2012 Accomplishments Reported

This report is third in a series of reports submitted to Bishop Francis E. Okobo, Bishop of the Catholic  Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria, Francis Cardinal George, OMI, Archbishop of Chicago, and Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, OP, Superintendent of Schools, Archdiocese of Chicago. The goal of the report is to inform all the stakeholders of the planning and partnership development between the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria, and the Archdiocese of Chicago begun in 2006.  Find them all under Documents and Presentations here.

You can give children clean water!

The wall around the school property is nearly completed  It will keep the children safe in the model school designed to the right. It will provide outdoor learning space between the classrooms which open toward the wall.  This fall the bore hole will be dug in the corner near the arrow, as soon as the funds are available.  This part of the land is the highest so the water can go down hill to the classrooms and other work areas.  This well will provide clean drinking water for this learning community.  Here is the link where you can give these young people clean drinking water.   Your gift will make the difference.  Watch for photos and progress reports here.  Please share this information with friends and relatives who want to help this dream school and teacher training center become a reality. No one of us could afford this project yet we can do so much working together!

October 1, 2010

The delegates return home safely over the weekend.  This is a picture of St. Theresa’s Catholic Cathedral, Nsukka, Enugu State. Look again at the site plan for the Model School that will train teachers throughout the diocese in educating the hearts and minds of Catholic young people. Watch for the links that you can use to help build this school, and support the education and training of teachers for the hundred schools in the urban and rural areas of this diocese.

Saturday, September 29, 2012      

Getting around Chicago on the elevated trains kept the delegation out of traffic slowdowns.  Visit the delegation photo page to enjoy even more of their experiences in Chicago.  Around noon today the delegation leaves for the flight home.  Keep their safe arrival in your prayers.  Enjoy their photo page listed at the top.

Meetings are over

I am very much impressed by the meetings of today. Moses

Friday, September 28, 2012       
As the Delegation wraps up its work in Chicago the morning meeting of the Education Committee will design the next steps in the process of creating a Catholic school system for the diocese of Nsukka.  After Mass and Lunch with the Catholic Schools Staff they will meet with the Committee of Interest to share the reflections on the work of the week and the next steps in the plan.  Dinner will be downtown Chicago with various committee members.Take the test, how many members of the entire delegation can you name after following the blog all week?  Your replies will be watched by all.

Thursday, September 27, 2012       

The delegation begins the day at  St. Hubert School where Committee of Interest member Vito DeFrisco is principal.  Later they move on to  Nazareth Academy.  The evening includes dinner and conversation at the CSJ Mother House use this link to learn about how the congregations have grown together.  
Have you seen the plan for the Model School designed by Chuck Newman?  Here it is for you to choose your own level of investment.  This fall the well will be readied and the primary classrooms located in the NE corner of the soccer field should be started soon after.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012  

The delegation spends the day at Immaculate Conception School here the students are using appreciative learning throughout the whole school curriculum.  Their principal is Bernadette Felicione a member of the Committee of Interest. The evening will be spent at Mexican Fine Arts Center which is in a Spanish speaking neighborhood.  Today we feature a priest of the Nsukka Diocese studying theology at the University of Notre Dame, Fr. Emeka Ngwoke, PhD.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012  
The delegation will spend the day at  Holy Family Catholic Academy .  They will leave their lodging at 7:30am and arrive at the academy around 9:00am.  After dinner in the evening they will participate in  St. Ailbe Parish Revival and Reception. Today's picture shows the centrally located Hotel Felix where the delegation stayed during their days in Chicago. The main door has the A location tag on it.

  

Monday, September 24, 2012

 The delegation will spend the day at Cardinal Bernardin Early Childhood Center  where Sr. Barbara Jean Ciszek, CSJ is principal. In her many trips to Nsukka, she has endeared herself to the delegates.  They will have a reception with Bishop Francis Kane, who cares for Vicariate II in Chicago Archdiocese.  Committee of Interest members Sr. Barbara Jean Ciszek and Sr. Judith Cauley are together in today's featured photo.

Sunday, September 23, 2012        

Delegation members will be visiting three parishes to speak about how Caritas will support the efforts of the Nsukka Diocese to educate their young people.   Fr. Fidelis will be at St Hubert Parish for the two Masses at 9:00/ 10:45am. With him are Mr. Innocent Ugowoke, Sr. Mary Brandon, and Carol Fendt. Fr. Gilbert will be at St. Ailbe Parish for the 11:00am Mass. With him will be Fr. Moses Ugwa, Dr. Obioma Eze, and Sir Lazarus Oga Ugwa, and Stephanie Clausell, a Committee of Interest member  Then the delegation will visit the DuSable Museum of African American History at 3:00pm.     Committee of Interest member, Dr.  Desmond Odugn of Nsukka, living on the north side, will host the delegation for dinner.  Today's photo features Rev. Fr. Fidelis Ikpe, Director of the Diocesan Education Commission, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria Manager of St. Catherine’s College Senior Secondary, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Saturday, September 22, 2012       

 Now the delegation has finished their sessions at Loyola University. Today will be spent on an  Architectural Tour of Chicago by Boat out on Lake Michingan and into the Chicago River followed by Dinner at historic Navy Pier.  This photo introduces Rev. Fr. Gilbert Ezeugwu, St. Paul Catholic Parish, Co-Chairperson of the Diocesan Education Committee, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria.
 

Friday, September 21, 2012       
The  Catholic School Vision 2020 Leadership Development gathered today at St. Angela School. This is an opportunity to attend Faculty Meeting and to experience the working of the school.  Then there will be lunch at  Children of Peace followed by a tour. -Frs. Fidelis and Moses will go to Old St. Mary's School on Michigan to see the work of Chuck Newman who drew up the site plan for the model school in Nsukka.   This evening they will take a picnic supper to Millennium Park Chicago  there the Symphony Concert entitled Carmina Burana by Carl Orff featuring Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Chicago Children’s Choir. This photo features Mr. Lazarus Oga Ugwu who is Secretary Diocesan Education Commission, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria.

