NAME /NATURE /MISSION /PURPOSE

Our Institute “Sons of the Two Hearts of Love” was founded in loving response to the Divine inspiration to commence a Congregation of devout and dedicated Brothers who would generously offer their lives for the consolation of the two united, wounded and bleeding Hearts of Love of Jesus and Mary. From the very beginning was an inspiration, the appearance of the bleeding Crucifix, where the great redemptive sacrifice of the Cross risked being rejected by souls held captive by sin. The Congregation was established with the conviction that only through the infinite merits of the two wounded Hearts could the Eternal Father be appeased and souls saved.

The mission of the Institute is to console the two wounded Hearts of Love and to bring souls to this united Hearts. She is dedicated to the reign of the love of God.

The purpose of the Congregation is to raise members, who would console the two undivided, wounded and bleeding Hearts of Jesus and Mary and to spread devotion to the Two Hearts of Love (the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Immaculate Heart of Mary). It is the goal of the Institute to seek the good and welfare of the Church by helping the poor, the sick, and the needy in our midst and to assist in the education and evangelization of mankind and the salvation of all souls.

The Institute of the Two Hearts of Love is a Catholic Male Religious Institute that is both active and contemplative in nature. The brothers shall commit themselves to live out the public profession of the vows of Chastity, Poverty and Obedience in community, ever striving for a fuller manifestation of the reign of the Two Hearts of Love in their lives, in the Church and in the world. In consonance with the Universal Law, this Institute is established as a Religious Congregation of active and contemplative life. The Evangelical Counsels which the brothers profess following the teaching and example of Our Lord Jesus Christ are Divine gifts to the Church and the world. They are therefore to be cherished, preserved, fostered, promoted and supported always.

This form of life lived as a member of the Church and the Institute, is a life dedicated to following Christ who Himself remained pure, holy, virginal, poor and obedient to the Will of the Father unto death.

HISTORY OF THE INSTITUTE

The inception of the Religious Association, Sons of the Two Hearts of Love of Jesus and Mary, was in the year of the Lord (1989). It started with few Lay men who were joining the founder to his prayer ministry. The Institute started with the name, “Catholic Society of Two Hearts of Love” and with an acronym, “SHL”. It began with few brothers who joined the father Founder, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Montfort Okanwikpo, a young Priest of Orlu diocese as of then, when he felt the need for those who are to assist for the mission, as he felt called to bring about the effect of the Love of God in the world as expressed by the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the inseparable and indivisible Hearts ever united in love. These men are to be part of the mission of living and propagating the devotion and prayer of the Hearts of love. As the founder told his story, the round image of our Logo, is as a result of the nature of the Divine Love which is cyclic, as it accommodates everyone without exception, which is why the mission is to save all souls. The vision of the “Pale coloured Cross” was as a result of the volume of sins of mankind in the world, and that was why there is need for many to join in the mission of the Hearts of Love in order to appease the Wounded and Bleeding Hearts ever united in love. The members are to through their life of Love, as exemplified by the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart; reassure the world of her derailment from the “Only Solution” to her peace and goodness, uniting them to the Wounded and Bleeding Hearts of Love. This will as well restore the bright red of Blood in the Hearts of Love. The Institute which started at Umuchima in Orlu diocese was later taken to Orlu town as the founder felt. It is worthy to note that the Institute which was born in Orlu diocese during the Episcopacy of Most Rev. Dr. Gregory Ochiagha, could not continue as it was Divinely Willed.

The official publicity for admission to the Institute was possible almost after a decade, in the year 1998, when those who came as aspirants were made to stay for formation. It was in this same year that the Postulancy started; though many who joined later left. The first set of Novices, seven in number, started the formation journey in August of the year 2001. These seven young men were taken to Amaorji-Nike Enugu, at Word Incarnate Paschal Monastery in order to receive formation. The formation at the Monastery was terminated after one year when it became inevitable that the formation has to be given at the environment of male Religious Institute. Four novices were taken to Ibadan, at the Dominican Institute in the year 2002, but for only two months (17th August – 17th October). Their intended first Religious Profession could not hold after this while, as there was no house of the Novitiate and a Master at the moment. When it lingered to get a canonical approved novitiate, some persons from the already gathered men left. The novitiate house was bought at Apata-Yakuba in Ilorin East LGA of Kwara State, on 4th December 2002. The few who could stay were allowed to be at the said new house till 2007. It was in the year 2007 that the formal novitiate formation program started with nine novices. They were later to be joined by another three novices, who were formed by a Claretian Missionaries Priest, and he was replaced successively in 2009 by another Claretian. All this while, the Aspirancy and Postulancy were jointly carried on at Orlu, Imo State. Providentially, it was on 21st September 2008 that the first Religious Profession of nine candidates took place, and with Bishop Ayo-Maria Atoyebi OP (the then Bishop of Ilorin diocese and our first Principal Bishop) as the prelate. The Canonical Erection of the Institute as a Pius Association domicile in the diocese of Ilorin was granted by the said Principal Bishop (Bishop Ayo-Maria Atoyebi OP) who welcomed the Institute, on 7th January, 2011. The first Final Profession of four was on 8th December, 2012 and first Priestly ordination of two was on 21st November, 2013 as well. The second ordination of four was in the year 2014, and subsequently it continues successively.

