In the evolving landscape of the African Church, the call for visibility and documented impact has never been more urgent. At ASEC (African Sisters Education Collaborative) Nigeria, the shift from “silent service” to active witness is slowly reaching a definitive milestone. A beautiful example is the contributions of Sister Grace Akunna John-Emezi, a member of the Congregation of the Handmaids of the Holy Child Jesus (HHCJ), whose rigorous documentation of her ministry has earned ASEC Nigeria a prestigious award.
As a member of the Pan-African Catholic Theology and Pastoral Network (PACTPAN), Sister Akunna exemplifies the vital bridge between grassroots healthcare and high-level theological reflection. This recognition is not merely a celebration of an individual but a meaningful affirmation of how ASEC programs empower sisters to transform their communities. It is a reminder to the global Church that the voices of African women religious are indispensable. We celebrate Sister Akunna and other sisters who courageously share their stories; your witness makes our mission visible and provides a blueprint for commitment and creativity.
The Gospel in Motion at Ancilla Hospital
For Sister Akunna, the role of Hospital Administrator at Ancilla Hospital in Ihitte Ezinihitte, Imo State, is not merely a job but a profound extension of her religious calling. She views her leadership as an integration of two identities—medical administrator and pastoral minister—rooted firmly in the motto of her Congregation: Love and Service. In the challenging landscape of rural Nigerian healthcare, she ensures that the Gospel is not merely a spoken word but a lived reality embodied through systems that prioritize patient dignity over profit and value the accompaniment of staff as much as the treatment of patients.
A Mission Made Visible: Sister Grace Akunna and the New Narrative of African Religious Leadership”
This “incarnational leadership” is most visible when resources are low. Guided by the “preferential option for the poor,” Sister Akunna leads with moral courage, frequently donating her own blood to save impoverished patients, including young sisters and expectant mothers facing life-threatening complications like pre-eclampsia. To her, the hospital is a sacred space where healing is both clinical and spiritual, and where pastoral credibility is earned through transparency and a willingness to admit limits.
Akumi4Christ: A Mission of Hope
A cornerstone of Sister Akunna’s ministry is her dedicated advocacy through Akumi4Christ, an initiative specifically designed as a “Mission of Hope” for women facing the daunting realities of breast and cervical cancer. In many Nigerian and African communities, these illnesses are often met with fear, misinformation, and a heavy cultural silence that leads to late presentation and preventable loss of life.
Early detection and education whisper a transformative truth to women: ‘Your life matters. Your body is worthy of care.’ In a culture of silence, presence itself becomes proclamation”
Akumi4Christ serves as a vital bridge between medicine and faith. It is an outreach that seeks out the poor, the rural, and the marginalized, whispering a transformative truth: “Your life matters; your body is worthy of care.” By providing early detection, education, and clinical referrals, the initiative restores dignity to women who have often been taught to endure pain in secret. It is a living expression of the Gospel, with Sister Akuna serving as a “voice for the voiceless,” sitting patiently with the fearful, dismantling myths that equate illness with shame, and ensuring that Nigerian women are seen as bearers of God’s image rather than instruments of sacrifice.
Breaking the “Silent Service”
Sister Akunna’s recognition highlights a vital need: African Sisters must move beyond “silent service.” While humility is a cornerstone of the HHCJ and other religious orders, she argues that silence can unintentionally erase the transformative impact of their work. In a digital age, what is not documented is often assumed not to exist. By sharing their expertise, Sisters reclaim their narrative power, ensuring they are seen not just as “helpers” but as innovators and agents of change in the global Church.
Sharing our stories is not self-promotion; it is truth-telling that restores narrative power to African women religious who have too often been spoken about rather than listened to.”
This shift is essential for the future of the African Church. As an active voice within PACTPAN, Sister Akunna advocates for networks to become bridges of mutual listening. She calls for formal channels that recognize the lived experiences of sisters in healthcare and education as essential sources of theological insight. She believes that true synodality is achieved when those at the margins help shape the center, ensuring that Church policies are pastorally credible and contextually grounded.
A Call to Courageous Witness
To her fellow Sisters, Sister Akunna offers a message of courageous humility: do not underestimate the quiet power of your daily labour. Visibility is not about self-promotion; it is about bearing witness so others can learn and collaborate. She encourages every sister to name their work, document their impact, and trust that God uses their creative efforts to spark transformation.
As we celebrate this Award and the commitment of our sisters, we are reminded that our mission is most effective when shared. Sister Akunna’s journey shows that when we speak the truth and document our service, we offer hope, action, and transformation to the Church and the communities we serve.