Shelly Najor | Special to The Michigan Catholic

Detroit — Nestled behind the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, in the old glamour of the Boston Edison Historic District, sits an estate where five humble and hardworking retired nuns from the Sister, Home Visitors of Mary Congregation continue their almost 70-year-old mission of witnessing universal love to all people, especially those marginalized by society.

Best known as the original home of Joseph L. Hudson, and as the site of the Edsel B. Ford 1916 wedding that was attended by Thomas A. Edison and his wife, this otherwise quiet 10,000-square-foot mansion was bustling April 24, when 28 first-graders from Holy Name School in Birmingham accepted an invitation from Sr. Rosemarie Abate, HVM, to spend the day at her home.

“When the first-grade students were challenged to select a service project to support the school’s 2014-15 theme of ‘Call and Gifted to Serve,’ they were drawn to the Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary after reading about their contributions to the Detroit community by helping the homeless, tutoring students and adults in reading and supporting a school in Nigeria,” said Zanda Mitchell, a first-grade teacher at Holy Name.

The students collected new socks for the homeless, books for the tutoring program and provided new games and toys for Detroit-area children. The first-graders will soon hold their spring bake sale to raise money to pay fall tuition for some of the Nigerian students.

“We wanted to raise money because they don’t have any money,” said first-grade student Evan Puzzuoli. “We wanted to make them happy.”’



The students’ efforts support the congregation’s vision of remaining conscious of the serious reality of racism and ethnocentrism, and striving to bring about inclusion of various races, tribes, ethnic and/or national groups.

“They were ahead of their time,” said Jim Smith, Home Visitors of Mary fundraising committee member.

This mission that has thrived in Detroit since the founding of the congregation in 1949 was extended to Nigeria in 2001 when Sr. Barbara Dakoske and Sr. Elizabeth Harris moved to Nigeria from Detroit at the invitation of Cardinal John Onaiyekan, archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, and began the ministry of the Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Parish in Abuja. In 2002, they were joined by three other women, beginning formation of the HVM religious congregation in Nigeria.

“The congregation continues to grow. There are now 21 Nigerian Home Visitor Sisters and 15 Nigerian Home Visitor Associates,” said Sr. Abate, who has been to Nigeria four times to help build and develop the programs there.

Ministries include service as teachers, school administrators, catechetical leaders and youth ministers.  HVM sisters created and direct a Women’s Empowerment Center where women learn how to run a life-enhancing microbusiness from home. Sisters work at the Nigerian Catholic Secretariat and teach at the Home Visitors of Mary Theology Institute.

“The children in Nigeria and Birmingham stay connected through the exchange of pictures and letters,” Sr. Abate said. “The children from Holy Name have seen firsthand what their efforts have provided for the students in Nigeria.”

When the children asked about the many bird feeders and pieces of bread that lay scattered outside, Sr. Abate explained that Sr. Mary Frances, who volunteers regularly at a local soup kitchen, brings home leftovers for the birds, who were busy eating and chirping, unafraid of the children nearby. Sr. Abate also showed the children the community garden next to the estate, explaining how the land was tilled and fertilized so it could grow healthy vegetables and wild flowers for the community to enjoy.

“I liked coming here today,” said first-grade student Bella Sheena. “I learned about God and Jesus more.”

Sr. Abate reminded them all that their fundraising efforts shared God and Jesus with others — allowing them to play a vital role in fulfilling the Sisters, Home Visitors of Mary’s mission in Nigeria.