Empowering Widows. Restoring Dignity. Strengthening Faith
St. Jane Frances Widows’ Association is a Catholic-based organization that brings together widows across Enugu Diocese into a united family of faith, support, and empowerment.
Our Patron Saint: St. Jane Frances de Chantal
St. Jane Frances became a widow at the age of 28 and responded to her sorrow by dedicating her life to God and the care of others. Her courage, deep faith, and compassion continue to inspire us today.
Just like her, we believe widowhood is not the end—but the beginning of a new journey in grace, purpose, and divine strength.
“For your Maker is your husband… The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit.” – Isaiah 54:5–6
Our Vision
To build and nurture a thriving community of widows who support, heal, grow, and uplift each other spiritually, emotionally, and socially—reflecting the love and compassion of Christ.
Our Mission
Our mission is to form and nurture widows into devoted followers of Christ by providing prayer, counseling, mentorship, emotional healing, empowerment, and advocacy—upholding their rights and dignity while improving their lives and supporting their children, inspired by Christian values and social justice.
Our Core Values
Faith
Compassion
Dignity
Service
Unity
Empowerment
Bishop Calistus Onaga approved the association in 2018...
Providing spiritual guidance, oversight, and pastoral care to our diocese and its faithful.
Supporting bishop:
Bishop Ernest Obodo
Assisting in shepherding the flock, strengthening parishes, and supporting diocesan ministries.
Diocesan Director
Provides pastoral leadership, coordinates diocesan-wide activities, and ensures the association’s mission aligns with the Church’s vision for widows’ care and empowerment.
An inspiration came to me through St Rita that I should start widows association. But like Jonah, I tried to resist the message.
Mrs. Cecilia Ossai
Founder
History
Our story starts way back, when Mrs Cecilia N. Ossai recievd inspiration.
The St. Jane Frances Widows’ Association was divinely inspired. Days before the founder’s husband passed away in 2004, she received a revelation through St. Rita to start a group for widows. This early message laid the spiritual foundation for what would later become a dedicated ministry of hope and healing for widows.
In 2010, the founder was led to relocate to Ugwu di Nso, where her spiritual experiences deepened. She received instructions to embark on a seven-day dry fast at the Holy Spirit Sanctuary in Elele, which she repeated annually for seven years. These retreats strengthened her resolve and shaped the mission of the group.
By 2018, she was urged through divine revelation to seek support from Church authorities. The turning point came in 2019 when she encountered the life story of St. Jane Frances de Chantal—patron of widows. Seeing a reflection of her calling, she renamed the group in the saint’s honor, giving birth to a faith-driven support movement for widows.
