CCM, Nigeria

Goodwill Message for the Confraternity of Christian Mothers Centenary Celebration

If the Lord does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless. (Psalm 127:1). A centenary ago (1920-2020), the Confraternity of Christian Mothers was given birth to at the Corpus Christi Parish in Bende, in the present Umuahia Diocese, in Nigeria. Over the years, the confraternity has withstood the test of time but is still flourishing in the face of trials, reproofs, tests of age, modernization and civilization and changes in administrations. The Confraternity is where it is today without losing its relevance. I appreciate the Good Lord, our God, for His grace and enablement which made the Confraternity to be alive and flourishing today. All glory to God for all the achievements of the Confraternity since its emergence. The Confraternity has spread its tentacles round and has members in different dioceses nationwide. The Confraternity has majorly brought Christian mothers together to see the light and stand up to their responsibilities in their homes, businesses, work place and career; through seminars, meetings and workshops organized at the parish, diocesan, archdiocesan and national levels.

Despite all of these indications of growth, both in number and especially in substance and quality, is remains a sore point, that the very Eastern Nigeria, where the Confraternity was first planted and flourished before spreading to the other part of Nigeria, has become the place with little or no presence. The spiritual reasons for this must be a point for deep study, prayers and learning about what things people must not do in the Catholic or even any other Christian apostolates. It should be cause for people in that part of the country to rise up, resolve, learn their lessons and try (with the sure help of God) to recover their lost ground; thanks to the Lord Bishop of Umuahia Diocese, Most Rev Dr Lucius I. Ugorji and a few others who are already beginning to do this.

The Confraternity of Christian Mothers has been blessed with different leaders whose great contributions to the organization led to its growth and development as well as different achievements at the local and the national levels. This is one of the reasons they will be celebrated during this ceremony. Even though some of them have slept in the Lord, their works still speak on. However, the best way to appreciate what they have done and the legacy they have left behind for all Christian mothers is to utilize this platform judiciously and ensure that we live exemplary lives as “true” Christian mothers. The present administration is also contributing its quota to this development by on our spirituality, the recognition and stability of the confraternity all over Nigeria; and we are sure that the Lord is taking the organization to greater heights.

The centenary theme is: Marriage and family life issues. Marriage is an institution ordained by God; it is as old as man himself, a primary and foremost vocation, surely. It is however faced with many challenges today as there is daily increase in divorce rate even among Christians. The family which is the smallest social unit but a very vital one also has issues which are not to be overlooked but must be worked on to bring about stable homes with positive emotional climate. Thereby, ensuring the growth and development of a healthy country - as Charity begins at home.

As Christian mothers, we should work towards achieving a home by making sure that the intending couples understand what marriage is all about before embarking on the journey. There should be no rushing into marriage and intending couples should properly discern that they are called to this vocation as well as they are the proper help-mate for each other for this journey to heaven that marriage truly is. Their families should know each other properly before the engagement and marriage of their children. Wisdom clearly states it properly that we should “not yoke unequally with unbelievers” or such other people. We should build marriages where God will be the head, our husbands will take up their responsibilities and the children will walk in the way of the Lord. We should not forget the impacts of our mothers in the scriptures who did all they could to have a stable home despite all the challenges they face - Sarah, Rebecca, Abigail, Esther, Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus and even the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31. In this dispensation where it seems abnormality is being embraced as normal, we should stand up to our responsibilities, physically and prayerfully, as we lead others to Christ through our exemplary living and ensure that our marriage is heaven on earth despite the inevitable challenges that come our ways. Our mother Mary is the patron of our society. May we continue to call on our mother Mary to intercede for us in all our situations and circumstances. Let us focus more on our prayers and less on others things. These other things are sources of distraction. We should resist the devil in everything we do.

I am glad to be part of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers and to have everyone here as members of the same family; let us all continue to support the good course the Lord has placed in our hands in all ways. The confraternity shall live long. Mother of Sorrows, Queen of Peace, pray for us. Amen.

It was at a time, about the middle of the 19th century, when the modern forces undermining family life first began to lift their heads that the Christian Mothers reacted in a spiritual and spiritualizing moment. It was a movement of self-defense and self-preservation.

In various parts of France, and especially in Lille, Mothers began to gather to pray with and for one another, and their children, to discuss their problems and to advice one another regarding the Christian rearing of their children.

The movement gradually solidified, and on May 1st,, 1850, the first conference of Christian Mothers was held on Lille, France, under the leadership of Louise Josson de Bilhem, the wife of a court official.

In the course of time, the Mothers south and found recognition from the Bishop for their growing organization. Once that approval was given, the organization grew with leaps and bounds, throughout France and the neighboring countries, and soon over a million women were enrolled as members.

At present there are six Archconfraternities of Christian Mothers in the world. They are located in Paris, Rome, Regensburg (Ratisborn), Cracow, Einsidle and Pittsburgh. The society found its way into America at an early date and on the 16th of January 1881, the confraternity of Christian Mothers canonically erected in St. Augustine’s church, Pittsburgh, Pa, and was raised to the rank of an archconfraternity with the right of affiliating other Confraternities whenever the ordinary approved

Since then over 3400 confraternities have been affiliated with the Pittsburgh Archconfraternity directed by the capuchin Fathers and brothers.

The Confraternity of Christian Mothers has for its object the Christian home education of children by truly Christian Mothers. It plans to unite by the observance of its rules and regulations all Christian ladies, married or widowed, who are willing to assist one another to attain this noble purpose. Under the special patronage of the “Mother of sorrows” members are encouraged joyously and hopefully to undertake the important task of training and sanctifying the young souls entrusted in their care. They are schooled to edify one another by word and dead, to support one another by fervent prayers and thus become the mainstay of the spiritual life within their own family, and a fruitful source of blessings to the community in which they live. This is principal aim of all confraternities affiliated with the Archconfraternity.