The Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary (MSHR) has crowned its Centenary celebrations across the globe with symbols presented by each Region and Mission Unit, summarizing their centenary experiences.
Sr. Franca Onyibor, Congregational Leader of MSHR, in her March 7, 2025 Letter to each Holy Rosary Sister, on the 101st Anniversary of the Congregation, had attached the symbols, which were a “collective celebration of God’s amazing grace, which has led and continues to carry our congregation toward a future full of hope (Jer 29:11),” she noted.
The Centenary Symbol for MSHR Ghana Region was the picture of “a fulfilled, caring and loving mother holding a hopeful child”. For the Sisters, the symbol signified their joyful experiences in the course of the centenary year, as well as “a profound sign of growth and hope for the congregation, a life of continuity, with love and trusting in Divine Providence”.
“As a grown-up mother, our congregation has clocked 100 years bringing forth a new shoot symbolizing a new milestone in our lives of another 100 years to come”. The child in its mother’s arms was for them a sign of great Hope for the Congregation.
The symbol for MSHR Southern Nigeria was their “Centenary Cake,” a gift from the Obi’s Family, which for them, symbolized joy, celebration, thanksgiving to God, dancing, and communion with others.
According to the Sisters in Southern Nigeria, their Centenary celebrations filled them with indescribable joy, God’s providential care and protection throughout the year.
“We are equally thankful to God for so many people who celebrated with us and gifted us in different ways, and for the wide publicity the centenary celebration accorded us. The people of God were so happy to identify with us and they expressed their gratitude to God for the fruitfulness of our missionary work these 100 years”.
“It was a year of dancing for us, the Sisters, and our unity and collaboration made the celebration what it was. We thank God for the good health and strength he gave us all through, and we count ourselves privileged to be used by God to achieve these centenary celebrations even as we remain happy, worthless servants of His”.
The MSHR Benue Region, sharing their experience of the Centenary, saw themselves as part of assorted flowers on display in gratitude to God for “nurturing us into being, while petitioning for renewal and more aliveness in God’s garden in order to live, love and serve better”.
For the Brazil Region, their symbol was “a tree surrounded by the moon”. “Rooted in God, in communion with our ancestor Bishop Shanahan and our sisters who have gone before us, we celebrated joyfully with deep gratitude the fruits that blossomed over the years and we continue to live the present moment with passion while entrusting the future full of hope to God´s Divine providential care,” they had shared.
The Centenary Symbol for the Central Region (Ireland) was “a tree”. “We chose this symbol because a tree has deep roots, but as it grows, it spreads its branches,” they had explained. The Congregation has very deep roots in Ireland, but its branches have spread out to many countries in Africa, to the United States, to the UK, to Brazil, and to Mexico. Though no longer in Mexico, they shared the belief that the “branches” that spread to Mexico continue to flower among the people the Sisters ministered to.
Cameroon Region’s Centenary Symbol was “a tree with taproots deeply anchored to the ground”. According to the Sisters, this tree represents their rootedness in Christ, hence their fruitfulness as a region and as a Congregation.
“This centenary year brought us together, many times as a region. We were united with a common purpose; the awareness of our connection to Christ made this possible,” they had shared.
For the Ethiopian region, their centenary image was that of “a father carrying a child,” symbolizing “God’s love towards the congregation”. “He has carried us through and He is there to continue to carry us through,” they had affirmed.
Kenya Region presented the symbol of “a globe surrounded by various hands”. This, for them, signified “our unity in diversity” as they connected with the Sisters in different Regions to celebrate as a Congregation, online and onsite, the Centenary of their Foundation, witnessing what happened in each Region.
“The Lord has journeyed with us and has graced us during the 100 years. We are hopeful as we look into the future, relying on God’s faithful love”.
The Liberia Region had the symbol of the “Sasa” or “Shekere,” an African musical instrument. It is made up of seeds carefully knitted together with knots separating each seed, but still produces melodious and beautiful rhythms. The seeds, according to the Sisters, symbolize “the uniqueness and the contribution of each sister throughout the hundred years of the MSHR’s existence, as well as our Unity in Diversity”.
The image that summarised the centenary experience for the Sierra Leone Region was a “light beam”.
“Light beamed all over the Region; an outburst of joy, energy, vitality shared with our friends and collaborators,” they had celebrated.
“The light beams from the Centre (Christ), and our Mission, and Charism that unite us with the entire Congregation, radiating all over the Regions, the whole Congregation celebrating as one family though in different contexts. The brightness of the Light Beam reaches the soul of our being in thanksgiving to God, illuminating our great potential for the next 100 years”.
South Africa Region’s centenary symbol was “an overflowing cup”. “Our cup overflowed and continues to overflow with Gratitude, Joy, and Hope,” they had celebrated.
The United States of America (USA) Region shared their Centenary experience as one of “Gratitude” symbolized with open hands. The Sisters felt graced and held gently in the hands of God for 100 years, from small beginnings that have spread widely out into the world in loving service.
“We retold our history and shared sacred memories. We welcomed the diversity of our evolving intergenerational, intercultural, and international congregation. With gratitude, we celebrated, reconnecting with our founder Bishop Shanahan, our ancestors in the faith, our benefactors, and our mission partners. From the US Region, we continue to be carried gently on eagles’ wings”.
Zambia Region chose a “Sunflower” as their centenary symbol. A sunflower, for them, symbolises “loyalty, adoration, thanksgiving, creativity and constant orientation towards the LIGHT that marked our Centenary Celebration”.
To the Sisters, the ‘unwavering faith, loyalty, growth, inner strength, mission saturated drive of our Founder and sisters were uniquely, and contextually celebrated across the Congregation with unbounded joy, excitement, Appreciation, Adoration, thanksgiving, gratitude, happiness, and optimism”.
“We hold sacred our current reality that reflects the cyclical nature of existence of Sunflower as we forge ahead to zealously engage anew with the new centenary already birthing”.
The Centenary symbol for the South Africa Mission Unit was “a Tree with Deep Roots and Radiant Sun”. The Deep Roots, according to the Sisters, symbolize a strong foundation of faith and values that have sustained the congregation for 100 years. The Radiant Sun Signifies God’s Divine light, guidance, and blessings over the past century.
Coventry Mission Unit (England) had the “Jade Plant” as their centenary symbol, expressing their gratitude to God for the privilege of celebrating the Centenary. For the Sisters, the plant symbolizes “prosperity and positive energy, aligning with the festival’s spirit of abundance and new beginnings, which we have experienced so much in our celebration here in Coventry”.
Also known as a friendship plant that survives easily everywhere with low maintenance and thrives in a variety of conditions, the Sisters saw the Jade plant as a great choice for beginners, as is their case. “Our Centenary experience feels more like a very big family celebration where friendship both within and outside the parish was generously shared,” they had added.
And for the Generalate (Ireland), their Centenary symbol was “a circle of dancing Sisters”. The centenary for them was a period of celebration and dance. “Just as dancers do not dance on their own but in collaboration with music and songs, so were we interconnected in our celebration with one another, with our collaborators, the earth, and with God,” the sisters had reaffirmed.
By Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, MSHR (Sr. Communicator, Ghana)
