By Fr. Anthony Adetayo

There is no gainsaying in elaborating the fact that Ijebu men and women have gone into the annals of history in achieving great feats especially in the acquisition of professional careers. There are Ijebu engineers, renowned medical doctors, lawyers, great nationalists and even priests and Bishops. However, we are yet to see an Ijebu nun. This is what made the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu Ode, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Obafemi Adesina to task the nuns in St. Clare monastery to make more effort to attract the locals into such a special life. He noted this at the 25th anniversary of the monastery in Ijebu land on Saturday 15th February 2020. He narrated a little about the arrival of the nuns in Ijebu land.

The St. Clare’s nuns were invited by Most Rev. Dr. Albert Ayinde Fasina Catholic Bishop of Ijebu-Ode in the year 1993 before Sr. Priscilla Asogwa and Mother Mary-Rose made their Solemn Vow. Shortly, after their profession, Bishop Albert Ayinde Fasina of the Catholic Diocese of Ijebu-Ode and Bishop Francis Okobo of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka visited and reminded them of the great task ahead. Thereafter, there were series of meetings and consultations which culminated to their visit to Ijebu-Ode on the 11th of February, 1994. They met with the Priests of the Diocese and the Bishop. They reached an agreement and stipulated the date of their coming.

On the 11th February 1995 the mission began. The foundation members were Sr. Francesca Federici from St. Clare Monastery Cortona Italy; Sr. Priscilla Asogwa and Sr. Mary-Rose Aghanu of St. Clare Monastery Siena Italy. Mother Chiara Virdis was their Abbess. It was the Collaboration of two community: Siena and Cortona Monasteries.

The Pioneers arrived Nigeria on the 11th February 1995. They lived in the family House of Late Pa Lawrence Ayanbadejo opposite Technical College Erunwon road. The Monastery of Siena sent the money for the preparation and renovation of the temporary place. Mama Lucy Onabanjo “Iya Ijo” of Cathedral gave feminine touch to the house. The Pioneers met the house as a home. God has worked since then to make the monastery what it is today. The Bishop insists that Ijebu girls must be attracted to the monastery.