Our Charism is to bear witness to the Mercy of God by following the footsteps of Christ, the Merciful Savior, and that of Mary, the Mother of Mercy.
This Mercy is expressed as Compassion, Forgiveness and Kindness.

Who We Are

The Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy (DMMM) Congregation, otherwise known as “Mercy Sisters", is an indigenous women religious Congregation founded in 1961 by the late Bishop Anthony Gogo Nwedo, C.S.Sp. It has its headquarters in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria, West Africa. It is an Institute of Apostolic religious life with a Pontifical Right. Mercy Sisters take the three evangelical vows of Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity. Although it is an indigenous Congregation, DMMM has spread its missionary arms to all parts of the world including Africa, Europe, Canada, and the United States of America.

Our Spirit of Charity, Humility, Prayer, Penance, and Abandonment to the Will of God animates us to be God’s instrument in giving hope and a purposeful life to the poor, the needy, orphans, the sick, and the underprivileged in society through our apostolates of Caring, Healing, and Teaching. We also evangelize the spiritually impoverished through pastoral ministry in the dioceses and parishes.

Sisters in church

Our Formation Process

For the DMMM sisters, Formation is an on-going process extending to every aspect of our personality and life. Through our ​Formation, we discern the reality of our vocation and ​accept the conviction​ that we are called by God who is working in our life.

We have the following stages in our Formation process:

Postulancy The Postulancy:     The postulants study the Bible and Catholic Church teachings for two years.

Novices Novitiate:     This is a two years training at the Noviate House. The Novices continued the study of the Bible and Catholic Church teachings, the Constitution and Spirituality of the Order with intense prayer life.

First profession First or Temporary Vows:     This stage is the first profession of vows where the sisters in formation take the three temporary vows of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity.

Final profession Final or Perpetual Vows:     After six years of temporary profession of vows, the sisters take their perpetual vows. Now the sisters are ready to be sent out on a mission.


Symbols of Consecration

Habit: Our habit is a symbol of our consecration and a testimony of our poverty. We have 'Seven Pleats' on both sides of our habit and 'Seven Buttons' on our cape symbolizing the Seven Sorrows of Mary, Our Mother of Mercy.

Crucifix: Our Crucifix is a symbol of our witness to the Crucified Christ who out of love and mercy offered himself for the redemption of mankind.

Rosary: The Rosary that is suspended on the left hand side on our habit is a symbol of our daily devotion to Mary, our Mother of Mercy. The Daughters recite the Rosary daily imploring Mary's intercession.

Ring: The Ring we receive after final vows is a symbol of our spousal and union with Christ who said, "I will betroth you to me forever, Yes, I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in Justice, in loving kindness and compassion" (Hosea 2:19).

Ring