nigeria

   A Secular Institute is an institute of consecrated life in which the Christian faithful living in the world strive for perfection of charity and work for the sanctification of the world especially from within. The member of secular institute professes the evangelical counsels of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience- while in the world. The popular secular institute of consecrated life in Nigeria approved by the church (Holy See) is: 

The Schoenstatt Fathers,

Ayo Oluwo Street,

 Ijokodo,

 GPO BOX 37085,

Ibadan 200001, Oyo state.

Vocation

When a young man comes near the end of his schooling- whether primary or secondary school, technical institute or teachers' college, polytechnic or university, he has to ask himself a question; "what shall I be?". God has given me but one life to live: what shall I do with it? One way to look for an answer is to say: "what would I like to do?". A better way is to say: "what does God want me to do?", or, "what is God calling me to be?". Another word for 'CALL' is 'VOCATION': the young man is facing the question of his vocation. The 'Vocation' am talking about is the call to follow him(Jesus Christ) in the religious life. If we follow his call, we will choose that state of life in which we can best grow in love of God and be of service to mankind. We will, in the process, develop our selves personally in order to become what God expects of us, we will then be truly happy.

The major ingredient is DISCERNMENT. Discernment should be done with the aid of a spiritual director most likely a catholic priest, sister or brother. After which the next step is to apply to various communities. But, the young man is confused about, "how do I know the community to apply to?". Are they in Nigeria? The Catechism of the Catholic Church comments: "from the very beginning of the church, there were men and women who set out to follow Christ with greater liberty, and to imitate him more closely, by practising the evangelical counsels. They led lives dedicated to God, each in his own way. Many of them, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, became hermits or founded religious families". Thus the church, by virtue of her authority, gladly accepted and approved them. These religious families are canonical tagged "Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life".