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Owerri Region, Nigeria

The Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy Owerri Region was one of the initial four regions in the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy. The idea of regionalization, conceived during the 5th General Chapter in 2003 to help alleviate the administrative burden of the central administration and for the smooth running of the affairs of the Congregation, materialized in 2006 with the establishment of four regions (Owerri, Onitsha, Ibadan, and Abuja). The General Chapter ascribed a delegation role to the office/authority of the Regional Superior and her Council and, as such, subject to the Central Administration in almost everything.

A new election voted in Rev. Sr. Mary Nkemdirichukwu Iheme as the Regional Superior. The regional administration comprises the following sisters elected to serve for three years (2015-2018): 

THE BIRTH OF DMMM OWERRI REGION:

Following the 2003 General Chapter, the Owerri Region was born in 2006. Its commissioning took place on 7 October 2006, and the first regional administration was elected to serve the region from 2006 to 2009. The administrative body comprises of the following sisters:
 

Initially, the headquarters of the DMMM Owerri region was located at Uzoagba. Due to the inconveniences the sisters encountered during the first Annual local superiors meeting, the administrative body, with the approval of the Superior General, decided to move the Owerri Regional Headquarters to Obosima situated in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State in 2007.

In 2009, a regional election was conducted, and Rev. Sr. Mary Therese Leo Ikwuegbu emerged as the second Regional Superior of the Owerri region. The following sisters were elected to serve the region from 2009-2012:
 

In 2012, Sr. Mary Therese Leo Ikwuegbu was reelected for a second term. The Administrative body from 2012 to 2015 was:
 

The second tenure of Rev. Sr. Mary Therese Leo Ikwuegbu ended in 2015. A new election voted in Rev. Sr. Mary Nkemdirichukwu Iheme as the Regional Superior. The regional administration comprises the following sisters elected to serve for three years (2015-2018):
 

In 2018, Rev. Sr. Mary Nkemdirichukwu Iheme was reelected. The administrative body voted to serve the region from 2018-2021 include:
 

In 2021, another regional election was conducted, and Rev. Sr. Mary Purissima Dike was voted in as the Regional Superior. The administrative body of the region comprises:
 

COMPOSITION OF THE REGION:

At first, DMMM Owerri Region was made up of 5 Zones: Owerri/Orlu/Ahiara Zone, Umuahia Zone, Okigwe Zone, Aba/Port Harcourt Zone, and New Jersey/New York Zone with 80 Communities. The population of the sisters during the time of Sr. Mary Chinwe Ekeoma (2006 to 2009) was 391. The sisters worked in the following Dioceses/Archdiocese: Owerri, Umuahia, Orlu, Ahiara, Okigwe, Aba, Port Harcourt, Newark, New Jersey; Brooklyn, New York; Providence, Rhode Island, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Wheeling-Charleston, South Carolina.
In 2009, the General Chapter removed the New Jersey/New York zone from the Owerri Region. The Owerri region is currently comprised of four zones: Owerri/Orlu/Ahiara Zone, Umuahia Zone, Okigwe Zone, and Aba/Port Harcourt Zone. These four zones are located in one Archdiocese (Owerri Archdiocese), and six Dioceses: Umuahia Diocese, Orlu Diocese, Ahiara Diocese, Okigwe Diocese, Aba Diocese, and Port Harcourt Diocese with 76 Communities. The population of the sisters during the time of Sr. Mary Therese Leo Ikwuegbu (2009-2015) was 384. During the tenure of Sr. Mary Nkemdirichukwu Iheme (2015-2021), there were 400 sisters. The region currently has 400 sisters.

ADMINISTRATION

General Aspect: Owerri Region has 74 communities. We are primarily involved in schools, hospitals, pastoral and social service apostolate.

Spiritual Growth: Our communities' timetable is designed to assist Sisters in joining in community exercises such as prayers, review of life, and recollection. Sisters have their Sacramental Confession through their Confessors. Our spiritual life is nourished by the Eucharistic Celebration, Prayers, Adoration, etc. Annual Retreats are organized for the sisters in five groups, while some sisters attend directed retreats organized by the central administration. We organize retreats for those who cannot attend the directed retreat organized by the central administration. In 2023, the region had 278 sisters in attendance, spread out into five groups. Some sisters have been able to go on a government-sponsored pilgrimage in Jordan and Jerusalem.

Formation: Seminars and Workshops on community life, intergenerational dialogue, and other formation activities and programs are usually organized and offered to all the sisters at different times of the year.

Meetings: The Regional Superior holds four meetings with her Councilors and one meeting with the Local Superiors annually.

Celebrations: We zealously celebrate Mercy Day as the feast of our Congregation by serving and providing for the poor in our local communities. We also celebrate ourselves in our communities, as well as our Golden and Silver Jubilarians.

Constructions and Renovations: The Region is working on several projects, such as constructing and building the Madonna Hostel for university students. The project is in the roofing stage. We are also renovating our regional house at Obosima, which needs general maintenance, such as replacing the roof, changing the pipes due to excessive water leakage, and repainting the building. We have several primary and secondary schools where we primarily educate students from impoverished backgrounds. Some of these schools are in deplorable condition and need some renovations. The region also supports a few congregational farm projects, which helps to sustain the sisters.
 

2024 to 2027
	Rev. Sr. Mary Purissima Dike - Regional Superior Rev. Sr. Mary Veritas Onyeabor - Councillor Rev. Sr. Nkemdirichukwu Iheme - Councillor Rev. Sr. Mary Chimnemerem Osuagwu - Councillor