The itinerary movement of the Institute took many dimensions and places. The intention of situating the house at Okigwe diocese, with the then Bishop (Most Rev. Anthony Ekezia Ilonu, of blessed memory), from Orlu diocese was hatched when the atmosphere was not favourable. It was late Bishop Ilonu who connected the founder with his bosom friend, Bishop Ayo-Maria of Ilorin diocese, in Kwara State North-Central of Nigeria, as a way of assisting for the continuation of the Institute. The Institute with an international status has both members from Africa/Nigeria and Europe, and with so many lay associates or apostles from all over the globe. It is remarkable to note that the first ordination of two was a Nigerian and a European.

In order to remain in rhyme with the demands of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, our Principal Bishop convoked the first General Assembly on April of 2018, were we set aside the old Constitutions as to have one which aligns with the Universal norm. Three brothers were mandated by the Assembly with a Canonist, to organize and arrange the new Constitutions. The Principal Bishop made an appointment of one of the Priests to be in charge of the Brothers for the while till we reconvene for the Chapter proper. The first Chapter followed immediately in the month of May, as we gathered then to approve the new written Constitutions and to deliberate on the way forward. The first elected government was made temporal for one year. The first Assembly and Chapter were held at the Adoration Sisters Monastery Retreat Centre Oyun, Ilorin diocese and with our first Principal Bishop presiding over the deliberations. We gathered for the second Chapter the following year, in the month of February 2019. As well, the duration for the elected government was still for one year. It was at the second Chapter that we decided to change the venue of the Novitiate to its permanent site at Okoyi-Ilorin diocese, as the old venue becomes the Generalate. This Chapter had the venue at the Precious Blood community Olofe, Ilorin diocese. The Principal Bishop presided over as well, but with the Co-Adjutor, Bishop Paul Adegboyega Olawoore in attendance. The third Chapter was in September 2020, and it was from then that the Constitutional four years duration for the government of the Institute was implemented for the first time. This time, we stayed at our house at Apata-Yakuba, Ilorin diocese. Bishop Paul as the substantive Bishop of Ilorin diocese and our Principal Bishop took over the precedence and with Bishop Ayo-Maria (Emeritus) in attendance. Progressively, the Institute is moving from height to height in qualitative numbers and in new foundations both locally and internationally. Presently, we have at least three communities legitimately situated at Ikot-Ekpene, Makurdi and Onitsha. We have a mission in South America (Brazil) as well as in different levels of negotiation for other missions. At the moment we have forty-one Priests, some are working directly for the Institute, as well as some are assisting at different capacities all over the globe. We have thirteen Deacons waiting for Priestly ordination and some Seminarians in our houses undergoing their formation at the Seminaries and other Catholic Institutions.

The Institute observes the liturgical feasts of the Church, but most prominently those of Jesus and Mary. We celebrate laudably our Feast (Feast of the Two Hearts of Love) on Sunday following the Sacred Heart Feast and Immaculate Heart memorial. We obviously have the cause to thank the God of Love in the Hearts of Love of Jesus and Mary, for His mercies, benevolence and empowerment. Our successes and growth is possible all by the special grace of God.

May the life, the comfort, the glory and the love of God in the Hearts of Love come down and remain with us now and always.

O Jesus! O Mary! You are the Hearts of Love. I love You consume me, I am Your victim of love. Peace – Love!

In the Government of the Institute are: Very Rev. Fr. Mathew-Mary Chizoba Affusim SHL - Superior General, Rev. Fr. Romanus Ibekwe Ugwuadu SHL - Ist Counsellor and Vicar General, Rev. Fr. JohnBosco Onyebuchi Azuaka SHL - 2nd Counsellor, Rev. Fr. Vitalis Chibueze Okoronkwo SHL - 3rd Counsellor, Rev. Fr. Lambert Onyekachi Iroakazi SHL - 4th Counsellor.

Other members of the government are Rev. Fr. James Idiong SHL - Secretary-General, Rev. Fr. JohnBosco Amakor SHL - Vocations Director, Rev. Fr. Anaele Emmanuel SHL - General Bursar.