Thursday, September 20, 2012      
After their sessions at Loyola today the Delegation will spend time with Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, OP who is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Chicago.   Today's delegation member is Rev. Fr. Dr. Moses Ugwu, PhD Director of Diocesan Human Resources Commission, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria, Member of the Diocesan Education Committee, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012   

After the session at Loyola University Piper Hall  during the day the group will return to their home away from home for evening activities. They will need jackets at it is sun will set around 7pm and the temperature will be dropping from today's high of 61 degrees to tonight's low of 48 degrees. This evening the Committee of Interest has planned another reception for the Delegation. This photo features Dr. Mrs. Obioma Eze, PhD, Professor, Federal Teacher’s College and Member of the Diocesan Education Committee, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria.
 

Tuesday, September 18, 2012       

After working on Catholic School Vision 2020 Leadership Development all day, the evening will involve a reception with the leadership of Loyola University to see how the Diocesan Delegation can work with the University personnel to train teachers across oceans.  The photo features Mr. Innocent Ugwoke, Teacher, St. Theresa’s College, Nsukka, Nigeria  Member of the Diocesan Education Committee, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria
 

Monday, September 17, 2012  

The delegation began their work today at Piper Hall on the Lake Shore Campus of Loyola University.  Their program is entitled Catholic School Vision 2020 Leadership Development.  After school they will visit Office of Catholic Schools at Archbishop Quigley Pastoral Center and meet with with Mr. Christopher Hoar/ Caritas for Children/ This group is collecting scholarship money so that children can afford to go to Catholic school in Nsukka.  The photo features Rev. Sr. Mary Brendan Ezigbo, DDL, Principal of St. Mary Nursery/ Primary Schools in Eha-Alumona,  Member of the Diocesan Education Committee, Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria
 

We are grateful to Loyola University for convening the Catholic School Vision 2020 Leadership Development meetings to forward the vision of a cohesive and effective system of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Nsukka, Nigeria. Gratitude goes to Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., Bishop Francis Okobo, Fr. Michael Garanzini, S.J., and the Loyola University Center for Catholic School Effectiveness, School of Education, and to Sr. Mary Paul McCaughey, O.P. and the Office of Catholic Schools for their assistance in shaping the plan for change. Our gratitude extends to the Catholic schools and parishes of the Archdiocese of Chicago, the Archdiocesan Principals Association, the Sisters of St. Joseph, the Sisters of Mercy, the Sisters of St. Agnes and the members of the Committee of Interests who have shared their talent and skill with Nsukka Catholic school leaders and educators. The delegation represents the Diocesan Education Commission and the Diocesan Education Committee who have worked tirelessly to shape a vision for change for the children and youth of Nigeria. Nno! Welcome!

Esther Hicks and Fr. Odo represent their respective dioceses

 in this collaboration and appreciate all those helping in the project.

Nsukka Delegation Wecomed This Afternoon

Rev. Fr. Dr. Wilfred O. Odo, JCD joins Rev. Fr. Fidelis Ikpe in the presentation of the Kola nut, seven were send by Rev, Bishop Francis Emmanuel Ogbonna Okobo, with the delegation of eight diocesan educators for study at Loyola University in Chicago. The welcome gathering was held Sunday afternoon September 16, 2012. The Kola nut is an important symbol in the Nigerian belief system. Breaking the Kola nut is part of any welcoming ceremony. Among the Ibos, the Kola nut is broken by the youngest person present. "He who brings Kola nut brings life" is a popular expression in many parts of Nigeria.Tell your Kola nut story in your comments.

Summer Delegation to Nsukka

The Chicago Catholic New World published several articles about this trip. Enjoy them all here are their links. Tell us what you think about the project with your comments below

Bringing Montessori to Africa 

For the children: How we are connecting to Nigeria 

Coming to realize we’re all called to ‘mission’

Vision 2020 Shared

Rev. Fr. Wilfred Odo, Judicial Vicar of the Catholic Diocese of Nsukka, Chuck Newman of Schools for the Children of the World and Esther Hicks of the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Education begin the Committee of Interest Meeting with introductions and prayers. The reports from last month's delegation were well received by those gathered. Watch for the link to the White Paper describing Vision 2020.

Archdiocesan team arrives safely in Nsukka on Friday June 25th.

Archdiocesan Team Members
Esther S. Hicks, OCS Director of Catholic Identity and Mission and USA Project Coordinator
Sr. Barbara Jean Ciszek, CSJ, Principal, Cardinal Bernardin Early Childhood Center  
Joyce Duriga, Editor, Catholic New World, Newspaper for the Archdiocese of Chicago  
Carol R. Fendt, PhD, Co-Director, PRAIRIE Group, University of Illinois at Chicago
Jeanne Henry, Teacher, Holy Family Catholic Academy
By arriving a few days before the large meetings, team members could reconnect with their friends from earlier visits. Pray for Fr. John who is hospitalized with a stroke. The Bishop was happy to meet with the team on Saturday and showed the Kola Nut. This story telling tradition helps to strengthen the shared history among friends. The local Education Committee met with the Archdiocesan Team in the afternoon to review the schedule and presentations for the following weeks.

Great News for Nsukka!

Chuck Newman and Dr. Patricia Merryweather returned from Nsukka on Easter Sunday after a week of site visits and planning meetings. Greetings from all of our friends in Nsukka and gratitude to Chuck and Dr. Merryweather for their remarkable work on behalf of all those working on this partnership!  Enjoy their graphic report below, use the arrow to open it in a new window.