RESUMPTION:

It was like a dream when on 9th September, 2014, our Vice-Provincial, Sr. Monica Anyi put a call across to us, Patience Effiong, Grace Abah and Justina Akubo DHS,  about the resumption of our school Veritas University, Abuja (Catholic university). Our hearts were filled with joy and gratitude when the reality dawned on us on the 13th September, 2014.We began our journey to Abuja to resume our studies. We felt privileged to be among the 16 religious who were beneficiaries of ASEC scholarship. We appreciate God for this and we thank the ASEC and our Congregation for this great opportunity.

FOUNDATION YEAR PROGRAMME:

            To refresh our memory and to get ready for the degree programme proper, we joined other students for the foundation year programme which lasted for two months. During this period, we studied subjects of our choice, and had examination to test our abilities.It was on 22^nd November, 2014 that we started our degree programme properly.

 LIVING TOGETHER:

            We live in the school hostel and we try to live as student sisters. Our way of life is simple. We witness to the Gospel of Christ and the Charism of the Daughters of the Holy Spirit. Before we resumed school, we had our General Assembly where we chose our orientation “Rooted in the Love of the Trinity” for the year 2014/2015. As student sisters, we created a way on how to live this orientation. We studied Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation on the Proclamation of the Gospel in today’s World on every third Sunday of the month and also St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians on every fourth Sunday of the month. We have our community prayer, recollection, meals, meetings and we participate with our fellow students in religious and academic programmes. We had a common renewal of vows with other congregations on 2nd February, 2015 (Consecrated Life Day) at the chaplaincy and this had a great impact on us as we celebrated The Year of Consecrated Life. Also, on the day of Pentecost, our principal feast day, the three of us renewed our commitment in the chaplaincy and we had our celebration in our little corner. We celebrate our birthdays together as we do in our communities. We join in some pious societies such as choir, Legion of Mary and Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

The bond that exists among us is what keeps us going. Despite the stress of our academic work, we come back to share our experiences, we affirm one another’s gifts, we reconcile with one another when there is misunderstanding. Our success also comes from the support we give one another.

Our interaction with people around us has made us discover children from the neighbouring village ‘’Zuma II’’ who are now in close friendship with us and they are coming to worship with us in the chaplaincy every Sunday. We are touched by the gestures of these children as they share with us their little gifts such as groundnuts, beautiful smiles, and they lead us to know their parents and families.

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:

It started like a joke, at different levels and with different courses, with joys and challenges. ‘Education is power’ they say! We can testify to this in our different areas of study. We are grateful to our Congregation, ASEC and Veritas University. From our experiences so far, we have gained a lot, not just as students alone but as religious (DHS) and this has helped us to do well in our studies and to be emotionally balanced.

As the name implies “veritas’’ is such that it offers us the opportunity to deepen our faith in the truth through our learning, which is of Catholic background and holistic education. Education is power! Power!! Unlimited power!!! When we are properly educated, we will be politically liberated, economically equipped and spiritually balanced.We study with other students in the school (group sharing) and through our interaction we know them better and they know us. We communicate with our sisters back in communities and they communicate with us especially sisters Monica Anyi DHS and Anthonia Ayeni DHS and other sisters in the congregation. We thank God for their support and prayer.

Effiong Patience, Abah Grace and Akubo Justina, DHS.