Ihugh revisited

By Sr. Mary Deighan
May/June 2013

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Last fall Our Lady’s Missionaries received a visit from an old friend, retired missionary Fr. Peter Ward, a Holy Ghost Father now living in Kent, United Kingdom. It was his first time in Toronto, so it became an opportunity to renew old acquaintances especially for those of us who were working in the new St. Thomas Hospital in Ihugh, Benue-Plateau State, Nigeria, in 1974.

Sr. Mona Kelly and Fr. Peter Ward at a gathering to welcome Fr. Peter during his visit to Toronto last fall. Sr. Mona Kelly and Fr. Peter Ward at a gathering to welcome Fr. Peter during his visit to Toronto last fall.

Bishop Donal Murray, then bishop of Makurdi Diocese, had asked Fr. Peter to leave his parish and come to the village of Ihugh to help plan the official opening of the hospital. His was the task of inviting state dignitaries, local chiefs and religious leaders, as well as sisters and priests of the diocese. The program was to include everyone and required much sensitivity in the planning.

Our Lady’s Missionary Sr. Mona Kelly was the matron of the hospital and I was also part of the staff along with our valiant volunteers from Canada. We were all involved in setting up the hospital and organizing the departments. Fr. Peter moved to the hospital compound in order to be on hand for all the major decisions related to the big opening. He soon became a friend to each one of us working there.

Those were exciting days to remember. Our volunteers now living in Toronto came to our central house last fall to greet Fr. Peter and reminisce. It had been a privilege to be part of a project that provided such an improvement in health care for the people of the area. And it was appropriate for us, nearly 40 years later, to celebrate once again the opening of St. Thomas Hospital.

Joanith House

Sr. Margaret Walsh visits Srs. Frances Brady and Noreen Kearns who recently moved into a rented bungalow at Joanith Drive in Toronto, not far from the OLM central house on Leander Court. Having this house makes it possible for the community to welcome our returning missionaries.

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